
Academic Upgrading
This summer, meet your admission conditions and earn university credit at the same time.
Our Academic Upgrading (AU) opportunity is open to graduating high school students with current conditional offers of admission to the University of Guelph or another Ontario post-secondary institution.*
AU provides high school students the opportunity to improve their grades to become more competitive or admissible to Canadian post-secondary programs by completing high school 4U equivalent courses.
All AU courses are offered in an online asynchronous format (no scheduled classes to attend) providing you with the flexibility and convenience to study at a time and place that works best for you and your schedule.
Gain exposure to a more advanced learning environment, get a taste of university course format and systems, and get ahead by earning university credit prior to your official degree start date.
With access to academic advising and academic accessibility accommodation services, the School of Continuing Studies is committed to ensuring you have the support you need to succeed. Email our academic advisor with any questions.
*Be sure to check with the admission team at the post-secondary institution you have received conditional admission from to ensure that they will acknowledge this academic upgrading opportunity and recognize it as meeting admission requirements for a 4U course.
Admission
Courses
Below is a list of available courses through the Academic Upgrading (AU) opportunity and their Ontario Secondary School (OSS) equivalent course codes. By clicking on each course code, you can view additional details about each course (e.g., course dates, course fees, refund schedule, course description, technical requirements, etc.) and enrol.
Please note that additional courses are being planned for summer 2026.
Courses Available through the Academic Upgrading Opportunity
| Course Code | Course Title | OSS Equivalent Course Code | Recommended Preparation Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL*1030 | Effective Writing | ENG4U | ENG3U or equivalent |
| CHEM*1060 | Introductory Chemistry | SCH4U | SCH3U or equivalent |
Please note that while ENGL*1030 is not an equivalent course to ENG4U, it meets the admission requirements for ENG4U. ENGL*1030 goes above and beyond what an ENG4U equivalent course would include. AU courses offered by the University of Guelph do not count for OSSD credit; these are not dual-credit courses.
Courses listed in the table above count for degree credit/university undergraduate credit at the University of Guelph.
Modes of Delivery
All courses are offered in an online asynchronous format. There are no set times for meetings/lectures, etc. Please note that assessments will be due on specific dates at specific times.
Grading Framework
To create a safe space for high school learners to try out university learning and mitigate academic risk, a Credit/No Credit grading framework is applied to learners completing courses through the Academic Upgrading opportunity. Please see our Credit/No Credit grade policy for additional information.
A Credit/No Credit grading framework provides learners with the option to flip their final grade from Credit/No Credit to a numeric final grade after the last day of classes.
Please note that grades obtained through the School of Continuing Studies may be able to count for transfer credit at another post-secondary institution. How a credit transfers is up to the discretion of the receiving institution. Please reach out to the institution you are interested in transferring credit to in order to learn more about how School of Continuing Studies courses may transfer.
Grading Policy
Cost
Tuition fees listed on course pages are subject to change and do not include the cost of textbooks or other required/supplementary reading and learning materials. You may purchase these materials from the University Bookstore, the Co-op Bookstore, or from another third-party seller.
The School of Continuing Studies is a cost recovery operation and requires payment upon registration. We are unable to offer financial aid or a payment plan. You may, however, qualify for a bursary. Please visit our Financial Assistance page for more information about our bursaries.
Bursaries
Canadian citizens and permanent residents interested in enrolling in the Academic Upgrading opportunity courses are eligible to apply for a School of Continuing Studies bursary. Our bursaries can each cover the tuition fees of one course.
Contact Us
University of Guelph undergraduate program requirements can be found on the Undergraduate Degree Requirements for Ontario Applicants webpage. If you wish to speak to a University of Guelph Admission Counsellor to determine if the Academic Upgrading (AU) opportunity is right for you, please reach out to admission@uoguelph.ca .
If you have additional questions about the Academic Upgrading (AU) opportunity, please email the Manager, Learner Success and Credit Learning Access or phone 519-824-4120 ext. 54828.