Part Time vs. Full Time Student

Part-time vs. Full-time student status

Part-time students are represented by the McMaster Association of Part-time Students (MAPS).  Part-time students who qualify may apply to become members of the MSU.  A student’s undergraduate degree course load in an academic session will remain the principal determinant for membership in one of MAPS (1-17 units) or the MSU (18 or more units). In a limited number of cases, transfer of membership will be permitted from one organization to the other.

Students eligible to apply for membership transfer will have until September 30th to submit their application. Once processed, the transfer will normally be permanent for the remainder of a student’s undergraduate studies at McMaster University, regardless of the number of courses taken in an academic session.

A student may transfer from MAPS to the MSU if he/she is:

• Registered with the Centre for Student Development (CSD) as having a disability and, based on written confirmation from CSD, is restricted to less than 18 units in each fall/winter academic session; or

• Registered in a fall/winter academic session in fewer than 18 units to complete his/her degree prior to the next convocation and was a member of the MSU in a previous fall/winter academic session.

These provisions respond to the desire by students, whose disabilities preclude enrolling 18 or more units in an academic session, to be members of the MSU. In addition, a student who completes most of their degree on a full-time basis, but who enrols in fewer than 18 units in their final academic session, would also be eligible to transfer to the MSU.

A student may transfer from the MSU to MAPS when he/she is:

• In her/his graduating year, who: (a) in a previous fall/winter academic session was a member of MAPS and (b) will register in more than 17 units to complete her/his degree prior to the next Spring Convocation; or
• A degree student who: (a) in a previous fall/winter academic session was a member of MAPS and (b) is registered in 18-20 units in the fall/winter academic session.

These provisions respond to the desire of students [to continue as members of MAPS] who have undertaken part of their degree on a part-time basis but, for reasons that may include timing of course availability, enrol in more than 17 units for an academic session.

A key principle of the agreement is that students transferring will pay all fees payable by members of the receiving student government. For a transferring from MAPS to the MSU, this would involve more than $500 in fees above those paid as a member of MAPS. Students transferring from MSU to MAPS would receive a refund, net of fees payable as a member of MAPS.

To retrieve the appropriate forms to transfer your MSU or MAPS status, please consult the links below, visit the MAPS webpage, or phone ext. 22021.