Course registrations
Enrolment Services processes all course registrations, withdrawals and extension requests. We also manage your requests to change your course status.
Courses and registration
Our Course Availability tool contains up-to-date information on availability, as well as registration requirements or restrictions for all of Athabasca University's courses.
Athabasca University undergraduate courses are offered with flexible contracts for completion and are equivalent to conventional university classroom sessions. One (1) credit hour equates to 1 hour of instruction per week over a 15-week period with a minimum of 2 additional hours per week of study.
As a general guideline, AU course credits can be translated as follows:
3-credit course:
Equivalent to one semester of study
3 hours of instruction per week; 6 hours of study over 15 weeks
45 credit hours
6-credit course:
Equivalent to two semesters of study
3 hours of instruction per week; 6 hours of study over 30 weeks
90 credit hours
Some AU programs offer 4-credit courses, which usually include a practicum. Browse our courses and programs for specific details.
Non-credit or 0-credit course:
Non-credit or 0-credit courses do not fulfill any requirement towards a credential. All Athabasca University policies and regulations applying to credit courses also apply to non-credit courses (including fees and extensions). Students taking non-credit courses still have access to tutors, as well as most other services provided to AU students.
Students taking individualized study courses are given 6 months to complete 3- and 4-credit courses and 12 months to complete 6-credit courses. All assignments, quizzes and exams need to be completed within the course contract time.
Students taking individualized study courses are eligible for three 2-month extensions, as explained in AU's Undergraduate Calendar.
Generally, group study courses follow a traditional semester system; for example, courses which begin in September will end in December. Grouped-study courses are usually 13 weeks (3-credit courses) or 26 weeks (6-credit courses). Course extensions are not allowed.
If you are a funded student, other timeframes might apply. For more information, email a financial aid advisor in the Financial Aid unit of the Office of the Registrar at sfa@athabascau.ca or contact the Information Centre.
Course start dates vary depending on the delivery mode. Most courses are delivered online as individualized study courses. These generally start on the 1st day of every month. If you would like to start a course in a specific month, your registration must be received and processed by the 10th day of the previous month. For example, if you would like your course to start on June 1, your registration must be successfully processed by May 10.
When you register for a course, you can provide a preferred start date. Your actual course start date will be confirmed after your course registration has been successfully processed. Whether or not you receive your preferred start date will depend on when your registration is received.
Athabasca University has 2 basic delivery modes:
- Individualized study - study individually and at your own pace, using course materials we provide and support from your tutor.
- Grouped study - study as part of a group, in a classroom or online.
AU is increasingly moving towards offering courses exclusively online in both delivery modes.
Within these broad delivery modes, coursework can involve independent and supervised labs, audio and video components, and other specialized tools and components.
For information on the delivery modes and learning tools for specific courses, view our course syllabi.
Before you can register for courses, you need to become a student first by applying online or submitting our printable application form. Once you have been admitted to AU, you can register for courses via our student portal, myAU.
The course registration deadline for undergraduate, individualized study courses is the 10th of the previous month for the requested start date. For example, for a course that starts on June 1, your registration must be successfully processed by May 10.
Generally, undergraduate, individualized study courses start on the 1st day of every month. To get into the courses you want that start when you want, we recommend that you register as early as possible; you can register for a course up to 3 months in advance.
Before you register, visit the Course Availability tool to make sure that your course is open and available for registration (some courses may have restrictions).
Fees
Our courses are pay-as-you-go. Pay for each course only when you register for it, and our undergraduate course fees include all textbooks and materials, and access to a tutor or support centre. All course fees must be paid in full when you register.
Depending on where you are located and your level of study, your course fees will vary:
While AU does not charge students exam fees (except for supplemental exams), many exam invigilators will charge a fee to invigilate student exams. Students may also be required to pay invigilation fees to the institution providing invigilation for their exam. Students are responsible for any expenses they incur for exam invigilation service.
More information about examination fees can be found in the Calendar.
When you register in a course, you are issued a confirmation letter which indicates the course fees paid, among other details. However, receipts for payment of fees are not issued unless requested.
To request a receipt of payment for your course fees, contact Financial Services at finar@athabascau.ca.
Withdrawals/refunds
You may withdraw from a course at any time up until the end date of the course. However, you may not withdraw from a course if you have completed the final exam.
You have 2 ways to withdraw from a course:
- Log in to myAU and complete the withdrawal process for the course, or
- Complete a Course Withdrawal Request form (included with your course materials) and send it to the Office of the Registrar.
Full-time funded students are not able to withdraw from courses online.
Please review the information found here: SFA course withdrawals.
The date of withdrawal will be the postmark on the request, or, if the notice is hand-delivered or faxed, the university date stamp, or the date of the online submission.Generally, you will be eligible for a refund of tuition and the course administration and technology fee, minus a withdrawal processing fee and students' union and alumni relations fee, if you withdraw within the first 30 days of the course. No tuition refunds are issued if you withdraw more than 30 days after your course start date.
You may also be eligible for a refund of the materials fee.
See the Calendar for fee details.
In order to potentially be eligible for a refund, you must formally withdraw from the course. To do this, either log in to myAU and complete the withdrawal process for the course, or complete and send in a Course Withdrawal Request Form.
Redos/extensions
Students are permitted 1 registration and 1 re-registration in each individualized study course. You may re-register in an undergraduate course provided you are eligible to register in the current revision and that you have not previously re-registered in the course. The re-registration fee will include tuition, the course administration & technology fee, and the students' union and alumni relations fees.
If the current course revision has changed from your original registration, you will may also be required to pay the course materials fee.
In order to carry forward any completed coursework, you must first obtain written approval from the professor/course coordinator. Approval to carry forward completed coursework is at the discretion of the professor/course coordinator.
More information on re-registration can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Undergraduate course extensions are available for individualized-study courses only. Students who are unable to complete their course during their course contract period may apply for an extension. Each course may be extended up to 3 times, and each extension is valid for a 2-month period. The extension starts on the 1st day of the month following your course contract end date. Students with course extensions must complete all course work by the end date of the extension period.
Extensions for non-funded students and part-time funded students
Course extensions for non-funded and part-time funded students can be requested up to the last day of the course contract period.
How to apply: Log in to myAU, and choose "Apply for a Course Extension" under the "Manage your Courses" options. You will need to pay the relevant fee online.
Extensions for full-time funded students
Course extensions for full-time funded students receiving government financial aid can be requested up to 30 days before the course contract end date. Full time funded students are not able to extend courses online. Please review the information found here: Student Financial Aid course extensions.
How to apply: Submit a Course Extension Request Form and include the appropriate fee for each extension requested. Email your completed form to the Office of the Registrar.
Appeals
Students may appeal decisions and actions including:
- grade assignment, evaluation and assessment of transfer credits
- institutional policies and procedures which do not directly impact assignment of grades
- assignment of penalties resulting from decisions made under the Student Academic Misconduct Policy
Appeals can be submitted to the Office of the Registrar through the online appeals form.
More information about Athabasca University's appeals process can be found in the Student Appeals Policy.
The AU Undergraduate Calendar outlines our admission and course registration regulations and policies.
Updated February 28, 2024 by Digital & Web Operations (web_services@athabascau.ca)