Academic Standing
The Faculty of Science operates under a "unit-weight" system in which student progress is measured by units successfully completed rather than by years. See "Determination of Level of Study" in the undergraduate studies academic calendar for details.
At the end of each term, the Examinations and Standings Committee of the Faculty of Science determines the academic standing of each student in the Faculty. The grades defined under "General Information" in the undergraduate studies academic calendar are used to make these evaluations. The Registrar then posts academic standings on Quest.
Students who meet the academic requirements for their plan will be in Excellent, Good or Satisfactory standing, depending on the plan and their term and overall averages. Failure to meet minimum average requirements for the plan may result in a Conditional or Failed academic standing. Students with a Conditional standing are strongly advised to meet with their Academic Advisor for plan-specific advice or the Science Student Success Officer (SSSO) for strategies to overcome barriers to academic success. Students with a Conditional standing are normally given only one additional term to attain a satisfactory standing.
Students who academic advisors feel they would benefit from the Foundation Term may choose to enrol voluntarily.
Excellent, Good or Satisfactory Standing
A student who meets, or exceeds, the minimum required standards of any Academic Plan will be placed in "Excellent," "Good," or "Satisfactory" standing. Assuming all other program requirements are met, for most programs in Science:
- if the cumulative average is greater than or equal to 80%, the standing is "Excellent"
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if the cumulative average is greater than or equal to 70% and less than 80%, the standing is "Good"
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if the cumulative average is greater than or equal to 60% less than 70%, the standing is "Satisfactory"
Please consult individual program descriptions for exceptions.
Conditional Standing
A student who marginally fails to meet the required standards of any academic plan will be placed in Conditional standing. The student must regain at least Satisfactory standing in that program or will subsequently be withdrawn from it. Students are not able to graduate while in Conditional standing.
Students who receive a Conditional standing at the end of their first or second term of study may, in consultation with their Academic advisors, choose to enrol voluntarily in the Foundation Term.
Progression Standards for students in 1A or 1B
A student in 1A or 1B given Conditional standing (i.e., who does not receive a Satisfactory or better standing) is encouraged to meet with the Science Student Success Officer (hereafter referred to as the SSSO) to determine the best course of action.
Failed
A 1A/1B student will normally receive an academic standing of "Failed" from the Faculty of Science under the following conditions:
- after failing a minimum of 1.5 units in a single academic term;
- after failing to achieve an overall cumulative average of at least 55% and a cumulative Science average of 55%;
- or if the Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies judges that the student is unlikely to profit from further study.
Students receiving this standing have three options:
- Foundation Term: Student will be moved to General Science and must follow a structured term of courses as determined by the SSSO. The course load will be UNIV 101 and two Science courses, excluding SCI-labelled or SCBUS courses. The requirements and outcomes of the Foundation term can be found in the Foundation Term section of the undergraduate studies academic calendar.
- Non-degree Term: Students who wish to pursue studies in another Faculty must enroll in a Non-degree term in preparation for the transfer, which must include UNIV 101.
- Apply for re-admission to the University of Waterloo after an absence of two consecutive academic terms (eight months).
Required to withdraw - may not continue in Faculty
A student will normally have an academic standing of "Required to withdraw - may not continue in Faculty" in the following situations:
- not meeting the conditions for re-admission;
- not meeting the average requirements for the Foundation Term.
Unsatisfactory - eligible for Honours Science Non-Major only
A student registered in any of the following programs: Biotechnology/Economics or Biotechnology/Chartered Accountancy, Science and Business, Science and Aviation or Biomedical Sciences who does not qualify for Conditional standing will be moved to Honours Science. The student is required to meet with the SSSO. In a future term, depending on cumulative Science and overall averages, the student could be eligible to resume his or her original Honours plan. Re-admission to a co-operative program is not guaranteed and depends on availability of space and academic averages.
Unsatisfactory - eligible for General Science only
A student in an Honours plan who does not qualify for Conditional standing or Honours Science, depending on his or her averages, may be moved to the General Science program. The student is required to meet with the SSSO and must carry a reduced course load, which is normally a three or four course maximum, as determined by the SSSO. At least one of these courses must be a Science course and it must be taken with any associated lab if that lab has not already been successfully completed. SCI-labelled courses are not allowed to be the sole Science course during this term. A student is deemed successful in this term if both the Science and overall term averages are at least 55%. In a future term, depending on cumulative Science and overall averages, the student could be eligible to resume his or her original Honours plan or can continue in General Science. Re-admission to a co-operative program should not be anticipated.
Progression Standards for students in 2A or above
A student in 2A or above who is given a Conditional standing (i.e., who does not receive a Satisfactory or better standing) is encouraged to meet with the SSSO to determine their best course of action.
Unsatisfactory - eligible for Honours Science Non-Major only
A student registered in any of the following programs: Biotechnology/Economics or Biotechnology/Chartered Accountancy, Science and Business, Science and Aviation or Biomedical Sciences who does not qualify for Conditional standing, will be moved to Honours Science. In a future term, depending on cumulative Science and overall averages, the student could be eligible to resume his or her original Honours plan. Re-admission to a co-operative program should not be anticipated.
Unsatisfactory - eligible for General Science only
A student in an Honours plan who does not qualify for Conditional standing or Honours Science, depending on his or her averages, may be moved to the General Science program. A student is deemed successful in this term if both the Science and overall term averages are at least 55%. In a future term, depending on cumulative Science and overall averages, the student could be eligible to resume his or her original Honours plan or can continue in General Science. Re-admission to a co-operative program should not be anticipated.
Failed
Students will normally have an academic standing of "Failed" from the Faculty of Science in the following situations:
- after failing a minimum of 1.5 units in a single academic term;
- after failing to achieve an overall cumulative average of at least 55% and a cumulative Science average of 55%;
- or if the Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies, judges that the student is unlikely to profit from further study.
Students receiving this standing have two options:
- Normally students in 2A or above who receive their first failed academic standing may apply for re-admission to the University of Waterloo after an absence of two consecutive terms (eight months). A co-op work term immediately following a Failed term standing is not counted towards the two-term absence.
- If enrolled at the time of receiving this standing, the student can either withdraw or be moved to a Non-degree term and allowed to finish that term. However, the student will not be eligible to apply for re-admission into any Science degree program any time in the future.
Re-admission following a "Failed" standing
For students who have had a "Failed" standing, a formal application for re-admission should be submitted to the Science Undergraduate Office two months prior to the requested term of re-admission. Applicants must include a statement outlining why they are now likely to succeed, along with their application.
Re-admission will come with the following conditions. Students will be re-admitted into the General Science program and must maintain a 55% cumulative GPA and a 55% Science average. This is based on a minimum of five lecture courses that must be taken in a maximum of two terms. Students must complete a minimum of two approved Science lecture courses, plus any related labs where applicable, each term. Successful completion of this term will result in clearing of failed and below-average course grades up to a maximum of 3.0 units. Cleared grades will be removed from averages but not removed from the student's academic record. If the conditions are not met, a student will have a "Required to withdraw - many not continue in Faculty" standing.
Required to withdraw - may not continue in Faculty
A student will normally have a standing of "Required to withdraw - may not continue in Faculty" in the following situations:
- Not meeting the conditions for re-admission;
- After failing more than 5.0 cumulative units, regardless of the Science or overall averages; Not meeting program/plan average requirements and/or failing 1.5 units or more, in any given term, following a previous "Failed" standing from the Faculty of Science.
Non-degree term
A student is normally allowed to enroll in one Non-degree term following a "Failed" or a "Required to withdraw - may not continue in Faculty" standing. A student enrolled in such a term is ineligible to return to any Science program. Enrolment in a Non-degree term is done in consultation with an Academic Services and Admissions Officer and an advisor from the Faculty in which the student is anticipating admission.
Repeating Courses
In cases where a failed course is repeated, both marks will be used in calculating the student's cumulative averages. Normally, no course or its equivalent may be repeated more than once.
A course which has already been passed, or its equivalent, will not be counted for credit a second time, nor will it count in any averages.
Regardless of previous failed attempts, normally, no course or its equivalent may be taken a third time. The rare exception to take a course a third time is granted via student petition, but the third attempt, if successful, will not count for credit nor towards any averages. The Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies, in consultation with the appropriate program advisor, will determine the course that must be taken for credit in place of the repeated course. Students normally request this exception in order to take senior level courses in a particular discipline where the repeated course is required as a prerequisite.
If the third attempt is unsuccessful the grade and failed unit will remain in the averages.