Options after failing 1A or 1B

Stream-4 students

If you have secured a co-op job you are required to complete the winter work term, unless the placement requires a promotion from the 1A term (applicable to some on-campus work programs). If you are without a co-op job you are encouraged to work with your co-op advisor to find employment in the winter term and to look outside of WaterlooWorks for employment opportunities.

You can ask your employer to keep you on for the spring term, but it is important to note that you will not be a co-op student and will not receive a co-op credit. This means you will work as a regular student. You must inform your employer regarding your change in status since it influences tax credits. Note that students who repeat a term are set to have 7 official work terms whereas only 5 co-op credits are required to graduate.

During your first work term you are required to complete (Professional Development) PD 19 during the winter term. Failure to satisfactorily complete PD 19 will appear as a No Credit (NCR) on your transcript

Stream-8 students

You will be removed from 1B courses once term standings are official. You are encouraged to find your own employment in the winter term. This employment will not be a co-op credited work term but will be good experience.

Both streams have co-op scheduled after 1B. If you have secured a co-op job you are required to complete your scheduled work term. If you are without a co-op job you are encouraged to work with your co-op advisor to find employment in the winter term and to look outside of WaterlooWorks for employment opportunities.

You can ask your employer to keep you on for the following term (spring or fall depending on stream), but it is important to note that you will not be a co-op student and will not receive a co-op credit. This means you will work as a regular student. You must inform your employer regarding your change in status since it influences tax credits. Note that students who repeat a term are set to have 7 official work terms whereas only 5 co-op credits are required to graduate.

If you are on your first work term you are required to complete (Professional Development) PD 19. If you are on your second work term you are required to complete (Professional Development) PD 20. Failure to satisfactorily complete the PD course will appear as a No Credit (NCR) on your transcript.

In our experience, taking a break from UWaterloo after a failed term is very beneficial because it gives you time to rest, reflect, plan, and prepare so that you can be successful on your repeat term.

Some activities that you could undertake during the four-eight months prior to repeating your term may include:

• full or part-time employment – will not count as co-op
• volunteering
• attending career counselling workshops offered by the Centre for Career Action to determine if you are on the right career path.
• researching learning styles and university study skills, get help at the Student Succes Office
• self-review of high school and 1A courses
• developing independent living skills (cooking, cleaning, healthy grocery shopping, etc.)
• pursuing a drivers licence
• reading technical literature in your field of interest
• developing a healthy exercise program
• enhancing English and/or second language skills

Often, students in your situation want to take courses in the winter term immediately after failing 1A, but in most cases the underlying problems remain. We recommend taking a four to eight month break from your studies to assess and address the problems before returning to take courses towards your degree.

If you failed 1A and are interested in taking courses in the spring, we would recommend either:

• a strengthening term (see below), if you felt your knowledge base was not sufficient for 1A.
• the Reduced Load Program, if you struggled with the transition to university, and/or study skills and time management.

If you failed 1B and are interested in taking courses in the fall (stream 4) or winter (stream 8), we would recommend a non-degree term (see below).

If you wish to take courses during the spring term, prior to repeating 1A, you may request a term to strengthen your academic background and to make changes in your study habits. This would be an engineering non-degree term, and must be done prior to repeating 1A and have the following:

1. Maximum of three 0.5 weight courses
2. You must select at least one course from the following list of strengthening courses:

• CHEM 120 – General Chemistry
• MATH 103 – Introductory Algebra
• MATH 104 – Introductory Calculus
• MATH 106 – Applied Linear Algebra
• PHYS 111– Physics 1
• COMMST 223 – Public Speaking

Taking the above courses will not excuse students from retaking CHE 102, ECE 105, ECE 150, MATH 115, MATH 116, MATH 117 or PHYS 115 during a repeat term.

• If you select two courses from the above list, you can take one additional non-engineering course of interest, for a total of three courses. This course may or may not be a complementary studies elective.
• You are permitted to voluntarily withdraw from the strengthening term without penalty prior to the end of the drop penalty 1 period. See the Important Dates for more information.
• Contact the First Year office if you are interested in enrolling.
• You may attend workshops offered by counselling services, meet with a personal engineering counsellor, or attend study skills workshops offered by the Student Success Office.

What does non-degree mean and what is its use?

Engineering non-degree is a temporary status that allows students to enrol in an academic term for the purpose of facilitating a transfer to a different faculty, clearing/retaking 1A courses prior to repeating 1B, or taking electives.

I want to do a non-degree term prior to repeating 1B. What courses should I choose? Can I take non-engineering electives?

You can take non-engineering electives or clear 1A failures in a non-degree term.

You can retake a course you passed but struggled with subsequent classes in the subject, i.e. if you struggled in 1A and 1B calculus you should retake 1A calculus. You cannot take any core or equivalent courses from the term you will be repeating, or future terms. However, you can take general electives or Complementary Studies Electives (CSEs).

Please contact an advisor from the First Year Engineering Office to discuss and plan this option.

I want to transfer to another faculty at the University of Waterloo. Who should I contact?

You should review the faculty transfer information of the program of interest, and reach out to the appropriate contact to discuss your transfer options and the program's transfer procedures.

When can I enrol in a non-degree term?

The deadline for a non-degree term is one month prior to the start of term. Stream-8 students requesting a voluntary strengthening term (see above) must wait until the Spring term. 

Send your request and list of course to the First Year Engineering Office by:

• Spring – April 1
• Fall – August 1
• Winter – December 1

How do I arrange for a non-degree term?

Connect with the First Year Engineering Office to discuss your options.

How do I modify my courses prior to, or during, drop/add period of the non-degree term?

You should first attempt to make the change to your course selection on Quest. If the Quest system does not permit you to make the change, then you should complete and submit a course override form or email the First Year Engineering Office.

How many non-degree terms are allowed?

You are permitted to take one non-degree term. If a second is required for transitional purposes, contact the First Year Engineering Office.

This is the standard option if you have a term decision of Failed Must Repeat Term, and are still committed to UWaterloo engineering. During the 8 months prior to repeating the term you have the opportunity to make the necessary adjustments to study habits and create support structures to prepare for your repeat term and build a strong first year foundation. Historically, students who do this place at, or near, the top of their class, and this academic strength continues in upper years.

What courses do I have to repeat?

You must repeat all core courses in which you scored below 70%. If the term includes a Complementary Studies Elective (CSE), any CSE or non-engineering elective may be chosen. You are not required to repeat courses in which you scored 70% or greater. You can opt for an Elective Reduced Load (ERL) or replace these courses with a CSE or non-engineering elective to maintain a full course load for their term.

What do I do if I am excused from repeating a course (scored 70% or greater in my first attempt)?

If you are exempt from retaking a course, you can either repeat it, replace the course with a CSE or non-engineering elective to maintain a full course load for their term, or opt for an Elective Reduced Load (ERL) or

What are acceptable courses for replacing an excused course on a repeat term?

Acceptable courses are either complementary study electives, natural science electives, if your program requires them, or general elective courses.

Why do I have to wait two terms (8 months) before repeating the term?

It normalizes the time penalty for students in all plans and streams. This is specified in the academic calendar.

I am in Stream 4 of a dual-streamed plan, can I repeat 1B with the Stream 8 class?

Unfortunately, no, a stream switch is not possible. Students are required to stay out a minimum of two terms and then expected to resume their studies in the same stream they were originally admitted into.

What can I do during the term (4 months) prior to repeating the term?

Refer to the top of the page for options during an off term.

Should I be enrolled in a Work Report on a repeat term?

You should not be enrolled for the Work Report credit on a repeat term.

What are the grade requirements to pass a repeat term?

Promotion rules for a repeat term are a minimum term average of 60% with no course grade below 50%.

Is there a limit to the number of repeat term decisions a student can earn?

There are no more than two repeat terms allowed. If you receive a third failed term you will be Required to Withdraw from Engineering. Academic calendar. Unless you received a no penalty decision, see below.

I was awarded a No Penalty repeat term via a petition. What is the effect of the No Penalty?

The No Penalty designation means that the term is not counted as an attempt/repeat term with regard to the number of times a term can be repeated, or in the calculation of the total number of terms of full-time study in the plan. Course grades under 50 are changed to NCR (No Credit), course grades between 50 and 69 are changed to CR (Credit), and grades of 70 or higher remain on your transcript, and do not have to be repeated. Contact the First-Year Office to discuss your repeat term.

This condition is normally applied as a result of a petition that identified extenuating circumstances which significantly affected your performance in the failed term.