FAQ

What is the difference between full-time and part-time? 
Can I declare a major or minor?
How do I know which courses to take?
When do I get to take electives?
Are there co-op options?
What is Distance Education or "DE"?
Who do I approach if I am having problems with my courses?
What do I do if I am ill for an assignment, midterm or lab?
What do I do if I am ill for Final Exams (or have other valid grounds for missing a Final Exam or Final Assignment)?
Can I repeat a course?
Is there some kind of accommodation given if I have three or more exams or midterms in a 24 hour period?
What is the minimum average I need to stay in my program?
What if I want to transfer into or out of the program I am currently enrolled in?
Do all class sections have the same professor?
Do I need a computer? (For B.L.A. Students)
What postgraduate options exist? 
What is the difference between a Program Counsellor and a Faculty Advisor?
How do I calculate a GPA using my Guelph grades?

 

 

 

What is the difference between full-time and part-time?

Full-time registration is enrollment in 2.00 or more credits. Part-time registration is 0.25-1.75 credits. If a student is interested in taking a part-time load for one or more semesters, they can discuss this option with their Program Counsellor.

Part-time status will not affect your status in the degree, but part-time status may affect:

Can I declare a major or minor?

For more information on the programs that offer opportunities to major or minor, see the Majors and Minors section of this website.

How do I know which courses to take?

Follow your Schedule of Studies in the appropriate Academic Calendar. It will list the core courses you must complete to graduate with your program requirements. 

When do I get to take electives?

A Schedule of Studies is listed for undergraduate students in the Undergraduate Calendar and diploma students in the Diploma Calendar. This is a list of the courses that a student will take to complete their program requirements while also listing the amount of electives students will take. Electives are indicated in the schedule, but students must also be careful to meet the restricted elective requirements of the major. 

Are there co-op options?

For more information on the programs that offer co-op, see the Co-op section of this website. For students enrolled in programs that do not offer co-op, please talk to your Program Counsellor for information about other experiential learning opportunities. 

What is Distance Education or "DE"?

Distance Education (DE) is a learning style that allows students to learn independently. Courses offered through DE have no classes; they are offered online only. These courses are offered by the University of Guelph through the Office of Open Learning to provide more flexibility for students who cannot or who prefer not to participate in more traditional learning opportunities. For more information please see Open Learning. Please see Student Financial Services to see any additional costs associated with taking a course in DE format. Not all courses are offered in DE format.

Who do I approach if I am having problems with my courses?

There are several places for you to get assistance with class material. Options include asking the course instructor questions after class or during posted office hours, Supported Learning Groups (SLGs), Teaching Assistant (TA) office hours, as well as help sessions offered by the individual class. You also have the option of hiring a tutor if you feel it is necessary. See the Additional Support section of this website.

What do I do if I am ill for an assignment, midterm or lab?

If you are ill, and unable to complete any graded work that takes place during the semester, please follow the instructions provided to you in the Course Outline or contact the Course Instructor. If you are unsure who to contact or what to do, then please contact your Program Counsellor. Do not write a midterm exam unless you are confident that you are medically/psychologically fit to do so. Once an exam has been written there are very limited options in terms of academic consideration (none of which are guaranteed). If you feel you have other grounds to miss an assignment or midterm, please contact the Course Instructor. If it is something affecting multiple courses, please contact the Program Counselling office.

What do I do if I am ill during Final Exams (or have other valid grounds for missing a Final Exam or Final Assignment)?

Do not write an exam unless you are confident that you are medically/psychologically fit to do so. Once an exam has been written, there are very limited options in terms of academic consideration (none of which are guaranteed).

If you are ill, when possible seek medical attention and obtain medical documentation. This can be included with your request for deferred assessment. If you feel you have other grounds to miss an exam or final assignment (i.e. medical or compassionate reasons beyond your control) and are unsure about how to proceed or what types of documentation you can provide, please contact the Program Counselling office. The policy on Academic Consideration can be a helpful resource for definition of grounds.

Can I repeat a course?

If you fail a course (grade below 50%), you can register for it and take it again. However, both grades will be factored into your average and will remain on your transcript. If you pass a course (grade of 50% or higher) you cannot retake it unless special permission is granted to do so.

Is there some kind of accommodation given if I have three or more midterms or exams in a 24 hour period?

No. Students are given their exam schedules prior to the start of the semester and therefore have time to change their courses if they are concerned about the scheduling of exams. It is your responsibility to check when your final exams are scheduled. If you have exams that are scheduled at the same time or overlap in any way, you need to drop and choose another course before the end of the Add Period. More information can be found by reading the University of Guelph's policy on final examinations under Student Responsibilities in the Undergraduate Calendar and the Diploma Calendar.

What is the minimum average I need to stay in my program?

Many variables determine the answer to this question. First, whether your Admission Status is Schedule 1, Schedule 2 (for Undergraduate Students), or Schedule 3 (for Diploma Students). Second your Current Academic Status determines the average which you need to maintain in order to stay enrolled in your program. Please contact your Program Counsellor if you have questions about your academic status.

What if I want to transfer into or out of the program that I am currently enrolled in?

Students who would like to transfer into a major that is not in their degree program must apply to transfer through the Admissions Office in the Office of Registrarial Services. Transfer information can be found on the Admissions webpage. It is recommended that you speak with the Program Counsellor of the program you which to transfer into for academic advice. Please refer to the list of Program Counsellors for contact information.

Do all class sections have the same professor?

Not all class sections have the same professor. Some of the larger classes (classes that all science students require such as CHEM*1040) may have different professors because there are so many different sections. The assigned professor is generally listed in your class schedule on WebAdvisor. In some cases, where there is more than one professor who teaches the class throughout the semester, WebAdvisor will list the Course Coordinator and you will find out the assigned professors from the course outline on the first day of class. If you miss a lab or have a conflict of another kind, contact your Course Coordinators. Course Coordinators generally do not teach the course.

Do I need a computer? (For B.L.A. Students)

Generally, a current generation laptop or notebook with wireless capability should suffice. You will at some point in the program be running AutoCAD, InDesign, SketchUp and Microsoft Office (suite of programs including Word, Excel, etc). Explaining this to a salesperson should get you what you need. A higher end "graphics card" (like "gamers" use) will be worth it as you may be running some software concurrently. Apple versus PC is your choice, we tend to see about a 50/50 split here in the program.

While you don't really need any specific software upon entry consider exploring purchasing your software through UG's CCS (Computing & Communications Services) as they tend to have very good discounts. You may need to wait until you have your UG numbers/passwords in place to do so. Many of the nearby Universities are quite flexible in their rules to allow you to purchase there and achieve educational discounts. Also, many of the software companies have "student trial versions" for free such as Autodesk, which puts out the AutoCAD software. Course instructors will likely be making suggestions as these programs become needed in the course.

What postgraduate options exist?

The Office of Graduate Studies has information about graduate programs offered at Guelph. Experiential Learning at the University of Guelph is also an excellent resource for your job search and options after graduation.

What is the difference between a Program Counsellor and a Faculty Advisor?

Program Counsellors have in-depth knowledge regarding program requirements as well as University of Guelph regulations, policies and procedures. Program Counsellors can assist you in the development of your educational plans by asking appropriate questions and identifying alternatives. Program Counsellors can help you explore outcomes by providing useful information about who to talk to and how to get in touch with them. If you are experiencing issues of a personal, medical, or psychological nature affecting your academics, a Program Counsellor may be helpful in identifying campus resources and can discuss your academic options.

Faculty Advisors are experts in their field. They can provide information on their specialization as well as career opportunities. They can also provide assistance to students with selecting courses based on student interest.

How do I calculate a GPA using my Guelph grades?

Use WhatsMyGPA.ca to calculate cumulative average and GPA.

The Library's Mark Calculator is also a useful tool for calculating your current mark in each course and your semester average.

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