Registration definitions
Learn some of the terms commonly used in the registration process.
Enrolment start time
Your enrolment start time will be the exact date and time when you can begin enrolling into courses. Some faculties/student groups have specific enrolment start time dates and times. You can find your enrolment start time in your Student Centre.
Requisites and restrictions
Many courses are reserved for students who are admitted to a specific degree program or a particular major. Restrictions tell you who can register for the course, and when. You may need to wait for a restriction to be lifted before you can register in some courses. (Restrictions in course search will be indicated by a purple star in Course Search and with a brief sentence in SB)
This is a course (or courses) that you must complete before you can enrol in a given course. If a course is specified as a prerequisite, you must achieve a passing grade in that prerequisite before you can take the course (unless a specific grade is indicated, in which case you need to achieve at least that grade [e.g. some courses may indicate you must achieve a grade of 80% or higher in the pre-requisite course]). Pre-requisites are listed in the course description when registering on your Student Centre and in the Academic Calendars course descriptions.
Two courses that cannot both be taken for credit because the content that is covered is too similar to one another.
Two courses that can be taken at the same time because the content is complementary.
Registration actions
Add a new course to your schedule.
Completely remove a course from your schedule
Trade or substitute one course for another.
Change the sub-component of a course (such as a lab or tutorial) while leaving the main component of a course (typically the lecture section) unchanged.
If a course is full, you may be able to join a wait list and wait for a seat to open in the course (if this functionality is enabled*). If a student drops the class, a seat will open up and be automatically filled by the next student on the wait list.
After the term drop deadline passes, the drop function allows you to withdraw from a class up until the last day of classes for the term.
Wait lists
If a course is full, you may be able to join a wait list. If a student drops the class, a seat opens and is automatically filled by the next eligible student on the wait list. (Note that wait lists aren’t enabled for every class. Adding yourself to a wait list does not guarantee a spot in the course.)
Course components
Main instructional component of a course where instructors introduce and work through the topics of the course.
Secondary instructional component of a course where you can apply learning from lectures. The class size of lab sections is often smaller than the lecture.
Another secondary instructional component of a course where you can ask questions, discuss course and reading material, and receive additional assistance.
A multi-term course runs over both the fall and winter terms. You must register for the course in each term, and also enroll in the same class section. Multi-term courses are identified as “A” for fall and “B” for winter.
Course delivery modes
A component is scheduled at specific times. You must participate or engage at the scheduled time(s).
A component is not scheduled at a specific time; therefore, you may engage with the course material at a time that is convenient for you.
Hybrid course components have both synchronous and asynchronous meetings.
A blended course means that it includes both in-person and online meetings.
Helpful tips
Generic transfer credit
Some of your courses may have transferred as generic credit. These appear on your transfer credit report with XX in the course number (2XX for junior options and 9XX for senior options). While these courses are transferrable for university credit, the content is not similar enough to be considered equivalent to a specific UCalgary course. Instances in which you'll need to have your generic transfer credit looked at by your department include:
- If you think one of your generic courses covered the same/similar material as a course you want to take or have to complete to fulfil your degree requirements at UCalgary.
- If you think your generic credit could be used to waive a specific prerequisite for a course you want to take at UCalgary. In these instances, you’ll need to have your generic transfer credit evaluated. You do this by submitting a course outline for the course (from the year you completed it) to the department that offers the subject at UCalgary. This process can take a few weeks, so have your credit assessed as soon as possible.