University of Guelph Online Courses & Programs

University of Guelph

The University of Guelph is renowned in Canada and around the world as a research-intensive and learner-centred institution and for its commitment to Open Learning, internationalism and collaboration.

Its vision is to be Canada’s leader in creating, transmitting and applying knowledge to improve the social, cultural and economic quality of life of people in Canada and around the world.

Open Learning and Educational Support

Open Learning and Educational Support extends the teaching and research expertise of the University through the design, development and delivery of over 300 online courses.  Guided by online best practices and quality standards, online courses incorporate current research, educational technologies and resources to provide students with an engaging learning experience.  Online courses provide students with the flexibility to meet their academic goals at a time and place that is convenient.  Open Learning and Educational Support delivers on the institution’s Open Learning strategic direction through the Open Learning program.

Open Learning Program

The Open Learning program provides access to the University’s online degree-credit courses for individuals who are not currently enrolled in a UofG degree program.   You may register in the Open Learning program even if you are enrolled in another post-secondary institution and want to obtain an academic credit to satisfy your degree program requirements at your home institution.

A student at the University of Guelph who wishes to enroll in a course for credit at another institution and have that course considered as a credit toward a University of Guelph degree, must complete a Request for Letter of Permission. Once the student has obtained the appropriate approvals (as indicated on the request form) s/he must submit the completed request form to the Special Studies Clerk (Exchange Programs and Letters of Permission) in Undergraduate Program Services.

Download the Request for Letter of Permission  form.

Conditions for the Letter

The following conditions will apply when a Letter of Permission is granted by the University of Guelph.

1. A student must complete a Request for Letter of Permission  and obtain the appropriate approvals as indicated on the request for PRIOR to applying for admission to the other institution.
2. Students are responsible for adhering to the host school's application process.
3. A student taking a course on a Letter of Permission is responsible for ensuring that the other institution forwards the official transcript directly to Undergraduate Program Services, Office of Registrarial Services. Further, the transcript for the course taken must be received by the 20th class day of the semester following completion of the course, otherwise a grade of "F" will be entered on the student's internal academic record. (If official documentation is subsequently received, the appropriate grade or course drop will replace the "F".)
4. Withdrawal or non-registration in courses taken on a Letter of Permission must be verified by official documentation from the host institution.
5. If a Letter of Permission is submitted by mail, course description from the host institution must be enclosed.
6. Any changes in the courses taken on a Letter of Permission must have the appropriate approvals from this University.
7. All courses for which a Letter of Permission has been granted (and grades attained) will be included in all internal academic records, but not in the official transcript of the University of Guelph. A reference to credits taken on a Letter of Permission will be noted on the official University of Guelph transcript.
8. Courses taken on a Letter of Permission will count toward cumulative credit attempts.
9. Courses taken on a Letter of Permission will not count in the term or cumulative GPA (grade point average).
10. When a Letter of Permission is granted to a currently registered student, it will be provisional pending successful completion of the continuation of study requirements for that semester. If a student is not eligible to continue, the Letter of Permission may be cancelled by the University of Guelph.
11. Students must normally be registered at the University of Guelph for the final semester of their Degree Program.
12. If a Letter of Permission is granted for the final course(s) of a student's program, it is not likely that the students will be able to graduate at the next Convocation i.e. If a course is taken during Summer Semester, the probable Convocation is February. If a course is taken during Fall Semester, probable Convocation is June.

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