Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions? We're here to help! This page provides answers for undergraduate students on topics like registration, deferrals, academic requirements, program changes, and more.
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Registration
Access our registration guide
See the how-to register guides on the Registrar's Office website. There's also New Student Registration Assistance at certain times of the year.
You can review the schedule and add courses to your shopping cart as soon as they become available. We recommend that you think about what courses you want to register in before your Enrolment Appointment.
No, the Shopping Cart Validation function does not enroll you in the courses. It only checks for any issues that may arise when it comes time to enroll.
You can check to see if a wait list is available. If it is, you can add yourself to the course wait list. If the course does not have a wait list, or the wait list is full, then you will need to keep checking on the course to see if space becomes available.
No, having a course in your shopping cart is distinct from being on the wait list. You must complete the transaction to either register in the course or add yourself to the wait list.
Each term has last day to 'add' and 'drop' dates. The 'drop' date is the last day you can drop a course without financial penalty, while the 'add' date is the last day you can add a course for a given term.
Restrictions hold seats in a course for specific categories of students. This allows them to get into a required course for their program that may otherwise fill up with non-majors who want to take the course as an option. You can check to see when the restrictions will lift. Once they do, you can register in the course if there is still space remaining.
Pre-requisites must be completed before you can enroll in a given course. Co-requisites are two courses that can be taken at the same time. Anti-requisites are two courses that cannot both be taken for credit.
Course selection
Learn how many courses to take, which ones to prioritize in your first year, and how to choose between open and program-specific options.
The number of courses you should take in the first year is subjective.
We recommend that you take all the specific course requirements in the First-year Degree Guide and the two science options (if applicable). It may take longer to complete your program if you take fewer than five courses per term.
Or, you can try to make up the difference in Spring or Summer terms, but be aware that fewer courses are offered outside of Fall and Winter and some courses that are required for degree progression may not be offered at all.
Open options are freely chosen elective courses. Most Faculty of Arts students will take a significant number of open options throughout their program.
Most Faculty of Arts programs require the completion of 6 units of science options. These consist of any courses offered by the Faculty of Science. It is strongly recommended, though not required, that you complete them in your first year.
No, you must complete at least 18 units at the 200-level before you can take a 300-level course. This precludes almost all first-year students from taking 300-level courses.
You can register in 300-level courses if you have received at least 18 units of AP/IB/GCE credit and have the necessary pre-requisites. But be aware that the expectations for students in 300-level courses are much higher than 200-levels and are very different from high school.
You should register in the required courses for the major you have been admitted to. You can adjust your registration later if you are admitted into your first choice.
As an Arts Undeclared student, you have the opportunity to explore different subjects to help you determine where you would like to focus your studies in future years.
You can also consider booking an exploratory advising appointment to help make your decision on your future studies.
If you already have a specific program in mind, you can attempt to register in the required courses for that program. Keep in mind that you will not have priority registration in many required courses.
Yes, the School of Languages, Linguistics, Literatures and Cultures' has a language placement process to determine which course is the right fit for your level of language skills.
Common Questions
Find quick answers to common first-year topics like email setup, transfer credit, program changes, and course outlines.
Yes, we require that you correspond with us using a UCalgary email address if you are a current student.
This is a change of program, which you can do through your Student Centre.
The application opens in October with a deadline of February 1 and the change will be made for the next Fall term. Some programs may have a competitive GPA or other admission requirements associated with them. If the program you want to change into is not under the Faculty of Arts, you should speak to the advising office of the school or faculty that houses the program if you have any questions.
The credit you receive for AP/IB/GCE can vary depending on the courses completed and your grades in them.
Course outlines become available shortly before the start of term. You can find them on the course D2L.
Direct your question on the course content to the professor or, if applicable, the teaching assistant(s).
Programs
Learn about program updates, degree planning, GPA guidelines, and other key academic topics. This resource can help you make informed decisions throughout your studies.
Current students can request a program change online through their Student Centre. The application period runs from October to February 1st each year, and requests apply to the following Fall term. You can only submit one request per year.
How GPA is Calculated:
- 9 units or less completed = Admission will be based on your high school grades.
- 12 units minimum completed = You must meet the transfer GPA requirement (up to 30 recent units are considered).
- Exceptions: Some programs such as Fine Arts degrees and honours may have additional admission requirements—check with a program advisor.
No. If you are completing a Change of Program request you may only select one program. Your application can be changed as many times as you wish prior to the Feb. 1st deadline.
Applying for a combined degree or double major counts as one choice.
You are also not required to accept or decline the offer if you’re admissible to the program, you will just have your program automatically changed.
If your application is denied, you will remain in your current program.
If you make the minimum cut off for the listed GPA range on the Admissions website you will be put on a waitlist to see if the GPA drops.
Through the Change of Program application which is due Feb. 1st. If you miss this deadline and hope to graduate within the year, see an Undergraduate Program Advisor.
Follow up with an Undergraduate Program Advisor prior to applying to honours to confirm you know all the admission requirements.
Most degrees require the completion of 120 units. Exceptions to this include any combined degree programs, which require a minimum of 150 units.
For more information on your program requirements, you can visit the online Academic Requirements program report through your Student Centre.
Double Major:
- 120 unit (4 year program)
- Same degree stream (e.g two BA programs)
- 1 parchment received at graduation
Combined Degree:
- 150 units (5 year program)
- Same (e.g two BA programs) or different degree streams (e.g BA and BComm
- 2 parchments received at graduation
Not all programs are eligible for a combined degree program. Refer to the academic calendar for approved combinations: (use same link on website)
A maximum of 30 units of total withdrawals are permitted.
A student may only withdraw from the same course once. If you need to withdraw from a course for the second time, you must request permission from an Undergraduate Program Advisor.
Yes. A “D” grade is considered a passing grade for most courses. However, a “C-“ is the minimum grade needed to use a course for pre-requisite purposes.
Students may use up to 18 units of D or D+ grades towards their whole degree, with a maximum of 6 units of “D” or “D+” grades in their major field specifically.
Please note “D” grades can have a negative impact on your GPA, and thus affect your Academic Review.
Yes. Students who have completed at least 1 semester at the U of C already can take up to 12 months away from U of C classes. For example, if last completed courses were in Winter 2025 means you must return for Winter 2026 semester.
If you need more time than 12 months you must seek Associate Dean approval;
If this allowed time is exceeded your student status is forfeited and you must reapply to the University if you still wish to return.
Remember to monitor your email and student centre regularly while away.
If you’re on academic probation you will need to disclose your plans to an Undergraduate Program Advisor prior to beginning your leave of absence.
The BA PSYC needs Math 30-1 or 30-2 (or equivalent) complete by the time of application to also be considered for admission, even if your most academic progress is at the University level.
The BSC in PSYC requires BIO 30, CHEM 30, and MATH 30-1 complete by the time of application to also be considered for admission. See section titled How do I change my major for more information on how GPA is calculated.
The BA and the BSc will ask for the same admission GPA. Check the future students page for the PSYC admission GPA range.
To be admitted outright you must present the top of the accepted GPA range listed or higher, if you make the minimum GPA you will be put on a wait list. A final response on a waitlisted position will not likely come prior to registration opening.
See the Centre for Career and Personal Development for future planning support.
You can also reference the Degree Profiles page for some suggestions for future opportunities.
You can also check whether you could be eligible to add on Co-Operative Education to get work experience while you complete your degree.
Courses and Policies
Find answers to common questions about course registration, credit options, and academic policies. Use this guide to stay on track with your classes and academic progress.
Students in the Faculty of Arts are allowed a total of 48 units of junior credit in their degree programs.
Students in combined degree programs, and specialty programs such as Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies and Bachelor of Film Studies, are permitted 54 units of junior-level courses.
Fall/Winter semesters: 18 units per term
Please note block week courses contribute towards your overall course count for a term.
- Spring/Summer semester: 9 units per term
- Our recommendations: 15 units per term max for Fall/Winter, 6 units per term max Spring/Summer.
Yes, if you’re in good academic standing and completed and are second year standing or higher.
A maximum of 60 units taken at other institutions may be accepted for transfer credit towards a 120-unit degree at the University of Calgary. Within the 60 units, a maximum of 24 units can be within your major field.
You must apply for a Letter of Permission in your Student Centre to take courses at another institution. Only exceptions to this are students completing an exchange via the International office at U of C, or students in the Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies or Bachelor of Film Studies program completing their required SAIT diploma component.
Students who want to take courses at other institutions must submit a Request for a Letter of Permission for the semester they intend to start the class through the online Student Centre (under the “Academic” “Program and Advising Info” section).
Important Steps:
- Check Transferability – Before applying, confirm with your faculty that the course will transfer as intended.
- Approval & Registration – Once your Letter of Permission is approved, you can register in the course(s) at the other institution.
- Submit Transcripts – After completing the course, you must arrange for official transcripts to be sent to Enrolment Services at the University of Calgary for transfer credit processing.
Processing Time & Fees:
- Transcript processing can take a long time, so check the timelines of the other institution if you’re trying to meet a particular deadline.
- A $25.00 fee applies for processing a Letter of Permission request.
If you are considering taking a semester off from U of C while studying elsewhere, refer to the FAQ: "Can I take a semester off?"
No, advisors cannot enroll students in a full class.
A process called an overload request exists for students to formally request permission from the department to be enrolled in a full class but this process is only available for a few weeks prior to when the class starts.
Many factors can prevent an overload from being granted and therefore overloads are not to be perceived as a guarantee.
Overload requests are an added measure a student can pursue to get into a closed course, it’s not to be defaulted to in lieu of continuous monitoring of the closed class for available space.
No. While your instructor is consulted on the request, overloads require final approval from the department’s Undergraduate Program Director who will be considering multiple factors of the request the instructor may not be aware of, such as fire code capacity of the classroom.
Dropping
- Due by the end of the first two weeks of class
- Not visible on transcript
- No financial penalty
- Completed by student through their Student Centre
Withdrawing
- Due by the last day of lectures
- Course is given a grade of “W” on transcript
- Paid fees are not returned
- Completed by student through their Student Centre
Check the Calendar and/or timetable for the exact deadlines (Important Dates), particularly for Spring/Summer and Block Week courses.
Students need Undergraduate Program Advisor approval to withdraw from the same course a second time. If approved, the advisor will enter consent in the system, allowing the student to withdraw via the Student Centre.
While our Undergraduate Program Advisors can diagnose many registration issues, they cannot assist with the registration process itself.
If you are a new student you may want to use the services of the New Student Registration Assistance: Advising | Student Success Centre | University of Calgary which are available during the May-August registration period. In this program, student peers help new students register in classes.
There is also a detailed Course Registration Guide for step-by-step instructions: How-To Guides | Office of the Registrar | University of Calgary.
If you’re struggling in a course, you have many options and many services available to support you.
The Student Success Centre offers various learning supports such as tutoring services, success seminars, and advisement by Academic Development Specialists: Student Success Centre
You could also speak to your professor or teaching assistant to discuss the course material.
If you are worried you may fail a course, you might consider dropping or withdrawing from the course (please see the FAQ section on What’s the difference between dropping a course and withdrawing from a course for more information on the difference).
If you have questions about the impact of dropping or withdrawing from a course, you should speak to an advisor.
No, the system can only review courses you’re currently enrolled in to check for pre-requisites. Therefore it may tell you that you’re missing a pre-requisite even when you have immediate plans to take the pre-requisite in an earlier semester.
You must review the listed prerequisites listed in the course description to make sure you will be able to enroll when registration opens.