Withdrawal from Studies

Withdrawal from Full-Time Studies

To remain eligible for full-time grants and loans, you must remain registered in a full-time course load for the entire study period for which funding is received. 

If you drop below a full-time course load, it is your responsibility to notify the University Registrar’s Office and your home province or territory financial aid office.

Withdrawal to below the minimum full-time course load or entirely from classes can impact the funding for the current study period/school year and future eligibility for student loans. You should speak to your home province or territory financial aid office and your Faculty/College Registrar’s Office prior to dropping course(s) to ensure you are aware of the funding and academic implications to a drop in course load. 

For financial aid applications, “Full-time” is defined as being registered in a minimum 60% of a full-time course load in each term of study the student has requested funding/interest-free status (40% of a full-time course load for students with a documented permanent disability or documented persistent or prolonged disability). 

Course loads are not averaged over terms. For example, if a student has applied for/is receiving funding for the fall and winter terms, the student must remain enrolled in 60% of a full-time course load in the fall term and 60% of a full-time course load in the winter term (40% of a full-time course load for students with documented disability status). 
 
It is your responsibility to check the program length/number of study weeks requirement of your home province. 

Note: Students with a permanent disability or persistent or prolonged disability must establish disability status with their home province. After establishing disability with their home province, students may further contact the U of T Accessibility Services office to be set up with an advisor. 

Full-Time Status – Fall/Winter:

  • Undergraduate: Undergraduate full-time students must remain enrolled in 1.5 credits/60% of a full-time course load (1.0 credits if they have a documented disability status registered with their home province) or more in each term they have requested funding/interest-free status.
    Exception: Newfoundland and Labrador only – Full-time studies defined as follows:
    • Provincial: minimum 80% of a full-time course load
    • Federal: minimum 60% of a full-time course load
  • Graduate and Professional Degree: For financial aid applications, graduate and professional program students must meet the minimum Full-Time course load defined by their program/faculty. 

Full-Time Status – Summer:

Undergraduate:  

  • If you are enrolled in courses from May to August: 1.5 credits (1.0 credits for students with documented permanent disability with their home province)
    Exception: Newfoundland and Labrador only – Full-time studies defined as follows:
    • Provincial: minimum 80% of a full-time course load
    • Federal: minimum 60% of a full-time course load
  • If you are enrolled in courses from just May to June, or just July to August: 1.0 credits (0.5 credits for students with a documented permanent disability or documented persistent or prolonged disability with their home province) 
     
    Graduate: 
  • For financial aid applications, graduate and professional program students must meet the minimum full-time course load defined by their program/faculty.

Withdrawal from Part-Time Studies

For detailed information on maintaining eligibility for part-time loans and grants, please contact your home province or territory financial aid office.

If you are no longer in a part-time course load, it is your responsibility to notify the University Registrar’s Office and your home province or territory financial aid office.  

Withdrawal from part-time studies can impact the funding for the current study period/school year and future eligibility for student loans. You should speak to your home province or territory financial aid office and your Faculty/College Registrar’s Office prior to dropping course(s) to ensure you are aware of the academic implications to a drop in course load.

All students interested in financial aid applications who do not meet the above requirements are considered to be in part time studies. Students must contact their home province to determine whether they may be eligible to apply for a part time financial aid.