Ontario Visiting Graduate Student (OVGS) program

Joint program students in Geography and Environmental Management: University of Waterloo graduate students who are registered in the joint Geography and Environmental Management program may complete the online joint program registration request at partner university application to request to take courses at Wilfrid Laurier University without completing the OVGS application.

The Ontario Visiting Graduate Student (OVGS) plan allows graduate students to take courses at another university in Ontario if there is no comparable course at the University of Waterloo. Students enrolled in this program continue to pay tuition and fees to the University of Waterloo and are classified as an "Ontario Visiting Graduate Student" at the host university without paying additional fees to that institution. 

How do I apply?

To be admitted to another Ontario university under the OVGS plan:

  • Consult with your supervisor and/or your academic department to determine if this is the right fit to meet your degree requirements.
  • Complete all sections that pertain to you of the Ontario Visiting Graduate Student Application form.
  • Submit the form to your department for approval.

Your application will be forwarded by your department to Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs to obtain:

  • The approval of Associate Provost at the University of Waterloo.
  • The approval of the Chair and Graduate Dean of the host university.

Your admission to the host university is not complete until both the home and host universities have approved the course enrolment indicated on your application

How do I select courses?

When planning your course selection through the Ontario Visiting Graduate program, make sure:

  • That the course is at the graduate level and no comparable course is offered through the University of Waterloo.
  • That the course meets a requirement for your program.
  • That the course will be taken for credit only (courses in the OVGS program cannot be taken as audit or extra to your degree).
  • That a maximum of two half credit (0.50) or one full credit (1.00) is taken.

How do I know that I am registered and enrolled?

You are considered enrolled for the course(s) you plan on taking at the host university when:

  • Your approved application has been received and processed by your home university's Graduate Studies Office.
  • Your full fee arrangement has been made to your home university for the academic term(s) during which the course is taken.
  • The course(s) appears as a transfer course by viewing your unofficial graduate transcript through your Quest account.

How will I receive my grade?

The course instructor is accountable for reporting all final grades to their home institution's Graduate Studies Office.  It is your responsibility to follow up with the course instructor of the host university concerning the assignment of final grades.

At the completion of your coursework, you will need to make arrangements to order an official transcript from the host university to be forwarded to:

OVGS Administrator
Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1

As soon as final grades are received from the host university:

  • Your grade will be posted to your University of Waterloo graduate academic record.
  • Confirm receipt of the grade by viewing your unofficial graduate transcript through your Quest account.

What if I need to withdraw?

If you are not able to attend or continue with your enrolment in the Ontario Visiting Graduate Student plan you are required to: