Graduate Students FAQ

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Make sure we have your most up-to-date contact information to ensure that you are receiving official emails from York University about matters concerning your student record and financial status. If you have unsubscribed to York’s email service at any time (note we’re not talking about labour.yorku.ca email), you can resubscribe by sending an email request to subscribe@yorku.ca. Please include the preferred email address that is on your student record in your request. Verify or update your contact information. 

The Faculty of Graduate Studies has provided a number of remediation options for the Winter 2018 term. You can review them online at http://gradstudies.yorku.ca/current-students/remediation-options/. There is also information regarding summer courses and registration, as well as summer financial information.

Do graduate courses continue to meet during the labour disruption?

Graduate students can check their student account at my.yorku.ca or http://www.yorku.ca/coursestatus to find out whether or not if their courses are continuing/suspended.

For more information regarding courses, it is important for graduate students to connect with their Graduate Program Assistant, as each Faculty may have different procedures during a labour disruption. You can also contact Mario Verrilli, Executive Officer in the Faculty of Graduate Studies at mariov@yorku.ca for further assistance.

For the Glendon Campus, you can contact the Office of the Associate Principal, Research & Graduate Studies at aprgs@glendon.yorku.ca.

I’m a graduate student. Am I able to continue with my research during the labour disruption? 

Graduate students who wish to continue their research and can achieve that if academic activities are suspended may do so.

I am planning to defend my thesis or dissertation. Will my defence proceed as planned?

If you have a defence already scheduled, it will proceed as planned. If this presents difficulties for you, please contact gsthesis@yorku.ca to discuss postponement or relocation of the meeting space. 

I am a graduate student. I am concerned about completing my studies and experiencing stress. Is there anyone I can talk to about challenges I may be facing during the labour disruption?

GradConnect Wellness Services provides a professional and supportive environment in which students in the Faculty of Graduate Studies can discuss any challenges you may be having during the labour disruption. Students can use GradConnect Wellness Services to access Wellness Consultations, workshops and resources. For more information, please contact Sarah Irwin-Gardner, Manager, Graduate Student Wellness Services by email at sirwinga@yorku.ca  or by phone at 416-736-2100, ext. 33379.

Note: As some students will not be coming onto campus during the labour disruption, Wellness Consultations will be made available via telephone in addition to face-to-face meetings.

Student Counselling & Development will continue to provide confidential personal counselling for students in emotional distress.

If you’d like to speak to someone about your thoughts and feelings regarding the labour disruption after regular business hours, we suggest contacting Good2Talk. Good2Talk is a free, confidential and anonymous 24/7/365 helpline providing professional counselling, information and referrals for mental health, addictions and well-being to students in Ontario. You can contact Good2Talk at 1-866-925-5454.

If you’re an international student and would feel more comfortable talking to someone in a language other than English, the Multilingual Distress Lines can help. They’re open Monday to Friday, 10 am to 10 pm. This service is offered through Spectra Community Support Services.

Mandarin & Cantonese: 416-920-0497

Hindi, Urdu & Punjabi: 905-459-7777 ext. 2

Spanish: 905-459-7777 ext. 3

Portuguese: 905-459-7777 ext. 4

I have applied to graduate studies. How do I provide my final grades if I cannot complete my courses on time?

All questions or concerns that regard graduate studies should be directed to the Office of Admissions at gradinfo@yorku.ca.

What happens if I’ve applied to graduate studies at another University in Canada?

The Registrar at each Canadian university has been notified of the disruption. York’s Registrar has requested consideration of deadline extensions for all York applicants until further notice. Check in with your program of choice and if you encounter any difficulties, contact Registrarial Services for assistance.

What happens if I’ve applied to graduate studies at another University abroad?

York International is working to inform the registrars at major universities abroad of the disruption. York’s Registrar has requested consideration of deadline extensions for all York applicants until further notice. Check in with your program of choice and if you encounter any difficulties, contact Registrarial Services for assistance.

What Summer 2018 session graduate courses are continuing as scheduled?

The following graduate courses will begin on the original Summer 2018 term schedule (April 30 or earlier):

Las Nubes Eco-Campus Courses (Environmental Studies)

Osgoode Professional Development

Graduate courses offered by the Schulich School of Business

Graduate courses in Financial Accountability

Graduate courses in Professional Accounting

Graduate courses in Disaster and Emergency Management

Graduate course in Human Resources Management

Graduate courses in Nursing

Graduate courses in Conference Interpreting

Please review the Summer Session Start Date Delay section of the FAQS for a list of possible summer start dates for other courses.

Can I withdraw from a course?

Graduate students must maintain continuous registration in all terms — Fall, Winter and Summer — until graduation, subject to the time limits stated in the Faculty of Graduate Studies’ Regulations and must pay the appropriate term fee.

Any student who is enrolled in a course(s) and chooses to withdraw from the Winter 2018 term will also need to withdraw from the course(s). They will need to re-take the course at another time.  Given that not all courses run per term, the student may be impacted because the course is not scheduled in the following term.

If a student continues to be registered and active in the Winter 2018 term and chooses to withdraw from a course from the Winter 2018 term, they can complete a Course Transaction Form with the relevant course details and submit this form via email to fgssao@yorku.ca. FGS can then process the course withdrawal request. Please note that the student may be impacted because the course is not scheduled in the following term. 

Are any financial aid options available to graduate students as a result of the labour disruption? 

Multiple accommodations and financial aid options are being determined as the labour disruption progresses. Eligible graduate students may access the Bursary for Students with Disabilities. Additional information regarding financial aid for graduate students will be forthcoming via the usual communication channels.

Are there emergency bursaries I can access?

Emergency bursaries are only available to full-time graduate students, and students must be registered in the current term to be eligible. If they meet these eligibility criteria, graduate students can email fgssao@yorku.ca to request an application.

The intent of the emergency bursary program is to assist registered, full-time graduate students who encounter an unexpected emergency. This bursary is not intended to cover tuition fees owing to York. Bursaries are not considered to be a source of routine or long-term funding. Bursaries range from $250 to a maximum of $1,500.