B-4.1. Course enrolment
(Approved by the Senate on April 17, 2023, effective May 1, 2023)
Once they have been admitted, students must enrol in their program of studies within the deadlines indicated in the Important dates and deadlines section.
To take courses or participate in other academic activities (for example discussion groups, laboratories, practicums, etc.) at the University, a student must enrol before the deadlines specified in the Important Dates and Deadlines calendar. In general, course selections may be changed before the deadlines specified in the Important Dates and Deadlines calendar. It is the student’s responsibility to verify the deadlines and procedures for enrolment.
A student who is not enrolled in a course or related academic activity will not receive a grade or unit. Retroactive course enrolment or course modification is not permitted.
B-4.2. Program of study changes
(Approved by the Senate on October 22, 2018, effective January 2019)
Note: This regulation does not apply to the faculties of Law (Common Law and Civil Law sections), Education, Medicine, except for the Honours Bachelor of Science in Translational and Molecular Medicine.
If an undergraduate student wishes to change programs, either within the same faculty or at another faculty, all courses on the student’s file will be used in calculating the grade point average.
B-4.3. Maximum course load per term
(Approved by the Senate on February 28, 2017)
In direct-entry faculties and at the undergraduate level, students may enrol in a maximum of 15 units simultaneously during a given term, unless the structure of their program requires a higher number of units.
To enrol in more than 15 units, students require permission from the faculty as well as a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 6.0.
B-4.4. Courses in other faculties
(Approved by the Senate on December 6, 2010)
Enrolment in courses in other faculties is subject to the student’s program requirements and to enrolment limits.
As a rule, students who have been required to withdraw from a Faculty are not allowed to take other courses in that Faculty during the withdrawal period.
B-4.5. Repeating a course
(Approved by the Senate on April 17, 2023, effective May 1, 2023)
Note: This regulation does not apply to the Common Law Section of the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Education, the undergraduate Doctor of Pharmacy program, or the Undergraduate Medical Education Program.
In an effort to improve their grade or reinforce their knowledge, students can repeat courses they have either passed or failed.
With the exception of the courses offered by the Telfer School of Management and language courses offered by the Faculty of Arts, the student can repeat a successfully completed course that is a prerequisite for a course they have already taken and passed.
The following conditions apply:
All courses taken and repeated appear on the student’s transcript.
All courses, whether passed or failed, may be attempted up to three times. For the third attempt, a student must consult the Undergraduate Studies Office of their Faculty. Only the last grade obtained is used in the calculation of the cumulative grade point average (CGPA). A failing grade can replace a passing grade. The final grade from the last attempt will be included in the CGPA calculation when the result is considered official.
B-4.6. Academic reset
(Approved by the Senate on February 12, 2024, effective May 1, 2024)
(Approved by the Senate on April 17, 2023, effective May 1, 2023)
Note: This regulation does not apply to the Faculty of Law, to the Faculty of Education, to Undergraduate Medical Education program, to the undergraduate Doctor of Pharmacy program, to the Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, or to the Honours Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics.
- An academic reset enables students who have experienced academic challenges during their first year of university to make a fresh start in their studies by offering them the opportunity to change their academic focus or take different courses, without carrying a problematic academic record.
- To be eligible for an academic reset, a student must:
- Have been admitted to the University of Ottawa from a secondary school, college or CEGEP, or as a mature student.
- Be enrolled in an undergraduate program in a direct-entry faculty.
- Never have previously received an academic reset.
- To request an academic reset, the student must:
- Apply to their faculty for an academic reset. The application may be submitted by the student at any time during their studies, but must be submitted before obtaining the degree.
- Indicate to which courses the academic reset will apply. A reset applies only to the 30 initial units attempted at the University of Ottawa. The request must apply to between nine and 30 units. Additional courses required upon admission to meet admission requirements cannot be used as part of an academic reset application.
- Show that the application is being made as part of a fresh start to one’s studies due to factors such as a change in program of study (whether or not within the same faculty), failures and/or poor final grades, unsatisfactory academic standing or difficult life circumstances (such as health issues, death in the family or discrimination, harassment or sexual violence) that may have affected the student at the beginning of university studies.
- Show self-awareness regarding the challenges they faced at the beginning of university, and present an appropriate, realistic action plan indicating that the changes made will increase the chances of academic success in the future if challenges were to emerge again.
- In cases of discrimination, harassment, or sexual violence, the student is advised to obtain a letter from the Human Right Office indicating that the situation has been reviewed and confirmed according to applicable policies.
- The University is committed to helping the student take an academic pathway that will ensure greater academic success.
- Following approval of the academic reset by the vice-dean, academic or any other designated authority at the faculty, all courses identified as part of the academic reset will remain on the student’s transcript but the grades for these courses will not be included in calculations of averages; the courses will no longer count toward the student’s program requirements and an “Academic reset” mention will appear under the title of each applicable course.
- An academic reset cannot be applied to courses where penalties have been imposed for academic fraud.