A full-time course load in the Faculty of Arts is 4-5 courses (12-15 credits) per term of study in the Fall and Winter; a full year (Fall and Winter term) is normally 30 credits. This credit total includes courses taken at McGill and, if applicable, concurrent courses taken through the Québec Inter-University Transfer Agreement (IUT).
You must carry a reduced load (maximum 14 credits per term) if your academic standing is not Satisfactory.
Choose courses that will provide you with a balanced and manageable workload and consider your other commitments (part-time job, extra-curricular activities, eligibility for student visas, loans, bursaries, scholarships, etc.) in deciding how many courses to take. For example, each term select two or three courses toward your Major Concentration requirements, one or two courses toward your Minor Concentration requirements, and one or two elective courses.
In general, a three-credit course requires three hours of lectures per week for one term. Credits also reflect the amount of effort required and generally assume two hours of personal study time for each contact hour. Therefore, to meet the demands of a university level course, you need to expect to spend an additional six to nine hours per week per class for related course work. This additional time includes activities such as conference attendance, reading texts, reviewing lecture notes, conducting research for assignments, preparing for tests, and writing papers. Therefore, if you register for five courses, you must be prepared for 15 hours of class time and an additional 30 to 45 hours of study time each week.
Taking less than five courses per term may extend the time required to complete your degree if you do not take summer courses. However, a lighter course load can help you maintain a better academic and personal balance and may contribute to improved academic success. If your post-graduation plans include applying to graduate or professional programs, it is important to verify whether your intended institutions consider course load as part of their admissions criteria.
You should determine the impact that your course load will have on the timely completion of program requirements, your academic goals and access to any university services or financial assistance you may need. Faculty advisors in OASIS can help you figure this out!
| Credits per Term (Fall, Winter)/Year | Regulations to Consider |
|---|---|
| 12 credits minimum per term | for full-time status, which will be the eligibility requirement for student visas, most loans and bursaries |
| 14 credits maximum per term | for students in Probationary Standing |
| 17 credits maximum per term | for students in Satisfactory Standing |
| 27 graded (non-S/U) credits minimum per year (both the Fall and Winter terms) |
for renewal of McGill entrance scholarships; for in-course McGill scholarships or awards, including Dean's Honour List and Faculty scholarships |
| 30 graded credits minimum per year | for some external scholarships |
Summer course registration
You can register for up to a maximum of 12 credits for the summer. The 12 credit total includes McGill Summer Studies courses and courses taken at another host university during the Summer term.
You may take a maximum of two courses in any one summer monthly session (May, June, or July session). Please note that the schedule of lectures in Summer courses is very intensive and that two courses in one session is not recommended as it is considered a very heavy workload.
Part-time student status
If you are registered for fewer than 12 credits in a semester, you are considered to be a part-time student in that semester. Students are advised to consult with their service providers to ensure that they are meeting the necessary course load requirements to maintain services. If you plan to reduce your course load to below 12 credits, you are advised to have documentation to support this decision should you need to justify your reduced course load to a service provider, immigration authorities or graduate school admissions committee at a later date. If you are considering reducing your course load to less than 12 credits, your part-time status may affect the following:
| May Impact | Who To Contact |
|---|---|
| Scholarships or financial aid | Scholarships and Student Aid Office |
| CAQ or international study permit | International Student Services |
| Loans, RESPs, health insurance | Bank, health insurance provider, etc. |
Exceeding credits per semester
Freshman/Foundation Year students (U0) in the BA, BSW and BTH are not eligible to exceed credits. If you are a currently registered student in an Arts degree and have earned a minimum of 24 McGill credits with a CGPA of 3.50 or higher, you may request permission - for a particular term - to register for more than 17 credits in that term (to a maximum of 19 credits) for Fall or Winter, or more than 12 credits for Summer (to a maximum of 15 credits).
For more information, including the opening/closing dates for this form, please read the Application to Exceed Credits - Request Form (login required). It is your responsibility to ensure that there is space in the course you wish to add.
You can only submit one application for the current term of study. Applications for future terms will not be considered.
- Submitting this form does not guarantee approval of exceeding credits or registration in the course you wish to add.
- The programs on your unofficial transcript in Minerva must be accurate.
- Your Minerva record must be up-to-date. ALL grades and credits earned in preceding terms of study MUST be reported.
- Any transfer credit earned during an approved study away in a previous term of study must be articulated on your Minerva record.
Note 1: Late or retroactive requests will be refused.
Note 2: If your CGPA is less than 3.50, you are likely ineligible to exceed the maximum credit limit, and you should not complete the standard form. Instead, please submit the Arts OASIS webform.
Note 3: Foundation Year students (U0) in the BA, BSW and BTH and Special, Visiting and Exchange students are not eligible to exceed the full-time credit load.