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G.D.1 Graduate Registration


G.D.1.1 Annual Registration For Thesis-Based Students

All thesis-based graduate students must maintain continuous annual registration for a twelve- month period and pay the assessed  fees until all degree requirements have been completed. Students must initialize their registration annually, at the time of anniversary of their first registration term, and before the fee payment deadline for that term stated in the academic schedule.

A thesis-based student who does not initialize their annual registration by the fee payment deadline at the time of anniversary is not eligible to participate in university activities leading to a degree including conducting research in a laboratory, teaching and receiving paid support, or registering and attending a course. Students will be required to withdraw from their program for failure to register. This will be recorded on the student record as a required withdrawal. A student who has been withdrawn for failure to register will be required to apply and be readmitted to continue in their graduate program. Readmission is not guaranteed.


G.D.1.2 Term-Based Registration For Course-Based Students

Course-based students' status as full- or part-time is determined by the number of units they register each term (see section G.D.3.2 Course-based Programs). The Spring and Summer terms are a scheduled break for students in course-based graduate programs, unless otherwise stated in a program's calendar entry.

Course-based students must register in courses according to the requirements of their program and pay the appropriate fees every term in which they are taking courses until all credential requirements have been completed. Normally, a continuing course-based student who does not enrol in courses outside of scheduled breaks, or without being on an approved leave of absence (see section G.D.7 Leave of Absence), for a period exceeding 12 consecutive months will be required to withdraw for failure to register. New students who do not enrol in their first academic term will have their admission cancelled.

In some programs, failure to register continuously (i.e., from the first registration term until the credential requirements have been completed) may result in withdrawal or disruption to program completion times. Students should check their program requirements regarding the implications of not registering in courses for a given term outside of scheduled breaks or an approved leave of absence. Not registering in classes can have implications for student loans and immigration status. International students should consult with International Student Services for additional information.

A course-based student will not participate in University activities for their credential, such as attending courses, conducting research in a laboratory, teaching, or receiving paid support, unless they are registered in courses. A student who has been withdrawn for failure to register will be required to apply and be readmitted to continue in their graduate program. Readmission is not guaranteed.


G.D.1.3 Concurrent Program Enrolment

Concurrent program enrolment refers to enrolment in two University of Calgary credentials (certificate, diploma and/or degree) at the same time. Concurrent enrolment in two graduate degrees is not permitted, with the exception of designated Graduate Combined Degree Programs, and the final step of a laddered pathway Master's degree.

  • Regular students are eligible to apply for concurrent program enrolment. Qualifying, visiting, exchange, and joint degree students, as well as those who hold conditional admission for language upgrading, are not eligible.

  • Thesis-based students cannot hold concurrent enrolment in the first term of a graduate program. Prior to applying for admission to a second program, students are required to obtain permission from their current program. Permission to apply for a second program does not guarantee admission to that program.

  • Tuition fees are assessed separately for concurrent programs. General Fees are not duplicated. A student’s registration anniversary (and therefore the assessment of annual general fees) is determined by the first program in which they registered.

  • Courses completed in one credential cannot be used for credit toward another course-based credential. In rare cases, exceptions may be granted for credit towards a thesis-based degree.

  • Academic Regulations apply independently for each program.

  • A student must be in good academic standing in their current program to apply for concurrent enrolment in a second program.

  • Students must have active registration in both programs at the same time. A student is not permitted to take a leave of absence from one program but remain active in the other. Similarly, if a student is subject to suspension or expulsion, registration in both programs is impacted.

  • Students need to apply to graduate from each credential and students will receive a parchment for each credential completed. All credentials completed at the University of Calgary are recorded on the transcript.


G.D.1.4 Course Selection and Registration

A complete guide to course registration is available online at https://grad.ucalgary.ca/current-students/registration/course-registration.

Students should always consult with their graduate program and supervisor, if applicable, concerning course selection. Refer to the deadlines in the Academic Schedule.

Following registration, it is the student's responsibility to verify course registration and fee assessment using the Student Centre https://my.ucalgary.ca.

For information on Block Week and Non-Standard courses, see B.10 Block Week and Non-Standard Schedules.

Course-based students are not normally permitted to register in more than 15 units per term in the Fall and Winter Terms or more than 6 units per term in the Spring and Summer Terms.


G.D.1.5 Course Drops & Withdrawals

A graduate student may drop a course in which they are registered via the Student Centre at my.ucalgary.ca, any time up to and including the last day to drop a class as outlined in the Academic Schedule section of this Calendar. Tuition fees will be refunded and the course will be removed from the student's academic record.

After the drop deadline has passed, a graduate student may withdraw from a course in which they are registered via the Student Centre at my.ucalgary.ca, any time up to and including the last day to withdraw from a course as outlined in the Academic Schedule section of this Calendar. No tuition fees will be refunded and a 'W' will be recorded for the course on the student's transcript. The withdrawn course continues to count towards the student's unit load for the term. A withdraw ('W') has no impact on a student's GPA. Graduate students are not permitted to withdraw more than once from the same course. A second withdrawal requires the permission of the teaching faculty.

After the withdrawal deadline has passed, the course grade will be entered as earned. Block Week and non-standard courses may have different drop and withdrawal deadlines than what is listed in the Academic Schedule. Students can find drop and withdrawal deadlines for any course in which they are registered via the Student Centre at my.ucalgary.ca.

Students who are unable to complete a course due to an unexpected, uncontrollable circumstance may apply for an Extenuating Circumstances Withdrawal (EW), as described in section B.14.3.


G.D.1.6 Auditing Courses

Auditing students participate in classroom activities, except for lab or tutorial components, but do not complete any exam or course assignments nor do they receive a grade for the course(s) they are auditing. Students wishing to audit courses must get permission from their graduate program and complete a Change of Course Registration form, available at https://grad.ucalgary.ca/current-students/registration/course-registration.

Audit fees are outlined in P.4.6. Audit fees are non-refundable.

Because there are no grade implications, students are not able to withdraw from courses they are auditing. Audited courses also do not count towards a student's unit load for a given academic term.


G.D.1.7 Courses Taken Extra-to-Program

A student in a thesis-based or a course-based program may request to take a course that is extra to their certificate, diploma or degree program(s). The credit for extra-to-program courses will not count toward the current graduate degree, but students should be aware that the course will be included in all grade point average calculations on the transcript.

Registration in any course is subject to departmental approval. For fee regulations for extra-to-program courses, see P.4.14.


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