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Withdraw/drop/waitlist
Dropping / withdrawing from classes
There are several options for withdrawing from a class, with varying implications for your academic record and fee payment.
Drop a class within the specified period
Check Deadlines for the time limit. If you drop a class within the specified time frame, you will have no Withdrawal notation on your academic record
Withdraw from a class within the next specified period
Check Deadlines. If you drop a class within the next period, you will have a Withdrawal notation on your academic record
Withdraw from a class under extenuating circumstances
See Appeals.
Required to Withdraw (RTW) or Extended Withdrawal (EW) status
If you have an RTW or EW notation on your record, you should obtain academic advice as soon as possible to help you get back on track.
How to drop a class using goSFU
Waitlist
What is a waitlist?
If a course you want to enrol in is full, you can join the waitlist if one is available. Joining a waitlist allows you the possibility of being admitted to the class if space becomes available. Be sure to add yourself to the waitlists of full classes during the enrolment period. However, note that being on a waitlist does not guarantee that you will enrol in the course.
Waitlists are processed multiple times a day during the enrolment period and remain active until the end of the first week of the term. The final processing takes place on the last day of that week. Spaces may open as students adjust their schedules, so be sure to check your Student Center at goSFU regularly as the start of the term approaches.
Students can be on a waitlist for up to 8 units. If you are enrolled from a waitlist, you will receive a notification via your SFU email account. If you no longer wish to remain on a waitlist, you must remove yourself manually. Keep in mind that drop penalties apply if you are enrolled into a course from the waitlist and then drop the course during the second week of the term or later. While waitlists remain visible during the second week, they are no longer processed automatically. For enrolment procedures after waitlists close, consult the department offering the course.
Tip: Not all waitlists appear in MySchedule. The best way to view and enrol in courses, including those with waitlists, is through goSFU.
Joining a class waitlist
Follow these steps to add yourself to a class waitlist if the course you want is full.
- Log in to your Student Center at go.sfu.ca and click on "Enroll," then select the term you wish to enrol in.
- Find the class you are interested in that has the 'Waitlist' status, indicated by a yellow triangle, and click on the Section number to learn more about the class's availability.
- Press "Select," followed by "Select Class."
- Choose "Wait list if the class is full”, then click "Next." The class will be added to your course cart, and you can enrol in the course as usual by selecting it and pressing "Enroll."
- Click "Finish Enrolling," then confirm the enrolment conditions by clicking "OK." You will then be able to view your enrolment results.
How do I know which waitlist to join?
If the course includes a tutorial or lab, be sure to join the waitlist for that specific tutorial or lab section, rather than the lecture section. When a seat becomes available, the system will enrol students from the tutorial or lab waitlist, not the lecture waitlist. Therefore, your position on the tutorial or lab waitlist is more important than your position on the lecture waitlist.
There are seats available in the course, so why am I still #1 on the waitlist?
Your waitlist number only changes when another student drops the course. Waitlists are updated daily, and seats continue to be filled until the end of the first week of classes. Even if the system shows open seats, you might not move off the waitlist for several reasons:
- Different waitlist position for tutorials: If the class has a tutorial section with a different waitlist position, you will only be enrolled in both the lecture and tutorial sections once there are available seats in both.
- Time conflicts: There may be a scheduling conflict between the waitlisted class and another class you’re already enrolled in. Keep in mind that midterm times can also create conflicts.
- Reserved seats: Some seats may be held for students in certain programs. Many of these are released during open enrolment; however, some departments may choose not to release these seats to other students.
- Maximum unit load: You may have reached your faculty’s maximum course load for the term. Be sure to check the maximum course load for your faculty.
You can check your waitlist position in the Student Centre by going to Academics → Enrolment Activity in the drop-down menu.
What happens if I enrol in another open section?
If you enrol in an open section of the same course, the system will automatically drop you from the waitlist for the other section.
How will I know if I get into a waitlisted course?
If you are moved from the waitlist into the course, you will receive an automatic email notification from the system. If you decide that you no longer want the course, please review the SFU deadlines, dates, and refund policies for your term.