Ancillary Fees & Opt-Outs

In collaboration with the London Transit Commission (LTC), the University Students’ Council (USC) provides eligible, full-time undergraduate students (students taking 3.5 courses or more) with the USC Bus Pass. This pass provides free unlimited rides, at all bus stop locations, during all hours of operation, seven days a week (including holidays).

Eligible students are automatically assessed the mandatory fee for a bus pass, which is
loaded onto their Western One card and valid from September 1 until August 31 of the
following year.

There is no option to opt-in or opt-out of the USC Bus Pass. It is a mandatory plan, authorized by a student referendum that requires all eligible, full-time undergraduate students to participate. 

The University Students’ Council (USC) is pleased to provide eligible, full-time undergraduate students (students taking a minimum of 3.5 courses or greater) with health and dental coverage through PurpleCare.

Students are automatically assessed the premiums, enrolled in the plan, as well as the
myWellness program, which offers many mental health support resources. Coverage begins September 1 through August 31 of the following year.

Opt-Out: If a student already has an equivalent extended health/dental plan, they can opt-out at PurpleCare and follow the instructions listed under the “Enrollment Options” section and upload proof of alternative health coverage. Extensions and late opt out are not available so be sure to go to PurpleCare to verify the deadline date. For students who successfully opt-out, the fee will be reimbursed and credited to your Brescia Student Statement in late October. 

Deadline: Opt-out deadline is late-September, annually.

This fee covers the on-campus O-Week programing. The O-Pass grants you access to Brescia’s Orientation Week programming, as well as certain Western University Orientation Week programming. Your “Orientation Pass Fee” is your ticket to all the O-Week activities. These activities include access to concerts, sporting events and other activities on campus. The events and activities have been designed to promote both transition and integration within the Brescia and Western communities.

O-Week runs the first week of September and a full breakdown of information can be found on Western’s O-Week website.

This fee is applied to almost all in-coming full-time first year students, and will appear on your Brescia Statement of Account. For more information, please go to the Student Life Centre’s Orientation and Transition page.

The University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) is a mandatory health insurance plan for all international students and their dependents (spouse and/or children) within Western University who are not covered by the provincial health insurance plan (OHIP). International students are automatically enrolled in UHIP, there is no need to apply. Students who are Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents (PR) who do not have OHIP can have UHIP during the 3-months OHIP Waiting Period. Canadians or PR students are NOT automatically enrolled for UHIP and can apply by sending an email to Vicky Scott.

Visit Western’s International & Exchange Student Centre for more information.

This fee supports Brescia’s case management and crisis support program for Brescia students.

This fee supports Brescia’s range of services and programming to support career exploration and preparation.

BUCSC is Brescia’s heartbeat and there’s a lot of work, planning, and preparation that goes into organizing such an unstoppable team. Your council requires training and team building, an office where they can connect with the students, an opportunity for recognition and morale support within council, and the ability to include supporting and organizing roles within the team! Your council also uses their accountability allocation to ensure a well-stocked office with plenty of prizes to be distributed to the Brescia community. Even when council is taking care of themselves, they’re still taking care of you.

We want you to have the opportunity to have some formal fun at Brescia’s two most famous and anticipated events of the year: Brescia Ball and Wine & Cheese. These events together are what unifies the Brescia community! It’s here that the BUCSC hopes, and works to ensure that, you will make the memories that you carry with you through Brescia and beyond!

Your elected student representatives are hard at work planning not one, but two events each! These events could be student socials, incredible speakers, or anything in between. Have an idea for an event you would like to see happen at Brescia? Talk to your council! We love to hear from you and want to bring you, the students, the events that you want and need!

We want you to be fully immersed in your campus community which includes your professors and administrators. Every year we bring you Faculty Dinner, an opportunity to connect with your peers and professors while enjoying campus spaces and a delicious complimentary dinner. Whether you’re looking to find a thesis supervisor or just get to know your favourite professor a little bit better this is not an event that you want to miss. We also plan some fantastic programming for International Women’s Day. As Canada’s only all-women’s university, we take International Women’s Day very seriously and hope that you will join us as we commemorate the day with speakers, events, and more!

Brescia’s Opportunity Grant is here to support you! Each student is eligible to apply for a maximum of $500 that can be used to subsidize tutoring, send you to that conference you would love to attend, help you with a mental health initiative, allow you to get that certification you need, as well as many other additional opportunities! By opting in you are helping Brescia students have more access to these incredible opportunities, including yourself!

The BUCSC cares about you! We want to ensure that there are enough resources set aside to support mental wellness on campus. We plan to ensure our campus is a safe space where mental health is a priority! You can look forward to events such as Bell Let’s Talk Day, Eating Disorder Awareness Day, and de-stressing exam bags. The BUCSC’s wellness commissioner and AVP Student Life will be working together to bring you mental wellness events all year long.

The BUCSC understands the financial strain of University and encourages you to apply for one of our many awards. The Students’ Council Awards are given out to deserving individuals in each year of study. The BUCSC Awards are offered for volunteerism, international students and for demonstrating a strong commitment to supporting Brescia students. Each year the BUCSC gives back to over 20+ students like yourself and will continue to emphasize the importance of building community to support students in need.

The BUCSC knows how important it is to not only be aware and informed, but also to provide awareness opportunities for students and ensure that campus is an inclusive space. We work to build awareness and inclusion opportunities surrounding pride, cultural diversity, environmental initiatives, and many more! The BUCSC wants you to feel safe and included on Brescia’s campus and, beyond that, to have an opportunity to learn about our unique differences and experiences while we take on the university experience together.

Brescia is known for our incredible flag football team! This is your chance to get to know your peers while you get moving and, hopefully, bringing home that victory for Brescia. Flag football is a Brescia and Western tradition that you won’t want to miss. If flag football isn’t for you that’s okay, our athletic commissioner will be working to bring you athletic and health related events and opportunities throughout the year!

The BUCSC wouldn’t be what it is without you, the students! We know how important it is to show our appreciation. That’s why we plan an incredible student appreciation week filled with fun events and freebies! What else? We provide transportation to and from Halloween Haunt every year so that Brescia students can fully engage in the Halloween season. At Brescia we like to finish with a bang so we will also be bringing you Purple Finale/Carnival to close out what we know will be an amazing year!

You’re not going to want to miss the most widespread and exciting event of each and every academic year: Homecoming! The BUCSC strives to bring you the best homecoming experience every single year. We then carry forward that school spirit and passion into our Baccalaureate celebration where we strive to make each Brescia grad’s experience one to remember.

At Brescia, your voice matters! We want you to be involved. We are working to provide as many opportunities as possible for Brescia students to be engaged on campus including volunteering, attending events, and joining the BUCSC! Look for our volunteer week in September for opportunities to get involved with organizations in the London community as well, attend a RMH baking for the families. Additionally, support causes you are passionate about by connecting with our charity commissioner on charities you’d like to see collaborate with the BUCSC/Brescia community!

The BUCSC funds training programs for our campus leaders on the fundamentals of campus safety, safeTALK, and sexual violence awareness. BUSCSC also plans an annual Sexual Violence Awareness week.

BUCSC is always working to improve your non-class campus spaces so that you can fully take advantage of and enjoy the variety of activities and services available in these spaces. From maintenance and comfort initiatives in your favourite study spots, to ensuring that your washrooms are always well stocked with feminine hygiene products, we hope to create spaces that are not only useful but well-used.

Feel ready to take on the world, and the career of your dreams, with the help of the BUCSC. All year BUCSC brings job fairs, career information sessions, professional panels, and keynote speakers to help students plan their post-graduation path. BUCSC also works with Brescia’s preliminary program and has resources available to help you apply to your dream college/university!

This fee supports campus recreation programs including the operations of Western’s intramural leagues, tournaments, recreational clubs, and fitness wellness programs and drop-in facilities.

This fee supports Western’s competitive sport program including our sports teams and competitive clubs. Remember, your student card gets you free admission to Mustangs home games!

This fee supports the costs associated with running the Thompson Recreation and Athletic Centre.

This fee supports the programs, resources and supports available through Indigenous Services that support Indigenous student success.

This fee supports the programs, resources and supports in the areas of academic support and career development.

This fee supports the programs, resources and supports in the areas of student learning development and mental health care.

This fee supports the wellness education programs and resources and the operations of the on campus health clinic.

This fee supports services related to student safety, including the safewalk service.

Charged to Year 1 and new students only. Cost to produce the Western One student card.

This fee supports graduate and undergraduate students throughout their university careers by providing opportunities to gain intercultural skills and experiences and by creating a diverse and welcoming community at Western. Services support intercultural learning, volunteer opportunities for more than 400 students per year, international student orientation, advising, events and activities, English conversation program, intercultural learning, peer guide program, immigration assistance and more.

This fee provides mediation services to resolve landlord, tenant and roommate conflicts; Access to hundreds of rental listings; A lease review service; and Personal advising from Western staff members to assist with your search for housing.

This fee supports the programs, resources and supports that enhance support for students with disabilities.

You can access all spaces operated by the USC: the Mustang Lounge, the Spoke, the Wave, Western Film, and other space in the University Community Centre. 

This fee was previously approved through a student referendum to contribute towards the capital and operating costs of the Western Student Recreation Centre.

You can access academic support in a safe and confidential environment where you can discuss University-related problems or concerns through the Ombudsperson. The USC also provides academic support by advocating to the University on student priorities, running the USC Student Appeals Centre and supporting career development opportunities, including job fairs. 

You can access additional health and wellness services and support with the USC’s Health Promotions team and the Peer Support Centre, which helps support and educate students on issues involving mental health, social health, substance abuse, campus safety, and sexual violence prevention. These programs also help train campus leaders to assist students in finding the resources they need to support their health and wellness. 

You can take the late-night USC shuttle on the weekends and during exams after London Transit Bus services stop to help you get home safely. All full-time and part-time students are eligible to use the shuttle service with their valid Western Student ID. The goal of the safe transit program is to get students home safely after bus service stops at midnight. 

Your voice is heard by Western administration and all levels of government through the USC. The USC advocates for increased supports for students, a safe campus community, and affordable and accessible tuition. Recent advocacy wins include the approval of permanent Fall Reading Week, introduction of a revised medical note policy, allowance of preferred first names on university documents, investment of improved lighting on campus, implementation of LTC express bus routes, and more. 

You can access peer programs that are run by students, for students and that address gaps in support services on campus. We support each student and their unique needs with a diverse set of services which embraces and advocates with a variety of diverse ethnocultural, indigenous, LGBTQ2+, and other marginalized student communities. 

Since 1906, the Gazette has covered what matters to students. As Western’s largest student media outlet, we need your help to keep campus informed and entertained. 

You can support student refugees attending Western University in a safe and supportive environment in Canada. This unique program includes academic supports to help with both the resettlement and university experience. 

You can support the tradition and excellence of the Western Marching Band! Established in 1937, they perform at athletic games, parades and festivals and are one of the largest marching bands in Canada. 

You can experience exciting events and leadership opportunities with people in your faculty, or affiliate university-college (Huron, Brescia, King’s) by supporting Faculty and Affiliate Councils. These councils host concerts, guest speakers, academic conferences, and more. They also advocate for student needs at a faculty and/or affiliate university-college level.

You can attend any of the more than 4,000 USC events that take place every year like PurpleFest, BeerFest, Theatre Western performances, Rick’s Wednesdays, concerts, conferences and speaker series. All of these events are part of the vibrant, inclusive student experience made possible through this fee, by the USC. 

You can join any of the almost 200 clubs on campus that offer events, academic support, social networking, and leadership opportunities through the USC’s Clubs System. This fee supports the infrastructure of the system. The easiest way to get involved in clubs is to visit Clubs week in September and talk to our diverse mix of clubs about what they do. 

You can listen to radio content created by Western students and community members through Radio Western, unique in London for its ability to highlight local news and culture. You can also participate in their volunteer training programs and learn more about marketing and promotions, conducting interviews, writing and airing news reports, sports broadcasting, and radio production. 

You can help support students with children by providing them with safe, convenient, and accessible childcare on campus. This helps remove barriers to education, enabling more students to attend university. 

You can help provide free legal advice and representation to Western students and members of the London community through Community Legal Services. Legal services are funded by Western’s University Students’ Council, Western’s Faculty of Law, the Fanshawe Student Union, Legal Aid Ontario, and the Law Foundation of Ontario.