Academic Honours and Class Prizes

Graduating with Distinction

For non-honours students in undergraduate degree programs, and diploma students in the Faculty of Agriculture.

Students in the Faculties of Agriculture, Architecture and Planning, Arts and Social Sciences, Computer Science, Engineering, Science and Management who have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.70 upon graduation will be placed on the Distinction list.

Students in the Faculty of Health who have a degree GPA of 3.70, as calculated in the Earned Credit Hours section of their Degree Audit, upon graduation will be placed on the Distinction list. Students who have been on the Dean’s List for three of the four years of the Pharmacy Program and a cumulative GPA of 3.70 or higher will graduate with Distinction.

Students in the Faculties of Architecture and Planning, Computer Science, and Engineering who have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.85 upon graduation will be placed on the Sexton Distinction list, instead of the Distinction list.

To determine which students will graduate with distinction from the Faculty of Medicine, performance and distinctions from all four years are considered. This determination is made by the faculty's awards committee.

Honours students

Arts and Social Sciences: Graduates are required to have a minimum GPA of 2.70. Included in the GPA calculation are courses in the honours subject(s) and the single subject chosen for two credits outside the honours subject or, where appropriate, the minor subject.

To achieve First-Class Honours, graduates are required to have a minimum GPA of 3.70. Included in the GPA calculation are courses in the honours subject(s) and the single subject chosen for two credits outside the honours subject or, where appropriate, the minor subject.

Science: Graduates are required to have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Included in the GPA calculation are courses in the honours subject(s).

To achieve First-Class Honours, graduates are required to have a minimum GPA of 3.70. Included in the GPA calculation are courses in the honours subject(s).

Computer Science: Graduates are required to have a minimum GPA of 3.00 in all of the courses in computer science.

First-Class Honours standing is awarded to students who obtain a minimum GPA of 3.70 in all of the courses in computer science.

Kinesiology: First-Class Honours standing is achieved by students who satisfy the degree requirements with a cumulative GPA of 3.70 or higher.

To achieve First-Class Honours, graduates are required to have a minimum GPA of 3.70. Included in the GPA calculation are courses in the honours subject(s).

Computer Science: Graduates are required to have a minimum GPA of 3.00 in all of the courses in computer science.

First-Class Honours standing is awarded to students who obtain a minimum GPA of 3.70 in all of the courses in computer science.

Kinesiology: First-Class Honours standing is achieved by students who satisfy the degree requirements with a cumulative GPA of 3.70 or higher.

Medals

Governor-General's Gold Medals are awarded to graduates in the Faculty of Graduate Studies who have achieved overall academic excellence. Two gold medals are awarded; one to the most outstanding Master's graduate in the Natural Sciences and Engineering, and one to the most outstanding Master's graduate in the Humanities and Social Sciences.

Governor-General's Silver Medal is awarded to the undergraduate graduate who has achieved the highest academic standing among graduates of baccalaureate programs.

University Silver Medal is awarded to the graduate who is judged to be the leading First Class Honours student among graduates of baccalaureate programs. The recipient cannot have received the Governor-General's Silver Medal.

Avery Prize is awarded to the graduate with the highest standing among those graduating from the general degree program. The recipient cannot have received the Governor General's Silver Medal.

University Medals

Architecture and Planning, Engineering, Management: Medals are awarded to the graduate who has achieved the highest cumulative average. One medal is awarded per department.

Arts and Social Sciences, Science, Commerce, Computer Science: Medals are awarded to an Honour's graduate in recognition of superior achievement in his/her field of study. One medal is awarded per department.

Health Professions: Medals are awarded to the graduates who obtain the highest academic standing in their particular programs, provided they meet the requirements set by the Faculty.  One medal is awarded from each of the schools/college within the Faculty of Health Professions.

Law:  University Medal in Law is awarded to the graduate who has achieved the highest cumulative average over the three years of study in the Schulich School of Law and among those attaining First Class distinction in the studies of Third Year, and who has achieved a very high standard of excellence. (Eligibility is determined solely on the basis of law courses.)

Dentistry:  Dr. D.S. Precious University Medal in Dentistry is awarded to the graduate who has met the requirements for graduation with distinction and who, in the opinion of Faculty, merits the award.

Medicine: The C.B. Stewart Gold Medal is awarded to the graduate standing highest in the regular medical course as determined by the Faculty.

October graduates are eligible for consideration for medals awarded at Spring Convocation.