Waitlists
If the course you want to add is full, you may add yourself to the waitlist by checking the "Waitlist" box.
Overview
If a course is full, you may be able to join a waitlist and wait for a seat to open in the course (if this functionality is enabled*). If a student drops the class, a seat will open up and be automatically filled by the next student on the waitlist.
*Note: Waitlists aren’t enabled for every class. Adding yourself to a waitlist does not guarantee a spot in the course. It’s always good to have a back-up plan in case you don't get in.
Each semester, you'll have a maximum amount of courses you can register in and be on the waitlist for. These term maximums are specific to each program. Most programs allow you be on the waitlist for up to two courses per semester in addition to your registered courses; however, you can reach out to your Faculty Advisors to find out the specific capacities for your program.
Step-by-step instructions on adding yourself to a waitlist are available here:
Important Waitlist Dates
Fall 2025
Sept. 1: Last day to join a new waitlist.
Sept. 8: All waitlists cleared (purge). Course enrolment becomes first-come, first-served.
Winter 2026
Jan. 11: Last day to join a new waitlist.
Jan. 19: All waitlists cleared (purge). Course enrolment becomes first-come, first-served.
What does the waitlist check?
Before adding yourself to a waitlist, it’s important to ensure you're meeting the requirements to register for the course. A good way to start is by using the Validate Shopping Cart option once the schedule is released to check for errors early.
If you're on a waitlist, you'll see a number that indicates how many students are in front of you on the waitlist in the course description when using Course Search or Schedule Builder. When you see that you're in position number 1 and another seat becomes available, the waitlist will attempt to add you.
If you don't meet pre-requisites, co-requisites of anti-requisites for the course:
- You will not be added to a waitlist,
- You will not be able to register and,
- You will receive an error message immediately
If you have a course component at the same time (time conflict):
- You will be added to the waitlist but will not be able to successfully register in a course once you reach the position number 1 on the waitlist
If the course is restricted to a specific degree or major that you aren't in:
- You will be added to the waitlist but will not be able to successfully register in a course once you reach position number 1 on the waitlist. Once the restriction ends, if there are still seats available, you'll be added into the course from the waitlist. You can check restriction end dates in your Student Centre.
If you have already enrolled in your maximum number of courses for the semester:
- You will be added to the waitlist but will not be able to successfully register in a course once you reach position number 1 on the waitlist.
Waitlist dos and don’ts
Frequently asked questions
Questions about waitlists? Check out the answers to some of the most common questions we receive.
Each semester, all students are removed from course waitlists on the designated waitlist purge day. After this date, any available seats are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. To secure a spot in your desired course, you’ll need to regularly check for openings following the purge.
If you enrol in a course after the first day of classes, please ensure you have a plan in place to catch up on any missed material so you can stay on track.
You can check your position by logging into your Student Centre (my.ucalgary.ca). On the Home page, you will see a list of current and upcoming semesters, and under each specific semester you can see a list of your enrolled and waitlisted courses as well as your position on any waitlisted courses.
Being on a waitlist doesn't guarantee you'll be registered. Fees will be calculated only once you have fully registered for the course.
Your waitlisted courses aren't eligible for confirmation as you aren't fully enrolled. You can still submit your application for government student loans early, however if your full-time/part-time status changes you'll need to get in touch with your lender to ensure your application is updated.
Firstly, check to make sure you have checked off the “Waitlist if class is full” button. If this button hasn't been checked off and the course is full, you'll receive this error message and will not be added to the waitlist.
If the button was checked off, waitlists process updates every hour, so sometimes it may appear a waitlist is open when it actually is not. You can check your Student Centre regularly to see if a spot has become available.
Most programs allow you to be on the waitlist for up to two courses per semester in addition to your registered courses. However, these term maximums are specific to each program so you may want to double check with your Faculty Advisors to determine the maximum for your specific program.
You can only enrol in a course once per term. e.g. If you're already enrolled in BIOL 241 Lecture 1, if you waitlist in BIOL 241 Lecture 2 in the same term you will not be able to get into the course a second time.
If you would like to take a course again, you may be able enrol in a later term however it would be good to connect with your Faculty Advisors to discuss your faculties repeat policies if you plan to take a course more than once.