Special students

Definition of “special student” (undergraduate) and “student categories”

The terms “special student” and “student categories” are defined in the Regulations and Policies for Undergraduate Studies, under Section 1. Categories and status of undergraduate students, 1.1 Student categories.

GENERAL REGULATIONS*

Admission requirements

To be eligible as a special student, the student must meet the criteria of at least one of the five subcategories under the definition of special student.

Special students must also meet the basic requirements for admission to the University, namely:

 1. OR  2.
Hold an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), with at least six Grade 12 / 4U or 4M courses and an overall average of 70%, or the equivalent (does not apply to the “personal interest” subcategory);


Qualify as a mature student, that is:
  • have not been engaged in full-time studies for at least two consecutive years;
  • are considered to hold promise of academic success; and 
  • meet the requirements of the faculty they have applied to.

The University reserves the right to verify whether a student meets the above-mentioned requirements and to either cancel the registration or prohibit further registration if they are not met. In addition, depending on the purpose of studies to be undertaken (see definition of special student), certain documents are required and certain conditions are imposed.

Restrictions

  1. A person who has been asked to withdraw by the University cannot register as a special student.
  2. A person who has been asked to withdraw by a faculty cannot register as a special student at that faculty while the withdrawal is in effect. 
  3. A person whose application for admission has been turned down by a faculty can be either accepted or rejected as a special student in that faculty's courses. 
  4. Full-time high school students cannot register as special students unless they belong to the “gifted student” subcategory. 
  5. A special student who has failed 12 credits as a special student cannot reregister as a special student. 
  6. Students admitted to regular programs have priority access to credit courses. In some faculties, however, a limited number of courses are open to special students. 
  7. To make sure that special students have the skills and background needed to benefit from a course, faculties reserve the right to require a transcript of previous studies or other relevant documentation. 
  8. Special students are subject to the same general and faculty-specific regulations as are regular students concerning attendance, assignments, examinations, supplemental examinations, grading, academic fraud, appeals, payment of fees, library privileges, etc. 
  9. Specific restrictions apply to special students in some faculties, schools or departments.

List of available courses for Special Students


What you need to do BEFORE you come to register

  • Print, fill out and sign the Registration – Special Student form.
  • Prepare a list of courses that you want to register for and indicate each course code and section (each section follows a different schedule). Check that these courses are being offered by consulting the List of available courses for Special Students in the section above.
  • Have second-choice courses ready in case your first choices are no longer available. 
  • Check the schedule (www.timetable.uOttawa.ca) to make sure that these courses will not cause a time conflict with the rest of your courses.
    • Have completed or be currently completing any prerequisite course(s).
      • You are required to provide an official transcript of past studies or pertinent documents if the prerequisites were not completed at the University of Ottawa.
  • Be aware of important dates and deadlines.
  • Check your statement of account regularly on uoZone (check the Financial Services website for more information and methods of payment).

When to register

Spring/Summer 2013 session: Registration for the Spring/Summer session begins on Tuesday, April 16, 2013.

Fall 2013 session: Registration for the Fall session begins on Wednesday, August 21, 2013.

Where to register

Students who wish to register for courses as special students must bring their completed Registration – Special Student form to one of the following locations, depending on their special student category:


Spring/Summer 2013

  • Personal interest: Registration takes place at InfoService.
  • Transfer of credits, upgrading and professional certification: Register in person at the undergraduate studies office of the faculty offering the course(s). A list of faculties is available on the uOttawa Students web page.

Fall 2013

  • Personal interest: Registration takes place at Tabaret 112 (Huguette Labelle Hall).
  • Transfer of credits, upgrading and professional certification: Register in person at the undergraduate studies office of the faculty offering the course(s). A list of faculties is available on the uOttawa Students web page.

Course withdrawal

Special students wishing to withdraw from courses can do so in InfoWeb (via uoZone) prior to the deadline for withdrawal. To withdraw from a course when signed into uoZone:

  • Click on InfoWeb
  • Click on the Registration tab in the left-hand menu
  • Choose Drop Courses
  • Choose the course(s) to be dropped
  • Click on Drop
  • Take note of the confirmation number (or print the confirmation page)

A student’s registration in a course is not cancelled by simply no longer attending a course. The University’s general regulations on refunds also apply to special students.



Important information for special students

Academic regulations
Academic regulations, which are approved by the Senate, establish requirements pertaining to, among others, programs of study, admission requirements, academic standing, academic fraud and the degree requirements.

Online registration tool
The University’s online registration tool, Rabaska, does not allow special students to register for or cancel a course.

uOttawa.ca email account
Correspondence from the University of Ottawa is sent to uOttawa.ca email accounts. Within 48 hours of registering for a course as a special student, you will receive an email addressed to your personal email account explaining how to access uoZone and your @uOttawa email account. It is your responsibility to check your university email account regularly. If you have trouble accessing any of your uOttawa accounts after this time has elapsed, call the technical help line at 613-562-5800 extension 6555.

Records
Academic records for special students are kept at the Office of the Registrar. Special students may obtain an official transcript upon request.

uOttawa card
The University issues a student card to special students just as for regular students. This card is required for access to certain University services and for writing exams. You can get your card at InfoService (Tabaret Hall).
 

* This information is subject to change without notice.