FAQs for Incoming Graduate Students to Laurier, September 2020

What will the Fall 2020 Term look like?

Laurier is actively planning for the fall term and looking forward to starting in September. On May 15, the university announced its overall approach to the fall — Laurier will continue to offer most courses online and virtually. We continue to work together to identify aspects of programs and activities we can deliver in person, as aligned with public health requirements.

There are still many details to be worked out. We know you would like more information and we are working hard to provide it. Thank you for your patience and understanding. We will be updating the following FAQs regularly as information becomes available.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (FGPS) is working on the development of orientation activities, many of which you will expect to hear about in the coming weeks. This year, we will be using a blended delivery model of online and interactive real-time engagement (i.e. self-paced online modules, live webinars, and interactive videoconferences). We’re very excited about the opportunities that this blended approach will provide to new students.

In the meantime, we are providing updates on a variety of issues of particular concern to incoming students. We will update these FAQs as new information becomes available. We will also send out e-mail bulletins at regular intervals to provide you with updated information related to admissions, Graduate Teaching Assistant training, orientation activities, course selection and more.

How do I demonstrate proficiency in English if it is not my first language?

If your first language is not English, you must provide evidence of your English proficiency to the FGPS.
The following initiatives may help applicants meet our English proficiency requirements.

How to meet Laurier’s English proficiency requirement:

• Show proof of having completed a previous degree in English.
• Submit a minimum score from an accepted test of English proficiency.
  • Note that the Duolingo English Test (DET) is not accepted for admission to graduate programs at Wilfrid Laurier University.

What if I can't write an English proficiency test?

Laurier’s Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies is committed to assisting applicants whose ability to take an English proficiency test has been impacted by the closures of English language testing centres due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

How to meet Laurier’s English proficiency requirement:

• Students who are academically eligible for their program will receive an offer of admission that is conditional upon meeting Laurier’s English proficiency requirements.
• Laurier has extended the deadline for students to provide evidence of their English proficiency to Aug. 15, 2020.
• Check and see if you qualify to take the ETS TOEFL exam at home.
  • Note: For the TOEFL exam, be sure to select Wilfrid Laurier University as the recipient institution for your test so we can validate the score online. Our institution code for the TOEFL is 0893.

Whom can I contact if I have questions about my intended program?

University operations at Laurier (including FGPS) have shifted to a virtual work-from-home environment. This pivot took place in mid-March when we determined the COVID-19 epidemic posed an increasing risk to our students, staff and faculty. At this point, we are seasoned veterans at supporting current and future graduate students using a suite of digital tools like Acrobat Forms, Google Docs, Google Sheets, OneDrive/Google Drive, and even phone or video call if needed.

For questions that relate to your program of choice, please contact the graduate program coordinator for the program(s) to which you have applied. General questions about meeting admission conditions may be referred to gradadmissions@wlu.ca.

What if I am unable to get official documents sent to Wilfrid Laurier University?

We understand that due to COVID-19, some of you may have difficulty obtaining the supporting documents required to meet the conditions laid out in your offer of admission for Fall 2020. We have adopted a set of flexible guidelines that we will be using for the Fall 2020 term. Below, we list some of the multiple ways in which we will be working with you to solve any problems that arise due to the current pandemic.

We will continue to review deadlines related to meeting admission conditions to offer flexibility in advance of the start of your program. Students who have received conditional offers of admission and who are able to satisfy their admission conditions are encouraged to do so as soon as possible.

Important dates and procedures:

• Final official document deadline: August 15, 2020 (already an extension from the July 15 date). If you are concerned about meeting this deadline, email gradadmissions@wlu.ca so that we are aware of the problem.
• If your institution is closed and/or cannot provide official transcripts, we will accept unofficial transcripts as an interim measure. Please send documentation (a screenshot from your institution’s website or official email) demonstrating that the institution cannot produce electronic transcripts at this time to gradadmissions@wlu.ca, along with an updated unofficial transcript.

Can I take a campus tour or visit campus?

Due to the unfolding situation regarding COVID-19, and our concern for the well-being of our visitors, campus tours have been cancelled. Campus buildings are closed to non-essential staff, faculty, students, and visitors until further notice. Even so, you can get a good “look around” Laurier.

Laurier has a pair of Virtual Reality (VR) tours that can also be viewed in your browser. One tour allows you to navigate around and into some of the buildings on our Waterloo campus. The other VR tour allows you to explore our Brantford campus. Each tour allows you to read descriptions, see video clips, and explore multiple areas of each campus.

In addition, we encourage you to reach out to your graduate program coordinator to arrange a virtual meeting with your intended advisor, or to arrange a meeting with current students, with faculty, or with staff.

I am unable to get a Study Permit at this time / I cannot get a Study Permit by the start of the fall term?

Students who require a Study Permit are expected to apply promptly upon accepting the offer of admission. You can apply for your study permit online even if the Visa Application Center near you is closed. If you are unable to apply for a Study Permit because the IRCC office in your country/region is not accepting applications because of COVID-19, please contact gradadmissions@wlu.ca; we will connect you with our international student support team for assistance and/or advice.

I have already applied for a Study Permit and need to provide my biometrics.

Currently, biometrics are still required as part of your study permit application. The CIC website provides information on collection sites that may be open. If you cannot provide your biometrics due to location closure you should monitor the website for when biometrics collection will resume. You can also visit the IRCC website here for information on how COVID-19 is affecting biometrics collections.

My Study Permit application has been approved, I have my Letter of Introduction but travel restrictions prohibit my entry into Canada.

Currently, there are travel bans in effect for foreign nationals to enter Canada. Some foreign nationals will be exempt from these travel bans. Please refer to the IRCC website for updates on travel bans and exemptions.

I am currently in Canada with a valid Study Permit.

Please send a .pdf copy of your Study Permit and temporary resident visa to gradadmissions@wlu.ca.

I have my Study Permit but I can’t travel to Canada for the start of my program in September?

If travel limitations remain in effect until September, you may be able to begin your studies at Laurier if offerings are online with interactive engagement. Decisions on which courses will be offered and the manner in which they will be delivered are ongoing. Additional information will be communicated to incoming students as soon as possible.

Will my courses be available only online?

The university is considering options for the delivery of courses including online and real-time interactive engagement. The mode by which academic content will be delivered in the fall semester will depend upon advice and direction from the public health units, and the provincial and federal governments.

When will course selection begin on LORIS?

Access to course registration on LORIS is expected to open on June 15, 2020. More information about registration requirements can be found online. For information on how to select courses on LORIS, refer to the Registration Guide.

If my courses are online and I am in a different country/time zone, will I be able to participate fully?

We are concerned that online and real-time virtual engagement may create some challenges for international students. Laurier’s Center for Teaching and Learning is working with faculty to explore whether some of the content of a course will be made asynchronous (which means you can access that information anytime so it will not be disruptive if you live in a different time zone). More information will be available in the coming weeks about how the delivery of courses may be adapted as a result of COVID-19.

What is happening in the fall term?

There will be a fall 2020 term and new students will be able to enrol at the university. No formal decisions have been made in terms of course format, whether the fall term will be offered in person or through online and remote learning.

Laurier continues to monitor ongoing developments regarding the COVID-19 outbreak. We are working closely with public health authorities to determine when and how to facilitate a safe return to classrooms this fall. Read the University's update on planning for the fall term.

Our senior leadership is considering all options and planning proactively while keeping the health, well-being and success of our students a top priority. As soon as updates are made available, the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies will update applicants. Please add fgps@wlu.ca to your contacts list to make sure you receive our emails.

When will in-person classes return?

For the current spring semester (May – August 2020), course delivery has moved online. We are working closely with public health authorities to determine when and how to facilitate a safe return to classrooms this fall. Although on-campus activities may be modified, we want to assure you that your Laurier experience will continue this September. No matter what approach is taken, our faculty and staff will continue to work closely with students to offer the high quality of teaching and student satisfaction for which Laurier is known.

Is tuition reduced if the courses are offered online?

No, because tuition fees primarily cover the cost of instruction, assessment, and program administration. These costs are incurred regardless of mode of delivery.

Are incidental fees waived if I can’t study on campus?

Incidental fees have been adjusted for the spring term, as a result of reduced access to campus resources. At this time, no final decisions have been made about incidental fees for the fall semester. Those decisions will be announced as soon as possible.

I don’t think I want to start my graduate program if the courses are online in the fall semester. What are my options?

We are confident that, regardless of the method by which academic content is delivered, our graduate programs can provide an excellent learning experience. Whether you are a distance learner, or an on-campus learner, your graduate student experience is as important to us as it is to you.

Note that for domestic students, the federal government has announced important financial aid initiatives to support new and continuing graduate students. You can read the announcement on the Prime Minister’s website, and more detailed information has now been posted.

It is also important to note that the current situation is evolving rapidly. We will eventually be able to return to campus to engage in person with one another, to exchange ideas, and to learn with and from one another. Consultants in our Career Centre are available for consultation if you have concerns about career development during difficult economic times.

Can I defer my offer of admission?

Incoming students who have met all of their admission requirements may request a deferral of admission for a maximum of 3 semesters (1 year). Consideration is given based upon the program’s approval and the circumstances leading to the request.

What happens if I decline my offer? Can I come next year instead?

If you decline your offer of admission, your file will be closed. You are welcome to apply for admission at a future intake cycle.

Graduate Student Orientation was scheduled for Tuesday September 8; is that still expected to happen?

The university is working toward a blended model of delivery of orientation activities. In order to achieve maximum flexibility, we expect to offer students the opportunity to undertake these activities throughout the summer months. More information will be forthcoming soon.

Graduate Teaching Assistant Training was scheduled for Wednesday September 9; is that still expected to happen?

TA Training aims to establish the foundation of a strong and positive experience for all graduate teaching assistants. The university is working on a combination of online and interactive engagement opportunities which students can complete over the summer months. More information will be forthcoming soon.

Can I pay my tuition fees in instalments each term?

The university is pleased to offer a tuition payment plan for its graduate students.