Enrolment error messages

When you get an enrolment error message in Quest (see common error messages) during the Drop/Add Period, you'll ultimately need to do one of three things, depending on the error message:

Choose a different course.
Have an override request approved:
1. Complete a Course Override Form and obtain necessary signatures
2. Obtain a permission number.
3. Forward any electronic approvals (i.e., via email) to rorec1@uwaterloo.ca.
Contact your academic advisor.

Every faculty or academic unit handles override requests differently. Review the following information if it is applicable:

Faculty of Arts courses: See the Arts enrolment problems and course overrides web page.

Faculty of Engineering courses: Contact your academic advisor.

Faculty of Environment courses: Email the appropriate Environment advisor.

Faculty of Health courses: Complete the Course Override Form, have it signed by the course instructor, then submit it to the appropriate academic unit co-ordinator:

Recreation and Leisure Studies: rec-advising@uwaterloo.ca
Kinesiology: Lee Chandler and Leanne Varey
Health Studies: Submit the completed form with instructor signature directly to The Centre.

Faculty of Mathematics courses:

If the Campus (Camp Loc) is STJ, contact the instructor listed in Quest.
For CS courses, contact a CS advisor.
For MATH courses, contact the Math Undergraduate Office (MUO).
For STAT courses, contact one of the Statistics advisors.
For any other Mathematics courses, contact the instructor listed in Quest.

Faculty of Science: See the Science course enrolment problems web page.

How do I find an instructor?

Find the name of the instructor for the class in Quest. Then use WatIAM to find the instructor’s contact information: their room and building location, email address, and telephone extension number.

See what to do if the instructor isn't listed.

Common enrolment error messages

Error message	What it means	What to do
Available seats are reserved	The portion of the class’s enrolment that is reserved for a particular group of students is full and you don't meet the reserve capacity requirements. This designation appears on the Schedule of Classes, directly beneath each section that has a reserve capacity assigned. In special circumstances, the instructor may override the reserve cap to allow a student to enrol.	Course Override Form: Ask the individual (see above) to select “Override Class Limit”
Class is full	There is no more room for student enrolment in the class. In special circumstances, the instructor may override the limit to allow you to enrol.	Course Override Form: Ask the individual (see above) to select “Override Class Limit”
Department Consent Required	You need special permission from the academic unit which is offering the course to enrol in this class.	Course Override Form: Ask the individual (see above) to select “Override Permission”
Instructor Consent Required	You need special permission from the instructor to enrol in this class. In special circumstances, the instructor may override permission to allow you to enrol.	Course Override Form: Ask the individual (see above) to select “Override Permission”
Missed deadline	You are making changes to your schedule after the deadline for adding or dropping classes has passed.	Contact your academic advisor.
Requisites have not been met	The course has prerequisites and/or corequisites that have not been met to enrol in the specified class, OR you have taken an antirequisite course previously. Prerequisites: There is another course that you must successfully complete before you can enrol in the course you are trying to select. In special circumstances, the instructor may override prerequisites to allow you to enrol. Corequisites: There is another course that you must take at the same time as the course you have selected (since you didn't take it in a previous term). In special circumstances, the instructor may override the course corequisite. Antirequisite: A course that cannot be taken if the other specified course has already been taken.	Check the listed requisites in the Undergraduate Calendar to determine what is missing or if you've taken an antirequisite. For prerequisite and corequisite issues: Course Override Form: Ask the individual (see above) to select “Override Requisites” For antirequisite issues: Contact your academic advisor.
Term maximum exceeded	You have tried to enrol in more courses than you are permitted to take in one term (unit load). In special circumstances, your academic advisor or Faculty may override the unit load to allow you to enrol.	Contact your academic advisor.
Time conflict	The times for at least two of your classes overlap (class number indicated). Test slot conflict: Sometimes a test slot for midterms is one of the components for a course. These slots are for one day only, but will create a conflict if you select a class that is held at the same time (see guidelines on tests during the formal lecture period).	Select a different section or a different course so that you can avoid the conflict. Test slot conflict: In special circumstances, an instructor may override time conflicts to allow you to enrol. If you feel you have a strong case for taking both courses, ask your instructor to select “Override Time Conflicts”