Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) grading notation
Why consider a CR/NC notation instead of a letter grade?
A Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) notation may be something to consider if you would like to experiment and explore other academic areas outside of your primary discipline. CR/NC grades are not included in your Grade Point Average (GPA) calculation.
With this CR/NC option:
- You will be required to complete the same course work (assignments, tests, exams, etc.) and will be assessed in the same way as all other students in the course. Your grade will be adjusted to a “CR” or “NC” based on the final letter grade submitted by the instructor.
- If you pass the course, you will get credits and a CR notation
- If you do not pass the course, you will not receive credits and will get an NC notation
Eligibility – who can opt for a CR/NC grade
Undergraduate students in all degree programs are eligible:
- Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- Bachelor of Science (BSc)
- Bachelor of Commerce (BComm)
- Bachelor of Administration (BAdmin)
- Bachelor of Education (BEd)
- Bachelor of Engineering (BEng)
- Bachelor of Computer Science (BCompSc)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
The following students cannot opt for a CR/NC grade:
- graduate students
- students enrolled in certificate or microprograms
- independent students
- visiting students
- exchange students
Course limitations and exclusions
- Only “out of program” elective courses, i.e. those that are outside of your primary discipline of study, are eligible for CR/NC.
- Core courses, required program courses, complimentary credit courses, Co-op and Bridging program courses, admissions profile courses, graduate-level courses and courses already assigned as pass/fail are ineligible for CR/NC.
- If you are pursuing a minor or second major (in addition to your primary area of study), those courses are ineligible for CR/NC.
- Each year you can choose 1 course to receive a CR/NC notation. You must complete 30 credits (1-year of full-time study) to be eligible to request a second CR/NC course. You can request up to a maximum of 12 credits total per degree program for CR/NC. Note: The maximum of 12 credits includes attempts; therefore, if you receive an NC notation, the course still counts towards your 12-credit limit. Some exceptions apply to students pursuing certain degree programs.
What does this mean?
Faculty of Arts & Science
Students enrolled in a BA, BEd, or BSc degree may only select out-of-program elective courses outside of their disciplinary sectors for the CR/NC grading basis.
The disciplinary sectors comprising the Faculty of Arts and Science are Humanities, Social Science, and Science.
- Department of Classics, Modern Languages and Linguistics
- Department of Communication Studies
- Department of English
- Département d'études françaises
- Department of History
- School of Irish Studies
- Department of Journalism
- Liberal Arts College
- Department of Philosophy
- Department of Theological Studies
- Department of Applied Human Sciences
- Department of Economics
- Department of Education
- Department of Geography, Planning and Environment
- Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability
- Department of Political Science
- Department of Religions and Cultures
- School of Community and Public Affairs
- Simone de Beauvoir Institute and Women’s Studies
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology
- Department of Biology
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Applied Physiology
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics
- Department of Physics
- Department of Psychology
- Science College
For details related to the disciplinary sectors, see Section 31.004 General Education. Exceptions apply to the Specialization in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, and Specialization in Teaching English as a Second Language. Please see details under "Exceptions".
John Molson School of Business
Students enrolled in a BComm or BAdmin degree may only select courses outside of the John Molson School of Business for the CR/NC grading basis.
Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science
Students may attempt a maximum of one course within their BEng or BCompSc degree to receive a CR/NC notation. This maximum applies to all students, including those who entered their degree through the Mature Entry Program or Extended Credit Program.
- BCompSc students may only use the CR/NC courses towards satisfying the General Electives: BCompSc requirement listed in Section 71.70.2 Degree Requirements (BCompSc) or a program technical elective.
- BEng students may only use the CR/NC grading basis to satisfy the General Education Electives listed in Section 71.110 Complementary Studies for Engineering and Computer Science Students or a program technical elective.
Faculty of Fine Arts
Students enrolled in a BFA degree may only select out-of-program elective courses outside of the Faculty of Fine Arts for the CR/NC grading basis. Exceptions apply to the Specialization in Art Education – Visual Arts. Please see details under "Exceptions".
Deadlines
The CR/NC grading basis is being introduced on a limited basis for the fall 2024 term. Students who have registered for courses and submit a request before the published deadline will be considered for a CR/NC request.
- Submitting a CR/NC request
Start date: January 6, 2025. Request deadline: ONE (1) week prior to the course Add/Drop (DNE) deadline.
- Changing your decision from CR/NC to letter grade
The DISC deadline.
How to request CR/NC
You must be registered in a course in order to submit a request to be graded on the basis of Credit / No Credit. Requests must be made through your My CU Account.
Refer to the how-to-guide for complete details.
Important considerations before requesting CR/NC
- If you request a degree transfer or a modification to your program by adding a new minor, major, specialization or Honours program and a course previously taken as a CR/NC elective becomes a required course for your new program, the CR/NC notation will be converted to the letter grade earned.
- The reversal of the CR/NC notation to a letter grade is permanent, may affect your term GPA, CGPA, graduation GPA and may result in an adjustment to your academic standing. Please consider this carefully when requesting a modification to your program.
- Students are responsible for ensuring that the courses selected for the CR/NC grading basis meet the eligibility criteria listed above.
Frequently asked questions
General questions
You will receive an answer before the DNE deadline.
No. Once you submit your request, it will be evaluated, and you will get a response before the DNE deadline. Requests for courses that are not outside your primary discipline and do not meet the eligibility criteria will be denied.
No. CR/NC is a grading basis, not an option for students to take courses for ‘no credit’.
With CR/NC, the NC has no impact on the GPA. In Pass/Fail, the Fail carries a GPA of 0 and is calculated into all GPAs (CGPA, Term GPA, Graduating GPA).
Courses graded on a CR/NC basis count for credit towards your general education requirement or out-of-program electives. If you opt for a CR/NC grading basis for an elective course and earn a grade of CR, the course will count towards your degree requirements but not towards your program(s) of concentration (major, specialization, Honours, minor).
Yes. Credit/No Credit is a grading basis and does not impact tuition requirements. The regular fees, deadlines, and obligations apply.
A course graded on a CR/NC basis counts towards your full-time registration and should not impact your Financial Aid, Awards, or Scholarships. If you have a specific situation or concern, email the Financial Aid and Awards Office.
Registration in a course with a grading basis of CR/NC counts towards full-time status and will not affect your study permit or your PGWP. However, if you do not pass the course and have an NC notation on your transcript, when renewing your CAQ, the MIFI may have questions about why you did not earn credits in this course (they may perceive a grade of NC as failing to make studying your primary activity).
Registration in a course with a grading basis of CR/NC itself will not affect your eligibility for the Quebec Perspective Bursary (QPB). However, it’s important to note that the course must be eligible for the Bourse Perspective Québec for it to contribute towards your full-time status for this specific scholarship program. For more information, please visit the Quebec Perspective Bursary FAQ.
No. Visiting students are not eligible for the CR/NC grading basis.
We recommend you research in advance and see what your potential graduate schools’ rules are regarding CR/NC grading notations.
No. The CR/NC grading basis is being introduced in fall 2024. If you have already completed more than 30 credits, you are not eligible for additional CR/NC requests. You may submit one request as of fall 2024 and are subject to the annual eligibility criteria.
Course selection
- BA, BEd, or BSc students may only select out-of-program elective courses outside of their disciplinary sector for the CR/NC grading basis. For details related to the disciplinary sectors in Arts and Science, see Section 31.004 General Education.
- BComm and BAdmin students may only select courses outside of JMSB for the CR/NC grading basis.
- BFA students may only select courses outside of FOFA for the CR/NC grading basis.
- BEng and BCompSc students may attempt a maximum of one CR/NC course within their degree, to satisfy their General Education requirement listed in Section 71.110 Complementary Studies for Engineering and Computer Science Students, or as a program technical elective.
Speak to a faculty advisor if you are unsure of the eligibility criteria.
You are limited to one CR/NC submission per eligible term. If you have requested a CR/NC notation for a course and drop or swap your registration, the CR/NC request doesn't carry forward and you are not allowed a second request.
No. You can only choose 1 course per 30 credits to receive a CR/NC notation.
If you are in the Extended Credit Program, and your program requires specific courses to be completed as part of the ECP, these are not eligible for CR/NC. If your ECP does not have defined courses, these credits may be considered for the CR/NC grading basis.
No. Please consult the Repetition of Courses rules in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Yes, provided there is no overlap with your program of study.
No. Graduate level courses are not eligible for CR/NC.
Academic changes, including program and degree changes
No. You can only select elective courses outside of your disciplinary sector for the CR/NC grading basis. If you have a major and minor in different disciplinary sectors, you must select courses outside of both sectors.
The grade of CR will be converted to the letter grade obtained in the course. Please note that this will affect your term GPA, CGPA, graduation GPA and may result in an adjustment to your academic standing. The reversal of the CR/NC notation to a letter grade is permanent, and you cannot ask for the CR to be reinstated. If, in the future, you then decide to drop your minor, your letter grade will not go back to CR.
No. When you change programs, any course that was graded as CR and is part of the requirements for the new program will be converted to a letter grade.
Note: the reversal of the CR/NC notation to a letter grade is permanent. This change will affect your term GPA, CGPA, graduation GPA and may result in an adjustment to your academic standing. The reversal of the CR/NC notation to a letter grade is permanent, and you cannot ask for the CR to be reinstated. If the course received a grade of NC, then it will not be converted to the equivalent letter grade of F.
When you transfer programs, any course that was graded as CR and is part of the requirements for the new program will be converted to a letter grade. In this scenario, the CR for BIOL 266 will be converted to a letter grade because it is required as part of the Major. FMST 200 will remain a CR and be applied to the elective component of your degree.
Note: the reversal of the CR/NC notation to a letter grade is permanent. This change will affect your term GPA, CGPA, graduation GPA and may result in an adjustment to your academic standing. The reversal of the CR/NC notation to a letter grade is permanent, and you cannot ask for the CR to be reinstated. If the course received a grade of NC, then it will not be converted to the equivalent letter grade of F.
You will remain in the Honours program however we encourage you to speak to your academic advisor about your academic standing and whether you would be required to repeat the course.
Academic accommodations (DEF, MED, INC, SP) changes
Yes. If you were approved for the CR/NC grading basis this will carry forward if you apply for a deferred exam (DEF) within the deadline and are approved. If you apply for a deferred exam your selection to be graded on a CR/NC basis may be known by the instructor. The instructor will assess your work in accordance with the evaluation scheme in the course syllabus to determine your final letter grade. The result is adjusted to a “CR” or “NC” by the Office of the Registrar based on the final grade submitted by the instructor.
For information on applying for a deferred exam, visit the Exams Office website.
Yes. If your professor agreed to accept your course work after the term has ended, and you are within the published deadline, you may submit a request for a late completion grade. If you apply for a late completion your selection to be graded on a CR/NC basis may be known by the instructor. The instructor will assess your work in accordance with the evaluation scheme in the course syllabus to determine your final letter grade. The result is adjusted to a “CR” or “NC” by the Office of the Registrar based on the final grade submitted by the instructor.
Deadlines and process for submitting a late completion (INC) apply are available on the academic options webpage.
If you were approved for the CR/NC grading basis this will carry forward if you apply for a medical notation (MED) within the deadline, are approved and decide to complete the course. If you apply for a MED notation and choose to complete the course, your selection to be graded on a CR/NC basis may be known by the instructor. The instructor will assess your work in accordance with the evaluation scheme in the course syllabus to determine your final letter grade. The result is adjusted to a “CR” or “NC” by the Office of the Registrar based on the final grade submitted by the instructor. Opting for the CR/NC grading basis does not impact the option for you to retain the MED notation on your transcript.
Visit the Exams Office website for information on applying for a medical notation.
If your grade is an NCS (No Credit No Supplemental) then you cannot request a supplemental exam. If your grade is an NC, you may be eligible to request a supplemental exam.
Refer to the Supplemental exam webpage for complete details.
Yes, as long as the request is done by the stated deadlines. If you apply for an academic re-evaluation your selection to be graded on a CR/NC basis may be known by the instructor. However, the instructor will assess your work in accordance with the evaluation scheme in the course syllabus to determine your final letter grade. The result is adjusted to a “CR” or “NC” by the Office of the Registrar based on the final grade submitted by the instructor.
Consult the official Policy on Academic Re-Evaluation Procedures.
No. A course graded on a CR/NC basis counts towards your full-time registration and should not impact your status with the ACSD. If you have a specific situation or concern, contact your ACSD advisor.