Registration

On this page:

1. How to register

1.1. Planning your registration

1.2. Declaring your programs

1.3. Registering on Minerva

2. Add/Drop period

3. Registration issues/errors

4. Record verification

5. Cancelling your registration

6. Proof of enrollment

1. How to register

1.1. Planning your registration

Before registration opens, you should plan your course selection for both the Fall and Winter terms. Planning begins by looking at the requirements for your degree and program(s) and making a course selection that helps you fulfill these requirements:

• Newly admitted students should consult First-year course selection for guidance on planning their course selection. Once you have read through these instructions, contact a Degree advisor if you have questions.
• Current students who plan to return to McGill are encouraged to plan in the spring (before registration opens in May) and meet with Program advisors if they need help with their course selection. Note that all courses have enrollment caps. If you do not register until you return to campus in August, the courses you want (or need for your program) may be full.

Once you have a general idea of the courses you want to take for the year, use the Minerva Class Schedule to view the actual course offerings for the Fall and Winter - this tool tells you which courses are being offered, on what day and time, the instructor, the location and the capacity.

Keep the following registration tips in mind:

• The normal course load is 4-5 courses (12-15 credits) per term; a full year is normally 30 credits - consult our Course Load webpage for full details and implications for full-time/part-time status. Have a plan that includes more than 4-5 courses, that way you'll have alternatives lined up if some of your preferred choices are full.
• You are advised against registering for courses that are scheduled at the same time in the Minerva Class Schedule. There will be no accommodations in the event of any course, conference or exam conflicts.
• IMPORTANT: Advising offices do their best to accommodate as many students as possible in the weeks leading up to registration. However, due to the high demand during this peak period, appointment availability is limited. The best strategy is to plan early and meet with an advisor before the rush begins. If you're unable to book an appointment before registration opens, don’t worry—you should still register for your courses. You’ll have the entire Add/Drop period to meet with an advisor and finalize your course selection.

1.2. Declaring your program(s)

• U1 students should declare their program(s) before registration opens.
• Decide on the program(s) you wish to pursue within your B.Sc. or B.A. & Sc. degree, and declared them on Minerva by the listed periods for making program changes. 
• You are encouraged to meet with a Program advisor for each of the programs you wish to pursue to ensure you have a plan to complete all your program requirements.
• Failing to declare your program(s) on Minerva may lead to registration issues as some courses are restricted to students in a particular program.
• Honours programs: if you have departmental approval to register for an Honours program, select the Honours Degree Program first, and then select the appropriate honours discipline(s) from the drop down menu.

1.3. Registering on Minerva (McGill's online registration system):

• Refer to McGill's Registering for Courses webpage for detailed instructions on using Minerva to register for courses, including a registration tutorial video.
• Registration for Fall and Winter opens in May/June - consult When to register for dates. You should register for the full academic year (this includes the Fall and Winter terms).
• To avoid a late registration fee, register for at least one course by the Add/Drop deadline, after which you can still adjust your schedule until the deadline.

2. Add/Drop period

The Add/Drop period (also referred to as the Course Change period) is a period of time at the start of the Fall and Winter terms during you which you can modify your course registration without penalty - up until the Add/Drop deadline.

• Before the Fall or Winter deadline, you can add or drop courses for that term on Minerva (using the step-by-step instructions) - keep in mind that course spots can be limited, so you're still encouraged to register early.
• Courses dropped during Add/Drop are deleted from your record. Your record will show only the courses in which you are registered after the Add/Drop deadline.
• Provided you drop a course within the Add/Drop deadlines, you will receive a refund for the course; if you add a course during this period, you will be charged for the course. You will only be charged for the courses listed in your final schedule.
• For summer courses at McGill, make sure you are aware of the Summer Studies requirements and deadlines.

If, after the Add/Drop deadline, you find that you neglected to add a course, you will need to fill out a Late Course Add form. The process might also include review/approval from the respective instructor and department - so be sure to read the instructions carefully. Once completed, the form is submitted (electronically) to Service Point. You must be able to explain adequately why you were unable to add the course(s) during Add/Drop. If your request is approved, you will be charged an administrative fee for each late course add.

3. Registration issues/errors

Problems with Minerva functionality? Call the Minerva Help Desk at 514-398-7878, or contact Service Point.

Problems registering for a specific course or courses? 

• If you are seeing an Error Message (Closed, Reserved or other restrictions), copy the error message and contact the Department offering the course to determine if registration is possible. Note: Always pay attention to "NOTES" that may appear directly below courses in Class Schedule as they may help explain error messages that occur. 
• If you are seeing a Registration Hold (Legal Documents, Transcript, etc.), copy the message and contact the appropriate Service Point unit.

Before the Add/Drop deadline, all students must use Minerva to check their course registration. You must ensure that you are correctly registered in all courses you wish to complete. If you notice errors in registration after registration deadlines have passed, you may request that the error be corrected. However, correcting a record when a registration error has been made is costly both in time and money, and in some instances may not be possible at all.

• To correct a registration error, submit an appeal to Service Point with a completed course registration form signed by the instructor(s). A fee applies for each change, and requests may be denied if similar errors were approved previously or if submitted too late. Corrections must be requested within one month of the term's end; late requests may not be approved, even with valid justification.

4. Record verification

5. Cancelling your registration

If you decide not to return to McGill in September or January after you have registered, you must drop all your courses on Minerva or submit a written request to cancel your registration before classes begin for the semester. 

In your letter, include your McGill student number and your signature. Enclose your McGill student ID card and forward it to the following address:

Service Point, Enrolment Services
McGill University
3415 McTavish St.
Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3A 1Y1
Fax: 514-398-5544
Phone: 514-398-7878

Please check with Service Point for the deadline to cancel your course registration before the start of the semester. Please note that if you cancel your course registration before the start of classes in September by the required date, your Fall term course registration will be deleted AND your Winter term courses will be dropped on Minerva by the end of September because your student record in the Fall is not active.

If you miss this deadline, you will have to withdraw from your Fall term courses.

If you cancel your course registration, you must request readmission on Minerva to resume your McGill studies.

Consult the Student Accounts website for information on how a break in enrolment may impact your student account.

The cancellation of your course registration will impact access to your McGill email account. Please consult this website or contact IT Services for further information.

6. Proof of Enrollment

If you need a document confirming that you are registered as a student at McGill, you can download a proof of enrollment letter from Minerva. Consult Service Point if you need additional documentation or other types of standard letters.