S/U Option Guide

The Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) grading option is available to students in the Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) and the Bachelor of Arts & Science (B.A. & Sc.).

The S/U option is an alternative course-specific grading scheme that lets undergraduate students take courses outside their areas of specialization without fear of decreasing their GPAs. Courses with final grades of "S" or "U" are not included in GPA calculations and do not count towards your major or minor requirements.  Most eligible students can designate one elective course* to be graded under the S/U option each term, and can use the S/U grading option for up to 10 per cent of their total degree credits completed at McGill (*see bottom of page for exceptions allowed in Fall 2020 and Winter 2021 terms).

This page is meant to give B.Sc. and B.A. & Sc. students broad guidelines about their decision to use the S/U Option. If you still have questions, please contact your advisor by consulting the SOUSA website.

First, some facts:

1. S/U grades do not affect CGPA.
2. To get an S, an undergraduate student must earn a C or better in the course. That is a minimum mark of 55%. If that is earned, then the credits are awarded. If a grade less than C is earned, a grade of U is posted, and no credits are given.
3. See the table below for information on how grades are calculated for undergraduate students using the S/U option.
4. Note that this information has been summarized from the full eCalendar policy.
    

When do you need to decide about using S/U?

1. You can add the S/U option until the last day of course add/drop for the term the course is taken.
2. You can remove the S/U option until (approximately) the 9th week of the term the course is taken (it is the same day as the deadline to withdraw from a course without a refund).  Exact dates are at posted on the Important Dates website.
3. For Summer courses, the deadline is the end of course add-drop for that session (May, June or July), which is usually the fourth lecture of the course.
4. Decisions are final after the deadlines. It is not possible to reverse your decision after the deadlines, so think carefully before making your decision. Talk to your advisor if you are unsure.

What to consider when using it?

1. You can only select the S/U option for an elective course.  You cannot S/U a program course (this means any complimentary or required course you intend to count towards your program(s) (including the Freshman program)).
2. If you are taking an elective course that is outside of your "comfort zone" and worry that you may receive a grade that is below your CGPA, using the S/U option will prevent your CGPA from being lowered.
3. If you earn a D grade in an elective course for which you have chosen the S/U option, your grade in the course will be a U (Unsatisfactory).  In this case, your CGPA will not be affected, but you will also not get any credit for that course. If you need the credit more than you care about the CGPA change, do not use the S/U option (Reminder: a grade of D is only sufficient for credit in an elective course. You cannot count a grade of D for a program course).
4. If the course is a prerequisite for a program or school that you plan to apply to, you must check with the admissions office for that program or school to see how they view S/U grades. Normally, we caution against using S/U on a prerequisite for future admissions, but conditions may have changed at some institutions since the pandemic.
5. If you want to be considered for a scholarship or award (or renewal), you should check what the requirements are for graded credits. Many awards and scholarships require a minimum of 27 graded credits over Fall and Winter. S/U is not considered a grade for these purposes.

How can you select the S/U option?

You can add or remove the S/U option on Minerva. Be careful and verify what you have done afterwards.