Lapsed & Failed Standing Students
Lapsed program
If a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) student in good academic standing does not attend courses at Concordia for 6 or more consecutive terms, then their program lapses and they can no longer register.
Lapsed students may apply to the Faculty of Fine Arts (FOFA) Student Academic Services (SAS) to return to their BFA studies. Whenever possible, we try to accommodate this request.
Lapsed students leave in good academic standing, but re-entry into their program(s) of study may not be possible due to changes to the program curriculum & technical components of the degree since leaving their studies. In some instances, the program of study may not be offered anymore.
Departments may require a portfolio or audition before considering re-entry. Decisions are made case by case.
How to return to your studies
- Complete a General Student Request Form
- Attach a signed/dated letter explaining your departure, what you have been doing during the interim and the reason why you want to return now
- Attach all copies of academic records from other institutions attended during the period of absence from Concordia
- Send above documents to finearts.sas@concordia.ca
- If you have questions, please connect with your FOFA Student Academic Services advisor
Failed standing
Students in Failed standing will receive a notice from the Registrar at the end of May if their academic assessment reveals an annual GPA less than 1.50.
Courses in progress during May-June term will be permitted to be completed, but all future course registrations are cancelled, and full block put on the record. We strongly encourage any ‘new’ failed standing students to drop all summer registration. Information is included in the communication from the Registrar’s on how to drop the course after the DNE deadline as a Failed Student and receive a full tuition refund for those first summer term courses.
Failed students are encouraged to attend one of the following support sessions to get more information on the Readmission Process.
While students may apply for readmission immediately to the BFA upon failing out, it is encouraged that students consider the option to take a year+ break, if the situation that lead to their course failures is not on track to be resolved.
Readmission application deadline: June 17
FOFA Readmission Support Sessions
Offered by the Faculty of Fine Arts (FOFA) Student Academic Services (SAS) – you must register in advance to attend (Zoom):
- Friday, May 2, 2025 – 15h00
- Monday, May 12, 2025 – 11h00
- Friday, May 30, 2025 – 15h30
- Tuesday, June 3, 2025 – 10h00
- Thursday, June 12, 2025 – 11h00
Readmission is only considered for Fall semester re-entry. Winter semester readmission to the BFA is considered on case-by-case basis.
International students are encouraged to apply for readmission as soon as possible should they require renewal of their CAQ &/or Study Permits. They should make an appointment to meet with Amanda Holt (virtual or in-person) by emailing finearts.sas@concordia.ca with their full name, ID#, Major and request an advising appointment as a Failed international BFA student.
Winter semester readmission to the BFA is considered on case-by-case basis.
Readmission process:
- If you have failed out this current May term, carefully re-read the communication from the Registrar’s indicating that you are in “Failed Standing” & follow all instructions/links provided in this communication.
- If you went into failed standing a year or more ago, please visit the Student Success Centre’s Applying for Readmission after Failed Standing webpage for the current process. Your notification letter from the Registrar’s when you originally went into failed standing is likely no longer accurate with either the readmission process or links.
