Course Enrolment FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions - Course Enrolment

Q: How many courses should I plan to enrol in during the fall, spring, and summer terms?
A: NEW as of September 2011: over the course of the year (September 1 to August 31) incoming MA students will need to complete 4 full (Y) or 8 half (H) courses, including ENG6999Y1F Critical Topographies [which is equivalent to one full course].  Note that MA CRW students are not required to take ENG6999Y1F.  A common distribution of courseload for MA’s is 4 half courses in the fall and 4 half courses in the spring. However, as no additional costs are incurred by taking summer courses (fees cover all three terms) some students prefer to spread the courseload over three sessions. PhD students should plan on taking 3 half courses in both the fall and spring terms, leaving the summer for Comprehensive Exam preparation. All incoming PhD students must add the CR/NRC course ENG8000H  Texts, Theories, and Archives to their fall session; PhD Direct Admits must also take ENG6999Y1F Critical Topographies in Year 1 and ENG8000H Texts Theories and Archives in Year 2.  Both PhD and MA students should, in planning a timetable, remember to factor in preparation time for external awards and PhD applications.

NOTE: One course is equivalent to one credit; a half course is equivalent to a half credit 

Q: I can’t get into the course I wanted. What should I do?
A: ROSI and the SWS now have the capability to maintain waiting lists in courses. If the course you have chosen is full, you can choose to join a waiting list. You can only be on one waiting list. We also recommend that you look again at your 2nd and 3rd choices – they may look more attractive! Check ROSI regularly (but not obsessively) there WILL be movement in courses, particularly on Sept. 3rd when ROSI reopens. If you must have a particular course for your program of study, contact the Graduate Administrator and Counsellor.

Q: Should I enrol in fall AND spring courses, or just fall courses?
A: You should enrol in your top choices, irrespective of the session.

Q: When ROSI tells me there are spaces in a course, why am I denied enrolment?
A: The number of spaces available can be misleading - if you are denied enrolment it usually means all the English Dept. spaces are taken. Bear in mind (a) one place in every course is allocated for an out-of-the-department student (b) instructors cross-appointed with another department or centre will hold spaces for students in that department/centre (c) in courses that are cross-listed with another department/centre our allocation will be proportionate.

Q: Why does RST 9999Y (or RST 8888Y) appear on my list of courses?
A: RST 9999Y (and RST 8888Y) are ROSI-generated devices for ensuring students are registered in a course for each session of the year (useful for income tax and OSAP purposes). They do not affect your course load; they are supplementary to it and will disappear once you have completed your degree and convocated.

Q: How can I enroll in a course in another department (or Centre)?
A: Students wishing to take a course (or 2 half courses) outside the department should obtain the approval of the Associate Director, MA or PhD. A Course Add/Drop Form should be completed and signed by the Graduate Director and taken to the host department for approval. As not all graduate departments allow students to enrol in courses via the web, also check local enrolment procedures. It is not too late to begin this process in Orientation week, but if you wish to get started earlier, a copy of the Course Add/Drop Form can be found on the SGS website at www.sgs.utoronto.ca under Students/Forms. Complete and return it to the Graduate Administrator and Counsellor.

Q: I have not paid my tuition fees yet. Can I still enrol in courses?
A: Yes, ROSI is set up to handle course enrolment before fees payment. Fees should be paid by August 30th, however (unless deferred through a fellowship or a TAship) – ROSI is quite patient, but eventually she will remove you from courses.

Q: What happens when my status in a course changes from wait-list to approved?
A: You will need to drop one of your other courses RIGHT AWAY! ROSI will not arbitrarily remove you from a course, but the success of the wait-list depends on how quickly spaces are freed up for others.

Q: How can I check if I am on a wait-list?
A: In the SWS, go into Course Enrolment, List of Courses, Wait-list. You can also remove yourself from a wait-list at this point.

Q: I am thinking about taking a summer course, but am concerned they may be oversubscribed. Do you anticipate a problem?
A: No, we don't. With a 4 (full) courseload, many students will wish to complete in fall and spring and take the summer off.

Q: If I am 3rd on the wait-list, is it likely that I will get into the course, and should I attend the first class?
A: Graduate enrolment definitely doesn't have the kind of movement that undergraduate enrolment does, but the first 5 students on a wait-list may attend the first class. With graduate enrolment, what seems to be key is students being flexible and being considerate of each other. If you don’t panic or hoard courses or shop around in the first week of class, the process goes surprisingly smoothly!

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