myAcademics

Registration is part of the university experience

Yes, you will need to familiarize yourself with your program requirements and register for your courses on your own each year. Please review the information below to help you learn more about how registration works.

Please Note: We will soon be transitioning to our new MyPortal system which will replace MyInfo. This page will be updated as the transition becomes complete. Please come back for more info on this exciting new development.

Important registration dates

Course registration opens in late June each year. You will receive an email prior to the opening of your registration date to let you know when you can start registering for your courses.

As a first year student, prior to the registration date you are emailed, you should be reviewing your program requirements, including your first year course requirements in the Academic Calendar. We also encourage you to check out the courses and start to build your timetable using the Build My Pre-Registration Tool in myInfo.

Registering for your courses

Registration is made easy using the Build My Pre-Registration tool in myInfo. It is like a shopping cart where you can view the courses and start building your own timetable for the academic year.

At university, you will build your own timetable based on the requirements for your program. We encourage you to make use of the Registration Guide when planning your timetable and ultimately registering for your courses.

Academic Calendar

Selecting the correct courses during the registration process is important and vital in keeping you on track with your program and ultimately your future graduation.

To determine which courses you should register for, we recommend that you use the Undergraduate Program Requirements Guide. This guide will walk you through the Academic Calendar to find your specific program requirements for the program you're enroled in.

 If you are a Graduate Student we highly recommend to check the Graduate Academic Calendar and select your program to enroled in the courses you need 

Major Requirements

When it comes to registering for your courses, it's most important to register for your major requirements. These are most commonly the courses that contribute to your major average, and are specialized within your area of study. For example, if you are enroled in a Sociology program, your major requirement courses would consist mostly, if not all, of Sociology (or SOCI-) courses.

Other Requirements

After you've registered for your major requirement courses, it's important to register for the "other" course requirements within your program. In most cases, students are required to take courses found outside of their discipline to ensure a well-rounded program of study. This may include a language requirement (like an English course), specific type courses (like Type A - Humanities, Type B - Social Sciences, etc.), or the Type E - Indigenous Content requirement for all Lakehead students. The "other" program requirements are also necessary to complete your program requirements and graduate.

A full course load depends on which context it's being considered.

The number of courses you take can determine whether you are a "full-time" student or a "part-time" student. This may have implications on eligibility to continue in a program, eligibility for financial aid and funding, as well as eligibility to withdraw funds from a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP).

Depending on the context in which you are considering full-time and part-time studies, the course load requirements differ.

Full-time with respect to Lakehead University

Lakehead University recognizes you as a part-time student if you are registered in the fall/winter terms (September to April) in 3.5 Full Course Equivalents (FCEs) or less. If you are registered in more than 3.5 FCEs over the fall and winter terms combined, you would be considered a full-time student.

In general, there are not many differences between being considered a full- or part-time student, however, it does impact how you are billed. In particular, when you are registered as a part-time student, you are billed per course. In contrast, when you are a full-time student, you are billed a flat rate. For more information on this, we recommend connecting with the Accounts Receivable office at accounts@lakeheadu.ca.

Financial Aid

When it comes to OSAP, being considered "full-time" is different from being a "full-time" student at Lakehead.

In order to be considered "full-time" for financial aid purposes (e.g. OSAP), you must be registered in a 60% course load, which, at Lakehead, equates to 1.5 FCEs per term (i.e. from September to December, and/or January to April).

Study Permits and Visas

As a student with a study permit and visa, there are a number of conditions you will need to meet and maintain.

International Students should maintain full time status while in Canada. Falling to part time status may impact your ability to work while studying, and after graduation. Check in with our regulated International Student Immigration Advisor to ensure you are not impacting your visa or study permit. For more information on immigration and visa documentation or how to make an appointment visit the website here

Required Courses versus Electives

Some courses are required specifically for your program, however you may also have the freedom to choose your elective requirements. This provides you with an opportunity to explore new areas of interest or dive deeper into particular subjects you enjoy.

Required Courses

A required course is a specific course that is a requirement for your program. A required course may be very specific (e.g. PSYC-1100), or it could be a specific type of course (e.g. 0.5 FCE's in English as the first year level). Required courses will be indicated within your program requirements in the Academic Calendar.

Elective Requirements

An elective requirement allows you to choose the course you wish to take. We recommend that you choose courses that interest you, and that may fall outside of your specific area of study. As long as you meet the prerequisite and/or other requirements to take a course, you can select any course to count as an elective requirement. These will be denoted as "open electives" within the Academic Calendar.

Regulations Matter - Keep your first year credit count in mind.

For the majority of programs at Lakehead, you are allowed to take a maximum of 7.0 FCEs at the first year level (these are courses with course codes starting with "1" e.g. ECON 1100. Some programs have specific exceptions to this, and may allow for more. In any case, it is important that when choosing your electives throughout your studies, you do not take too many courses at the first year level. That being said, if it's your first year, we recommend taking electives at the first year level.

Electives are important in satisfying the elective requirements of your program. Without them, you may not have a well-rounded experience, and would be short on credits to graduate. We recommend selecting elective requirements that interest you.

Please Note: We will soon be transitioning to our new MyPortal system which will replace MyInfo. This page will be updated as the transition becomes complete. Please come back for more info on this exciting new development.

Transfer Credits

If you are coming to Lakehead with prior post-secondary experience, some of your past course credits could potentially be applied towards your new Lakehead program of study. We call these credits "Advanced Standing".

How do I know if I have received transfer credits?

To determine if you've received transfer credits (or advanced standing), the first step is going to your myInfo portal and accessing the Applicant tab. From the Applicant tab, select the View My Transfer Credit link and you can see your Advanced Standing. This will provide you with a list of all credits that have been approved by Lakehead to be applied towards your new program(s) here at Lakehead.

Once you are eligible to register, you can also use the My Unofficial Transcript (Final marks) link under the Grades & Transcript heading on the Student tab in myInfo to view a listing of all your advanced standing credits.

If you don't see any advanced standing in either of those places, there could be a number of things to consider. First, Transfer Credit Assessments can take a number of weeks as departments must be consulted to determine the equivalency of each course that is being considered as a transfer credit. If you've recently submitted your transcripts and/or course descriptions, it may simply take some time for the Admissions team to complete the assessment. On the other hand, if you've submitted all your documentation to Admissions and haven't heard within a few weeks, don't hesitate to reach out to Student Central so that they can look into it further!

How can I use transfer credits?

Transfer credits can be used in a number of ways, and typically work best to satisfy elective requirements. If you receive transfer credits, it is likely that they will automatically fit into your elective requirements. That being said, if you receive specific courses as a transfer credit or as advanced standing, they may also satisfy some of your major or other requirements for your program. We recommend connecting with your Chair and Student Central to identify the best use of your transfer credits.

Special Permission is required when you do not meet one or more of the requirements to take a course. For instance, this may come into effect if you are not in the required program, year level, or if you lack the specific prerquisites to take the course.

How to Request Special Permission

To request Special Permission, you will need to go through the normal registration process, up until it stops you from fully registering. Through the process, once you are faced with the error message indicating you do not meet all of the requirements to take the course, a message will indicate that you must request special permission for the course. With this message, a "Click Here" button will appear that will take you through the special permission process.

What do I do after submitting a Special Permission request?

After submitting a Special Permission request, it will automatically be sent to the appropriate Chairs/Deans/Program Advisors to review your request. If you are approved to take the course despite lacking all the registration requirements, you will be notified through your Lakehead email that you can proceed with registering for the course. Please note that being approved does not automatically register you, and you must complete this process following approval from all Chairs.

You will have a maximum number of courses that you can register for based on your program requirements in the Academic Calendar. If you are interested in going beyond the specified number of courses, that is considered a course overload. In most cases, you will be restricted to taking no more than 5.0 FCEs (i.e. 5 courses per term).

Is it beneficial to go into course overload?

We recommend that you reflect on what might be best for you academically when considering going into course overload. Keep in mind that in addition to the 3 hours of lecture per week, you can assume that there will be an additional 9 hours of work associated with that course outside of lecture times (to complete readings, work on assignments, etc.). In general, course overload is not recommended. However if this is something you feel would benefit you in the long run, you can request this through the Special Permission process.

How do I request course overload?

To request course overload, you would follow the same process as the Special Permission request process. The only thing to note is that an additional step is required in select course overload within the request.

Some courses are restricted for students within certain programs, at certain year levels, or for other reasons.

In general, courses can have a variety of restrictions. Specifically, courses can require you to be in a certain program, at a certain year level, or have completed certain prerequisites prior to registering.

Student Central is your One-Stop for Registration!

For help with registration, connect with the Student Central team. Student Central can assist you with any registration questions, help you understand your program requirements and options, navigate the Academic Calendar, as well as discuss any issues.

Student Central can help diagnose any problems that you might encounter through the registration process. If it's your first time registering, Student Central can also provide you the tools and guidance to register for all of your courses. Student Central is a great place to start as the team will also empower you to create your own timetable and learn to work through the registration process for future years!

Here is the link that connects you with Student Central and all their contact info 

Fast Pass

Fast Pass is a pre-orientation program designed to help incoming students learn about course registration, program details, and university life.

During Fast Pass, you'll be able to register for classes, understand program requirements, learn about academic expectations, discover your next steps, learn about financial aid, awards, and payment options, and meet with staff and students can can answer your many questions!

Here you can find all the information about Fast Pass

Connecting in online courses

If some of your courses are online, how you connect will depend on the type of course.

Overall, for online courses, you will be able to tell from the timetable how you will connect. Some courses connect at specific days and times online, while others have no specific meeting times.

Dropping courses

You can drop a course as long as it is dropped by the deadline outlined in the Academic Calendar.

It is important to note that there is a difference between academic and financial drop dates. Dropping a course can have different implications so we recommend seeking the advice from Student Central before proceeding with that decision. Please review important academic dates by clicking here .

Final Date to Withdrawl (Drop)

The Final Date to Withdrawl (Drop) are the dates you will need to follow if you are considering dropping a course. These dates are different for each academic term. After this date, you cannot drop the class and must complete the course. The grade you receive for the course will appear on your transcript and can have implications on your future progress in your program. If you're having difficulties with a course, we recommend you speak with your instructor to see what options may exist to help you get back on track. If you're considering dropping the course, arrrange to speak with Student Central.

The Final Date to Withdrawl (Drop) dates are in the Academic Calendar under Important Dates.

Financial Drop Dates

Financial Drop dates are something to consider as well, as they determine if you get a refund, and for how much.

In most cases, there are a number of financial drop dates that determine the refund you would receive (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% refund) so it is important to keep these dates in mind when considering a drop. A potential refund of fees will also be affected by whether you are a full- or part-time student. In all cases, we recommend that you connect with the Accounts Receivable office at accounts@lakeheadu.ca for more information.

Permits and Visas

Your course load may impact your ability to work while studying, and after graduation. Check in with our regulated International Student Immigration Advisor to ensure you are not impacting your visa or study permit. For more information on immigration and documentation or how to make an appointment visit the website here

Dropping Program Requirements

Keep in mind, if you drop a course that is a specific program requirement, it will need to be taken at another time. If you are considering this or if you are unsure how it will affect you, it is always best to check and ask first!

Adding courses

Just like Final Date to Withdrawl (Drop) dates, there are also final dates to register for courses for each academic term.

It is recommended that you carefully select your courses and register as early as possible to ensure the best course selection. It is always best to register before the course begins in order to ensure you do not miss out on the first day introduction, content and course work. After a certain point in the term, you will not be allowed to register for any additional courses, these dates can be found in the Academic Calendar under Important Dates.

Early conversations with instructors

You can absolutely reach out to instructors prior to classes starting - we recommend using the Faculty & Staff Directory to find the contact information for your instructor.

Getting ready to graduate

You are close to graduation when you are in the last 5.0 FCE (equivalent to a 100% course load for one year) for your program.

Once you have entered your last year of study, watch for announcements on myInfo, social media, and emails sent to your Lakehead email account letting you know it's time to submit your Intent to Graduate or to attend Graduation Fair!

Use the Degree Audit as a planning tool

To help you check how you are progressing in your program, you have access to the Degree Audit tool found in myInfo. This tool will allow you to see how you are doing compared to the requirements for your program.

The Degree Audit tool shows you your program requirements and how the courses you have taken/registered for are meeting your program requirements. This tool is a very important guide. to help you stay on track and plan accordingly. If you need help understandig your Degree Audit or have questions, please contact us at Student Central.

All of your final grades are published on myInfo's My Unofficial Transcript . Only in-progress grades (ex: tests and assignments) may be located on either D2L (myCourselink) or myInfo (depending on the professor's preference). 

Keep the Timely Feedback Regulation in Mind

As a student you have the right to receive timely feedback. As per the University Regulation, found in the Academic Calendar , students should have 25% of their mark back by the drop deadline for a single-term course, and 30% of their mark back by the drop deadline for a full-year course.

How do I find the Deadline to Withdrawl (Drop) a course?

You can find the add and drop deadlines for your courses in the Important Dates section of the Academic Calendar . As a student, it is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with these dates.

The importance of understanding your degree requirements

As a student at Lakehead University, it is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with your program requirements, as well as your academic and non-academic expectations. This information can be found in the Academic Calendar and on our Student Conduct webpage.

While it is your responsibility to know what your program requirements are and how to meet them, we are here to help! Student Central and/or your Program Chair/Advisor are available to help you navigate your program requirements and registration.

Academic Standing

Each year your Program Chair will evaluate your progress through your program and release your Academic Standing.

Your Academic Standing tells you if you are on the right track, meeting requirements, or if you may need some additional support, such as course selection advice, concerns about your major average, etc. Your Academic Standing will be sent to your Lakehead University email address each June following the most recent academic year (Fall/Winter terms).

Intent to Graduate

It may seem far away now but in no time you'll be getting ready to graduate. You will need to let us know you are planning to graduate and would like to be assessed for graduation from your program. This process is called the "intent to graduate". Lakehead University graduates students twice a year, in the Fall and in the Spring.

You can find the Intent to Graduate under the Graduation & Convocation heading on your myInfo. The Spring graduation session is for students who have completed all degree requirements by the end of the Winter term prior to the Spring graduation date; this Intent to Graduate is typically available in December/January. The Fall graduation session is for students who complete degree requirements by the end of the Spring/Summer term prior to the Fall graduation date; this Intent to Graduate is typically available in mid-July.

Program Requirements for Graduation

To keep on track and ensure you are meeting your programs requirements, we recommend reaching out to Student Central and/or your Program Chair/Advisor for academic advising.

Each year, it is a good idea to check in with Student Central and/or your Program Chair/Advisor to make sure you are on track towards meeting your program requirements and preparing for graduation.

Graduation Fair

Preparing to graduate with your Lakehead degree in hand is an exciting time!

When the time has come for you to graduate, you can join us at the annual Grad Fair to get ready for your special day, as well as to see what supports are available after graduation. Here you will be able to explore post-graduate programs at Lakehead University and find resources for securing a job!

Knowing who to ask for what is tough, especially when you don't know what you don't know! In general, we encourage you to connect with Student Central, as their holistic model allows their cross-trained Student Central Professionals to assist you in anything from Admissions, Academic Advising, Records & Registration, to Student Awards & Financial Aid. If a Student Central Professional can't answer your question directly, they are still a great first place to ask, as they can guide you in finding the right place to go.

If you're not sure where to go, we also encourage you to check out our Student Referral Guide. This can help you determine who to reach out to, however, if you're not sure, connect with Student Central and they can point you in the right direction!

Student Accessibility Services

Student Accessibility Services will work with you to determine reasonable academic accommodations to support your documented disability(s) and/or medical condition(s).

Student Accessibility Services (SAS) staff are committed to working collaboratively to develop strategies to support a successful learning experience for you while maintaining the academic standards and integrity of the University. We offer a supportive atmosphere where our services are delivered in a respectful, confidential manner. Registering with Student Accessibility Services and receiving academic accommodations while at Lakehead University will not be reflected on your official university records, test results, academic transcripts or graduation documentation.

What is a disability/medical condition?

A disability and or medical condition can be temporary or permanent. It can be visible or non-visible. Nearly 1 in 5 Canadians between the ages of 15-64 reported having a disablity (Statistics Canada 2017)

Disabilities and medical conditions that could impact your education would be a very long list. To give you a general idea it may include but is not limited to: physical, medical, cognitive, auditory, vision, and mental health. Student Accessibilities Services Non-Visible Disability poster gives you an idea of some disabilities you can not see. If you are wondering about whether your disability or medical condition may be supported with academic accommodations make an appointment to talk to one of our accessibility advisors.

Academic Accommodations

Accommodations are provided on an individual basis, based on documentation supporting your disability(s) and or medical condition(s) and a meeting (in-person or virtual) with an SAS advisor.

Accommodations are meant to remove barriers and level the playing field while meeting the essential requirements and maintaining the academic integrity of the University course or program. Accommodations for on campus and or online lectures may include note takers, recording of lectures, and text in alternate format. On campus and or online test and exam accommodations may include extra time, alternate setting, and the use of assistive devices. Your path to arranging accommodations is through Student Accessibility Services.

Getting started with your academic accommodations

To access academic accommodations you can email Student Accessibility Services at sas@lakeheadu.ca for Thunder Bay Campus and oraccess@lakeheadu.ca for the Orillia Campus.

To help you prepare to access academic accommodations, Student Accessibility Services has a very helpful checklist to guide you through the process including collecting supporting documentation.

Student Checklist
Medical Documentation Form

We have also developed a Transition Planner to help you in your transition to University. It has all the information you'll need.

Office hours

Professors at Lakehead University offer office hours when they will be available to speak with you.

Office hours mean that during this allotted time the professor is available to speak with you. Times are generally identified on a course syllabus. Should they not be identified, reach out to your instructor.

Getting ready to attend office hours

Be prepared!

It is always a good idea to send your professor an email prior to coming to office hours, letting them you know you will be there. This ensures that they will stick around the entire duration of the office hours. If you live in a different time zone, let your professor know the details when you reach out so that they can align your request with their schedule.

It is also important to arrive on time to give yourself enough time to ask all the questions you need to (you don’t want to show up with 5 minutes left of their office time!).

Prior to meeting with your professor, ensure you have a couple questions written down that you would like to ask. This lets the professor know that you are eager to succeed in their class.

Attending office hours

Take notes!

Bring a piece of paper or a device to take notes on, you don’t want to forget the information that your professor has shared with you. Plus, this will make
you look very organized!

Let your professor speak. You may be very eager to get all your questions out but it is important to be respectful and to listen what they have to say, it will probably be helpful!

Thank your professor for helping you with difficult course material and for taking time out of their day to speak with you. They will appreciate this. 

Email Etiquette/What to Ask

Sending a well thought out email allows for a good first impression!

Tips for writing an email to your professor

1. Use your Lakehead University email
2. Check your syllabus before emailing...Is the answer to your question there?
3. Address your professor appropriately (Dear Professor ________, Dr. ________)
4. Provide enough background information (Your full name, course code/section)
5. Be clear and to the point
6. Use proper language, spelling and grammar
7. Acknowledge your gratitude ("Thank you for your help!")
8. Read through your email before sending it to ensure it makes sense and is gramatically correct

Asking your professor a question

Knowing what types of questions are appropriate to ask your professor is important! Here are some sample questions to get you started...

"I am having trouble with (insert specific course material topic), are there any additional resources available to support me?"

"I have a couple questions regarding (insert specific course material topics), is there a time this week that you would be able to meet to discuss?"

"I didn't do as well on the midterm as I hoped, would we be able to meet and review where I went wrong? I would like to improve my grade for next time."

"I am looking for an opportunity to be involved in research, is there a time this week that we could meet to discuss current research happening within the department?"

"The drop date for the course is approaching and I didn't do as well on the first midterm as I would have liked, would we be able to meet to discuss my continuation in this course?"

Tutoring services

Tutoring services and writing supports are available to you!

The Academic Support Zone (ASZ) is pleased to offer free academic support to all students. Undergraduate group tutoring and writing assistance take place on a set weekday schedule. Log in to MySuccess to access the tutoring schedule or to book an appointment with a Writing Coach. If you're looking for research assistance before you meet with a Writing Coach, you can book a research consultation with a Liaison Librarian. They can help you find what you need specific to your program.

Academic Skills

The Student Success Centre is committed to helping you with academic skills such as time management, using your textbooks effectively, and study skills. You can book an appointment with a Student Success Advisor via MySuccess for support. You can also access online resources like a five-day study plan, preparing for tests and exams, and study strategies by visiting lakeheadu.ca/tutoring and scrolling down to “Academic Success Resources”.

LUSU Support for Appeals and Complaints

If you feel like you have been treated unfairly, are you being taken advantage of or have you been denied your right to accommodations - we are here to help!

University life can be overwhelming. We’re here to help you find your way through the University bureaucracy and make sure you stay on the path to success. If you think your rights have been violated, we’re here to help you when you need it. Email us at vpa@lusu.ca if you're studying at the Thunder Bay campus or vporillia@lusu.ca for Orillia campus.

Research supports

Lakehead University Library hosts many resources and supports to help be successful in your academics. If you are struggling in finding information and resources for a paper or assignment, they can help with online search tools, interlibrary loans and research consultations. For more information click here.

If you have any questions throughout your studies they have a great feature on their website where you can chat with a librarian!