Open Learning Program
Why choose the Open Learning Program?
The Open Learning Program is an open-admission program that provides anyone, regardless of their academic background, with an opportunity to register for University of Guelph online degree-credit courses. You may choose to register in the Open Learning Program for the following reasons:
- Personal enrichment
- Professional development
- Eventual application to a degree program*
- Fulfillment of other postsecondary institutional requirements
You can expect to have the same workload, assignments and examinations as those in a degree program. Upon successful course completion, you will receive the same credit weight as students in a degree program.
No matter your starting point, your path forward begins here.
Whether you're a student from another post-secondary institution, a University of Guelph student who has been required to withdraw, or someone exploring alternative ways to begin university studies, there are flexible options available to help you continue your academic journey.
Take degree-credit (university level) courses through the School of Continuing Studies (SCS) on a Letter of Permission. This allows you to take our courses, but have the credit apply back to your home institution. You need to secure a Letter of Permission from your academic advisor at your home institution. If you need a syllabus to get the Letter of Permission, please email our main office and we can provide a historical syllabus for reference.
Are you looking to transfer from another institution to an undergraduate degree program at the University of Guelph? You can meet admission requirements (i.e., pre-requisites and upgrading) by taking degree-credit courses through the School of Continuing Studies. Please reach out to your admission counsellor to ensure you know which steps to take to meet admission requirements.
If you have been required to withdraw from the University of Guelph, or any other institution, you can take degree-credit (university level) courses online through the School of Continuing of Studies (SCS) to meet readmission requirements.
If you are a University of Guelph student, please make note of readmission requirements for your degree program.
If you are a student from another institution, please connect with an academic advisor at your home institution to make sure you can apply these courses toward readmission. If you have questions on what is needed to be readmitted to your program, please ask your home institution. If you need a historical syllabus to show course learning outcomes to your academic advisor, please email our main office.
Registering through the Open Learning Program provides a unique opportunity to transfer to a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Commerce degree program at the University of Guelph, through the Guaranteed Admission Pathway.
Full- and part-time tenure-track/confirmation-track or tenured/confirmed UGFA Unit 1 employees are eligible for a tuition waiver up to 2.0 credits per semester (4.0 credits per year) for courses offered by the University of Guelph. These courses must complement the employee’s present or possible future responsibilities to the University or career path.
Please complete the Tuition Waiver Request form if you wish to complete a course online through the School of Continuing Studies. Submit the form to your manager and HR for approval. It will be then sent to our main office for registration and processing.
It is important to note that if you choose to drop the course after the last day a full refund is available, you will be personally responsible for providing payment for the administrative and tuition fee of the course.
We offer a variety of degree-credit certificate programs that can be completed online. You may choose to complete a certificate in order to enhance your post-secondary program studies, to grow professionally, or to improve potential employment opportunities.
The following is a list of available certificates: