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Academic Regulations


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Students are expected to become familiar with all regulations that pertain to their studies while at the Faculty of Information.

Absences

During the academic year, as you work towards your degree, there may be circumstances that impact your ability to meet your academic obligations. Please visit our Student Absences page for more information about how absences are handled at the Faculty: Student Absences Guidelines

Grades and Grading

The Faculty of Information follows the University of Toronto Assessment and Grading Practices Policy. This policy details the Faculty’s policy on course procedures, examinations, and other assessments in courses. Also covered: the grade review and approval process; exceptional circumstances and academic appeals; conflicts of interest; and procedures in the event of disruptions to the graduate academic program.

The Faculty also adheres to the following grade interpretation guideline for graduate level work: Grade Interpretation Guidelines (vers. Aug 2020) (PDF).

Calculating Grade Point Averages (GPA)

Use this GPA calculator to tentatively and unofficially crunch your numbers.

Graduate Grading Scale

This table is the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) grading scale for graduate students.
Letter Grade Numerical Grade
A+ 90-100%
A 85-89%
A- 80-84%
B+ 77-79%
B 73-76%
B- 70-72%
FZ (Fail) 0-69%

Final grades at the graduate level are presented as letter grades on official UofT transcripts. Numerical grades are not provided.

Undergraduate Grading Scale

This table is the University of Toronto grading scale for undergraduate students.
Numerical Grade Letter Grade Refined Grade Point Value
90-100 A+ 4.0
85-89 A 4.0
80-84 A- 3.7
77-79 B+ 3.3
73-76 B 3.0
70-72 B- 2.7
67-69 C+ 2.3
63-66 C 2.0
60-62 C- 1.7
57-59 D+ 1.3
53-56 D 1.0
50-52 D- 0.7
0-49 F (Fail) 0.0

Final grades at the undergraduate level are presented as numerical grades with a corresponding letter grade on official UofT transcripts.

Non-Grade Symbols

The following non-grade symbols may appear on grade reports and transcripts instead of course marks and /or equivalent letter grades. They have no grade point or term sessional average values:

    • CR / NCR: Credit / No Credit. Used to report results for academic requirements such as Co-op or courses taken abroad in partner institutions. The grades CR and NCR have no numerical equivalence and are not included in the calculation of Sessional and Cumulative Grade Point Averages.
    • GWR: Grade withheld pending review under the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters.
    • IPR: (Course) in progress.
    • NGA: No grade available.
    • SDF: Standing deferred on the basis of incomplete course work because of medical or similar reasons (to be replaced by a regular mark before the expiry of a specified extension period).
    • WDR: Granted privilege of late withdrawal without academic penalty from a course due to circumstances beyond the student’s control.

The following non-grade statements may appear on grade reports and transcripts in conjunction with the course mark and letter grade:

    • EXT: Extra course. Not for degree credit; course has no effect on status or grade point average.

Leaves of Absence, Stop-outs and Withdrawals

Any student considering taking some time away from their degree program should make an appointment with their advisor to discuss available options. Students can book appointments with their academic advisors here, or contact inquire.ischool@utoronto.ca.

Undergraduate Students

Faculty of Information students are eligible to request temporary time away (i.e., a leave of absence) from the Faculty/University if they experience a variety of personal circumstances that may negatively impact their ability to continue in the program, without having their time away count towards their degree duration. Students may request a leave for the following reasons:

      • Serious health, personal or family issues
      • Issues related to child birth or child care
      • Military service
      • Financial issues

While on approved leave, students are not considered a registered student of the University and Faculty. They do not pay any tuition, incidental, or ancillary fees; are not permitted to enrol in courses or register in the Faculty; are not considered for scholarships or awards; cannot access University services (with the exception of Student Services); and cannot participate in student internships or undertake undergraduate research. A student who has been granted an approved leave of absence under this policy is not exempt from academic deadlines, financial responsibilities, current or future policies, and fees schedules.

Students may request a leave of absence by completing the Undergraduate Leave of Absence Form (PDF) and submitting it to the Faculty at inquire.ischool@utoronto.ca. Any student considering taking some time away from their degree program is strongly encouraged to book an advising appointment with their academic advisor to discuss all available options before making a final decision.

An approved leave of absence will pause a student’s academic progress and time allowed to complete degree requirements. The termination date of the degree program will be extended by the duration of the leave taken. Students may request up to three terms (one academic year) per leave request. Except for parental leave or in exceptional circumstances, it is not expected that a student will be granted more than one year of leave under the terms of this policy.

Depending on when the leave of absence is requested and approved, any refund of tuition fees will be determined by the fees refund schedule.

Return from a Leave of Absence

To initiate a return to studies, the recommended timeframe to confirm re-registration is a minimum of two weeks prior to course enrolment for the relevant session. Course enrolment for the Fall/Winter session begins in July.

Students with outstanding fees from previous terms may not re-register at the University until these fees are paid.

Students planning to re-register are encouraged to make an appointment with the Bachelor of Information academic advisor to discuss their academic plans, their degree and program requirements, and any changes in Faculty policies or procedures since their last registration.

Graduate Students

Faculty of Information students are able to request time away (i.e., a leave of absence) from the Faculty/University without having their time away count towards their degree duration if they experience one of the following:

    • Health or personal problems which temporarily make it impossible to continue in the program; or
    • Parental leave by either parent at the time of pregnancy, birth or adoption, and/or to provide full-time care during the child’s first year. Parental leave must be completed within 12 months of the date of birth or custody. Where both parents are graduate students taking leave, the combined total number of sessions may not exceed four. Learn about the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) Parental Grant program.

Students on an approved leave of absence are not required to pay fees for the period in which they are away. Since students on leave are not considered registered students of the University, they are not eligible to receive University of Toronto financial assistance. In the case of other graduate student awards, the regulations of the particular granting agency apply.

Students may request a leave of absence by completing the Leave of Absence Form (PDF) and submitting it to the Faculty at inquire.ischool@utoronto.ca. The form is then sent to the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) for processing. Any student considering taking some time away from their degree program is strongly encouraged to book an advising appointment with their academic advisor to discuss all available options before making a final decision.

An approved leave of absence will pause a student’s academic progress and time allowed to complete degree requirements. The termination date of the degree program will be extended by the duration of the leave taken. Students may request up to three terms (one academic year) per leave request. If students require additional time away (i.e., more than 3 terms of leave) they must submit an additional leave request. This additional request will be subject to review and approval by the School of Graduate Studies (SGS). Please review the School of Graduate Studies’ (SGS) policy on Leave of Absence carefully. Except for parental leave or in exceptional circumstances, it is not expected that a student will be granted more than one leave under the terms of this policy.

Graduate students on leave may request continued access to University of Toronto library services by sending an email to graduate.information@utoronto.ca. The School of Graduate Studies (SGS) will review the request and contact the library to allow access to library services if the request is approved.

Temporary Stop-Outs

Master’s students who wish to be away from the Faculty for reasons outside of the scope of a Leave of Absence (above) may request to temporarily stop-out and re-register within 12 months without re-applying to the program. Temporary stop-outs require the approval of the Faculty. Unlike a leave of absence, the stop-out period is included in the time period for completion of your degree.

To request a temporary stop-out from your program, complete the Program Temporary Stop-Out Form (PDF) and submit it for consideration to the Student Services team at inquire.ischool@utoronto.ca.

Withdrawals

Due to various personal circumstances, students may wish to fully withdraw from their program of study. In that case, the student must complete the Program Withdrawal Form (PDF) and submit it to the Faculty at inquire.ischool@utoronto.ca. Any student considering taking some time away from their degree program is strongly encouraged to book an advising appointment with their academic advisor to discuss all available options before making a final decision

Students who withdraw from the program must return their fobs and clear their belongings from their lockers.

Withdrawn students must re-apply for admission, and will be in competition with other applicants.

Depending on when you withdraw, you may receive a fee rebate. A refund schedule is available at Student Accounts. You may be required to refund all or a portion of your funding and/or awards to the University. Contact the Faculty with any funding-related questions and the Graduate Awards Office at the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) with any awards-related questions.

Performance, Appeals, and Sanctions

Academic Performance

The Faculty of Information follows the University Assessment and Grading Practices Policy. A student whose academic performance is considered unsatisfactory may at any time, on the recommendation of the Faculty of Information and with SGS approval, have their registration terminated.

Satisfactory Performance in a Program

To maintain satisfactory academic progress, students must complete all courses with a grade of at least B- or CR. A course is considered to be failed when a student receives a final grade below B-.

Courses taken in other faculties or schools for credit towards a Faculty of Information degree must meet the same grade standard.

If a student fails to complete a graduate course in a satisfactory manner (i.e., receives a grade of FZ or NCR), then the Faculty of Information may recommend to the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) the termination of registration and eligibility of that student (Termination of Registration Guidelines). The Faculty of Information views such recommendation as a last resort and will make every effort possible to assist students in maintaining satisfactory academic progress.

Failures & Academic Standing

    • Failed required courses must be repeated.
    • Failed elective courses may be repeated or another course taken to meet degree requirements. The grade of the failed course will contribute 0 to your overall GPA.
    • Only failed courses may be repeated.
    • Students who are repeating courses may not use assignments previously submitted.
    • No student is permitted to repeat a course without attending its classes again.
    • Failed courses are shown on transcripts.
    • Students who were negatively impacted by extenuating circumstances during the term in which the FZ or NCR grade was earned are eligible to petition (to the Faculty’s Committee on Standing) or appeal (to the Academic Appeals Committee).
      • The timeframe within which students may petition to the Committee on Standing is outlined on the Academic Dates and Deadlines webpage each academic year; the timeframe within which students may appeal their grade is 8 weeks from the time they received the ruling against which they wish to appeal.
      • For details, please review the Academic Petitions & Appeals section below.

Students who fail a course should always book an appointment with their dedicated academic advisor to discuss their circumstances, and available supports and resources.

4 Types of Academic Standings

Clear Academic Standing:

Students are considered to be in good/clear academic standing if they pass (i.e., receive a grade of at least B- or CR in) all courses in a term.

Academic Warning — 1 FZ

Students who earn a grade of FZ or NCR in a course must contact their academic advisor in order to review their progress in the program, and to complete an Individual Academic Action Plan (IAAP). The student and advisor will discuss appropriate resources and supports offered by the Faculty and the University.

Once the plan is enacted, students on “academic warning” are eligible to continue with subsequent course enrolment and registrations.

Probation I — 2 FZ

Students who earn a grade of FZ or NCR in two courses (total, not necessarily in a single term) must meet with the Graduate Coordinators (Assistant Dean and the Associate Dean, Academic) as they are no longer considered to be making satisfactory academic progress in the program. After this meeting, the student’s academic progress case may be brought forward to the Committee on Standing for review.

The possible outcomes of this academic progress review include (but are not limited to):

    • Allowing the student to continue in the program as planned, continuing to follow a signed Individual Academic Action Plan, and monitoring the student’s progress.
    • Presenting the case to the Committee on Standing to determine if a recommendation to terminate the student’s registration will be made to the Dean of the Faculty of Information.

Probation II — 3 or More FZ

Students who earn an FZ or NCR grade in three or more courses (total, not necessarily in a single term) will have their academic progress reviewed by the Committee on Standing.

Students are encouraged to provide a statement and supporting documents that address any extenuating circumstances that might have negatively impacted their academic performance during the term(s) in which the FZ grades were earned. Students should contact their academic advisor to discuss this review process before submitting any statement to the Committee on Standing.

The possible outcomes of this academic progress review by Committee on Standing include (but are not limited to):

    • Allowing the student to continue in the program, following a signed Individual Academic Action Plan, and monitoring their progress. Depending on the circumstances of the case, the Committee may also strongly recommend that the student limit the number of courses in which they are enrolled per term until further notice.
    • Recommending to the Dean of the Faculty of Information that the student’s registration be terminated.

Examinations

Special examinations may be provided for students who cannot write their final examinations, or whose exam performance is adversely affected by reason of illness, domestic affliction, or other causes.

Requests for special consideration must be submitted within three days after the examination period, along with a medical certificate (which includes a statement that the student was examined at the time of their illness), or other supporting evidence. Students should consult their academic advisor about how to proceed.

Medical certificates must: (1) confirm that the student was adversely affected by their health problems; (2) show the dates of illness; and (3) state that the physician was consulted at the time of illness.

No supplemental examinations are permitted.

Academic Petitions and Appeals

PETITIONS

Both graduate and undergraduate students may petition with respect to the applicability to them of any academic regulation of the Faculty. These petitions must show the grounds on which they believe that the regulation should be waived or altered. Students should consult their academic advisor before proceeding with a petition or appeal.

Quick links to frequent petition scenarios:

Petitions are reviewed and decided by the Faculty Committee on Standing.

The Committee on Standing convenes at the following time periods for each term’s petition review:

    • Summer petitions: beginning of September
    • Fall petitions: beginning of January
    • Winter petitions: late May

Petitions must be submitted to Student Services no later than one week in advance of the Committee on Standing meeting. Please check our Dates & Deadlines for the specific date by which students must submit their petition each term in order for it to be considered by the Committee on Standing.

APPEALS

Undergraduate and graduate students may dispute substantive or procedural academic matters, including grades; evaluation of comprehensive examinations and other program requirements; decisions about the student’s continuation in any program; or any other decision with respect to the application of academic regulations and requirements to a student.

An undergraduate student wishing to appeal a decision made by the Faculty through the recommendation of the Faculty’s Academic Appeals Committee should submit an appeal, in written form, to the University Governing Council via the Office of Appeals, Discipline and Faculty Grievances (ADFG).

A graduate student wishing to appeal a decision made by the Faculty should submit an appeal, in written form, to the Graduate Academic Appeals Board (GAAB) via the School of Graduate Studies (SGS).

Students may not appeal admissions decisions, fees and or the voluntary withdrawal from a graduate program.

    • Students must first attempt to resolve the matter with the instructor or other person whose ruling is in question.
    • If the matter is not resolved and the student wishes to pursue it further, the student must discuss the matter with the Associate Dean, Academic.
    • An undergraduate student wishing to appeal a decision should submit an appeal in written form to the Faculty Academic Appeals Board via the Bachelor of Information academic advisor.
    • A graduate student wishing to appeal a decision should submit an appeal, in written form, to the Graduate Department Academic Appeals Committee (GDAAC).
    • Students are eligible to submit an appeal within 8 weeks of the occurrence of the ruling they wish to appeal against.

The Academic Appeals Committee constitutes part of the overall academic appeals procedures available to Faculty of Information students at the University of Toronto. The Committee is advisory to the Faculty Dean who is not bound by the Committee’s recommendation.

Within the overall academic appeals procedure, this Academic Appeals Committee has a high level of discipline-specific academic expertise to judge the academic matters in an appeal. Therefore, this Committee plays a crucial role in the overall appeals procedure. This Committee may consider only academic matters. Decisions related to admission to an academic program, including admission to the doctoral program for current master’s students, are not subject to appeal. Issues relating to non-academic matters (for example, fees) are not considered by the Committee.

These guidelines will be made available to the Committee membership, and to all appellants. It is within the authority of the Dean to alter any of the procedures outlined herein, if circumstances warrant. However, members of the Committee and the appellant should be notified in writing as soon as possible of any changes in procedures and reasons for the changes.

Upon the recommendation of the Faculty Academic Appeals Committee or GDAAC, the Dean will make a final decision on the student’s appeal. The Dean’s decision is considered the final decision of the Faculty.

Academic Misconduct and Sanctions

Please review notes under Student Code of Conduct. Until the student’s obligations have been discharged, the Faculty of Information is not permitted to give students who are under review for academic misconduct letters stating that they have completed their degree requirements.

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Honesty and fairness are considered fundamental values shared by students, staff and faculty at the University of Toronto.

The University’s policies and procedures that deal with cases of cheating, plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct are designed to protect the integrity of the institution and to maintain a community where competition is fair.

As a result, the University of Toronto treats cases of academic misconduct very seriously. If it has been alleged that you have committed an academic offence, you will find that the allegation is dealt with formally and seriously, and the penalties can be severe.

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