Registrar's Office
and Student Services

Credit for Previous Work

With the express permission of the Program Committee in each case, courses which have not already been credited toward a completed university credential may be accepted for credit in the master’s program. All courses considered for transfer credit must carry a grade of ‘B-’ or higher and must have been completed no longer than seven years prior to the student’s admission to the program.

Residence Requirements and Time Limits

Residence is defined as the period during which the student is registered in the program, taking courses or pursuing scholarly work, or both, at the University of Lethbridge.

The minimum residence requirement for full-time students shall be 12 months continuous registration in the program (three semesters per year). Residency requirements for part-time students may be adjusted.

For full-time students, the maximum time limit for degree completion shall be 24 months continuous registration in the program. For part-time students, the maximum time limit for degree completion shall be 48 months continuous registration in the program.

All courses specified by the Program Committee must be completed and the thesis submitted within the maximum time limit. Except with the written permission of the Program Committee, students must maintain continuous registration in the program.

At the end of the maximum time limit, in cases where there is judged to be cause and where completion is imminent, the Program Committee may approve a leave of absence or extend the time limit for a maximum period of 12 months. Failure to complete within this period will result in the candidate being required to withdraw from the program.

Full-time or part-time students who do not register in the program in any semester will be considered to have withdrawn unless a leave of absence has been granted by the Program Committee. Since permission is not automatic, students who anticipate an interruption in their program should notify the School of Graduates Studies, seeking prior approval for a leave of absence. Residence requirements must still be met.

Leave of Absence

During an approved Leave of Absence, the student is not required to register, no fees are assessed, and the time granted is not counted toward the residency requirement. The Leave of Absence may be granted up to a maximum of one year during the tenure of study in the master’s program.

With the expressed permission of the Program Committee, a student may maintain resident status while conducting research off-campus (e.g., on field trips, using facilities or consulting libraries elsewhere).

It may be necessary for students to include in their program courses to be completed at other institutions. Proposals for such courses must be approved by the Program Committee and the residence requirements may be adjusted, if necessary.

Academic Standards

Students must receive a minimum grade of ‘B-’ (2.70 on a 4.0 scale) in all courses which are graded and which count toward the degree. A student who receives more than two grades below a ‘B-’ may be asked to withdraw from the program. All courses completed in the M.A. or M.Sc. program or transferred into the program are included in the calculation of the program GPA for graduation purposes. Transfer credit is not included in the GPA on the official transcript. A student must obtain a minimum cumulative program GPA of 3.00 in order to graduate from the program.

A student whose performance in the program is judged unsatisfactory by the Program Committee may be placed on probation; continued unsatisfactory performance may result in the student being required to withdraw from the program.

Appeals

All appeals in the M.A. or M.Sc. program should be directed to the Chair of the M.A. or M.Sc. program. Grade appeals for courses in the M.A. or M.Sc. program will be processed through the School of Graduate Studies. Other appeals will be heard by the Program Committee. Any appeal decisions may be addressed to the Executive Committee of the School of Graduate Studies, whose decision shall be final.

Students should consult the full description of the University policies on Appeal of Grade in the Calendar (see Grade Appeal Policy in Academic Regulations).

Academic Offences and Discipline

Graduate students are expected to exemplify high standards of academic and ethical behaviour and are subject to the University’s student discipline and ethical behaviour policies.

Fees

Fees are charged on a program basis. Fees for full-time students are assessed for the first calendar year (three semesters of study) and to be paid over three semesters of study—once in each of the three semesters. Full-time students are assessed a continuation fee per semester effective in their second year of study. Part-time students are assessed fees over the first six semesters of their program. Part-time students are assessed a continuation fee per semester effective in their third year of study.

A Continuation Fee shall be assessed for each subsequent semester while a student remains in the program, whether the student is resident for all or part of that semester. The semester fee shall be set each year by the Board of Governors.

See the Graduate Programs 2013/2014 Fee schedule in Fees.

For fee payment deadlines, see Fees.

Full- and Part-Time Studies

Students continue with the participation status under which they started, i.e., full-time or part-time studies. However, under extraordinary circumstances, students may seek approval to change their participation status. Students seeking approval to change participation from full-time to part-time studies or vice versa must obtain approval from their supervisor, the Chair of the department or department graduate coordinator, and the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. Such approval must be obtained no later than at the end of the first 12 months of study. Students may not change their status after 12 months of study.