Undergraduate student information

On this page:

Fall 2021 term information
Spring 2021 term information
Online resources
Co-op program information
International student supports
Taking courses at other institutions
AccessAbility Services
Accommodations due to COVID-19

Fall 2021 term information

The recent news of an increase in the number of vaccines across Canada is giving us reason for new hope. It is with that sense of hope that we are planning to deliver significantly more in-person learning, work and research starting in the fall 2021 term. We are optimistic that on-campus activity can happen in person with a staged and strategic return to campus. Above all, our plan will be flexible so we can tackle unexpected challenges.

Though in-person learning will increase, we know many students will continue to attend virtual classes no matter what the pandemic demands.

What we know as of April 22, 2021

We are planning to offer as many in-person classes as possible with the required physical distancing and gathering-size restrictions to maintain safety. Using expected public health guidelines for the fall, classrooms will be scheduled at 50% of normal classroom capacity.
Because we can’t confirm what public health restrictions will be in place in the fall, we will be prepared to reduce in-person delivery as necessary to meet any alternate restrictions around physical distancing, gathering size and safety.
While we are planning to offer as many in-person classes as possible, we will work with students who are unable to come to campus to learn in the fall to explore other options to complete their program requirements.
Fall-term courses are intended to finish the way they start: if a course starts online, it will remain online until the end of term and will not transition to in-person. If a course starts in person, it will remain in person unless public health requirements necessitate a move to online.

Fall 2021 course registration

Fall course registration dates have been announced. Our faculties are working to finalize which classes will be offered in person, which classes will be online, and which classes will offer blended learning scenarios (a combination of in-person and online delivery).

Mid-May: Further details on our planned fall 2021 approach will be published on this web page.
June 1: Finalized fall plans will be published on the Course Selection Offerings List for students in advance of the respective Course Selection Periods. This will include whether the course is scheduled to be in-person or online.
June 9-22: Course Selection Period for returning students.
July 5-12: Course Selection Period for certain new students.
July 28: Fall term schedules viewable in Quest; Schedule of Classes updated.
July 29 - August 4: Drop/Add Period Appointments for new students.
August 4-5: Drop/Add Period Appointments for returning students.
August 6: Drop/Add Period (open enrolment) for all students begins.

Spring 2021 term information

The recent surge in COVID cases in Ontario makes it clear that the virus and our collective efforts to stop the spread need our continued attention posing ongoing difficulties in planning for in-person learning.

With this in mind, our plans for the spring term will be in keeping with our current approach. This means that instruction will continue primarily online and in-person in limited situations as the regulations allow.

Spring term will start one week later than planned

We recognize that instructors and students need more time to transition between terms than the current academic calendar allows. To create more time between terms, the Senate has agreed that spring term dates will be revised as follows:

Spring term will now start a week later on Monday, May 10
Classes will end on Thursday, August 5
Exams will begin on Saturday, August 7 and end by Monday, August 16 (the original last day of exams).

More details on the revised academic dates for the term are available on the undergraduate important dates webpage.

Please be assured that we are continuing to revise our plans for a safe and staged return to in-person activities as soon as the conditions allow.

Your health and wellbeing  is  our  priority. Please remember to take care of yourselves and each other. Information about supports for students and employees can be found on the COVID-19 Information home page.

In-person courses

In-person beginning May 10, 2021

BIOL 240L
CHEM 224L
CHEM 233L
CHEM 265L
EARTH 458L
NE 220L
NE 224
NE 226L
NE 320L
OPTOM 348B (clinic)
OPTOM 477
OPTOM 478 (clinic)
PHARM 111
PHARM 125
PHARM 229
PHYS 360A
PHYS 360B
THPERF 244

In-person when public health measures allow

CHE 102
CHE 291
CHE 390
GENE 101
MATH 115
MATH 117
THPERF 306 (need to be back in-person by June)
THPERF 379 (need to be back in-person by June)
THPERF 406 (need to be back in-person by June)

Information by faculty

FACULTY OF ARTS (INCLUDES SCHOOL OF ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE, GLOBAL BUSINESS AND DIGITAL ARTS, AND UNIVERSITY COLLEGES)

All courses, tutorials, and labs will be delivered online for spring 2021. This includes Accounting and Financial Management, Computing and Financial Management, Global Business and Digital Arts, Honours Arts, Honours Arts and Business, Social Development Studies, and all arts courses offered through the University Colleges (Renison University College, St. Jerome’s University, and Conrad Grebel University College).

Some online courses will have real-time (synchronous) activities such as online meetings and lectures. If these elements are part of your course, instructors will make sure that no students in the class are disadvantaged if they are unable to participate synchronously.

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING (INCLUDES SOFTWARE ENGINEERING)

We will deliver all undergraduate courses only online in spring 2021, with the following exceptions:
- 1A reduced-load students: The core courses GENE101, CHE102, MATH115, and MATH117 will be taught in-person when public health measures allow. Students who are not able to attend in person will be able to take the courses online.
- Architecture 4B students: Shop/fabrication facilities will be available for in-person use for ARCH492 (Design Studio) and ARCH570 (Special Topics in Building Technology and Environmental), subject to capacity limits. The courses can alternatively be completed entirely online.
- Biomedical Engineering 2B students: Some lab components for the core course BME294L (Circuits, Instrumentation, and Measurement Laboratory) can optionally be done in person, subject to capacity limits. The course can alternatively be completed entirely online.
- Chemical Engineering 1B students: Some lab experiments in the core course CHE101 (Chemical Engineering Concepts 2) can optionally be done in person, subject to capacity limits. The labs can alternatively be completed entirely online. Lectures and tutorial components of the course are available only online. In addition, the core course CHE181 (Chemical Engineering Design Studio 2) will have optional in-person office hours to support students with their at-home project. The course can alternatively be completed entirely online.
- Chemical Engineering 2B students: Some lab experiments in the core lab course CHE291 (Chemical Engineering Lab 2) can optionally be done in person, subject to capacity limits. The course can alternatively be completed entirely online. In addition, in-person research projects for the optional course CHE299 (Directed Research Project) may be permitted, subject to compliance with safety requirements that are in place for research activities.
- Chemical Engineering 3A students: Some lab experiments in the core lab course CHE390 (Chemical Engineering Lab 3) can optionally be done in person, subject to capacity limits. The course can alternatively be completed entirely online. In addition, in-person research projects for the optional course CHE399 (Directed Research Project) may be permitted, subject to compliance with safety requirements that are in place for research activities.
- Environmental Engineering 3A students: The core course EARTH458L, which is offered by the Faculty of Science, will have the option of in-person field labs. The course can be alternatively be completed entirely online.
- Geological Engineering 3A students: The core course EARTH232, which is offered by the Faculty of Science, may have optional (non-required) in-person lab activities towards the end of the term. The core course EARTH458L, which is offered by the Faculty of Science, will have the option of in-person field labs. The course can alternatively be completed entirely online.
- Nanotechnology Engineering 2B students: The core course NE220L, which was moved from Fall 2020 2A term to S2021, will be offered on campus. Students who cannot be present in person will do an online component of the course and receive an IP (in progress) grade in the course until they can complete the in-person activities in a future term. Likewise, the labs in the core courses NE224 and NE226L will be offered on campus. Students who cannot be present in person will do online components of the courses and receive an IP (in progress) grade in the courses until they can complete the in-person labs in a future term.
- Nanotechnology Engineering 3A students: The labs in the core course NE320L will be offered on campus. Students who cannot be present in person will do online components of the course and receive an IP (in progress) grade in the courses until they can complete the in-person labs in a future term.
- Systems Design Engineering 1B students: Some lab components for the core course SYDE192L (Digital Systems Laboratory) can optionally be done in person, subject to capacity limits. The course can alternatively be completed entirely online.

If you have questions, please contact your academic advisor.

FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT

We will deliver all undergraduate courses online for spring 2021.

Some online courses will have real-time (synchronous) activities such as online meetings and lectures. If these elements are part of your course, instructors will make sure that no students in the class are disadvantaged if they are unable to participate synchronously.

Please contact your academic advisor if you have any questions about the coming term, including the option of taking a reduced course load.

FACULTY OF HEALTH

All undergradaute course in the Faculty of Health for the spring term are online.

FACULTY OF MATHEMATICS (INCLUDES COMPUTER SCIENCE)

All undergraduate courses in the Faculty of Mathematics for spring term are online.

FACULTY OF SCIENCE

All first-year courses including lectures, labs and tutorials will be delivered only online for spring 2021, with the exception of PHARM 111 and PHARM 125 which will be in-person only (all participants will follow mandatory PPE and infection control measures).
All 200-, 300- and 400-level undergraduate and professional lecture courses will be delivered only online for spring 2021.
Depending on space availability and logistics, some 200-, 300- and 400-level lab courses will be only in-person; other lab courses will be only online for spring 2021. This includes:
- BIOL: all 200- and 300-level labs will be only online, except BIOL 240L, which will be only in-person.
- CHEM: CHEM 224L, CHEM 233L and CHEM 265L will be only in-person; CHEM 237L will be only online.
- EARTH: EARTH 232 labs will be online, and EARTH 478L will have both in-person and online sections available for students to choose.
- MNS: MNS 201L will be only online.
- PHARM: PHARM 229 will be only in-person.
- PHYS: all labs will be only online, and PHYS 360A/B will be only in-person.

Fourth Year Honours Thesis Project courses will be offered. In-person activity will be dependent on the research project and continuation of on campus research activities.
OPTOM 300- and 400-level clinic and clerkship courses will occur only in-person, following rigorous safety protocols.
PHARM 400-level clinical rotations will occur only in-person, following rigorous safety protocols.

Online resources

Explore online learning resources to help you navigate studying and learning in an online environment.
Learn about the Student IT Services available to you, how to use them, tips for remote learning, and how to get IT help/support.
Bookmark the library home page for quick access to search the Omni catalogue, or use a research guide to find information to assist in your studies.
Reconnect with your librarian for assistance using the Library or use the Ask us chat service.

Co-op program information

Co-operative and Experiential Education is engaging with co-op students to help them search for jobs and navigate their work terms in light of COVID-19.

If you have a work term scheduled for Spring 2021 or Fall 2021, please visit the webpages below to learn about changes to your work term and how co-op processes and requirements have been altered to help students meet their degree requirements.

If you have questions related to co-op, please reach out to your co-op advisor by sending a message through WaterlooWorks. Your advisor is there to support you as you search for work, make career decisions and make the most of your work term.

Students in other work placements can reach out to their academic supervisor if they have any concerns.

International student supports

International students can access free and confidential online appointments with our experienced and dedicated team of Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) who are licensed with the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC).

The University’s International Student Experience provides a variety of supports, available online, for international students including:

Waterloo Student Quarantine Package
COVID-19 Travel and Quarantine Checklist
International Student Travel Plans and Quarantine Form
International Peer Community facebook group
Virtual events
Monthly International Student Connection email newsletter.

Taking courses at other institutions

All University travel is currently suspended. For most up-to-date travel-related University of Waterloo instruction, visit the Health and travel guidance page.

Letter of Permission Applications

On March 20, 2020, the Office of the Registrar announced changes to Letter of Permission Applications.

Following the University's travel guidance, if you are wishing to study at a post-secondary institution on Letter of Permission (LOP), you will only be able to do so if the courses are being offered online or, for in-person classes, if you are already in the city where the institution is located (i.e., no travel is required) and the institution is operating. This will allow you to continue your studies if you have returned home. This is in effect until at least spring 2021.

AccessAbility Services

Although the doors of AccessAbility Services and the Exam Centre are temporary closed, our staff our still available and committed to students. AAS will continue to support students with assistive technology, learning strategy support, and accommodation consulting to ensure you are supported in the online space.

Find out more about AccessAbility Services modified services.

Accommodations due to COVID-19

You can find details on normal academic regulations and accommodations on the University’s academic calendar.

You are reminded that our rules for accommodations for justified absence from class and/or from assessments are in place to support student success and to mitigate the effects of extenuating circumstances on their academic progress. These accommodations remain in place for alternative course delivery.

Find out how to self-declare an illness.

Accommodation for illnesses

We have made the University of Waterloo Verification of Illness form for students a self-declaration, which means students do not need a doctor’s note for accommodation if they become ill. Students can find the Illness self-declaration form in the Personal Information section of Quest.

Other accommodations due to COVID-19

When in-person courses resume, if you are delayed from returning to class because of the coronavirus outbreak – please communicate with your instructors and advisors as soon as possible about your absence.

If you believe you have extenuating circumstances or have been adversely impacted by COVID-19 which has affected your academic record, you may wish to discuss with your academic advisor whether to submit a petition for exception to academic regulations in line with Policy 70.