General Regulations

I.  Student Status

Generally, all graduate programs offered at Brock may be taken on a full-time or part-time basis.

Normally, students choose either full-time or part-time status at the time of admission and this status can only be changed for appropriate reasons. Appropriate reasons are changes in family circumstances, work situation or geographic location. A desire to minimize fees paid is not an appropriate reason.

1.  Full-time students

	Must be pursuing their studies as a full-time occupation and identify themselves as full-time graduate students in all documentation.
	Must be considered by the University to be in full-time study.
	Must be geographically available and visit the campus regularly.
	May be employed outside the University only with the permission of their Graduate Supervisor.
	Must limit employment to an average of no more than ten hours a week of University paid work in a given term exclusive of research assistantship in the student's area of work. If the student is employed as a graduate assistant, the ten hours per week should represent the total time spent by the student in connection with this appointment; that is, preparative work, making examinations and the like. Exemptions require the approval of the supervisor and Department Chair.

If an academic program requires an absence from the University, a student must apply for permission to be off-campus through their graduate departments. Approval must be given both by the Graduate Chair and Graduate Officer.

2.  Part-time students

Any graduate student who does not meet the requirements of a full-time graduate student as defined above is considered to be a part-time student. There is no restriction with respect to time spent on gainful employment.

Part-time students may register for a maximum of two half-credit courses (or equivalent) in each academic term. The equivalent of two half-credit courses is the thesis or major essay course.

II.  Residency Requirements

The residency requirements of a graduate degree program is the minimum number of terms in which the student must be registered on a full-time basis. For MA, MSc and PhD programs it is 3 terms (one year) of full-time registration. For part-time students 6 terms (two years) of study is required to fulfil the residency requirements. The requirements for MAcc students is 2 terms (Winter and Fall) of full-time registration.

III.  Degree Completion Time Limits

There are maximum time limits for the completion of graduate programs. Candidates may also be subject to time constraints prescribed by individual departments.

Master's Programs

1.  Full-time

Full-time candidates must complete all degree requirements within three years from the date of first registration.

The Master of Accountancy program is designed to be completed in two academic terms. In any case, candidates must complete all degree requirements within three years from the date of first registration.

Full-time MSc programs will normally be completed in two years. All experimental work for the thesis shall normally stop by the end of the fifth term after initial registration and in any event, not later than the end of the second year (sixth term) after the commencement of study. Six months shall normally be allowed for analysis of data and thesis writing.

Doctoral Programs

Full time candidates must complete the thesis and course requirements must be met within six years of registration as a full-time student.

2.  Part-time Master's Programs

Part-time candidates must complete all degree requirements within five years from the date of first registration.

Part-time Doctoral Programs

Doctoral candidates must complete all degree requirements within eight years from the date of first registration.

3.  Changing status

Where a student is permitted to change status from full-time to part-time or vice versa, the fraction of time remaining under the previous status will apply to the new status. Permission to change status must be approved by the Chair of the graduate department and forwarded to the Graduate Studies Office.

Students who do not complete the program requirements within the time allotted, will be withdrawn from the program.

4.  Extension of time limits

In exceptional circumstances, an extension of time permitting further registration for one or two terms may be granted on the recommendation of the department. Extension requests, detailing the exceptional circumstances, must be received by the Graduate Studies Office within the first month of the term in which the completion date expires. An extension will only be granted if approved by the department concerned.

IV.  Registration Policies and Procedures

Master of Accountancy

All students are required to register for both the Winter (January - April) and Fall (September - December) terms, unless they have received approval from the Accounting and Finance department for interruption of their program. Failure to register will be interpreted as withdrawal from the program.

Master of Arts and Master of Science and Doctoral programs

All MA, MSc and PhD students must complete registration for each of the academic sessions of their program unless they have received approval from the department for interruption of their program. Failure to register will be interpreted as withdrawal from the program.

	Newly admitted graduate students (except for the MEd program) will register in person and will be advised of the registration deadline dates. Continuing and part-time students will receive registration materials by mail at their current mailing address. If a student has not received registration materials one week before the beginning of term, the Graduate Studies Office should be notified. All courses must be approved by the Chair or Graduate Officer of the department for MA, MSc and PhD students, the Director of the MAcc program for Accounting students.
	Registration forms, including a cheque for tuition, must be returned to the Graduate Studies Office by the due date indicated on the form. A registration form will not be processed unless it is accompanied by the appropriate tuition fee or the appropriate form to defer payment through payroll deduction.
	It is the responsibility of students to ensure that they are registered by the appropriate deadline date as designated in the registration materials. Students who fail to register by the due date will be charged a $50.00 late registration fee. Students will not be allowed to register after the official registration count dates of November 1, February 1 and June 30.
	Students intending to audit a course rather than take it for credit, must declare this intention at the initial registration for the term. The consent of the instructor to audit the course is required. Auditing permits attendance at classes only. No work will be evaluated.
	Credit will be given only for those courses for which the candidate is formally registered. A student will receive no credit for any work completed during a term in which the student was not properly registered.

V.  Student Identification Cards

Identification cards for graduate students are issued to all new students by the Graduate Studies Office at the time of registration. Returning students will have their cards updated once a year by the Graduate Studies Office.

VI.  Registration Status

All graduate students must maintain continuous registration, either through course registration or inactive registration in each successive term from the time of initial admission until degree requirements are complete. Students are responsible for ensuring that they register at the appropriate time for each term, as indicated in the academic calendar.

Students must remain continuously registered to the end of the term in which they complete the degree requirements.

VII.  Leave of Absence

A leave of absence from a graduate program will be granted only in exceptional circumstances which will include parental and maternity leave, medical leave, work leave which requires the student to leave the geographic area or on compassionate grounds. Cases will be considered on an individual basis and must have the approval of the Supervisor and the Department Chair before they are submitted to the Graduate Studies Office. A graduate student granted a leave of absence will not be registered and will not be required to pay fees for the duration of the leave. Students on leave will not be eligible to receive University fellowship support or other financial support from the University. In the case of funding by an external agency, the regulations of the granting agency will apply. The length of time for completion of the degree will be extended by the duration of the leave. While on leave students may not be entitled to use University facilities and resources or receive supervision.

Leave of absence forms are available from the Graduate Studies Office or the Graduate Studies website http://www.brocku.ca/gradstudies/

VIII.  Course Withdrawal

A student may withdraw in good standing from a course within the period established each term as published in the academic calendar. While it is a courtesy to inform the instructor of withdrawal from a course, this does not constitute official withdrawal from either a course or the University. Grades will be recorded on students' transcripts for all courses in which they have registered and from which they have not withdrawn.

X.  Ontario Visiting Student Plan

The Ontario Visiting Student Plan allows graduate students of an Ontario university to take graduate courses at another Ontario university while remaining registered at their own university. The plan allows students to bypass the usual application for admissions procedures. Admission is not complete until prior approval has been received from both the host and the home universities. A student who is classed as an Ontario Visiting Student will register and pay fees to the home university but will pay no fees to the host university. A description of the course must be attached to the form. No more than one credit (two half credit courses) will be allowed as transfer credit.

Ontario Visiting Student forms are available from the Graduate Studies Office or the Graduate Studies website http://www.brocku.ca/gradstudies/

XI.  Letter of Permission

Students wishing to take a graduate course at another approved university outside of Ontario, must apply to the Graduate Studies Office, for a letter of permission to attend another university. Approval from both the home and host universities is required before a student will be allowed to take a course on a letter of permission. The student must register at the other university and pay the fees required by that university. It is the student's responsibility to have a transcript of the final grade sent to the Graduate Studies Office. No more than one credit (two half credit courses) will be allowed as transfer credit.

XII.  Address Information

It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that the University has at all times, complete and accurate address information. Any change in mailing address and telephone number must be reported in writing to the Graduate Studies Office.