Admission Information for Post-Degree Students

On This Page:

• Non-degree Studies
• Upgrading from General to Honours Degree (Honour's Equivalency)
• Completing a Second Degree
• Graduate Studies

Non-degree Studies

If you already have a degree and would like to take additional undergraduate or graduate courses, or strengthen your degree to apply to graduate school, you should apply as a Non-Degree student.

You must already hold a degree which is recognized as equivalent to a Canadian university's undergraduate or graduate degree. You will be asked to submit official transcripts of your previous academic work. This category is not normally open to applicants who do not meet University of Guelph continuation of study or transfer requirements.

How to Apply

If you have not previously registered at the University of Guelph, apply through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre. The program code for Non-Degree Studies is GND and you will need to indicate the degree you previously hold in the ‘Subject of Major Interest’ section.

If you have ever registered at the University of Guelph, apply using the Application for Internal Transfer and Readmission.

Upgrading from General to Honours Degree (Honour's Equivalency)

If you already hold an undergraduate general degree (3 year) and wish to upgrade to the equivalent of an honours degree (4 year), you may apply to obtain an Honours Equivalent.

Current University of Guelph degree holders may also augment an honours degree by completing an additional specialization (e.g., i.e. an additional major or minor).

Students who are granted the Honours Equivalent designation do not receive a second degree parchment and do not participate in a convocation program. Upon completion, the designation will appear on their official transcript. 

To be granted an Honours Equivalent, students must satisfy the University of Guelph Academic Residence Requirements. In addition, students must satisfy the conditions for graduation for the specified honours program using the Calendar that is in effect for the semester to which they have been admitted.

How to Apply

If you have not previously registered at the University of Guelph, apply through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre.  The program code for Honours Equivalent is GHQ. 

If you have ever registered at the University of Guelph, apply using the Application for Internal Transfer and Readmission. 

Completing a Second Degree

If you have completed an undergraduate degree, and wish to complete a second different degree, the course content must be substantially different from that of the first degree (see note below). A second degree is judged to be substantially different if: 

• The specializations are in different subject areas as listed in the Undergraduate Calendar - Section XII--Description of Courses or; 
• The schedule of studies requirements are substantially different (no more than 25% overlap). 

Only 10.00 credits may be transferred from the initial degree program.

Graduate Studies

For information on Graduate Studies at the University of Guelph, please visit Graduate Studies.