McMaster is committed to support students who may be struggling during this difficult time. Please note, though, that in some circumstances there may be longer-term implications to having a Pass or No Credit on your transcripts.

The university has also extended the deadline for Late Withdrawal until Friday, May 15, 2020 .

As part of the University’s commitment to support undergraduate and graduate students finishing the academic year in a way that is fair and equitable, the university has decided to offer the option of conventional grades versus Pass (P) or No Credit (NC) for a final year mark. These options may provide relief to students who passed their course but are unhappy with their grade, or those who did not pass. The deadline to request a grade change is Friday, May 15, 2020.

Important information to consider prior to submitting a request for change of grade

This option applies to 2019-2020 Multi-Term (Fall/Winter) courses and 2020 Winter Term courses:

Undergraduate and graduate students who pass a course but are not satisfied with their mark can request to change their earned grade to a Pass (P).

Undergraduate and graduate students who fail a course can request to change this earned grade to a No Credit (NC).

What is the deadline for changing to a Pass or No Credit?

The deadline to submit requests for a Pass or No Credit is Friday May 15, 2020. The student is responsible for requesting this change. If no action is taken, you will automatically receive a conventional grade on your transcript.

How can I make the change from a conventional grade to a Pass or No Credit?

A Winter 2020 grade procedure online form will be made available for undergraduate and graduate students for a Pass or No Credit soon. More details will be shared on how to make the request online once developed.

Conventional grades may still be appealed under existing Appeals Procedures.

Note: In some cases there could be implications for having a Pass or No Credit on your transcript. Undergraduate students are strongly encouraged to consult with an academic advisor in their home faculty associate dean’s office before requesting this change. Graduate students are encouraged to consult with their program offices and graduate chair.

Are there implications down the road if I opt for a Pass or No Credit on my transcript instead of a conventional grade?

There may be, and students are encouraged to carefully consider potential impacts before replacing a conventional grade with a Pass or No Credit. If you are an undergraduate student, please speak with your associate dean (academic) office or program office before submitting the request form. If you are a graduate student, please consult with your program offices and graduate chair.

Implications for having a Pass or No Credit on your transcript could include the following:

Some accreditation or certification organizations may not accept a Pass grade to meet their minimum requirements.

Graduate schools may require specific grade values in certain courses or to use in GPA and/or CGPA calculations.

Some programs have minimum letter grade requirements for specific courses. Undergraduate students are advised to check with their associate dean (academic) or program office and graduate students are advised to consult with their program offices and graduate chair regarding any impacts on future academic pathways prior to submitting a grade change request.

Awards and scholarships may require a letter grade in a particular course to calculate a minimum cumulative GPA. Since Pass or No Credit replace conventional grades, students opting for these designations may not be eligible to receive awards that require specific grades (i.e. highest grade in a course). Minimum cumulative GPA requirements remain in effect for awards and scholarships. More information on the potential impact on scholarship eligibility.

Is late withdrawal still an option this far into the academic term?

Yes. The deadline for late withdrawal has been extended to Friday, May 15, 2020.

McMaster provides a late withdrawal option to assist students who have fallen irretrievably behind in a course. Students who have fallen behind with assignments and/or are not prepared to write final examinations (or equivalent) in one or more courses can make use of this option. Please note that the late withdrawal will appear on your transcript.

Students interested in a late withdrawal must contact their academic advisor in the faculty/program office to discuss their situation. They can also get help to avoid similar academic struggles moving forward.

More information is available on the academic calendars website and your Faculty homepage. If you are an undergraduate student, please contact your associate dean (academic) office or program office for more information. If you are a graduate student, please consult with your program offices and graduate chair for more information.