When you're in failed standing

Each year, Concordia assesses your grade point average in your undergraduate program and determines your academic standing. (If you are a graduate student in failed standing, please contact the School of Graduate Studies.)

If you find yourself in failed standing, know you are not alone: many people deal with personal, financial, health and family situations that affect academic performance.

First-time failed standing

Consult your academic standing letter, emailed to you by the university, to learn more about support for finding academic success in your studies, including the Academic Support Program. (For help understanding your letter, speak to your faculty.)

Through the program, you will:

• Understand what is means to be assessed in failed standing and what happens next
• Gain insight into what affected your academic performance
• Identify key factors for success
• Build skills, habits and strategies for improving your academic standing

The program is made up of a virtual info session co-hosted by your faculty advising team and the Student Success Centre, a one-on-one academic planning appointment with your faculty advisor and six small group sessions with fellow students facilitated by a trained peer coach.

Second-time failed standing

Since you must meet the university’s academic standards to continue in your program, you won't be able to register for courses in the upcoming term(s). Normally, you must take time off from Concordia for one academic year before applying for readmission. But if you feel prepared to continue in your studies now, you may apply for readmission immediately. 

Students in failed standing are readmitted to their original program. If you feel that changing programs could contribute to your academic success, please speak with an academic advisor to discuss your options. 

When you register for courses after being readmitted on academic probation, you agree to honour these conditions.

Future academic performance

You must achieve acceptable standing, a minimum assessment grade point average of 2.00. The university assesses your academic standing once you take 12 credits or more. Assessment takes place in May.

Course load

Consider your course load carefully when you return to your studies. Normally, you may take up 12 credits per semester. For advice on what could be an appropriate course load for you, speak to your academic advisor.

If you are an international student and your faculty offers you readmission on a part-time basis (or you decide to take fewer than 12 credits), be aware of the consequences part-time registration may have, including your ability to:

• respect the conditions required to study in Quebec
• work on campus or off campus
• remain eligible for the post-graduation work permit

If you have questions about what your offer of readmission means for your situation, contact your international student advisor. 

You may be required to take UNSS 200 Self-Management Strategies and/or UNSS 201 Successful Study Strategies, classes designed to give you tools for enhancing your academic performance, including help with time management, career planning, dealing with stress, study skills and more.  These courses are not part of the course credit requirements for government student aid. For example: for loan programs requiring you to study full time (a minimum of 12 credits per term), you will need to take 12 credits in addition to the 1.5 credits represented by each UNSS course.

Any courses you take at another institution while you are in failed standing will not be considered for exemption or transfer credit.

Academic advising

For help understanding your degree requirements and interpreting university regulations, academic advisors​ are your go-to resource. They can offer valuable guidance on protecting your grade point average and getting back on track after failed standing. Speak to your advisor for answers to your specific questions about pre-requisites, course and elective choices, adding or dropping majors or minors, making changes to your program of study, and more!

Student services

Staff at the Student Success Centre offer individualized training and guidance for enhancing and leveraging your strengths so you can perform at your very best academically.

The team includes learning specialists to address specific academic challenges, peer writing assistants to help improve your written assignments and peer math assistants to develop your problem-solving techniques. Career counsellors and career advisors can also help you prepare for life beyond university.

You can access a variety of mental health services, on and off campus. If you are a student with a disability, you can work with the Access Centre for Students with Disabilities to develop an accommodation plan. 

The Student Success Centre also offers courses designed to give you tools for enhancing your academic performance, including help with time management, career planning, dealing with stress, study skills and more.  Learn more about University Skills for Success (UNSS) courses

For more support

If you are a student in failed standing in need of advice, please reach out to your faculty.

Arts and Science

Student Academic Services
Loyola Campus, room AD 202
514-848-2424, ext. 2104
Contact an Academic Advisor

Fine Arts

Student Academic Services
SGW Campus, room EV 2.705
514-848-2424, ext. 4612
Contact an Academic and Retention Advisor

Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science

Student Academic Services
SGW Campus, room EV-002.105
514-848-2424, ext. 3055
Contact a Student Success and Retention Advisor

John Molson School of Business

Undergraduate Student Affairs Office
SGW Campus, room MB 4.201
514-848-2424, ext. 2721
Contact an Academic Advisor

Independent students, email Enrolment Services.