Topic:	Admissions, Transfer Credit, Fees
Approval Authority:	Senate

Individuals who wish to enrol in undergraduate credit courses, but who do not intend to complete a degree or a certificate may be admitted to York as a Visiting Student. Visiting students are individuals who:

a. hold an undergraduate degree (three-year Bachelor's degree minimum) from  a recognized postsecondary institution, or

b. do not hold an undergraduate degree but wish to enrol in York courses to fulfill the academic, upgrading or professional development requirements of a professional designation or

c. are currently attending another recognized postsecondary institution and wish to take York courses on a Letter of Permission issued by their home institution.

Admissions criteria for category “a”; those with a completed undergraduate degree:

1. Official transcript issued by post-secondary institution(s) showing that the degree has been conferred.
2. Proof of language proficiency requirements will apply if students do not meet the criteria for exemption as outlined in the “Language Proficiency Requirements” published in the York Undergraduate Calendar.

Admissions criteria for category “b”; those wishing to professionally upgrade without having previously obtained an undergraduate degree:

1. Proof of membership (whether full, associate, or student membership however formally designated) in a professional association or body recognized by legislation in Canada or another country and approval through the Admissions Office, in consultation with the Faculties; or

Official transcripts of (or academic assessments accepted by and prepared on behalf of) a professional association or body recognized by legislation in Canada or another country and approval through the Admissions Office in consultation with the Faculties.

2. Proof of language proficiency requirements will apply if students do not meet the criteria for exemption as outlined in the “Language Proficiency Requirements” published in the York Undergraduate Calendar.

Continuation Requirements

Visiting students under categories (a) and (b) whose overall cumulative grade point average (OCGPA) falls below 4.0 on at least 24 credits attempted will not be allowed to enrol automatically in any subsequent session as visiting students. Students who are not permitted to re-enrol must apply for readmission through the Admissions Office.

The Repeating Passed or Failed Courses for Academic Credit section of the Academic Forgiveness Policy does not apply to visiting students but only to academic degrees and certificates.  Therefore, all courses attempted or taken will count in the OCGPA.

Visiting students who do not hold undergraduate degrees, have maintained an OCGPA of 4.0 throughout their studies and who have completed 30 credits will not be allowed to enroll in subsequent sessions and must reactivate to proceed as visiting students or may choose to apply for admission to a degree or certificate program. The purpose of having visiting students pause and potentially reactivate after reaching 30 credits is to allow them an opportunity to reconsider options as they may wish to apply to degree studies given the transfer credit implications. Additionally and for enrolment management reasons, it provides the Faculty with an opportunity to reconsider course availability and access.

Visiting students who are subsequently admitted to degree studies will receive a maximum of 60 credits towards a BA and a maximum of 90 credits towards an honours degree in accordance with current transfer credit policies. They will be subject to program and residency requirements and Faculty/Senate legislation as it exists at the point of admission to a degree program.

Legislative History:	Approved by Senate:  2005/12/15; Revised and approved by Senate: 2022/04/28