Graduate student definition

A graduate student must:

1. Be engaged in studies at an academic level that requires an Honours undergraduate degree or equivalent as a prerequisite for admission.
2. Regularly use University educational resources. This may be demonstrated by:
   1. Engagement in courses, following the program sequencing or rate prescribed by the graduate program; or
   2. Engagement in on-campus activities – e.g. labs, library, workshops, etc.; or
   3. Engagement in off-campus activities directly related to their studies, including field work, laboratory work, or activities co-located with a research partner;
      1. Conducting research with the support of University faculty / resources;
   4. Receiving support from University administrators.
3. Maintain regular communication with their graduate program.

Research graduate students are those who are enrolled in programs with degree requirements including a thesis or a Master’s Research Paper (MRP).

Course-based graduate students are those who are enrolled in programs with degree requirements that are satisfied through courses and milestones only.

Full-time students

Students who are enrolled at the University of Waterloo to study on a full-time basis for a graduate program must meet the following criteria:

1. Be pursuing studies as a full-time occupation*.
2. Identify as a full-time graduate student.
3. Be making substantial demands upon the resources of the University.
4. Be designated by the University as a full-time graduate student.
5. Under normal circumstances, for most programs (and all research-based programs), are able to engage in all program requirements necessitating geographical availability on campus. (See below “Full-time off campus” if program requirements involve absences from the University).
6. Be considered to be a full-time graduate student by their supervisor.

*Full-time students shall not be engaged in employment by the University for an average of more than 10 hours per week (or up to 20 hours per week with supervisor approval) as per the guidelines.

Full-time off-campus

Without forfeiting full-time status, a graduate student, while still under supervision, may be absent from the University to complete activities deemed necessary for their degree requirements (e.g., visiting libraries, internship, doing field work, etc.) provided that, if any such period of absence exceeds four weeks in any one term. Students for whom this applies shall enroll as full- time off-campus by completing a Change of enrolment status form.

Students who are participating in a Cotutelle program should use this status while at their partner university.

Part-time students

All active graduate students other than full-time graduate students as defined above are part-time graduate students.

Students may also hold part-time registration status as part of their academic accommodation as confirmed through AccessAbility Services. Under the terms of the accommodation, not all elements as noted below may apply.

Typically, part-time students:

• Are enrolled in a program which is only offered part-time; or,
• Are enrolled in a graduate program, and;
  • Are pursuing external activities that preclude full time enrollment;
  • Relative to full-time students, are engaging in reduced academic activities as defined by the graduate unit;
• Are progressing toward degree requirements at a reduced rate as defined by program time limits as part-time studies;
• Are not subject to University employment limits.

Part-time research students:

• Demonstrate university resource consumption levels that are significantly less than a full-time student. This includes:
  • Reduced communication with and input from their supervisor(s);
  • Reduced access to physical university resources, e.g., lab equipment, office space; reduced utilization of virtual university resources, e.g., library, computing services.
• Do not normally receive University funding, however, funding must be considered in cases of student accommodation as advised through AccessAbility Services.