Full-time students are students with a registration status of full-time and paying full-time fees. Full-time non-thesis master's, diploma, and certificate candidates must show a minimum of 12 credits per term on their record.

In some departments, students are permitted to proceed toward a degree on a half-time basis, i.e., students are permitted to register half-time instead of full-time during sessions of residence.

It is expected that half-time students will spend 50% of their time in the department participating in coursework, seminars, discussions, etc., with staff and full-time students. Half-time students are reminded that they must complete the degree within the time limitation imposed by Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, and that if they choose to be half-time they must:

• be so for an even number of half-time terms (i.e., two half-time terms equal one full-time term); and
• fulfil the minimum residence requirement in their program.

Certain degree programs can be followed on a part-time basis (e.g., M.Ed., M.Eng. Non-Thesis option, M.B.A., M.S.W. Non-Thesis option, and S.T.M.). Students in non-thesis programs (including the C.A. program) as well as Special, Visiting and Qualifying, Certificate and Diploma students, not taking at least 12 credits per term, are considered to be part-time. Students may, in some departments, proceed toward the degree on a part-time basis.

Part-time students are reminded that they must complete the degree within the time limitation imposed by Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

In cases of part-time and transfer students, all coursework might not be completed during the residency. It must therefore be completed during one or more additional terms (Non-Thesis Extension). Fees are charged accordingly.

Students in Additional Session or Non-Thesis Extension are students with a registration status of Additional Session (thesis programs) or Non-Thesis Extension (non-thesis programs) and pay fees accordingly. The following are such students:

1. Graduate students who have completed the residency requirements in a master’s program.
2. Graduate students who have completed 8 full-time semesters in a doctoral program (when admitted to Ph.D. 1).
3. Graduate students who have completed 6 full-time semesters in a doctoral program (when admitted to Ph.D. 2).

In doctoral programs, students must be registered on a full-time basis for one more year after completion of the residency (i.e., Ph.D. 4 year) before continuing as Additional Session students until completion of the program. It is expected that, at this stage, all the coursework and comprehensive examinations will have been completed and students will be engaged in thesis preparation.

Graduate students in non-thesis programs, graduate diplomas and certificates who have registered for all required courses but have not completed the work and/or have completed the residency requirements must register as Non-Thesis Extension students and pay fees accordingly. For example, a student who has registered for a last course such as a project but has not completed it, must register as Non-Thesis Extension status until graduation. Students in a Non-Thesis Extension session who are not registered for at least 12 credits per term, are not considered engaged in full-time studies.

Students who have completed the residency requirements for their graduate thesis program and who have submitted their initial thesis to Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies by the April 15, August 15, or December 15 initial thesis submission deadlines must register on Minerva in order for their registration status to be updated to "Thesis Evaluation". All students are required to stay registered and pay the associated fees up until the term of graduation. The registration status will be updated to "Thesis Evaluation" for all subsequent terms until the term of the final thesis submission. Students in thesis programs whose initial thesis and final thesis submissions are in the same term will not require a "Thesis Evaluation" status.

"Thesis Evaluation" students are considered to be:

• registered at the University in a full-time status;
• eligible for University services;
• eligible for funding;
• eligible for a T2202 tax slip crediting the months for which they are registered and any ancillary fees charged.

Students in "Thesis Evaluation" status are not permitted to register for courses. Students who still need to take courses to fulfill the program requirements after submitting their initial thesis will remain registered in additional session status and pay associated fees.

Students admitted to a Qualifying program are known as Qualifying Students for a Master’s. They must meet the application and admission requirements indicated by the chosen graduate department and the Graduate Admissions Unit of Enrolment Services. The courses taken during a Qualifying year will not be credited toward a degree program. Students are registered in graduate studies but have not yet been admitted to a degree program. These students take a full load (12 credits minimum) per semester of undergraduate courses as specified by the department. Only one Qualifying year is permitted.

Students who meet the minimum entrance requirements of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and wish to take one, or at most two, graduate-level courses per term (6 credits) without intention of proceeding to a degree or diploma are termed Special Students. After completion of a maximum of 12 credits, an applicant may not continue as a Special Student.

If graduate Special Students subsequently become candidates for higher degrees, they may receive academic credit for relevant graduate courses taken as Special Students. They must apply every year.

Students who wish to take undergraduate courses only must apply as Special Students in the undergraduate faculty concerned, even if they already hold degrees.

Visiting Students are those students who are registered in a degree program at another university and who have obtained written permission from both universities to take a course(s) for credit toward that degree program. Students studying in the province of Quebec who are in this category are eligible for a transfer of credit if the required permission is obtained using Quebec Inter-University Transfer forms. These forms are available online at mcgill.ca/students/iut. McGill students registering for courses required for their degree program at other Quebec universities are required to pay for the course(s) at the home university. McGill University and Université de Montréal participate in an exchange (graduate) with the University of British Columbia and the University of Toronto.

As a rule, graduate students should not register for courses through Inter-University Transfers (IUT) during the last semester before graduation. There are considerable delays in receiving official transcripts which delay the degree audit process and graduation. If special departmental permission is given for such a course to be taken in the last semester, there will be no extension given for the grade submission deadline.

Eligibility

If you are enrolled in a graduate program at another university and would like to attend McGill for a period of up to 12 months, to conduct research only, you must apply as a Graduate Research Trainee. Research trainees are not permitted to register for courses. This category of registration is for students registered in graduate programs in other universities to conduct part of their thesis research at McGill under the supervision of a McGill professor. The purpose of the training period at McGill must be described.

Conditions

Students applying to be a Graduate Research Trainee:

• must be registered in a graduate degree program at another university;
• must have permission from the sponsoring institution and include a letter of permission with their application;
• must have the approval of a McGill professor and graduate program to supervise their research;
• may apply for a start date throughout the academic year, but for administrative reasons, must reapply at the beginning of the formal academic year (for Fall term admission) if remaining at McGill; for example, if you begin a 12-month visit in January, you must reapply for the Fall term (September). A trainee may spend up to a maximum of 12 months at McGill, but the time does not have to be consecutive. The trainee can apply for multiple stages over a period of time that does not exceed 12 months;
• must include copies of transcripts as part of the application package;
• must demonstrate adequate proficiency in English to function in the University environment, including any required safety training and understanding of policies and procedures. Assessment of written and verbal language skills is the responsibility of the supervising professor;
• are not charged fees for any term of registration including Summer;
• are not charged any Student Services or Ancillary fees and thus do not have access to these services (including health insurance). Membership to athletics services may be purchased. Graduate Research Trainees do have access to McGill libraries, email, and required training in research ethics and safety;
• must arrange for basic health insurance coverage prior to arrival at McGill and may be required to provide proof of coverage.

To submit an application refer to: mcgill.ca/gps/students/graduate-research-trainee.

The status of "non-resident" is only applicable to students participating in a formal exchange program, in which McGill has signed an exchange agreement with a partner institution. The student must register and will be charged full-time tuition including other student-related fees at McGill.

Residents and fellows on staff of teaching hospitals associated with the University are included in Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies statistics. In the event that residents and fellows wish to take courses at the graduate level, they must apply for admission as Special Students, or apply to a degree program, graduate diploma, or certificate.

Members of the teaching staff of the University up to and including the rank of lecturer may enrol as candidates for a degree, diploma, or certificate. If their teaching duties are designated as full-time, they may only enrol as half-time students.

Professorial members of the academic staff may not enrol in graduate degree and diploma programs. This rule shall apply also to any persons who have been on the professorial staff within the previous 12 months, unless they resign completely from their positions at McGill.

Should persons registered in graduate studies be promoted to professorial rank, they may no longer remain graduate students, unless they resign or are granted a leave of absence from their professorial appointments.

In certain exceptional cases, professorial members of the academic staff may apply to a graduate program in academic units other than their own. Enrolment Services may grant permission if it is satisfied that the applicant's teaching unit and proposed unit for graduate study are sufficiently remote that conflict of interest situations will not arise. Permission must be granted before any courses are taken toward the proposed degree.

If you are a student at another Quebec university and wish to take courses at McGill using the Quebec Inter-University Transfer (IUT) agreement, you must initiate an online application to request the required authorizations at mcgill.ca/students/iut. You should also refer to your home university's website for regulations on the number of credits allowed, as well as the policies for transferring the credits.

McGill will automatically submit your grades for any completed courses to your home university.