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Special Students

Students are designated Special Students (also known as Visiting Students) if they are enrolled in one or more undergraduate courses, but are not pursuing an undergraduate degree. Special Student status is not required to enrol in courses offered through the G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education, opens in new window. Common reasons for Special Student status include:

  • To attempt to qualify for admission to a degree program, typically in graduate studies or professional areas of study
  • To complete courses on a Letter of Permission from another university
  • To meet professional association course requirements

Please see below for the application policy and procedures, admission requirements, and course enrolment details of the Special Student options available at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU).

Admission Requirements

Engineering Special Student applicants are required to submit the online TMU Application (program code SEE/EN017 SPECIAL) and upload supporting documentation as applicable. Visit the FEAS Engineering Special Student website for details.

Course Enrolment

  • Approval to the Special Engineering option permits students to attempt to enrol in individual courses. It does not guarantee, and is not meant to guarantee, enrolment in courses
  • Approval is required from the appropriate program director/associate chair in the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science and availability of space in the selected course(s). Individual faculty members may not grant access to courses.
  • Special Engineering students do not have access to enrolment through MyServiceHub, opens in new window. Course enrolment must be completed by the appropriate program department in the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science.

Admission Requirements

Written approval from the specific teaching department is required to be admitted to the Special option. It is strongly recommended that applicants secure the written approval prior to submitting the TMU Application. Application fees are not refundable. The approval must be submitted to Undergraduate Admissions through the ServiceHub after the TMU Application has been submitted.

Not all programs accept Special students. Before applying, please check which Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) programs are accepting applications.

Please note the following faculty and program-specific requirements:

  • The Faculty of Arts does not consider Special students.
  • The Faculty of Science requires completion of the Special Student Permission Form. The form can be found on the Faculty of Science website.
  • The School of Nutrition will provide a list of approved applicants to Undergraduate Admissions and Recruitment. Please visit the School of Nutrition website for details on the approval process and relevant deadlines.
  • The Department of Architectural Science requires a written request and supporting documentation. Please contact the Architecture program department directly for further instructions.

Grade 12 U/M students may be admitted as Special students to take a course, subject to receiving authorization from the teaching department of the course they wish to take and also subject to space in the desired course. Candidates must be recommended by their secondary school and will be considered on an individual basis. If the course forms part of a program to which the student is admitted, credit is applied.

Course Enrolment

  • Approval to the Special option permits students to attempt to enrol in individual courses.  It does not guarantee, and is not meant to guarantee, enrolment in courses.
  • Access to course(s) is subject to approval of the teaching department and availability of space in the selected course(s). Individual faculty members may not grant access to courses.
  • Prospective Special students should note that, for some courses, no space will be available to Special students, as enrolment is limited and preference is given to students enrolled in a TMU degree program.
  • Special students do not have access to enrolment through MyServiceHub, opens in new window. Course enrolment must be completed by the relevant program department.

Special Student applicants for all options are encouraged to commence the approval and application process as soon as possible. Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) cannot guarantee consideration of an application where amendments to applications and supporting documents are received after published deadline dates.

The following timeframes generally apply for the closure of the TMU Application:

  • Fall Term – early August
  • Winter Term – mid-December
  • Spring Term - late April

Individual programs may have earlier deadlines, and/or will close applications earlier when enrolment capacity has been reached.

Please note:

  • Special Student applicants are NOT required to submit a Supplementary Form or official transcripts to Undergraduate Admissions. However, transcripts are often required by program departments for the approval process
  • Special Student status CANNOT be obtained by applying for a full-time or part-time degree program (eg. Business Management or Mechanical Engineering)
  • Admission is not guaranteed

Important Note: If you have previously been admitted as a Special Student, you do not need to submit a new application unless you have not enrolled in courses for six consecutive semesters.

If you are in doubt about your status, please contact Undergraduate Admissions at the ServiceHub to confirm prior to submitting a new application. Application fees are not refundable.

  • Special Students are eligible for evaluation in the course(s) taken and for a final grade statement from the Enrolment Services and Student Fees Office. Special Students are not eligible to obtain transfer credit or a Letter of Permission to study elsewhere.
  • A course taken as a Special Student, which an applicant subsequently applies as transfer credit to a program at Toronto Metropolitan University will not be recorded as a graded course, nor will it be used in the calculation of the student's Grade Point Average (GPA). See Transfer Credit section.
  • Special Students are subject to the same academic standing requirements as students in degree, diploma, or certificate programs. Foundations of Management students may be subject to additional option-specific requirements.  Further details will be provided by the program department.