If you’ve been academically withdrawn, you must wait a pre-determined waiting period before you can take any SAIT credit courses or credit programs. The exact time will depend on whether this is your first or a subsequent withdrawal. 

  • You must wait eight calendar months before you can return from your first academic withdrawal. 
  • Subsequent academic withdrawals after your first result in a five-year waiting period. 

During this waiting period, you may take only non-credit courses or non-credit programs. 

If you’re academically withdrawn, you may be permitted to remain enrolled in courses for the current term if you meet both of the following criteria.

  • You have paid the full tuition and fees for your current courses, AND
  • you’re at least 30% of the way through credit courses in the current term. 

If you remain enrolled based on the criteria above, a subsequent academic withdrawal will be applied to your student profile if you don’t meet the minimum Term and Total institutional GPA of 2.0 at the end of term in which you’re currently enrolled.


Returning to SAIT

Before returning to your previous program, you must submit an intent to return form. You will also need to meet with the academic chair/coordinator to determine if space is available to accommodate your return. 


If you wish to return to SAIT in a different program from which you were withdrawn you must submit a new application after the appropriate waiting period and be accepted into the program. 


Please be aware of the following if you wish to return from a subsequent withdrawal. 

  • Submit an intent to return form and speak with your academic chair or program coordinator after a full five-year waiting period if you wish to return to your previous program.
  • If you plan to study a different program, you can apply for a reduced waiting period by emailing inquiry@sait.ca.
    1. Your waiting period may be reduced to two years if you apply for a program closely related to what you previously took at SAIT.
    2. Your waiting period may be reduced to one year if you apply to a completely different program than what you previously took at SAIT.
  • Submit a new application if your reduction request is approved.

Any applications submitted for a SAIT credit program during your waiting period or before a reduction is approved will be cancelled and application fees will not be refunded. Review Grading and Progression Procedure (AC.3.1.1) for the full policy.


After you return

You will be placed on academic probation in the term you return to SAIT from academic withdrawal. 

  • You will return to good academic standing if you achieve a Term GPA and a Total Institutional GPA of at least 2.0 in the term you resume your studies or start your new program.
  • You will remain on academic probation if you achieve a Term GPA or a Total Institutional GPA of less than 2.0 in the term you resume your studies or start your new program.
  • You will be academically withdrawn again if both your Term and Total Institutional GPAs are less than 2.0 in the term you resume your studies or start your new program.

Learn more by reviewing the following important links. 

Grades and academic standing

Grading and Progression Procedure (AC.3.1.1)

Academic Continuance Committee process (AC3.1.1 – Schedule A)