C-1.1 Categories of Graduate Students
There are three categories of graduate students at the University of Ottawa: regular students, non-degree students, and auditors.
C-1.1.1 Regular student
A regular student is a person who has been admitted to a graduate diploma or a program of study leading to a graduate degree at the University of Ottawa, and who is enrolled in one or more courses in that program.
C-1.1.2 Non-degree student
A non-degree student is a person who is allowed by the University to enrol in graduate courses or microprograms in order to obtain university units, but who is not seeking a graduate degree or diploma from the University. Non-degree students may enrol in a graduate course provided they obtain the prior approval of the academic unit offering the course. They must meet the requirements that apply to the courses in which they enrol, such as prerequisites, attendance requirements, assignments, examinations and passing grades.
Non-degree students may enrol in no more than six course units per term, and a cumulative maximum of nine units. They are enrolled part time.
C-1.1.3 Auditors
An auditor is a person who has been authorized by the academic unit offering the course to enrol in a course without earning units. Auditors are not entitled to write examinations, nor to hand in assignments, but are subject to course participation and attendance requirements. Auditors may not change their student status after the deadline has passed for course changes for the term in which they are enrolled, as identified in Important academic dates and deadlines.
C-1.2 Student status
C-1.2.1 Full time
General requirements for full-time studies
Full-time students must:
- have been admitted to a graduate diploma or graduate program as full-time students;
- be enrolled full time and pay full-time fees;
- be pursuing their studies on a full-time basis;
- be in regular communication with their thesis supervisor and/or their program;
- be considered full-time graduate students by their program and their thesis supervisor.
Students may participate in off-campus academic activities (e.g., visiting libraries, conducting field research, attending a graduate course at another institution, conference) with the approval of the thesis supervisor or the graduate program director.
C-1.2.2 Full-time status and paid employment
In programs offered on a full-time basis, the University expects graduate students to be enrolled full time. Students are expected to devote the majority of their time to their studies and make satisfactory progress toward timely completion of all program requirements.
To encourage timely program completion, students wishing to work more than 10 hours per week will be required to consult with their thesis supervisor and/or program director to ensure that their progress is maintained at an adequate and satisfactory pace, as stipulated in Academic Regulation: C-4.1 Satisfactory Academic Standing.
Thesis-related research work for which students receive a soft-funded research bursary is not included in calculations of paid employment.
C-1.2.3 Part-time
Part-time students must:
a. have been admitted to a graduate diploma or graduate program as part-time students;
b. be enrolled as, and pay fees for, part-time students;
c. be enrolled in six course units or less per term, unless otherwise specified in the program’s regulations.
C-1.2.4 Transferring from full-time to part-time status
Requests to transfer from full-time to part-time status must be submitted for final approval to the vice-dean of graduate studies (or equivalent) of the faculty offering the program.
The time limit for satisfying the requirements of a degree or a graduate diploma when transferring from full-time to part-time status remains the same as that provided in Academic Regulation: C-6 Time Limits to Complete Graduate Degree and Diploma Requirements.