Adds, drops, withdrawals, and refunds
Registration in classes is a key step in achieving your academic goal. Registration includes adding (or enrolling in) classes, dropping classes, and withdrawing from classes.
Adding/Enrolling
Most students enroll in classes, referred to as "sections", via the online registration system (myKwantlen). Sections can be added at any time during the registration period up to and including the Late Registration period. Once you enroll, your tuition and fees owing will be (re-)calculated and you become responsible for completing your studies and for payment. Please be aware that there are important deadlines after which your transcript may be affected and none, or only a portion of, your tuition may be returned.
Closed classes
During the registration period, individual sections will fill up and will show in the online registration system as "Closed". Occasionally, Kwantlen will also schedule additional sections of a course, and make them available later in the registration period. These sections will also appear as "Closed".
A "Closed" section may become available at a later date during registration as students drop or Kwantlen opens the section. Therefore, be persistent in your attempts to register throughout the entire registration period. Use the Check Seat Availability link on the Timetable to quickly see what sections have seats available.
Delayed release of seats
When a section of a course is full (closed) and a student drops the class, a seat is not immediately available for registration. The seat will not be released (made available for registration) until 7:00 AM on the following day. You can Check Seat Availability by using the link on the Timetable. This link allows you to check the availability of seats quickly. While delayed release is in effect on a per day basis, it is not necessary to continue checking the rest of the day if a section of a course is full in the morning.
Students can also check the availability of seats prior to their registration time by using the Search for Classes to Add option through the Web registration system. You can view up-to-the-minute information about space in courses to preplan your course selection. Students should use the Search for Classes to Add option to check the availability of courses especially when courses are full.
The delayed release of seats is in effect on a per day basis until the Fee Payment Deadline. From then until online registration closes, dropped seats are released four times throughout the day at 7:00 AM, 12:00 noon, 4:00 PM, and 8:00 PM.
Waitlists
Kwantlen does not waitlist students for classes - students get equal access to every available seat once their registration time has begun. Note however, some programs with limited enrolment allow students to waitlist for admission to the program.
Auditing
A student who wishes to take a course, but does not wish to do so for credit, may request to audit the course. An auditor is expected to attend class, but is not evaluated (graded). To audit a course, a student must obtain the approval of the Registrar, Director of Registrar Services or an Educational Dean and be currently eligible to enroll. Priority is given to credit students, so students are not permitted to register for a course and then change to audit status. The tuition fee for a course being audited is the same as that for a student taking the course for credit.
Students will be permitted to request audit status in 1000 and 2000 level courses after the Fee Payment deadline. Students will be permitted to request audit status in 3000 and 4000 level courses during the first week of classes. To apply for audit status, students must fill out a Course Status Change form and submit it to Enrolment and Registrar Services at the Cloverdale, Langley, Richmond or Surrey campus.
Maximum course load
In any semester, there is a limit to the number of courses in which you can enroll. Most domestic student can take up to five courses (17.5 credit hours) per semester, although students in selective-entry programs that require more can register in the number required by the program.
If you wish to enrol in more credit hours (a course overload), you must request permission to do so at least three weeks before you register. Complete a Request for Special Approval to Register in a Course form and submit it to Enrolment and Registrar Services. For limitations and requirements for a course overload, please see the calendar.
For some international students, different minimums and limits may apply. International students should contact the International Education office for more information.
Full-time/Part-time status
A student who is enrolled in nine or more credit hours in a semester is considered to be full-time. Students enrolled in fewer than nine credits are considered to be part-time. The minimum course load to qualify for a student loan is nine post-secondary undergraduate credits.
Error messages
When enrolling, dropping, or withdrawing using the online registration system, you may encounter one of the following error messages.
Section is full: The section you have selected is currently full.
Section-X is full: The cross-listed section you have selected is currently full.Same course as section 99999: You entered a duplicate of a section or course you are already registered in. You cannot register in two (or more) sections of the same course.
Level restriction: You tried to register for a course that is restricted to students in a particular level of study (generally, students must be admitted to an undergraduate program to access undergraduate courses). If you feel you should be able to register in that particular course, contact Enrolment and Registrar Services and they will look into it for you.
Linked course, register for both parts: You tried to register for a course in which there are two parts (e.g. a lecture and a lab). You must select and register in both parts at the same time (enter two CRNs).
Maximum credits exceeded: You have entered a course that will exceed the maximum number of semester credit hours allowed for your program of study.
Prerequisites/corequisites are unmet: You have not met the prerequisite/corequisite required to take this course
Program restriction: You tried to register for a course that is restricted to students in a particular program. If you feel you should be able to register in that particular course, contact Enrolment and Registrar Services and they will look into it for you.
Repeating course or equivalent more than X time(s) is not allowed: You have tried to register for a course that you have already attempted twice before. You must apply for approval to take this course again (see Repeating courses).
Time conflict with CRN 99999: You have tried to register for a course, and/or exam, that is scheduled at the same time as a course, and/or exam, in which you are already registered.
Course requirements
To improve your ability to succeed, Kwantlen has established prerequisites and co-requisites for many of the courses in which you want to enroll. Requirements are published with each course in the Timetables and in the Calendar Course Descriptions. Normally, you will not be permitted to register for any course for which you lack the required requisite. However, courses that are in progress will satisfy prerequisites until grades are submitted. At that time, students who do not meet prerequisites will be dropped from the section. Always check your registration the next business day after you receive a previous semester final grade(s).
Note: If you are dropped due to lack of requisites, your deposit will not be refundable nor transferrable to another semester.
Prerequisites
Prerequisites are course(s) or test(s) that must be successfully completed before studies begin in the desired course. Unless otherwise stated, a grade of C is the minimum grade allowed to satisfy a prerequisite. Students with prerequisites in progress, can register even though their final grades have not been recorded. However, if the prerequisite is not satisfied once grades are received, you will be dropped from the class.
Co-requisites
Co-requisites are course(s) that must be taken concurrently (in the same term) as the desired course. It may also be taken in a prior term, providing a minimum grade of C (unless otherwise indicated) was achieved.
Requisite waivers
Students are expected to meet all course prerequisites and co-requisites. If you lack the requisite(s) for a course, but feel you can clearly demonstrate that you have the equivalent skills and knowledge you may request to have the requisite requirement(s) overridden. To do so, you must complete a Permission to Register form and have it approved by an instructor of the course. Check the current timetable for additional information on obtaining a requisite waiver. If your request is approved, you must return the form to any campus Enrolment and Registrar Services office one day before you attempt to register in the course.
Repeating courses
Kwantlen policy allows a student to register only twice in a course without special permission. If you wish to register in a course for a third time, you must complete a Request for Special Approval to Register in a Course form and submit it to the Enrolment and Registrar Services office at least three weeks before you register. Your request will be reviewed and approval will be granted or denied.
Dropping classes
You can make changes to your registration up to the end of the first week of the semester without incurring an academic penalty (no 'W' on your transcript). Specific deadlines apply for dropping a program or courses in time to receive a fee reduction (reductions in fees may result in a refund).
Generally, domestic students must complete their changes prior to the first day of the semester (or first day of the program for Limited enrolment programs) to get a 100% reduction in tuition and fees.
Domestic students dropping a program or courses prior to the second week of the semester (or second week of the program for Limited enrolment programs) will receive a 70% reduction in tuition.
There are no refunds after the first week of the semester (or first week of the program for Limited enrolment programs).
Fee reduction dates and amounts for International students are different. International students should contact the International Education office for more information.
Refunds will be issued for amounts greater than the registration deposit/committment fee.
See Dates and Deadlines for the specific deadlines.
Withdrawing
What do you do if you feel you cannot meet the course commitments after the first week of classes is over? Withdrawing from class is the formal way of avoiding a no-credit grade on your record. Students can withdraw from classes (or a program for Limited enrolment programs) until about mid-way through the semester/program. The exact dates are available in the Dates and Deadlines for open registration programs, or by contacting Enrolment and Registrar Services for Limited enrolment and continuous intake programs.
Students withdraw from courses for all kinds of reasons. Before you withdraw from a course or courses, have you checked to see if we can help you? You could:
- Find a tutor at the Learning Centre (free!).
- Talk to a counsellor if you’re feeling overwhelmed or need help figuring out your goals.
- Check with an academic advisor to see how the course(s) will affect your academic goals.
- Chat with Student Awards and Financial Assistance to see if there is financial assistance available to you, or to avoid any penalties.
Avoid that no-credit on your transcript - talk to us before you walk away!
Registration periods
Late Registration
Late Registration begins on the first day of the semester. When you add or change courses during late registration, be aware that you could have already missed one or more classes and that you may not be able to attend a class before the last day to withdraw without being charged full fees. It is your responsibility to decide whether or not to proceed under these circumstances. You may wish to contact the instructor before you register to obtain further information about the classes missed.
Please note, Refund/Fee Adjustment rules and Withdrawal policies will not be varied if you decide to withdraw after the deadline.
Post-Registration Additions
After the first week of classes, students can still add and/or change sections in courses where space is available provided the instructor gives approval. Approval for Post-Registration Adds/Changes forms will be available at any Enrolment Services Office (Admissions). Students will be required to obtain instructor permission to register late, have the instructor sign the approval form, and return the form in person to the Enrolment Services office (Admissions), in order to register in the course.
See Dates and Deadlines for the specific dates.
Cancelled courses
If a course is cancelled, students will be contacted by phone or Kwantlen email. Students will be issued a full refund or reduction in fees owing for cancelled courses and registration deposits will not be forfeited under these circumstances.
Refunds/Fee Adjustments
Refunds are processed when a drop results in a reduction in assessed fees after fees have been paid. If fees are still outstanding, the adjustment results in a reduction in the amount to be paid. Refunds will be processed and a cheque will be mailed approximately four weeks after the second week of classes.
