New Students

If you received a conditional offer of admission, you will need to ensure that required final documents are forwarded to the Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies.   Keep in mind that you have until the 1st class day of the semester in which you are intending to register to submit any final document or conditional documents listed on your offer of admission. You will not be able to register until your conditions are met - in order to meet transcript conditions:

• you must provide an official set of transcripts from all post-secondary institutions as listed on your offer of admission.
• for a transcript to be considered official and final, they must be received in a sealed envelope directly from the university concerned and show courses taken, grades received, and degree conferred.
• All transcripts will be reviewed and verified for authenticity prior to satisfying the conditions on your offer of admission
• If your previous university does not indicate degree conferred on the transcript because your convocation will take place during your first registered semester at U of G or the official transcript does not state this information, we require an official letter from the university confirming that the degree is complete and includes the date of convocation
  
  PLEASE NOTE: Students who are in the process of completing their degree at the University of Guelph, or have completed a degree at the University of Guelph, the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies will obtain you final official transcripts on your behalf

If your degree is not yet awarded:

• An official interim transcript from your home institution, showing all courses and marks to date. We recognize that in-progress marks will not be included
• AND
•  A letter on letterhead from the Registrar's Office stating that you have completed your degree requirements and the date when your degree will be conferred.  Please order this letter to be sent to us as soon as it can be confirmed that you HAVE met all requirements of the degree.
• Once both are received, we will allow you to register for courses and extend the due date for the official final transcript to a date after your convocation/graduation ceremony.
• Once awarded your degree/diploma (after convocation/graduation), arrange for your official final transcript to be sent to us in order to complete your condition of admission.  The final transcript must include all courses/marks in the program AND sow the date of the awarding of your degree.

If you are an international student, you must present your study permit to the Office of the Registrar by the 14th class day.  Be sure to check the Schedule of Dates to ensure you know when that is.

You can now plan and register your courses through Student Planning. You probably used WebAdvisor to accept your offer of admission and now you will use it for billing, and accounts. NOTE: If you are a special student in a Non-Degree program, you will not be permitted to use WebAdvisor to register, although you can use it for everything else. In this situation, you must obtain a Graduate Add/Drop - Course Waiver Request and submit your material, either by mail or in person, to your department for signature and subsequent submission to Enrolment Services.

 You should connect with your department/school prior to selecting your courses for the term. Make sure you follow the instructions for registration and register for your courses by the appropriate deadline.

Univ 7100* Academic Integrity For Graduate Students

All University of Guelph students registering/entering the first semester of their graduate program or returning to their program following a withdrawal will be enrolled in UNIV 7100*Academic Integrity for Graduate Students. There is no need to add this course on WebAdvisor, as it will be automatically added. Access to this on-line course will begin on the first day of scheduled classes for the semester. See Academic Integrity Course Guide.
This course must be completed by the 20th class day.

After you have selected your courses, please ensure you follow the instructions in the Registration Guide to pay your fees by the required deadline. 

You will not receive a financial statement or payment form from Student Financial Services; you are expected to check your student account on WebAdvisor in order to determine the amount payable for the semester. Follow the instructions posted on WebAdvisor for making your payments by the deadline. Registrations will continue to be accepted through WebAdvisor or on Add/Drop forms. You will be able to view your student account on WebAdvisor once your registration is complete, and will be responsible for printing off your account and submitting your payment appropriately.
 

When You Arrive - Checklist for International Graduate Students

The New International Student Handbook is a great resource to ensure for a smooth transition.  Below, you will also find some helpful tips and tricks as well as must sees and dos. 

Attend Orientations and Social Events

• Full Degree International Students' Welcome Dinner (Fall)
• Community BBQ (Fall)
• Graduate Student Orientations (Fall, Winter, and Summer)
• International Graduate Day (Fall)
• International Graduate Meet and Greet Social (Fall, Winter, Summer) 
• International Student Welcome Back Mixer (Fall, Winter)
• Orientation within your department/academic program

University Centre Third Floor (North Elevator)

• Pay your tuition fees online or at Student Financial Services
• Get your Student ID Card from Enrolment Services. Remember to bring your passport and study permit in order to pick up your ID.
• If you need to bring your official and final documents (for a conditional offer of admission), remember to bring them directly to the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

Personal

• Open a bank account and apply for a debit and/or credit card
• Set up a local phone number
• Settle into your own residence
• Get an Ontario Photo ID from Service Ontario (optional if you do not want to use your passport as government-issued ID and you do not have a Driver's License)
• Attend Move-In Madness with the Off Campus Living office for free household items and furniture other students have left behind (during O-Week, Fall only)

Health Insurance

• Print your University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) card online. It will be emailed to your UofG email during the first week of class from SunLife (the UHIP insurance company)
• Pick up your myBenefit Card from the Student Benefits Plan Office (University Centre main floor). You should also come here if you wish to opt-out (not participate in) the Student Dental Insurance Plan
• If you have family members accompanying you to Canada and will be living with you for an extended period of time, enroll them in health insurance. Go to Student Financial Services for UHIP & Student Benefits Plan Office for the Student Health and Dental Plans to enroll your dependents.

University Centre Fifth Floor (North Elevator)

• Pick up your GSA Handbook from the GSA office
• Pick up your Guelph Transit bus pass sticker from the GSA Office (after you get your ID Card)
• Check out The Fifth GSA Rooftop Patio & Lounge and the International Student Organization (ISO) Lounge (UC535)

Working in Canada

• Visit Service Canada or attend an on-campus SIN clinic to get your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• Submit payroll information
• If you are a TA, set up a meeting with the course instructor to introduce yourself and understand your role

Student Experience Programs

• Sign up for LINK program, if you wish to connect with other students
• Sign up for Conversation Partners, for conversational English practice with an assigned partner
• Add International Student Connections to your organizations on GryphLife.ca and load current events for international students on your phone calendar
• Add UofG Student Life on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and/or SnapChat

Within Your Department

• Meet your Graduate Program Assistant in your department
• Register for your classes (if you have not already done so)
• Get keys and access card to your buildings and office, if needed
• Meet your advisor

Navigating Campus Resources & Staying Connected

• Check your University of Guelph email account regularly
• Activate your student card for library use and take a tour to learn about graduate services in the library
• Connect with the International Student Experience team, your home away from home while you are in Canada, to find resources, support, and community
• Meet with an International Student Advisor, if you missed orientation or have questions when you arrive
• Follow the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies on Facebook (uofgGradStudies) and Instagram (uofg_gradstudies)

Student Experience offers programs, services, advising, and support activities that span the co-curricular and the community-at-large to help students explore their leadership capacity, optimize opportunities to learn through experience, develop their civic identity, and navigate the many transitions they experience at university and beyond.  Student Experience is comprised of the Cultural Diversity Office, Multi-Faith Programs, Sexual and Gender Diversity, the Indigenous Student Centre, International Student Experience, Student Engagement and Leadership, and Neighbourhood Relations and Off-Campus living.  Visit Student Experience to learn more.

Congratulations on your offer of admission - we look forward to welcoming you on the University of Guelph campus Graduate Orientation which will be held on Tuesday, September 5th 2023 - more details to follow.  If you are unable to attend, please feel free to visit our Graduate Orientation Website, which will be available throughout your studies.  

This webpage provides the opportunity for new graduate students to learn more about what it means to be a graduate student, receive tips on how to succeed in graduate school, become aware of services available on campus and meet other students. In person orientation events will resume as soon as we are able to return to campus.    Make sure you stay tuned to your email, the Graduate Studies website and the Graduate Studies Facebook page for more details.  

ID Card Pick up is now located in the Campus Card Office, located in the University Centre, Level 0. Please also review how to obtain your student campus card carefully.

University mailings will normally be sent to your Academic Department address, as long as you are a registered graduate student. In some circumstances, if you are distant from the campus, or are registered as a part-time student and cannot access your department mailbox, you may request that mailings be sent to an alternate address. It is imperative that you provide the university with accurate address information. Please submit the Address Notification form to ORS Enrolment Services as soon as your address information is available.

Looking for a place to live.   Student Housing Services offers a variety of options tailored to graduate students. You may also want to consider Off-campus living or Guelph Campus Co-op for housing options .

As a graduate student, your financial health is very important in order to concentrate on your studies.   You may be funded as a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) or Graduate Research Assistant (GRA).  Scholarship opportunities will be very important to help fund your studies, you may also qualify for OSAP  and if you run into difficulty or need financial aide there are always counsellors in Student Financial Services (SFS) available to inform you about best choices. 

A limited number of research carrels and study offices are available in the library for use by graduate students. The complete policy and procedures, as well as information on other services and resources available in the library, are available on the Library website.