Letter of Permission

Students in Good or Excellent standing are normally permitted to take non-math courses at other universities on a part-time basis during co-op work terms or off terms*, provided that the courses are not explicitly required for their particular plan. A Letter of Permission may not be used for any Faculty of Mathematics course** or either of the following scenarios: 

  • If an equivalent online course is being offered at the University of Waterloo during the same term. 

International students should  consult an Immigration Consultant  prior to completing a Letter of Permission application, as this may impact their eligibility for a Post-graduation Work Permit. 

You must complete a Letter of Permission form before taking the course as the S&P Standings and Promotion Committee will not approve courses taken elsewhere for degree credit after the fact. 

Grading scheme

Courses taken on a Letter of Permission will be recorded on a student's academic record as transfer credits (CR - credit granted) or transfer failures (TF - transfer failure).

  • A grade of 60% or higher will be recorded as a credit. 
  • A grade of less than 50% will be recorded as a failure.
  • Grades of 50%-59% will result in the course not being recorded on a student’s record.

It is the student's responsibility to ensure that an official transcript from the host institution is sent to the University of Waterloo within two months of the completion of the course. Otherwise, a transfer failure will be automatically recorded. Any changes a student wishes to make to an authorized Letter of Permission must be approved in advance by the S&P Committee.

* An off term is defined as a term where a student is not taking courses or working for coop credit.  An off term is coded in a student’s coop sequence as an academic term regardless of course registration. 

** All courses in: ACTSC, AMATH, CO, COMM, CS, MATBUS, MATH, MTHEL, PMATH, STAT 

Questions about Letter of Permission can be directed to mathlop@uwaterloo.ca.