General AdmissionsPolicies & Procedures
St. Augustine’s Seminary, in conjunction with the other member colleges of the Toronto School of Theology, has agreed upon the policies and procedures as outlined in the Toronto School of Theology Basic Degree Handbook. All students receive the handbook at registration. Where it does not cover a circumstance, the University of Toronto Rules and Regulations are applied.
Advanced Standing, Shared Credits and Transfer Credits
St. Augustine’s Seminary follows the Association of Theological
Schools in the United States and Canada’s policies for the granting
of advanced standing credits, shared credits and transfer credits. Requests
of this type are to be made in consultation with the Registrar.
Advanced Standing with credit is determined by an appropriate written and/or oral assessment of the student’s knowledge, competence, or skills that would normally be provided by the specific course for which they would receive advanced standing. Advanced Standing with credit cannot be automatically granted on the basis of ministerial or life experience or the content of undergraduate work. If advanced standing is granted with credit on the basis of appropriate evaluation, not more that one-sixth of the total credits required for an ATS-approved degree may be granted in this way.
Shared Credits are credits that were applied to another graduate degree program that St. Augustine’s has determined it will accept to its own degree program. The following rule applies: not more than half of the lesser degree will be transferred and not more than half of the credits required for the current degree are granted on the basis of transfer credits.
Transfer Credits: Students transferring from equivalent academic institutions are required to complete at least 2 semesters of full-time studies (10 one-semester courses) at St. Augustine's in order to be eligible for the degree. Course descriptions must accompany transfer credit requests and official transcripts are required from the institution. The accreditation of the institution must be by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada or its equivalent. Only credits not applied to another degree are eligible for transfer. Unapplied credits may only be transferred for courses completed within the eight years preceding initial registration in a degree programme. Please refer to the Toronto School of Theology Basic Degree Handbook or contact the St. Augustine’s Seminary Registrar for further information.
Standing Deferred - SDF (Extensions)
Students are to complete all course work and exams according
to the professor's guidelines. A seminarian that wishes to request an
extension to submit work beyond the end of examination week in a term
must first receive formational approval from the Rector. All other academic
students must receive the permission of the Dean of Students.
Once approval has been received, the student should:
- Obtain a standing deferred [SDF] request form from the Registrar, complete the top portion of the form and take it to the Dean of Students for his signature.
- If approved, take the form to the professor of the course for approval; the professor completes the bottom portion of the form.
- Ensure that the St. Augustine’s Seminary Registrar has a copy of the SDF form in case of a discrepancy in the academic records.
Course Load
Full-time students are normally required to take five courses
per semester but must take at least four courses to receive full-time
status [or the equivalent of seven courses over the entire Session]. A
student may be allowed to enrol in six courses per semester with the permission
of the Dean of Studies. Part-time students take three or less courses
per semester.
A minimum grade of 70% (B-) is required to pass any course. Attendance of the classes is obligatory; the student must report any absence to the professor of the course.
Transcript Requests and Release of Student Information
St. Augustine’s Seminary does not release the official transcripts
of its students without the expressed permission of the student. The cost
of an official transcript is included in the fee supplement. The student
and not a third party must request letters from the Registrar verifying
the eligibility of graduation. Personal or academic information about
a student is not provided to public requests.
Return to the top