Grading criteria, review and appeals

All courses are graded according to the alpha-numeric scale. The grading scale is as follows:

• 90 - 100% (A+)
• 85 - 89%   (A)
• 80 - 84%   (A-)
• 75 - 79%   (B+)
• 70 - 74%   (B)
• 65 - 69%   (C+)

All grades below C+ (65%) are failing grades for graduate students.

Students whose assignments and/or exams indicate a rudimentary understanding of the course material will earn a grade of C+. This grade may also be awarded if a student's work is hampered by vagueness, inconsistencies, or a failure to grasp key concepts or points. 

Students whose assignments and/or exams indicate a solid understanding of the course material will earn a grade of B. This grade may also be awarded if a student's work is clear and focused, yet is not exceptional or innovative. A grade of B may equally indicate that the student's work contains a few errors, average literary style or presentation, or is padded.  

Students whose assignments and/or exams indicate a strong understanding of the course material will earn a grade of B+. This grade may also be awarded if a student's work is particularly clear, well-developed, and shows some originality, yet is not especially exceptional or innovative. A grade of B+ may equally indicate that the student's work contains a smallnumber of errors, only above-average literary style or presentation, and some superfluous material.

Students whose assignment and/or exams indicate a superior understanding of the course material will earn a grade of A-. This grade may also be awarded if a student's work is precise, remarkably well articulated or presented, and demonstrates innovative thinking, yet is not truly outstanding or original. A grade of A- is only awarded to work that is nearly free of errors, evidences a refined literary style or presentation, and contains no superfluous material. 

Students whose assignment and/or exams indicate an excellent understanding of the course material will earn a grade of A. This grade may also be awarded if a student's work is remarkably precise, original, and very well articulated or presented. A grade of A is only awarded to work that is free of errors, evidences a highly refined literary style or presentation, and contains no superfluous material.

Students whose assignments and/or exams indicate an exceptional understanding of the course material will earn a grade of A+. This grade may also be awarded if a student's work is nearly flawless, remarkably precise, original, strikingly well articulated or presented, and demonstrates a complete mastery of the course material. A grade of A+ is only awarded to work that is completely free of errors and demonstrates a true mastery of the course material. This grade is very rare. 

The University recognizes the right of every student to see, on request after grading, all documents that have been used to establish their grade for courses in which they are duly registered; the documents include those produced by the students themselves or evaluations written by supervisors (as part of work terms, clinical placements or internships).

The University also recognizes students’ right to ask for a grade review and to appeal grades.

When students do not understand a grade assigned to them, the University encourages them to contact their professor or practicum supervisor for clarifications or for the reasoning behind the grade.

If students still question the grade despite the explanations they receive, they can ask for a review, as set out in this regulation.

The revised grade can be higher than, lower than or equal to the grade submitted for review.

The grade review cannot be cancelled once the process has been completed and the new grade assigned.

This regulation applies to grade reviews for all courses under the University of Ottawa’s responsibility.

At the graduate level, the  jury’s decision may, however, be appealed to the Executive Committee of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies on the grounds that appropriate procedures were not followed. Students who are not satisfied with the outcome of this process can appeal, on the grounds that appropriate procedures were not followed, to the Senate Appeals Committee.

This regulation also does not apply to technical errors (calculation errors, transcription errors, omissions, etc.), because they are quickly corrected by professors themselves.

A request for revision for any given mark may only be submitted once.

To learn more, please consult the Academic regulation 10.3.

Withdrawals

Students wishing to withdraw from a course or program shall notify the academic unit and the FGPS in writing before the deadlines. If the course begins and ends on dates other than those specified in the academic calendar, consult the academic unit or FGPS concerning the deadline for withdrawal. Courses dropped after the deadline for withdrawals, as well as being abandoned without notice, are of record with "EIN" (incomplete) or "ABS" (absent), equivalent to a failing grade.

A student may withdraw from required courses only with permission of the program manager. This permission will be given only under exceptional circumstances, for example, a medical condition justified by the appropriate official documentation.