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Disclaimer
The immigration information on this page has been reviewed and endorsed by Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) or Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs) in compliance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations. However, this is not a legal document and information may change without notice. Always refer to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the most up-to-date information.
Overview
If you are an international student thinking of dropping a course or withdrawing from an entire term, pay attention to the immigration impacts.
Impacts are different for undergraduate students than for graduate students.
As an undergraduate student, the number of credits you take determines your full-time or part-time status for immigration purposes. Undergraduate students are considered full-time for immigration purposes if you take 12 or more credits in each Term. To avoid immigration impacts you must be enrolled in at least 12 credits in each required academic term.
Undergraduate students - Withdrawing from one or more courses while still having at least 12 credits
- If you are enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits in a required academic term, you are considered full-time for immigration purposes. Therefore, if you withdraw from 1 or more courses but take a minimum of 12 credits, there are no immigration impacts.
Undergraduate students - Withdrawing from one or more courses while having fewer than 12 credits
- If you remain enrolled but in fewer than 12 credits in a required academic term, you will be considered part-time for immigration purposes.
Undergraduate students - Withdrawing from all courses in a term or having failed a year
If you do not register for courses, or if you drop all your courses in a given term, you are considered not enrolled for the entire term. If you are not enrolled in a current or future academic term(s), there are important impacts to note.
Taking time away from studies could affect:
- Your student status in Canada
- Your eligibility to work on and off campus during the current term, as well as scheduled breaks before and after the term
- Your future eligibility for the Post-Graduation Work Permit
Graduate Students
As a graduate student, your immigration status is not impacted by the number of credits or courses you are enrolled in. So long as you have “full-time” enrolment status, you are full-time for immigration purposes. If you are not sure about your enrollment status, contact your graduate program advisor.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
I have registered for 12 credits in current term, but I need to drop one course to avoid failing it. What should I do to maintain my full-time status?
We encourage you to discuss with your academic advisor to review your course planning. You might need to consider an alternative course to avoid failing the current one. To avoid immigration impacts you must be enrolled in at least 12 credits in each required academic term.
What will happen to me if I fail courses?
Your grades do not directly impact your enrolment or immigration status for that term. For example, if you are an undergraduate student and fail your courses, but remain enrolled in at least 12 credits, you are still considered full-time for immigration purposes.
However, if you have many failed courses over several terms, an IRCC officer may question if you are making reasonable progress towards completing your program. IRCC could request additional information to ensure your intention in Canada is to study.
Contact your program coordinator or academic advisor from your faculty to understand possible academic impacts if you fail courses.
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If you still have questions related to immigration, health insurance, and life as an international student in Canada?
- Workshops and Seminars: Our workshops and seminars are conducted regularly to help international students stay informed and empowered. Link to TWU Calendar.
- Service Hub: For personalized assistance in resolving immigration-related questions, please submit your inquiries through Service Hub. Our team is here to provide specific support and help with any concerns you may have. Please note that TWU RCICs or RISIAs can only advise international students, their spouses, common-law partners, and children. We do not submit IRCC applications on behalf of international students.