Thesis-based graduate students are entitled to three weeks (15 days) of annual vacation / time off from their studies. This includes all research, scholarly and creative activities. The three weeks of time off do not include statutory holidays or days designated by the University as closed. The three weeks of time off will not interrupt scholarship or stipend payments for those graduate students holding continuing scholarships or funding guarantees.
It is expected that supervisors will allow students to take their three weeks of time off from their studies every year. Time off from studies must be approved by the student’s supervisor and any faculty member providing funding. It must be arranged so that there is minimal impact to the student’s research and other obligations to the University and cannot be taken during any period of time where the graduate student has employment obligations to the University. While many courses are not scheduled over Fall and Winter term breaks, thesis-based graduate students are expected to continue their regular research, scholarly and creative activities unless they request time off over those periods. Requests and approvals must be documented. There will be no vacation pay in lieu of any time not taken, and unused time off from studies cannot be carried forward from one year to the next. It is a student's responsibility to ensure that any coursework obligations are addressed in advance of arranging time off.
The leave of absence provisions for graduate students, which apply to students who are unable to be academically active or productive for a period of time, are available here.
Vacation provisions for Graduate Assistants are outlined in the collective agreement between the Governors of the University of Calgary and the Graduate Students’ Association of the University of Calgary.
Academic Regulations