Making changes to your courses
Before the add/drop deadline
Each term, before the add/drop deadline, also known as the course change deadline, you may add, drop, change, or request Credit/D/Fail or auditing status for your courses without having the record of registration appear on your academic record.
If you drop a course before the course change deadline, you will be eligible for a full tuition refund.
Make sure you are dropping the course from your registered courses and not from your saved schedule. Removing courses from your saved schedule is not considered dropping those courses. You can confirm that you have successfully dropped the course by reviewing your timetable.
You must withdraw from your course in Workday by 11:59 pm PT on the course change deadline.
View step-by-step instructions on adding, dropping, or swapping a course in Workday.
After the add/drop deadline
- To add a course, you’ll need permission from your faculty. You’ll also be required to submit the Change of Registration (Add/Drop) Form (pdf).
- You will not be able to switch between Credit/D/Fail and percentage grading.
- You will receive a “W” standing on your academic record if you choose to drop a course after the deadline. Talk to your academic advising office if you are facing extenuating circumstances that require you to do so.
What is a W standing?
A “W” standing is recorded on a student’s transcript when they withdraw from a course after the add/drop deadline. While it is not used for computing averages, it may impact applications for future studies.
Considerations before dropping or withdrawing from courses
Your credit load directly impacts your eligibility for awards and student loans, UBC bursary, UBC student housing, immigration, and payment-free/interest–free status for past government loans.
Review the course load requirements for these programs before dropping or withdrawing from your courses.
Summer Session
Course change dates vary in the Summer Session depending on the start and end date and length of the course.
For course-specific add/drop deadlines, search your course information in Workday as the course change deadlines come up very quickly for summer courses.
Get more information through the Academic Calendar.
Winter Session 2026/27
For course-specific add/drop deadlines, search your course information in Workday.
Get more information through the Academic Calendar.
| Course type | Deadline to add or drop a course without a W (listed as “Drop” in Workday) | Deadline to drop a course with a W (listed as “Withdrawal” in Workday) |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Mon, Sep 21, 2026 | Fri, Oct 30, 2026 |
| Term 1 and 2 courses | Mon, Sep 28, 2026 | Fri, Nov 27, 2026 |
| Term 2 | Mon, Jan 18, 2027 | Fri, Mar 5, 2027 |
Additional resources
If you have questions
For help with finances, registration, records, and more, please contact an Enrolment Services Advisor.