Flexible Programming

Sometimes it makes sense to slow things down, whether that's because you enjoy a lighter load so you can focus more attention on a fewer number of courses, you're a varsity athlete, have responsibilities outside of school and more. 

Structuring your program in this way will make your BESc a five year program, instead of a 4 year program. To set up a 5 year plan you will work with your academic counsellor individually to identify the best plan for you going forward. 

How it works:

1.) You meet with your academic advisor to discuss your situation, goals, and courses. Together you will identify the courses in year 1 that you would like to continue and complete this year. 

2.) In March, you will complete your ITR as "Engineering Year 1"

3.) The following September, you will return to the Engineering program as a Year 1 student. You will complete the remaining year 1 courses you did not complete in the previous year. During this year you may also take some of the courses that are common to all second year programs or, courses to meet your non-technical elective course requirements. 

4.) That March, you will use your ITR period to rank your preferred Engineering programs. 

If you need to repeat a course, or have deferred a course to the summer to slow things down. The first year Engineering courses, with the exception of EngSci 1050 are offerered over the summer.  

How to register for the Summer term & courses. For more information, please visit the Registrar's Office webpage HERE.

Important:

1.) Summer courses are charged per course fees at the Engineering rate. Even if the course being completed is not an Engineering course. Please see the Fee Schedule for more information on summer fees. 

2.) If you have not signed an Extended First Year Plan agreement with your Academic Counsellor, summer course grades are not calculated into your Year-Weighted Average (YWA) which is based on your courses completed September - April. 

1. What is the Extended First Year program?

The Extended First Year Program (EXFYP) is a program in which the student reduces the number of courses being taken in second term (the student must drop a full-year course) and postpones completion of the courses that have been dropped until summer session.  In addition, the student will not be adjudicated for progression into Year Two until summer session courses have been completed.

2. What is the purpose of the program?

Studies carried out over the last few years have revealed that one of the major reasons for the failure of first year Engineering students is difficulty in adjusting to the heavy workload and academic demands of first year.  In many cases the necessary adjustments are not made until second term, by which time it is difficult to redress the poor performance that has taken place in first term.  Through the Extended First Year Program it is possible to offset the poor marks awarded in first term and provide extra time to concentrate on selected courses in second term.

3. Who is eligible to participate in this program?

All first-time, first-year Engineering students are eligible.  However, the program is intended primarily for students who have attained an average mark in the range of 55 to 59 at mid-year. All students with an average of less than 60% should consider participating in the program.

4. How it works:

After the winter break your approximate average can be calculated based on your final grades for your three half courses (“A” term) and your mid-term results in BUS 1299E (Business), ES 1050 (Design) and ES 1022Y (Statics).  Lab marks are not used in this calculation.

It is recommended that any student with a first term average between 55% and 60% make an appointment with the First-Year Academic Advisors about the program details.

We recommend that students with marginally passing or failing grades sign up for the EXFYP. This allows you to drop one of your full year and/or second term courses to lighten your load so you can spend more time on the remaining courses.  If you choose to drop a full year course, such as Business 1299, we will backdate the drop to December 2 so that a WDN shows on your transcript instead of an ‘F’. This only applies however, if you agree to participate in the EXFY Program.  Then you take the course that you dropped at Western in the summer.  We agree not to adjudicate you, i.e., look at your average to decide whether you progress to second year, until after your final grades are received in May, but will wait until you complete the summer course(s).

So if, for example, after your April exams your YWA is 58% based on 5.5 full courses, we don’t fail you based on that average.  We wait until you complete the summer school course(s), say Business 1299, then include that final mark in the average calculation and compute the YWA over 6.5 courses.  Hopefully this is enough to raise your average over 59.5% and so allow you to progress to second year. 

5. Important information

• The summer course(s) must be taken at Western: to participate in this program you must be able to stay in London and take the course(s) here at Western. 

• If you drop a full course in January, agree to participate in the EXFYP and we backdate the drop so a WDN shows on your transcript, and then you decide not to participate, we will go back and put the failing grade in for the course.  Therefore, if you decide not to participate in the EXFYP after signing the contractual agreement to do it, there are usually very serious repercussions. 

• You may forfeit your chance to get into one of the more popular programs by participating in the EXFYP.  The first choice into a program is typically offered to those students who get through first year cleanly (i.e. those with a full course load who have not dropped or failed any courses).  Therefore, if a particular program is filled by those students who have passed all their courses during the regular school year and you don’t finish all of your courses until after the summer session, then you will be placed in your second- or third-choice program. Not enrolling in the program may result in your being required to withdraw from the Faculty.

When you drop a full year course and/or one of your second term half courses to lighten the load, you may then take the course(s) in the summer. If you failed a course in first term and sign up for the EXFYP, you must drop a full year and/or second term half course to lighten the load and then take the failed course and possibly the dropped course in the summer.

Note: If you fail a course in first term, you are not allowed to repeat that course in second term. You must wait until the summer session to take the failed course.Every case is different, so you should come to speak with an academic counsellor to develop a unique EXFYP based on your specific circumstances. 

6. The procedure is:

Check your marks on the Student Center in January.

Make an appointment to talk with your academic advisor, about your particular situation. If you decide to participate in the program, you must sign a contract outlining the courses you will be taking in second term and summer sessions.  As you may need to discuss this with your parents, the deadline for signing up is January 23rd, 2025. You must agree to participate in the program so that we can track you and remember, we will not adjudicate you at the end of April.

The summer school calendars come out in February, just before Reading Week.  You can view it online. You must register for the summer course in March. Courses fill quickly – it is your responsibility to register for the course as soon as possible. 

7. How much will it cost to participate in the program?

It is not possible to provide a specific answer to this question.  The cost of first year summer session courses in 2024 was $1,274.01 per half course and $2,548.01 per full course.  International Students pay higher fees. The maximum number of courses to be taken by Extended First Year Program students is one course at either Intersession or Summer Evening and/or one course in Summer Day.  These courses must be completed at Western: they may not be taken on a letter of permission.  In addition, it is strongly recommended that EXFYP students not undertake full-time employment while registered in summer session courses.  Finally, for students whose home is not in London the cost of accommodation must be borne in mind. 

8. How long is summer school? 

There are three summer sessions (dates to be announced):
Intersession: May - June
Summer Evening: May  – July
Summer Day*: July  - August 

9. What courses will be offered at Summer Sessions from the First Year Engineering program? (Subject to change) 

In addition to a number of non-technical elective courses will be offered.  

10. Must I enroll in the Extended First Year Program to drop courses and register in Summer Sessions?

No, you may withdraw from Winter Session or “B” term courses by the deadlines noted in the Academic Calendar and register in Summer Session courses, without enrolling in the Extended Year Program.  However you will be adjudicated for progression on the basis of your Winter Session performance.  Your summer marks will not be included in your average. If your performance is unsatisfactory, that is, your average mark is less than 60%, you may be denied permission to register in summer school.  You can certainly take a summer school course without being on the EXFYP but the course does not count in your YWA calculations and the extension of the drop deadlines will not apply. 

11. Information regarding average calculations and the Extended First Year Program

Dropping a course without academic penalty: 

Drop Deadlines:
Full Year course – December 2, 2024
“B” term course – March 31, 2025

No mark is given to you for the course but a WDN goes on your transcript to show that you were registered in this course but withdrew from it.  No mark goes into your average calculation, so your average is calculated using only 5.5 credit courses instead of 6.5.

You have two averages - a Year Weighted Average and a Cumulative Weighted Average.  The YWA is used to see if you progress into the next year.  It is a weighted average and is calculated as follows: each course you take is weighted - either 0.5 or 1.0.

The half (0.5) courses are Algebra (NMM 1411A/B), Calculus I (NMM 1412A/B), Calculus II (NMM 1414A/B), Chemistry (Chem 1302A/B), Materials (ES 1021A/B), Physics (Physics 1401A & Physics 1402B), Programming (ES 1036A/B) and Statics (ES 1022Y).

The full (1.0) courses are, Business for Engineers (BUS 1299E) and Design (ES 1050).

To determine your year weighted average, your final grade in each course is multiplied by its weight.   Then the sum of these is divided by the total of the course weights, normally 6.5.  If you were to drop a full course, then the sum would be divided by 5.5. 

To progress to second year, you must obtain a YWA of greater than 59.45%.  The YWA is based on only those courses you take during the fall and winter terms.  Courses taken in the summer are not used in the YWA (unless you have registered for the Extended First Year Program).  Normally if you take a course in the summer at Western it only affects your CWA.  

The CWA is the average of all the courses you take at Western for your Engineering degree and this must be 60% or greater in order to graduate.