7.1. REGISTRATION

There are three (3) terms per year:  September to December, January to April and May to August.
Revisions approved Sections 7.1.1
by CGPS Council January 19, 2024		 Implementation
Implementation January 19, 2024

7.1.1. REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS AND MAINTENANCE OF STATUS

All graduate degree students will maintain continuous registration throughout their programs, unless otherwise specified by a special program agreement.

  • Degree thesis or project students are considered full-time for every term for the duration of their programs, including spring/summer term (May 1 to August 31). There is no part-time option for degree thesis or project students.
  • If there is no course for a master’s course-based student to take in a particular term, the student will register in a tuition bearing maintenance of status placeholder.  This registration carries with it tuition and student fees equivalent to a three (3) credit unit course. These maintenance of status terms are included as part of a student’s time in program.
  • Certificate, postgraduate diploma (PGD) and master’s course-based program students with at least six (6) credit units of course work per term will be considered full-time. 
    • Certificate, PGD and master's course-based students with fewer than (6) credit units of course work in a particular term are considered part-time for that term.
    • Certificate and PGD students who are not enrolled in a course in a particular term do not need to register for that term.  Certificate and PGD students are permitted to be unregistered for a maximum of two consecutive terms.
    • PGD students must be registered for at least one term of each calendar year by either enrolling in a course or in maintenance of status for that term.

Detailed information about registration is found at: http://students.usask.ca/academics/classes.php. Students register through PAWS. Questions can be directed to Student Central at https://students.usask.ca/student-central.php.

7.1.2. MANDATORY REGISTRATION IN THESIS OR PROJECT COURSE

Students in a Master's thesis or Master’s project program or in a Ph.D. program must register in the respective project or thesis course (992, 994, 995, or 996) in each academic term throughout the program.

7.1.3. REGISTRATION IN THE GRADUATE 990 SEMINAR COURSE

Academic units shall provide research seminars for students with appropriate opportunities to develop skills and discuss their research with faculty and other students.

With few exceptions, all graduate students shall register in the 990 seminar in the regular graduate academic session until they have received a Completed Requirement (CR) for it. Students must consult with their academic unit to find out what their program registration requirements are.

7.1.4. REGISTRATION IN UNDERGRADUATE COURSES

With permission of both their own academic unit and the unit offering the courses, currently registered graduate students may enroll in undergraduate courses. Undergraduate courses credited towards a graduate program must be 300 or 400-level courses, as determined by the College which offers the course. If the undergraduate course is part of a Program of Study that is approved by both the academic unit and the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, no additional tuition is assessed. If the undergraduate course is not included in the student’s Program of Study, tuition is applicable. Students must formally register in the selected undergraduate course(s).  

A graduate student completing an undergraduate course must achieve a minimum grade of 70% to pass and be awarded credit for that course. Ph.D. students are not eligible to take undergradute courses to satisfy degree requirements.

The Class Permit/Override Form must be completed and submitted to administrative staff in the academic unit to apply the appropriate permissions.

7.1.5. REGISTRATION IN TWO COLLEGES

In certain circumstances, a student may be permitted to register in a second college before completing the requirements for a degree in the first college. Normal time in program applies for both degrees. Support must be obtained from the Dean’s Office of the undergraduate college and the Chair of the graduate program, and final approval shall be from the Dean of CGPS or designate.

7.1.6. REGISTRATION IN GRADUATE LEVEL COURSES BY UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

Permission to register in one or more graduate courses will be granted only to exceptional undergraduate students for reasons such as the academic enhancement of the student's undergraduate program or the resolution of problems anticipated in proper sequencing of courses.  Tuition for a graduate-level course, when the course is taken by an undergraduate student, is assessed on a per-course basis, according to University regulations. 

Graduate courses completed in addition to the requirements of an undergraduate degree may be used to partially fulfill the requirements of a graduate degree (to a maximum of six (6) credit units). In such situations, the inclusion of a course(s) in a graduate program of studies must be approved by the graduate student’s advisory committee. 

Section 4.3 regarding the start date of a student’s graduate program will apply.  

7.1.7. REGISTRATION OF JOINT/SANDWICH STUDENTS

Students attending the U of S in a joint/sandwich student program must be registered in the CGPS for a minimum of one term (4 months). In addition to completing GPS 960 Graduate Research Ethics and Integrity Training Course, students in a joint/sandwich program must also register in:

  • GPS 992.0 research project course for the duration of their attendance;
  • A 990 seminar or equivalent course for one term

7.1.8. REGISTRATION OF DUAL DEGREE STUDENTS

Students attending the U of S in a dual degree program must be registered and attending the U of S for a minimum of three terms for Master’s students (one year), or, for a minimum of six terms (two years) for Doctoral students.

For complete information on dual degrees, please refer to Policy 21.5.

7.1.9. CONFIRMATION OF ENROLMENT

Students can access official Confirmation of Enrolment letters in PAWS.

7.2. CHANGES IN REGISTRATION

7.2.1. ADD/DROP DATES

All graduate students shall abide by the University’s regulations and deadlines for adding and dropping courses.

Please see Classes and Registration for detailed information about adding and dropping courses, and for deadlines related to academic changes. Any changes in registration should be discussed with the supervisor/advisor of the student’s academic unit.

7.2.2. CHANGES IN PERSONAL INFORMATION

Changes to names or citizenship status are made through Student Central, Student and Enrolment Services Division, and students are required to provide appropriate documentation. All other changes to personal information must be made by the student online through PAWS.

Students can make changes to their personal information (address, telephone number, emergency contacts, e-mail aliases) by logging into PAWS, clicking on their name as it appears in the top right corner, and choosing “My contact information” from the dropdown list.
Revisions approved Sections 7.2.3
by CGPS Council October 12, 2023		 Implementation
Implementation October 16, 2023

7.2.3. VOLUNTARY WITHDRAWAL

Students voluntarily withdrawing from their program should be aware of all options available to them before making their decision and are encouraged to have a conversation with their supervisor and/or graduate chair, or CGPS (where applicable).

If the student decides to withdraw, they must follow the procedures for withdrawal.

Students withdrawing from their program can re-apply to their program later by submitting a formal application.

Students who wish to withdraw from their graduate program must submit a Notice of Withdrawal from Graduate Program form to CGPS.

As soon as a student decides to withdraw from their graduate program, they must also withdraw from any courses they are currently registered in through the registration channel in PAWS.

Withdrawal from a program is effective as of the submission date and depending on when they withdraw, a student may receive a tuition refund. Students should view the registration and withdrawal deadlines, which pertain to tuition/fee assessment and grades, in the Academic Calendar.

7.2.4. WITHDRAWN BY CGPS FOR LACK OF REGISTRATION

Failure to register for three (3) consecutive terms is just cause for the CGPS to withdraw a student from their program. The student shall be provided an opportunity (15 days) to register. A student who has been withdrawn from their program and then later wishes to resume their graduate program must make a formal application through the academic unit.

Revisions approved Sections 7.2.5
by CGPS Council January 19, 2024		 Implementation
Implementation January 19, 2024

7.2.5. READMISSION AFTER WITHDRAWAL OR RTD FROM PROGRAM

Students who have voluntarily withdrawn or have been required to discontinue (RTD) from their graduate program and later wish to resume their studies must make a formal application through the academic unit. If accepted, the academic unit will make a recommendation for readmission to CGPS. If approved, the start date of the program is from the first registration in the program and the time-in-program includes the terms prior to withdrawal and following readmission and does not include the intervening time when the student was withdrawn from the program. Students readmitted to a program must fulfill program requirements as specified at the time of readmission.
Revisions approved Sections 7.3
by CGPS Council January 19, 2024		 Implementation
Implementation January 19, 2024

7.3. RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS

A residency requirement is the duration of time a student must spend on campus in person as part of their program at USask. CGPS does not have a residency requirement, but each graduate program may establish its own residency requirements for master’s and Ph.D. students. If a graduate program establishes a residency requirement, it must be indicated in the University Catalogue, be communicated clearly to students at the time of admission, in program guidelines, and be applied consistently.

7.4. FACULTY REGISTRATION IN GRADUATE COURSES

A faculty member may take graduate courses as a non-degree student; however graduate students are given first priority in courses with quotas. Requirements for application fee, transcripts, and language scores are waived for faculty members applying for non-degree admission.

To enroll in a graduate course a faculty member must submit a completed GSR 105F Graduate Course Registration form to CGPS.