University of Guelph Courses: How to Choose and Enrol
Written by Caleb Harrison • Published August 31, 2026 • Last verified August 31, 2026
What you need to know:
Registration dates vary by semester: summer opens in March, fall in July, winter in November.
Use WebAdvisor to enrol, waitlist, and drop courses.
Check prerequisites and corequisites before adding a course.
Waitlists auto-enrol you when a spot opens; watch your email.
The academic calendar lists all program requirements and deadlines.
The University of Guelph offers roughly 90 majors across seven colleges, with food science, veterinary medicine, and agriculture drawing students from across Canada. For anyone starting at the university, the first step is understanding how course selection works. The academic calendar, published online, lists every program, major, and course description. It also contains the schedule of dates for each semester, including when registration opens and when classes begin.
New students typically select courses during the summer before their first semester. The registrar's office sends instructions through the student portal, and those instructions include a registration guide. That guide explains how to use WebAdvisor, the online system for course enrolment. You'll need your student ID and a password to log in. The system shows which courses are open, waitlisted, or closed.
Returning students usually register in March for the summer semester and in July for the fall semester. Winter semester registration happens in November. These dates shift slightly each year, so check the schedule of dates in the academic calendar. The calendar also lists reading weeks and study break days, which are useful when planning exams and assignments.
Each course has a credit weight, usually 0.5 or 1.0 credits. A standard full-time load is 2.5 credits per semester, which translates to about five courses. You can take up to 3.0 credits with permission from your academic advisor. The advisor is listed in the student portal and can help you plan your degree requirements.
Degree requirements vary by program. For example, a Bachelor of Science in Food Science includes specific core courses in chemistry, microbiology, and food processing. You'll also have electives. The academic calendar lists all required courses and electives for each major. Use the degree planning tools on the registrar's website to track your progress.
Course selection isn't just about picking classes. You need to check prerequisites and corequisites for each course. A prerequisite is a course you must complete before enrolling. A corequisite is a course you take at the same time. The calendar clearly marks these. If you haven't met a prerequisite, the system will block your enrolment.
Waitlists operate on a first-come, first-served basis. If a course is full, you can add yourself to the waitlist. When a spot opens, the system automatically enrols you, often within 24 hours. You'll get an email notification. Watch your inbox, because you have a limited time to confirm your enrolment before the spot goes to the next person.
Dropping a course is also done through WebAdvisor. Each semester has a deadline to drop without academic penalty. After that date, a drop may appear on your transcript as a 'W' (withdrawal). The calendar lists these deadlines. If you need to drop all your courses, you can withdraw from the semester entirely, but that affects your academic standing and financial aid.
For students who need to switch majors or add a minor, the degree and specialization change process is handled by the registrar's office. You'll fill out a form, and the new program's advisor reviews your request. There are specific deadlines each semester, usually early in the term.
If you're planning to study abroad or take a course at another university, you'll need a letter of permission. That form, available on the registrar's website, must be approved before you enrol elsewhere. The registrar's office also handles exchange programs, which have their own application dates.
Financial aid and OSAP are separate from course enrolment, but they're linked. To keep your funding, you need to be enrolled in a certain number of credits. The registrar's confirmation of enrolment page shows how to get a document proving your enrolment status. That document is often required for OSAP or scholarships.
The Lincoln Alexander Student Service Centre, named for a former lieutenant governor, is the main help desk for registrarial questions. It's located in the University Centre on campus. You can also call or email the office. For the most current information, always check the official websites: the registrar's page at uoguelph.ca/registrar and the academic calendar at calendar.uoguelph.ca. Those sources list exact dates, deadlines, and procedures.
One last pointer: when you get your course schedule, note the building and room numbers. The campus map is available online, and the Johnston Green is a common meeting point. But for any course-related question, the registrar's office is your first stop.
Sources
Related Reading
- U of G Move-In Weekend: Traffic, Dates, and What to Do
- U of G Orientation Week: Dates, Registration, What to Do
- University of Guelph HR: Jobs, Benefits, and How to Apply
- University of Guelph HR: Jobs, Pay, and How to Apply
Spot a mistake? Suggest a correction; we fix errors in the open.