Enrolment status
To take courses at Athabasca University, a student can either be enrolled in a program or unclassified.
Program students
Program students are enrolled in any of the undergraduate degrees, diplomas, or certificates offered by AU. Students who change from the unclassified (non-program/visiting) to a program category may use credits earned while in the unclassified (non-program/visiting) category provided the course(s) meets the requirements of the program, including any restrictions on the age of a course, if applicable. There is no application deadline for enrolling in an undergraduate degree program. Applications are accepted year round.
Because program regulations can change, students are required to complete the program regulations in effect at the time of their enrolment. Students who are admitted to a program that has any entrance requirements for admission will follow the degree regulations in effect upon completion of the transfer credit evaluation.
Pre-enrolment category
Although most of the undergraduate credentials have open admission, there are some that require documentation be provided and assessed prior to admission (refer to the specific program regulations). In these cases, students will be admitted to a pre-enrolment category until documentation is assessed. Once this process is complete, students will be advised of their admission status. See Procedure below for assessment process.
Unclassified (non-program/visiting) students
Unclassified students are either:
Visiting Students: Those students enrolled at a program at another institution and taking AU course to help fill their program requirements, or
Non-Program Students: Those students who are not enrolled in a program anywhere and are taking courses for general interest or have not yet decided what program to enrol in.
Unclassified students are not enrolled in an AU credential program, but are either planning to take or are currently registered in AU courses only. There is no limit to the total number of courses that can be taken by unclassified students; however, the maximum active course load at any one time is 6.
The AU unclassified category includes visiting students from other post secondary institutions who are taking AU courses for admission or transfer purposes to another institution. Visiting students are encouraged to obtain a Letter of Permission from their home institution before registering in an AU course. This will ensure the home university will accept the AU course in the visiting student’s program.
NOTE: It is important to note that AU does not evaluate previous post-secondary education or award transfer credit for students in the unclassified category. If a student wishes to change from the unclassified category to a program student category, a request for evaluation of any previously completed post secondary courses can be made any time after enrolling in an AU program.
Visiting students must request a transcript to be sent to their home institution once they have completed the course(s). This can be done online through myAU.
Concurrent enrolment
Students cannot be enrolled in two Athabasca University programs at the same time. They also cannot enrol in an AU undergraduate degree program while they are enrolled in another undergraduate degree program at another post-secondary institution. Those students may take courses as unclassified (non-program/visiting) students until they have either completed or withdrawn from the other program.
Changing programs
Active students who want to change their enrolment from unclassified (non-program/visiting) to program, or change from one undergraduate program to another undergraduate program; or inactive students who would like to reactivate their account, must log in to myAU and in the Student Record section, under “Manage Your Program”, select “Change Your Program”.
Changing concentrations, majors, or designations in the same program
Active program students who are changing their concentration, major, or designation, but stay in the same credential, are governed by the credential regulations in effect at the time this change is made. Students who wish to remain under the regulations that were in effect at the time of their initial enrolment in the credential may remain under the original enrolment date by making the request in writing to enrol@athabascau.ca.
A change from one credential to another constitutes a change of program. For example, a change from a three-year to a four-year credential, or a change from one university certificate to another university certificate are changes to program.
Inactive students will be asked if they require an evaluation of previous post-secondary studies. Previously-completed course work, including transfer credit, will be reassessed and applied to the student’s program in accordance with the degree regulations and procedures in effect at the time of re-enrolment. A fee is required for this service if it wasn't submitted previously.
Effective November 5, 2018, students requesting a transfer credit evaluation are responsible for providing recently issued official transcript(s) to the Enrolment Services Unit. These documents will be retained for 3 years.
International Assessment Services (e.g. IQAS, WES, etc.) documents are requested as required and will be retained indefinitely.
All students are required to fulfill the program regulations in effect at the time of their enrolment. Course work completed previously will be assessed toward the new credential.
Updated July 19, 2022 by Office of the Registrar (calendar@athabascau.ca)