What to know about full- versus part-time status

Your status as an undergraduate student at Concordia is based on the number of credits you register for each term, also known as your course load. 

Full-time status

You are registered for 12 or more credits per term

Part-time status

You are registered in fewer than 12 credits per term

Remember that fall/winter courses, meaning six-credit courses that run from September through April, count for three credits per term.

Keep in mind that non-credit courses (like Continuing Education) and complementary university credit courses (also known as UNSS) don't factor into your course load.

Pros and cons of changing your course load

People study part-time for many reasons, including to work during their degree, to balance university life with family obligations or simply to focus on fewer courses at a time. Keep in mind changing your course load affects how long it takes you to finish your degree and how much tuition you pay per term.

Changing from full- to part-time status will likely also have an impact on your ongoing eligibility for:

• Financial aid through loans, bursaries and sponsorship
• Scholarships and awards
  
• A reduced-fare transit pass or OPUS card
• The student exchange program
• Coverage under your parents' health insurance
• Paid internships through Co-op

There can also be academic consequences to changing your course load. The majority of undergraduate program planning guides and course sequences are based on full-time study. Taking a part-time course load may affect your ability stay on track. For example, some key courses are only offered once a year. 

If you are considering applying to graduate or medical school in the future, take some time to research admission requirements — some schools take full-time status into consideration.

You can always connect with an academic advisor if you have questions about the academic impact of studying full or part time.

If you are registered with the Access Centre for Students with Disabilities, you may wish to look into whether you meet the criteria for full-time equivalency.

Special considerations for international students

Your course load affects your status in Canada.  Be aware of your responsibilities for maintaining your immigration status and how moving from full-time to part-time status could affect you.  

Proving your status at Concordia

You can request a letter of attestation from the Birks Student Service Centre if you need official confirmation of your course load. 

Your tuition tax receipt reflects different parameters for determining whether you are studying part-time or full-time.

Studying part time can have implications for financial aid. If you're getting Quebec loans and bursaries, for example, you need to maintain full-time status each term. If you switch to part-time status mid-year or mid-term, there is a risk of losing your financial aid funding. 

You need to study full time to qualify for some scholarships, bursaries and awards. However, others are open to both full- and part-time students! Learn more about scholarships, bursaries and awards.

Your course load can also affect your status for student loan purposes. You can always contact staff at the Financial Aid and Awards Office to talk about how your course load may affect your funding.

Regardless of whether you're studying full time or part time, managing your time effectively is key.  The Student Success Centre offers workshops, handouts and learning specialist appointments to help you strengthen your time management skills.