Deferring Your Offer of Admission

If you have been admitted to the University of Guelph directly from high school and are not able to begin studies in the fall, you can request to defer your offer of admission for one year. Deferrals are typically only approved for the fall semester.

Before you decide

If you defer your offer

• You cannot take courses at the University of Guelph or any other college/university during the deferral period 

• You can take additional high school courses 

You may want to consider part-time studies instead of deferring

Students have the option of taking a reduced course load, except for Co-op students. If you take fewer than 1.5 credits, you will be considered a part-time student (most courses are 0.5 credits).

Before choosing to study part-time, make sure to:

• Talk to your Academic Advisor to learn how part-time studies may impact your future course selections and future plans, such as graduate or professional school.
• If you are receiving scholarships, bursaries, government aid (i.e., OSAP), or other funding, check with Student Financial Services about changes to eligibility.
• If you are an international student, visit the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website and contact an International Student Advisor.

Who can request a deferral?

To be considered, you must:

• Accept your offer through the OUAC by the June 1 deadline (or as otherwise instructed in your offer);
• Meet all offer conditions by the date noted in your offer letter;
• Submit the deferral application and pay the non-refundable $90 fee by July 31, 2026;
• Do not attend any college or university during the deferral period.

Important:

• You can only defer the program you accepted.
• Do not register for courses if you plan to defer.
• Transfer students are not eligible

Residence and Scholarships

• If your deferral is approved, you will need to submit a new residence application and deposit by the deadline specified for the following year. Additional questions can be directed to Student Housing Services at housing@uoguelph.ca or 519-824-4120 ext. 58701.
• Entrance scholarships and bursaries cannot be deferred.
• You will be considered for entrance scholarships available to all high school students entering fall 2027. You are encouraged to follow the “Step-by-Step Entrance Award Instructions" located on the Student Financial Services website.
• For questions about scholarships and bursaries, please contact Student Financial Services at awards@uoguelph.ca.

How to apply

1. Access the deferral application through WebAdvisor (Applicant menu) starting June 1, 2026.
2. Submit the application.
3. Pay the non-refundable $90 fee using one of these payment methods by July 31, 2026.

What happens next?

1. Your deferral application will be reviewed once your admission conditions are complete. The deadline to fulfill all conditions of your offer is August 14, 2026.
2. You will receive a decision by August 31, 2026.
3. If your deferral is approved, you will receive a new offer of admission in December 2026.

Note: If you have requested a deferral and want to cancel that application, please contact Admission Services.

Questions?

Contact Admission Services at admission@uoguelph.ca.