Drop/Add Period

"Block" is a term used to indicate the course duration is condensed; it is not a standard 12-week course. Instead, it may be anywhere from 1 week to 11 weeks in duration.

Deadlines for adding and dropping block courses are also modified to align with the presentation of course content. Specific dates should be discussed with your instructor and may be included in the course syllabus.

For example, drop deadlines could look like the following for a 3-week course:

• 100% refund: in the first four teaching days.
• 50% refund: during the fifth-seventh teaching days.
• Drop with WD period: before the 13th teaching day.

Important information: Eligibility for financial assistance may be impacted due to varying course load over a given academic term. If this applies to you, contact Student Awards and Financial Aid.

During the Course Selection Period, you don't need to worry about dates/times - a conflict-free schedule will be created for you based on your requests.

During the Drop/Add Period, you need to be aware of when courses (and their related components) are offered since Quest will not let you add courses that conflict with your existing schedule:

• Review the Schedule of Classes and information on how to understand the Schedule of Classes.
• Choose courses and related components (if applicable) that do not conflict or overlap with existing courses or with others you want to add.
• Tip: Learn when to use the Swap function (instead of drop).

It is the portion of a class enrolment capacity that is reserved for a particular group of students, who usually need the course to fulfil a program/plan requirement.

Depending on the academic unit, reserves are often removed before the beginning of classes, when they can ensure all the students who need the course have enrolled. Other times, the reserves may be removed - freeing up space in the course - on the fifth day of classes.

Review understanding the Schedule of Classes to help you to determine free spaces.

See enrolment error messages to determine your next steps. 

If you can't get into a required course, either because all the sections are full or it conflicts with your schedule, contact your academic advisor.

Permission numbers are a special code required to authorize enrolment in some courses or to override class size limits; it can be entered directly in Quest, by-passing the need for a Course Override Form (though one may be required, depending on the academic unit).

In Quest, follow the instructions on how to add a class. Enter the number given in the Permission Nbr field (see step 5).

If the course you wish to take requires instructor consent or department consent: obtain a permission number from the instructor or academic unit; use it to enrol in the course in Quest.

If the name of the instructor isn't yet listed on the Schedule of Classes and you need permission or an override to add the course, contact the office (undergraduate studies staff or academic advisor) of the academic unit offering the course.

If you want to audit a course (i.e., enrolled in the course but no credit will be granted), you will need to complete a Course Override Form. Once enrolled, you'll see an AUD (audit) grade on your transcript.

Note: An AUD grade will not be recognized or recorded for students enrolled in the following faculties:

• Engineering
• Mathematics (except post-degree students)
• Science

Swap allows you to make changes to your class schedule without losing your spot in your current class (until the spot is confirmed), so it's always favourable to swap instead of dropping and then adding.

You can also swap components (e.g., changing a laboratory section) without touching the associated course. Be sure to follow the instructions on the Schedule of Classes for associated related components.

Normally, a course can be dropped up to the day before the Final Examination Period begins. However, the timing of the drop is important in determining refunds and grades earned. Learn more about the 100% and 50% refund deadlines, and the WD (withdrew) and WF (withdrew/failure - grade 32%) drop/add deadlines; see the exact dates on the list of Important Dates.

Some students are able to drop their last course directly from Quest. If you've attempted and aren't able to, email askthecentre@uwaterloo.ca for assistance.

Exception: If you're on a co-op work term and you want to drop the last/only course from your schedule, you must send an email to askthecentre@uwaterloo.ca requesting that the course be dropped from your schedule.

At Wilfrid Laurier University:

Undergraduate degree students enrolled in a degree program at the University of Waterloo may take advantage of courses offered by Laurier through a process called cross-registration (see Undergraduate Studies Academic Calendar for details and restrictions).

If the Waterloo equivalent course (e.g., ECON 120W) is listed on the Schedule of Classes, you can self-register with Quest. If it isn't listed, you'll need to complete a Cross-Registration Form.

At other institutions:

You must complete a Letter of Permission Application. Depending on your home faculty, you must first meet the eligibility criteria.

• Applied Health Sciences
• Arts
• Engineering: see your academic advisor
• Environment
• Mathematics
• Science