Residence Requirements

While most students will complete all their undergraduate work at McMaster University, the minimum requirements set out below apply to students who take part of their work at other institutions. In order to obtain any four- or five-level, first undergraduate degree, you must complete at least two of the levels (approximately 60 units of work) beyond Level I, including the final level, at McMaster.

To obtain a three-level, first undergraduate degree, you may satisfy the residence requirements either:

1. by completing the final level and at least one other level (a minimum of approximately 60 units of work) at McMaster University;

   or

2. by completing the final level (approximately 30 units of work) at McMaster University, including at least 18 units of program- specific courses.

The work used to satisfy the residence requirements must be completed at McMaster University; work taken at another university on a Letter of Permission will not count toward the minimum residence requirements.

All the work for a second bachelor's degree must be completed at McMaster University.

Registration

Policy on Access to Undergraduate Courses

McMaster's policy on access to Undergraduate courses is designed to ensure that resources are properly managed while enabling students to register in required courses so that their program admission requirements and course requisites can be met, and that their program of study is not extended.

1. Enrolment capacities are set on all undergraduate courses taking into account enrolment projections along with resources, enrolment trends and type of course (required or elective).
2. If need exceeds approved capacity, enrolment capacities for courses will be reviewed and may be adjusted.
3. Faculties and Department Offices are responsible for determining which courses require seats held back. These holdback seats must be managed so that students are able to complete program admission requirements, meet course requisites and register in courses required to meet their program of studies in a timely manner.
4. Where students are selecting from a list of required courses, access to a specific course is not guaranteed when there is another course available to meet a specific degree requirement.

• Registration:The purpose of registration is to officially record your program and courses. Information on how to register is available online at: http://registrar.mcmaster.ca/gettingregistered/. You must register in courses during the official registration period designated for each session or term. You are responsible for ensuring that your registration information is complete, and that your course selections meet the requirements of your degree. Academic counselling is available from your Faculty or Program Office to assist you in course selections. You are not fully registered until you are Dean Approved and Financial Approval has been granted. You may not attend a course if you are not fully registered. (If you are unsure whether you are fully registered you should check MUGSI.)
• Admission to Programs: Admission to and transfer between programs must be approved by the Office of the Associate Dean of your Faculty.
• Selection of Courses: Before you select the courses you wish to take, please read the requirements for your program in the appropriate Faculty sections of this Calendar. You are responsible for ensuring that your course selection meets the requirements of your degree. If you fail to meet the program requirements, you will not be eligible to graduate.

  Select the courses required for your program; then select your electives. Ensure that you have completed the courses which are listed as prerequisites, have completed or chosen courses that are listed as co-requisites and that permissions have been obtained, if required. If you do not have the course requisites, you will not be able to take the course selected.

• Changes to Registration:The last day for adding or dropping courses is approximately one week after classes begin for each term. (Please see the tables in the Sessional Dates section for the relevant dates for each term of the academic year.). After the above-mentioned period, you may cancel courses until the last day to withdraw without failure by default. Cancelled courses will be shown on your transcript with the notation CAN (Cancelled). After this date, you will remain registered in courses whether or not you attend classes. Your transcript will show a grade of F for any course not successfully completed.

  You are responsible for ensuring that your course selection meets the requirements of your degree. You should review your personal degree audit on the working day following each time you drop or add courses, and contact a student advisor in the Office of the Associate Dean of your Faculty if you have questions. Changes to your course load may also affect your fees and your eligibility for scholarships and financial aid such as OSAP.

• Limit on Level I Courses: In most Faculties, you may not obtain credit in more than 42 units of Level I courses in a three-level program, or more than 48 units in a four-level program.
• Eligibility for Awards: (See Undergraduate Academic Awards in this section and Undergraduate Academic Awards section for more information.)
• Overload Work: If you wish to take more than the normal number of units prescribed for a Level, you may do so only with the permission of the Office of the Associate Dean of your Faculty. Normally, a Sessional Average of at least 7.0 in the immediately preceding review period will be required if an overload is to be permitted. Additional academic fees will be assessed for overload work. (For further information please visit http://www.mcmaster.ca/bms/student/index.htm.)
• Load in Spring/Summer Session: If you wish to take more than 12 units in the Spring/Summer Session, or more than six units in either term of that Session, you may do so only with the permission of the Office of the Associate Dean of your Faculty.
• Repetition of Courses: Students may repeat courses that have been failed or for which credit has been obtained a number of times, with the exception of the students in the Faculty of Business who may only repeat courses which they have failed. The grades for all attempts appear on the transcript and enter into the computation of the Cumulative Average. However, only one successful attempt will enter into the computation of credit earned towards your degree.
• Auditing Courses: If you are a currently registered student in a degree program and you do not wish to have credit for a course, you may, with the approval of the Chair of the Department and the Office of the Associate Dean, audit the course. You must satisfy the prerequisite for the course, but will not complete assignments nor write the final examinations. You will not be permitted to register for credit in the course after the registration deadline for the session has passed. Please see http://www.mcmaster.ca/bms/student/SAC_students.htm for any applicable fees.
• Letters of Permission: If you are in good academic standing at McMaster and if you wish to attend another university to take courses for credit towards a McMaster degree, you must obtain permission ahead of time. To do this you must seek a Letter of Permission from the Office of the Associate Dean. Please take note of any conditions that might apply, including the requirement of a grade of at least C- for transfer credit. You should note that the grades obtained in courses taken at another university will not be included in the Cumulative Average. Full-time students taking courses on a Letter of Permission must continue to carry a full load at McMaster during the Fall/Winter session if they wish to be considered for Undergraduate In-course Academic Awards; i.e. courses taken on a Letter of Permission do not count toward your load for purposes of academic awards.
• Withdrawal from the University: If you wish to withdraw from the University, you must consult the appropriate Office of the Associate Dean. Your student identity card must be surrendered to the Office of the Associate Dean. Your course record will be handled as outlined above in Changes to Registration.
• Transfer of Credit between Faculties: Transfer of credit between Faculties is handled by the Office of the Associate Dean to which you wish to transfer. It is possible that full credit may not be given at the time of transfer between Faculties and additional courses may need to be taken.
• Calculation of Cumulative Average Following Reinstatement After Poor Academic Performance: Effective September 1997, if you are reinstated at the University, your Cumulative Average will be reset to 0.0 on zero units, although you may (at Faculty discretion) retain credit for prior work. If you are reinstated, you will be on academic probation. You must complete a minimum of 60 units of work after reinstatement to be eligible for Graduation with Distinction or other recognition based on the Cumulative Average.

International Study

If you wish to engage in international study, you may do so either by participating in one of the formal exchange programs that exist between McMaster and a number of universities in other countries; by participating in one of the programs available through specific Faculties; or by independent study abroad.

Formal exchange programs are those in which McMaster has an agreement with another institution, involving a temporary exchange of students. As an exchange student, you register and pay your tuition fees, and supplementary fees at McMaster. No tuition is paid at the foreign institution. If you are interested in participating in a formal exchange program, you can obtain further information and an application form from the International Student Services Office, Gilmour Hall, Room 104. Applications are normally due mid-January for exchanges expected to begin the following September. Admission is by selection. A registration checklist is available to assist you in making all necessary arrangements.

McMaster also offers other programs which allow you to spend all or part of your third year of a four-year program at another institution. You register but do not pay tuition at McMaster. These programs are not available at universities with which McMaster University has a formal exchange agreement. For more information on these programs, please see your Faculty advisor or the International Student Services Office.

Students must recognize and accept the fact that in many countries of the world, especially the newly-emerging nations, change may be the only constant. There are no guarantees that certain courses will be offered or that housing will be as one might expect. Spending time on an exchange program or an independent study abroad program offers an opportunity to develop one's adaptability and resourcefulness in the face of new situations. McMaster University cannot be held accountable for unforeseen changes in the host country.

For information about programs and universities, please contact the International Student Services Office, Gilmour Hall, Room 104.