General Information
Good academic standing at Rotman is defined as grades of B- or above (or in the case of Credit/No Credit courses, a grade of Credit; or in the case of an Honours/Pass/Fail course, a non-Fail grade) in all courses completed.
Students must complete every course taken for graduate credit with a grade of at least B-, CR, or H/P. Courses taken in other faculties or schools for credit towards a Rotman degree must meet the same grade standard.
A grade of less than a B- constitutes a fail or FZ (the notation used on the academic transcript). Note that individual course grades will be reviewed at the end of each term.
Examiner’s Committee Review
The Examiner’s Committee at the Rotman School of Management is responsible for the timely review of the academic progress of all students. The Committee meets upon the completion of each academic term. In cases where students have not maintained good academic standing or have not met the academic requirements of their Program, the Committee has the authority and responsibility to make recommendations for program completion or termination, within the context of our academic policies.
Failed Courses
At the end of the term, any student who has received a failing grade will be notified officially and be put forward to the Examiner’s Committee. The Committee will review the student’s overall academic performance in making its determination.
Students who receive their first grade of FZ (or in the case of Credit/No Credit courses, a grade of No Credit; or in the case of an Honours/Pass/Fail course, a Fail grade) in any course will be reviewed by Rotman’s Examiners Committee. That Committee will decide whether to:
- Allow the student to continue in the program and require that the failed course be repeated at the earliest possible date with a grade of B- or above (or a grade of Credit or non-Fail if relevant for that course offering). The student will be placed on probation until the end of the program. Note that the original FZ grade remains on the student’s transcript.
- Alternatively, the Examiners Committee may decide to recommend termination of the student from the program. While the Examiners Committee has not historically recommended termination on a student’s first FZ, the Committee will examine the student’s overall academic performance and reserves the right to do so.
Students who are on probation and receive their second grade of FZ (or in the case of Credit/No Credit courses, a grade of No Credit; or in the case of an Honours/Pass/Fail course, a Fail grade) in any course will again be reviewed by Rotman’s Examiner’s Committee. That Committee will decide whether to:
- Allow the student to continue in the program and require that the failed course be repeated at the earliest possible date with a grade of B- or above (or Credit or non-Fail). The student will remain on probation until the end of the program. Note that the original FZ grade remains on the student’s transcript.
- Alternatively, the Examiners Committee may decide to recommend termination of the student from the program.
NOTE: Termination after two FZ grades has historically been a common result.
Students will be notified in writing as to the Committee’s decision.
In the event that the Examiner’s Committee recommends that a failed course be repeated, the original FZ remains on the transcript.
Program Termination
Please note that under Section 7.4 of the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) Calendar:
If a student fails to complete a graduate course in a satisfactory manner (i.e., receives a grade report of FZ or NCR in a course or receives a grade report below the minimum acceptable by the graduate unit), then the graduate unit in which the student is registered may recommend to the School of Graduate Studies the termination of registration and eligibility of that student.
Should the Examiner’s Committee recommend Termination, the student will be informed of the decision, the process explained and the student directed to the web page for Termination of Registration – Information for Graduate Students.
The student may consider voluntary withdrawal from the program at any time before their registration is terminated. Withdrawal is not an appealable action.
Accelerating a Program – Implications for Early Finishers
Registration
As per the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) policy, Rotman is required to submit a degree recommendation for students as soon as all degree requirements have been fulfilled.
If an overload request accelerates the completion of a student’s program requirements, the student will be put forward for graduation immediately following the term in which those requirements have been met; further registration will not be permitted. Students will not be able to take extra courses.
Fee Implications
Every degree program has a minimum degree fee and a defined program length:
- Full-Time MBA is 2 years (or 5 sessions: Fall, Winter/Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter/Spring)
- Morning/Evening MBA is 3 years (or 8 sessions: Fall, Winter/Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter/Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter/Spring)
Students who accelerate their degree completion may incur a Balance of Degree Fee (BoD). If at the end of your program, the total amount of academic fees which you paid during the time you were registered is less than the minimum degree fee, you will be required to pay the outstanding balance.
Other financial implications to consider:
- Students who have not paid the total academic fees for their program will be required to pay the outstanding balance known as Balance of Degree Fee (BOD).
- OSAP and other student loans (including PSLP): future instalments and repayment dates will be affected.
- Access to UofT and Rotman resources: these will be adjusted to reflect your registration status.
- Health insurance coverage: coverage will end for those without registration
Leave of Absence
Students may apply for a one-term to three-term (one academic year) leave during their program of study for:
- Serious health or personal problems which temporarily make it impossible to continue in the program.
- Parental leave by either parent at the time of pregnancy, birth or adoption, and/or to provide full-time care during the child’s first year. Parental leave must be completed within twelve months of the date of birth or custody. Where both parents are graduate students taking leave, the combined total number of sessions may not exceed four.
Students must speak to their Assistant/Associate Director to initiate the request. The completed SGS Leave of Absence Form is then submitted to the Director, Academic Services & Registrar for approval.
The termination date of the degree program (i.e. expected graduation date) will be extended by the duration of the leave taken (i.e. one, two, or three sessions as appropriate). Except for parental leave or in exceptional circumstances, it is not expected that a student will be granted more than one leave under the terms of this policy. Normally the start and finish of the leave would coincide with the start and end of a term.
SGS dictates that students on leave do not have access to University resources. As such, Rotman students who are on leave will not be able to attend or audit courses; will not have card access to the Rotman building(s); and will not have access to services through Career Services. However, students will continue to have access to their Rotman email accounts to enable communication with the School for the duration of the leave.
Students on a leave are responsible for the monthly interest payments on their Professional Student Loan Plan for the duration of their leave. Students are advised to contact the Registrar’s Office to discuss fee implications and their eligibility for Rotman or University of Toronto scholarships or award reinstatement upon return. In the case of external awards, the regulations of the particular granting agency apply and students are advised to contact the granting agency directly.