Deadline to drop a course
Understand DNE and DISC, two of the most important academic dates
You'll want to grasp the implications of the DNE and DISC deadlines so you can plan how best to:
- fulfill your degree requirements
- safeguard your grade point average
- preserve your investment in tuition and fees
Read on to understand how the deadlines work.
DNE deadline
DNE stands for Did Not Enter. It's a shorthand way of saying you dropped the course after classes started, but early enough to avoid any consequences. When you drop a course by the DNE deadline, you will see:
- the course removed from your academic record
- a credit to your account for any tuition fees you already paid
You can find a link to drop a course in My CU Account.
Likewise, you can still add a course even after classes start, up until the DNE deadline. In sum, the DNE deadline is the last day to make changes to your course selection for the term. (Keep in mind you will still be responsible for any assignments or topics already covered, so speak to the instructor to make a plan for getting caught up.)
When is the DNE deadline?
Typically two weeks into the term (it’s different in summer!).
DISC deadline
DISC is short for discontinued. It means you dropped the course early enough to avoid academic consequences, but you will forfeit the tuition you paid for the course. When you drop a course by the DISC deadline, you will see a DISC notation on your academic record.
A DISC notation does not factor into your grade point average.
You can find a link to drop a course in My CU Account.
When is the DISC deadline?
The final day for academic withdrawal, also known as the DISC deadline, is nine weeks after the first week of courses in the fall and winter terms.
Withdrawing from the university
Dropping your courses is not the same as withdrawing from the university. If you are contemplating withdrawing from Concordia, speak to an advisor to fully understand your options in your academic journey.
Frequently asked questions
You dropped the course too late in the term to offer your spot to another student. DISC-ing a course saves you from factoring the course into your grade point average, but it won't remove your obligation to pay for the course.
There could be several implications for your academic journey, including these:
- It will take longer to complete enough credits to fulfill your degree requirements since you are dropping the course too late in the term to replace it with another
- You won't be able to enroll in a given course if the one you dropped was a pre-requisite
- You may get thrown out of sync with the course sequence for your degree program (especially in the case of Gina Cody students)
- You will pay more to complete your degree, since you forfeit tuition fees for any course you DISC
But, it might be worth it to DISC a course in your situation, to protect your grade point average.
Two more key considerations in cases where DISC-ing a course will move you from full- to part-time studies:
- It may affect your status in Canada if you're an international student
- It may affect your financial situation, depending on the criteria of the aid, awards or student loans you're receiving
Speak to an advisor for guidance.
Looking into whether your situation fits with the criteria for requesting an exception due to special circumstances.
Dropping all your courses is not the same as withdrawing from the university. You're still considered a Concordia student even if you're not taking any courses this term. The one exception is new students: if drop all your courses before the DNE deadline, your offer of admission becomes invalid.
When you drop all your courses in your first term before the DNE deadline, the university willl consider your offer of admission invalid. That means you will no longer be considered a Concordia student and you will need to reapply for admission to register for courses in future terms. Questions? Speak to your admissions officer, whose name and contact info you'll find in your offer letter.
The DISC notation doesn't get factored into your grade point average and it will not prevent you from graduating.
When considering how a DISC notation will affect applications to further studies, such as graduate or professional school, different programs and universities have varying requirements. Please consult with those schools for clarification.
Keep in mind there may be alternatives to a DISC notation, including a MED notation or an exam deferral, when your circumstances affect your studies.