Tuition Assistance Policy

Policy Statement

Investing in employees will support the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador in achieving its strategic goals and objectives, and in delivering public service excellence. The Public Service Commission (PSC) administers the Tuition Assistance Program to provide assistance to employees who participate in post-secondary programs of study, at the request of their employer as related to targeted competency development.   Consequently, a primary focus in approving tuition assistance will be the relevance of educational courses to the work required of the department in fulfilling its mandate.

Application

This policy applies to employees of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Definitions

For the purpose of this policy:

Active Employee – refers to a full-time or part-time employee who is currently working in their role, and not on any form of leave.

Eligibility

To be eligible for tuition assistance, the following conditions apply:

  • active employee with permanent employment status, employed for two or more continuous years with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador; or,
  • active employee with temporary employment status, with five or more years of continuous service with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador; and,
  • who does not have access to any other employer-sponsored tuition reimbursement program.

Roles and Responsibilities

Employees

It is the responsibility of the employee to:

  • confirm eligibility prior to the completion of the Tuition Assistance Application;
  • complete the Tuition Assistance Application, in consultation with their direct supervisor;
  • submit the Tuition Assistance Application, in accordance with requirements outlined in the Application Process section;
  • arrange payment of all fees, in accordance with requirements outlined in the Reimbursement Process section;
  • submit all required documents for reimbursement, within two weeks of receiving their final grade(s), in accordance with requirements outlined in the Reimbursement Process section;
  • to pay all fees if withdrawing from a course(s) prior to course completion (without tuition reimbursement); and,
  • advise the PSC within three business days of withdrawing from a course(s), prior to course completion.

Public Service Commission

The Commission shall:

  • review Tuition Assistance Applications to determine if an employee is eligible to receive tuition assistance;
  • confirm that all required documentation is received from the employee prior to tuition reimbursement;
  • issue reimbursement, as required;
  • monitor and audit to ensure compliance with this policy;
  • provide guidance and interpretation of this policy; and,
  • adjudicate complaints related to the application of this policy, pursuant to the Public Service Commission Act.

Application Process

Applicants must submit a Tuition Assistance Application that has been developed in consultation with their direct supervisor. The form must clearly demonstrate how the identified area of study will assist the department in addressing operational/strategic requirements. Furthermore, the application must be approved by the deputy minister, or designate.

The PSC  will administer tuition assistance via three intake periods throughout the fiscal year. A completed application with all supporting information/documentation must be submitted to the PSC on or before the application deadline. Separate applications will be required for each intake period, except in situations where a course spans more than one semester. All applications will be reviewed in the order in which they are received. Applications received after the posted deadlines will not be approved. However, employees will have the option to apply again during the next intake period.

Employees who wish to apply for tuition assistance can request an application form by emailing TuitionAssistanceCLD@gov.nl.ca .

Intake Course Start Date Application Deadline
Spring/Summer May to August April 15
Fall September to December August 15
Winter January to April December 15

Application Approval Process

The PSC will make every effort to support as many employees as possible, while taking the following considerations into account:

  • the degree of course relevance and practicality in relation to the department’s strategic goals and objectives;
  • the department’s ability to effectively address operational requirements as a result of the course/program selection;
  • the amount of tuition assistance being requested, as well as tuition amounts; previously approved and employee progress towards program completion; and,
  • the total funding available to the PSC for disbursement.

If approved, the employee will be responsible to arrange payment of all associated fees with the respective educational institution.

Reimbursement Process

Upon successful completion of approved courses, the employee will submit the required documents to the PSC for reimbursement for 50 per cent of tuition costs, up to a maximum of $1500 per intake period. Other educational fees, such as laboratory fees, and other learning and supportive materials, are the responsibility of the employee.

Reimbursement will be processed through the employer’s expense claim system. Employees must submit an expense claim, and include legible copies of the following documents, all of which clearly display their name:

  • official proof of successful completion of the course;
  • official proof of payment from the educational institution including the date of payment;
  • official itemized receipt(s) from the educational institution; and,
  • PSC approval letter with the matching course name and approval amount.

Additional Information

Termination of Study

If an employee withdraws from a course(s) prior to course completion, any associated fees will be the sole responsibility of the employee.

To ensure that other employees have access to tuition assistance, employees withdrawing from a course(s) are asked to immediately advise the PSC of the withdrawal within three business days, so that funding can be appropriately redistributed.

Termination of Employment

If an employee’s employment with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is terminated prior to course completion, either voluntarily or involuntarily, all fees will be the sole responsibility of the employee.

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Last Policy Update: July 2026