Open Studies
Admission to Open Studies may be available to applicants who do not wish to enter a degree program or who do not meet the admission requirements of a degree program. Students in Open Studies are not admitted to or committed to a degree program. However, they are admitted to the university to take courses for degree credit. Open Studies gives applicants an opportunity to complete selected courses and meet the competitive admission transfer average to a degree program.
Open Studies students are eligible to register for on-campus daytime or evening classes, off-campus daytime or evening classes, or for courses offered through distance education (independent studies, televised, multi-mode or online delivery).
Regular Admission Requirements for Open Studies
1. Applicants must have complete secondary level standing.
2. No prerequisites are required for admission to Open Studies, however certain university courses require 30-level or Grade 12 (or equivalent) prerequisites.
3. A minimum admission average of 70% based on the following criteria:
One of:- English A30
- English B30
- English Language Arts A30
- English Language Arts B30
One of:- Mathematics A30*
- Mathematics B30*
- Mathematics C30*
- Calculus 30*
*Students
may be admitted to Open Studies with a deficiency in Mathematics.
A combination of three 30-level subjects from the following categories:- Natural Science (maximum of two)
- Social Science or Humanities (maximum of two)
- Fine and Performing Arts (maximum of one)
For a complete list of approved Grade 12 subjects for admission view the Prospective Student website:
http://explore.usask.ca/admission/requirements.
Students in Open Studies who later seek admission to a college or school must reapply and meet the admission criteria in effect at the time of application.
Special (Mature) Admission and Provisional Admission to Open Studies
Canadian residents 21 years of age or over who do not meet the Regular Admission requirements may apply for Special (Mature) Admission. Alternatively, applicants who lack Regular Admission or Special (Mature) Admission qualifications may be admitted on the basis of Provisional Admission to register in a restricted number of credit units. For detailed information on eligibility, application procedures and enrolment restrictions related to Special (Mature) and Provisional Admission, please refer to the Admission Categories section of the
Calendar.
Transfer Applicants from Other Post-Secondary Institutions
Upon application for admission, students who have successfully completed 18 credit units or more of post-secondary studies transferable to the University of Saskatchewan may be admitted to Open Studies if:
- the cumulative average on all transferable credit units attempted, or the last year(s) average (on at least 18 transferable credit units) is at least equivalent to the progression standards for Open Studies.
The admission average is based on the total number of transferable credit units attempted, including failures. When students have retaken a course, the grade used in calculation of an admission average will be the most recent grade achieved in that course and the credit units will be counted only once.
Students who have attempted 18 credit units or more, but successfully completed less than 18 credit units, may be considered for admission based on their post-secondary average if they have taken courses in the immediately preceding regular session. If a year or more has passed since they have attempted post-secondary study, then they may be considered for admission based on their high school marks.
Students who have successfully completed 18 credit units or more of transferable post-secondary courses, but do not meet the Progression Standard equivalency (as described in the first paragraph of this Transfer Applicants section) will not be considered for admission to Open Studies for at least three years following their last attendance at any post-secondary institution, or three years from their most recent
Required to Discontinue Faculty Action.
All such post three-year applications for admission must be submitted to
Admissions, Student and Enrolment Services, and must be accompanied by:
- University of Saskatchewan Application for Admission/Re-Admission/Transfer Form
- any application fee specified on the application form
- written explanation of past performance and potential to succeed if admitted
- documentation verifying any extenuating circumstances
- letter of intent and a resume.
In such cases, Open Studies reserves the right to refuse admission or to grant it with conditions (e.g., placed on
Probation or restricted credit unit limit).
Admission AppealsAppeal of an admission decision under these post three-year circumstances must be made in writing, including any relevant supporting documents. In accordance with the General Principles Governing Admission Decisions and the Appeal Process approved by University Council February 14, 2002 and amended March 21, 2002, “grounds for appeal of an admission decision shall be limited to (1) unit procedural errors, or (2) evidence that the information used in the decision was wrong or incomplete. A failure by the candidate to provide accurate and complete information in accordance with the admission policy shall not be grounds for an appeal. The decision of the individual, committee or board that adjudicates the appeal shall be final.”
Returning University of Saskatchewan Students
With the exception of Provisional Admission students and students whose academic history includes the conditions described in the third paragraph of this section, all other returning University of Saskatchewan students will be deemed eligible to register in Open Studies. However, those who have not taken courses within the last 12 months and those who were in another University of Saskatchewan College in the previous Regular Session must contact the Open Studies Advising Office to declare their intention to register in Open Studies. No formal application for admission, re-admission or transfer to Open Studies is required from such students.
Students who have been
Required to Discontinue for the first time from a University of Saskatchewan College within the last 12 months will be placed in the Open Studies
Probation 2 category at their first Regular Session (limited to 12 credit units per term in that Session). They will be assessed against the Progression Standard at the end of their first Regular Session in Open Studies. (Note:
Probation 2 status is described under the Open Studies Probation and
Required to Discontinue Faculty Actions section.)
Students who have previously attended the University of Saskatchewan and have been
Required to Discontinue more than once, or have received one Open Studies
Probation 2 and one Open Studies
Required to Discontinue Faculty Action, will not be considered for readmission to Open Studies for at least three years following their most recent RTD Faculty Action. Such students must apply for admission to Open Studies according to the following guidelines:
Students must submit to
Admissions, Student and Enrolment Services:
- University of Saskatchewan Application for Admission/Re-Admission/Transfer Form
- any application fee specified on the application form
- written explanation of past performance and potential to succeed if readmitted
- documentation verifying any extenuating circumstances
- letter of intent and a resume.
In such cases, Open Studies reserves the right to refuse admission or to grant it with conditions (e.g., placed on
Probation or restricted credit unit limit).
Appeal of an admission decision under these circumstances must be made in writing, including any relevant supporting documents. In accordance with the General Principles Governing Admission Decisions and the Appeal Process approved by University Council February 14, 2002 and amended March 21, 2002, “grounds for appeal of an admission decision shall be limited to (1) unit procedural errors, or (2) evidence that the information used in the decision was wrong or incomplete. A failure by the candidate to provide accurate and complete information in accordance with the admission policy shall not be grounds for an appeal. The decision of the individual, committee or board that adjudicates the appeal shall be final.”