Full-time students apply themselves to their graduate study as a primary responsibility. Normally graduate students will be registered as full-time students because they are registered in full-time programs. According to the Ontario Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development, a graduate student must meet the following criteria in order to be registered full-time:

1. be pursuing graduate studies as a full-time occupation;

2. identify himself or herself as a full-time graduate student;

3. be designated by the university as a full-time graduate student;

4. be geographically available and visit the campus regularly. Without forfeiting full-time status, a graduate student, while still under supervision, may be absent from the university (e.g., visiting libraries, doing field work, attending a graduate course at another institution, etc.) provided that, if any such period of absence exceeds four weeks in any one term, written evidence shall be available in the Office of Graduate Studies to the effect that the absence has the approval of the Department Chair and the Assistant Vice-President (Graduate Studies);

5. be considered a full-time graduate student by the graduate program

Full-time students may be located away from the university. If a student lives 200 km or more from the University of Guelph, he/she may apply to be classified as a Full-time Distant student, which exempts him/her from payment of some non-tuition student fees. Contact the Office of Graduate Studies for more information.

Part-time students are enrolled in part-time graduate programs. Students who wish to study part-time must declare their intention to be classified as “part-time” at the time of their application for admission. If a program description does not indicate "full-time only", applicants may assume that a part-time option is available. Students should consult with the department or school offering their intended program of study to confirm the availability of this option.

Part-time students may register for no more than 1.0 course credits in a semester. Three part-time semesters are regarded as the equivalent of one full-time semester for calculation of Class Level.

Under certain conditions, full-time students may be allowed to transfer to a part-time classification if demanding circumstances relating to personal health matters, family responsibilities, or employment exist. Documentation of these circumstances and a Full-time and Part-time Transfer Application must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies.

Part-time students may apply to transfer to full-time classification at any time during their studies through the submission of the Full-time and Part-time Transfer Application. As well, pending final approval from both their program and the Office of Graduate Studies, students originally admitted to the part time classification and who subsequently apply and are accepted to full time classification are permitted to request a transfer back to part-time classification.