Program Progression Policies

Continuous Graduate Enrollment

All full-time graduate students are required to be registered on a continuous basis, but it is recognized that certain situations arise where a leave of absence from graduate studies may be desirable. For more information regarding a Leave of Absence, click here.

Part Time Students are permitted to miss registering for one term without a re-application charge.

Tuition Fees

All graduate students must register and pay appropriate fees until actual completion of the research requirement, with tuition refunds being given upon completion as follows:

Phase I: Students who have completed all requirements for major papers or projects, theses or dissertations by the Phase I deadline will have 100% of the tuition refunded, provided that the student was registered in the previous term and that all other requirements for the degree are already complete. The grade will be assigned to the previous term.

Phase II: Students who have completed all requirements for major papers or projects, theses or dissertations by the Phase II deadline will have 50% of the tuition refunded, provided that the student was registered in the previous term and that all other requirements for the degree are already complete. The grade will be assigned to the previous term.

See the Graduate Studies website External Link for more information.

Time Limit for Degree Completion

Students for all graduate degree programs must complete their program requirements within a maximum time period. This is based on a student's starting status of full or part time and does not change if a student changes their status throughout the program. Leaves of Absence do not affect (i.e. do not extend) maximum time to completion terms.

M.Ed. (Full-Time)

Typical Time to Completion: 2 years (6 terms)
Maximum Time to Completion: 3 years (9 terms)

M.Ed. (Part-Time)

Typical Time to Completion: 3 years (9 terms)
Maximum Time to Completion: 5 years (15 terms)

Ph.D.

Typical Time to Completion: 4 years (12 terms)
Maximum Time to Completion: 6 years (18 terms)
* Funding maximum through GAships is 8 terms

Course Withdrawal

The final deadline for dropping one-term (i.e., twelve- or thirteen-week) graduate courses in Fall, Winter, or Summer term without a grade being assigned is nine weeks from the start of the term; for six-week courses in Intersession and Summer Session, three weeks are allowed. Prior to the deadline, courses dropped will be recorded as "Voluntary Withdrawal".