Undergraduate Engineering Regulations

Effective Fall 2022 – at the end of every term, the Registrar’s Office completes an Academic Continuation Evaluation (ACE) for all students, engineering included. Students will receive an ACE “decision” based on their CGPA and other Engineering regulations noted below.

To review the Academic Continuation Evaluation requirements, and the minimum CGPA requirements, please visit the University calendar, section 3.2 Academic Progression.

For more information about ACE decisions, please visit the Registrar’s Office ACE webpage.

For Engineering-specific resources, please visit the ACE for Engineering webpage.

The Undergraduate Calendar, section 3.2.3 Three Failures of a Course (Engineering) indicates:

“A student in the Bachelor of Engineering degree must leave the degree with the status Continue in Alternate or Dismissed from Program if the student fails one course on three occasions.”

Note: a UNS grade in a course counts as a Fail towards this regulation, though UNS course does not impact your CGPA.

The Undergraduate Calendar, section 3.2.2 Three Attempts of a Course (Engineering) indicates:

“A student in the Bachelor of Engineering degree may attempt a course no more than three times. An attempt shall include courses in which the student has earned a final letter grade, CR, NR, SAT, or UNS.
Some required courses for Engineering degrees have a prerequisite requirement that a minimum grade be achieved in one or more prerequisite courses. If, for any course required for their engineering degree, a student has not earned the required prerequisite grade necessary for that course by their third attempt of the prerequisite course, the student will not be permitted to register in the required course, they can not meet the requirements to graduate, and must leave the degree with the status Continue in Alternate (CA) or Dismissed from Program (DP).
If on the third attempt of a course the student does not achieve a passing grade, the student cannot meet the requirements to graduate (see the Bachelor of Engineering regulations) and must leave the degree with the status Continue in Alternate (CA) or Dismissed from Program (DP).”

Yes, there is a deadline by which you are expected to graduate! This is outlined in the Engineering Program Regulations:

“The Bachelor of Engineering degree must be completed within eight calendar years (24 consecutive academic Fall-Winter-Summer terms) of initial registration. Students who do not complete their program requirements within this limit will be given the status Continue in Alternate.”

We understand that students may need to take a term (or more) off for various reasons. As such, it’s important to note the University Regulation 3.1.3 Absence from the University which states:

“Normally, a student is considered to be present at the University in a term in which they have remained registered in a course until after the last day for a financial withdrawal.

Degree students who have not been present at the University for more than nine (9) consecutive terms must apply for readmission through Admission Services.”

This means that Engineering students can choose not to register in any courses for a period of up to three (3) years (3 terms per year – summer, fall, winter) before reaching this maximum. However, this time would still count in the Bachelor of Engineering eight (8) year time limit.

If you are considering a break from your engineering studies, please email our team for further advising.

Required CGPAs for graduation are found in 3.2.6 Regulations for Degree Students.

To be eligible for graduation, the most recent grade in every course used to meet the requirements of the Bachelor of Engineering degree must be a passing grade: Engineering Program Regulations.

This means that if you previously earned a passing grade (SAT, D- or higher) in a course but then repeat the course and earn an F/UNS, the Faculty of Engineering will process an audit adjustment to force the most recent attempt (F/UNS) grade in, and you will be required to repeat the course again.

April 1, 2021 Memo: Notice of New Regulation BENG

With regards to compassionate grading options, engineering students are expected to adhere to the Engineering SAT UNS Policy.
Note: for courses a student will be required to repeat (ex. ECOR 104X where C- grade is required) it is not to the student’s benefit to request a SAT grade.
Further information regarding compassionate grading – including term(s) applied – please review the University’s SAT UNS FAQ page.

Effective Fall 2022, engineering students entering their first year of studies at Carleton University with no previous post-secondary studies the follow grading policy applies during the first two terms of registration:

1. Any F or UNS grades earned in any course taken will be automatically converted to NR (No Record).Note: NR will not be recorded on the transcript but will be retained for internal use and accessible for other purposes as required.
2. Any passing grades earned in any course may be converted to a CR (Credit), at the request of the student, to a maximum of 2.0 credits during the first two terms.Students must request conversion prior to the last day of registration for the following term. Note: CR will be recorded on the transcript, and the earned grade will be retained for internal use and accessible for other purposes as required.
3. All non-financial WDNs of courses taken under this policy will not be recorded on the transcript but will be retained for internal use and accessible for other purposes as required.

If you have questions about the First Year Grading Policy as an engineering student, please contact ECORSupport@carleton.ca.