Program Requirements

A graduate diploma is a structured program of study focused on developing graduate-level knowledge in a field or interdisciplinary field of study. A graduate diploma consists of a minimum of twelve (12) credit hours to a maximum of eighteen (18) credit hours of coursework primarily at the 7000-level or above. It is a stand-alone program. A minimum of 50% of the credit hours must be delivered by The University of Manitoba.  

All students should consult department/unit supplementary regulations for specific details regarding a particular Graduate Diploma.

Admission

Students who are eligible to be considered for direct admission to a program of study leading to the diploma include:

• Graduates of four (4)-year undergraduate degree programs (or equivalent as deemed by the Faculty of Graduate Studies) from: 
  • Canadian institutions empowered by law to grant degrees; or
  • Colleges and universities outside Canada which are officially recognized by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
• Graduates from first-cycle Bologna compliant degrees.
• Students who have completed a Pre-Master’s program from:
  • The University of Manitoba (see General Regulations - Pre-Master's); or
  • Canadian institutions empowered by law to grant degrees; or
  • Colleges and universities outside Canada which are officially recognized by The Faculty of Graduate Studies.

All students applying for a diploma program must have attained a minimum GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent) in the last two (2) previous years of full-time university study (60 credit hours). This includes those applying for direct admission and those entering from a Pre-Master’s program. Students who meet the minimum requirements for admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies are not guaranteed admission.

Note: This is the minimum requirement of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and departments/units may have higher standards and additional criteria.

Performance in Coursework

Students can consult Student Accessibility Services (SAS) if accommodations are required for coursework (see Accessibility Policy and Procedures).

A minimum degree grade point average (DGPA) of 3.0 with no grade below C+ must be maintained to continue in the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Departments/Units may specify, in their supplementary regulations, standards that are higher than those of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Students who fail to maintain the specified grades or DGPA will be Required to Withdraw unless a department/unit recommends remedial action. Any such action must be approved by the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

A student may be permitted to remove deficiencies in grades by repeating the course or replacing it with an equivalent substitute course. In the event that a substitute course is used for remediation, the substituted course must be at the same or higher level as the failed course (e.g., at the graduate level for a failed graduate-level course). Each failed course may be repeated or replaced only once, to a maximum of three (3) credit hours of remediated coursework. If a course is repeated or replaced, the highest grade obtained will be used in the determination of the degree grade point average. Students receiving a grade of “C” or less in more than three (3) credit hours of coursework are usually Required to Withdraw, unless otherwise stated in the department/unit’s supplementary regulations. A student may also be permitted the opportunity to improve a low DGPA as determined by the Graduate Chair of the student’s department/unit through the registration and completion of additional course(s).

Students are usually expected to complete remedial action by the end of the subsequent term.

Graduate students are not permitted to repeat a previously passed course, unless the department/unit recommends that course(s) be re-taken if they have lapsed or expired (refer to Master's Degree General Regulations and Doctor of Philosophy General Regulations).

Note:

In exceptional circumstances, the department/unit may appeal to the Faculty of Graduate Studies for approval of remedial recommendation(s) falling outside those prescribed above.

Supplemental exams are not permitted to students in the Graduate Diploma program, unless otherwise stated in the department/unit’s supplementary regulations.

Time in Program

The expected time-to-completion for students in the Diploma program is the same as the Master’s. The minimum time is equivalent to two (2) terms (8 months) and the maximum time allowed for the completion of the Diploma is four (4) years for students declared as full-time and six (6) years for students declared as part-time (see Student Status/Categories of Students for information on calculating maximum time for students). Diploma students are subject to the same re-registration requirements as all other graduate students.

Transfer Credit

Courses within a program of study may be taken elsewhere and transferred for credit at The University of Manitoba. All such courses:

• must be approved for transfer to the program of study by the department/unit and the Faculty of Graduate Studies before the student may register for them;
• are considered on an individual basis;
• cannot be used for credit towards another degree;
• may not exceed 50% of the credit hours of coursework required of the student’s Graduate Diploma program at The University of Manitoba.

Permission is granted in the form of a Letter of Permission which may be obtained by making an application to the Faculty of Graduate Studies; an original transcript and course equivalency must be provided.

Recognition for Credit

Graduate-level courses completed as part of a Graduate Diploma may be recognized toward a graduate degree program (where appropriate) and subject to the Senate approved program regulations. Graduate Diplomas may be stackable or laddered (refer to definitions per the Certificate and Diploma Framework) into graduate degree programs in same or related fields of study.