Flexible grading option
Learn about the Credit Granted (CG) grade available to UCalgary students.
Credit Granted (CG)
To support our students’ breadth of learning and wellness, the University of Calgary has introduced a new grading option known as the credit granted (CG) grade, effective Fall 2021. A course with a CG grade may count toward your degree requirements but doesn’t impact your grade point average (GPA). If you choose a CG grade, “CG” appears on your transcript in place of the letter grade you would have received. Eligible students (see details below) can submit a request for a CG grade for a limited number of courses within a specific time frame at the end of each academic term.
Fall 2024 Credit Granted (CG) Application Dates:
- December 9, 2024 - January 7, 2025
If you are considering requesting a CG grade, please review the information below:
1. Faculty regulations and eligibility
Check your faculty regulations
Individual faculties and graduate programs have specific regulations regarding the CG grade with respect to impacts on academic review, grades, awards, Dean’s list, graduation, and more. Check your faculty regulations at the links below, and connect with a faculty advisor to discuss the option and impacts of a CG grade.
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Arts
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Cumming School of Medicine – Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies
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Cumming School of Medicine – Bachelor of Health Sciences Honours
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Haskayne School of Business
Program Details:
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Faculty of Kinesiology
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Faculty of Law
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Faculty of Nursing
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School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape
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Faculty of Science
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Schulich School of Engineering
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Faculty of Social Work
3.1 Admissions
3.3 Course Work (under ‘Notes:’)
3.4 Student Standing -
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
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Werklund School of Education
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Open Studies
Open Studies students are not eligible for the CG grade.
Please review the Calendar entry (linked below) for your program for more details about CG eligibility. CG may be permitted only for certain courses or credentials within a particular graduate program, and may impact eligibility for internal awards.
Graduate students outside of the programs below are not eligible to apply for a CG grade.
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Arts
Haskayne School of Business (PhD only)
Faculty of Kinesiology
Faculty of Law
Faculty of Nursing
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School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape (SAPL)
Faculty of Science
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Schulich School of Engineering
Faculty of Social Work
Sustainable Energy Development (SEDV)
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
To be eligible to receive a CG grade, you must:
- be an undergraduate student completing an undergraduate-level course;
- be admitted to a degree program;
- in most cases, have achieved a minimum final grade of C- or above in the course you want to receive a CG in (note: a higher grade may be required by your faculty – see faculty regulations above);
- be in good academic standing; and
- meet any specific requirements set by your faculty (see faculty regulations above).
GRADUATE STUDENTS
To be eligible to receive a CG grade, you must:
- Be enrolled in a graduate program that allows CG grades (courses taken extra-to-program may be eligible for CG grades in some programs) – see graduate program regulations above.
- Be in good academic standing
- Achieve a minimum final grade of "B-" or above in the course for which you wish to request a CG
- Not have any prior CG grades. A maximum of one (1) regular course (up to three units) may be taken for a CG grade over an entire graduate program. Students enrolled in laddered pathways may only have a grade of CG for a total of one regular course throughout the entire laddered pathway.
In addition to the CG grade requirements set by your faculty, you should also consider:
- CG grades will not be reversed once approved and on the student record.
- CG grades may impact a change of program request. Review your current faculty regulations and those of the faculty you may wish to change to before requesting a CG grade.
- Although CG grades may count toward your current program requirements, they could affect your ability to meet admissions requirements for future programs, including graduate schools and professional programs.
- CG grades may not be accepted or recognized as transfer credit at other institutions based on their institutional regulations.
- Although CG grades will not affect your student loan or UCalgary scholarship application, they may impact your eligibility for external scholarships or some internal UCalgary Faculty-selected awards.
- CG grades may impact your eligibility for certification or licensing requirements in specific fields.
2. Advising
Students should seriously consider the impacts of requesting a CG grade on their academic progression and potential future plans, including change of program, application for graduate school, and/or licensing.
If you are considering requesting a CG grade, connecting with a Faculty Advisor is strongly recommended to review your faculty regulations in the context of your academic plan.
3. How to request a CG grade
Application for a CG grade is through the Student Centre in a link in the footer (“Flex Grade (CG) Application”), under ‘My Academics'.
Late CG grade requests will not be approved once the deadline has passed.
CG grades for deferred final exams or deferred term work
If you complete a deferred final exam (DFE), you’ll be eligible to request a CG grade within two business days of the DFE grade being posted. Students will be advised of the CG application process if approved for a DFE. Please note that due to deadlines for graduation, students who have applied to graduate will be deferred until the next convocation. You can find more information about deferred final exams here.
Approved CG grades for students with deferred final exams or term work will be posted to the student record within 30 days of approval.
4. FAQ
Am I eligible to request a CG grade?
Review the faculty and graduate program regulations linked above to determine your eligibility for requesting a CG grade.
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Does a CG grade count toward my GPA?
If you choose to take a CG grade for a course, the CG grade won’t have any impact on your grade point average (GPA). A CG grade could impact how your GPA is calculated for change of program, Dean’s list, honours and awards. Check your faculty or graduate program regulations.
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How many CG grades can I request during my degree?
Each faculty has specific regulations, please see the table above. For undergraduate students, the maximum number of units contributing toward a degree will not be more than nine (9) in any faculty. In some faculties, fewer than nine units are allowed. For graduate students, a maximum of three (3) units may be taken for CG over an entire graduate program.
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Can undergraduate students request a CG grade for a graduate-level course?
No, undergraduate students can only receive CG grades in undergraduate-level courses.
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Can a student receive a CG grade if they engaged in academic misconduct?
Any student found to have engaged in academic misconduct will not be eligible to receive the CG grade in the course for which the academic misconduct occurred.
Does a CG grade still meet prerequisite requirements?
CG grades may meet prerequisite requirements. Check your faculty or graduate program regulations.
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Does a CG grade count toward my degree requirements?
CG grades may meet degree requirements. Check your faculty or graduate program regulations.
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Do CG grades impact my ability to apply to graduate or professional programs?
CG grades may impact your ability to gain admission to a graduate or professional program. You should contact the institution offering the program to discuss the impact of the CG grade in relation to the program requirements.
How do I request a CG grade?
Students will be able to request a CG grade through their Student Centre. See section 3 above for application dates.
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When will the CG grade show up on my student record?
CG grade requests will be reviewed, processed, and posted on the student record once approved throughout and after the application period. You can expect all applications to be processed no later than 30 business days after the application deadline.
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My final grade is not posted on Student Centre by the application deadline, it is blank or listed as “GP”. What should I do?
Continue to monitor your grade status in Student Centre; submit a service request for a late flexible grade request (“My Student Record > Late Flexible Grade Request Form”) within two business days after your grade is posted.
How do CG grades impact honours programs?
CG grades may impact your ability to receive an honours degree. Please review your faculty regulations.
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Do CG grades impact awards and/or scholarships?
CG grades may impact internal UCalgary award selection, particularly for convocation awards. Review your faculty or graduate program regulations. If you’re applying for or have received scholarships from external agencies, you should contact the organization to understand the impact of the CG on scholarship criteria (such as the application and renewal requirements).
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Do CG grades affect Dean’s List eligibility?
CG grades may impact your eligibility for the Dean’s List. Please review your faculty regulations.
I have more questions, who can I talk to?
We are here to support your questions. We strongly recommend connecting with a Faculty Advisor or Enrolment Services before requesting a CG grade.