Engineering programs are demanding, and some students may prefer to ease their workload by extending their studies over five or more years instead of the usual four. If you’re thinking about this option, here are a few important things to keep in mind:
Courses are typically offered once a year
- Core courses in a program are scheduled to avoid conflicts with other core courses in the same term/year.
- If a course is offered in Winter Term 1, it is likely to only be available again in the following Winter Term 1
Summer Courses
- Engineering-specific courses are typically not offered in Summer, but the following courses may be available during Summer, which could reduce your Winter course load:
- MATH courses
- STAT courses
- Humanities or other electives
Mixing courses from different years
- Combining core courses from different year levels can lead to time conflicts or missing prerequisites, to be careful when planning.
- Prioritize any missing lower-level courses before moving to higher-level courses – this should help minimize prerequisite issues.
Know your own strengths
- Consider which courses you find most challenging and try to spread them across different terms to avoid overloading yourself.
Plan ahead and stay flexible
- Whilst planning your courses early is smart, keep in mind that schedules can change. If a core course is rescheduled in a future year, it might cause a conflict with your other courses. Always check for updates and be ready to adjust as needed.
Program-Specific Advice
You can review the Course Planning page for your specific program to see any program-specific guidance on taking a reduced course load.
Part-time study implications
- Loans / Immigration:
- Make sure your course plan meets any credit load requirements you may have. This could affect study permit, student loans, scholarships, housing, or medical insurance.
- It’s a good idea to contact Enrolment Services or your funding/housing agencies to confirm your eligibility.
Connect with us
If you want to discuss a reduced course load, please book an appointment with an EAS academic advisor.