New students
Welcome to the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at the University of Manitoba!
On this page:
New student orientation
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences Virtual Tour
Next steps for new students
General questions
How do I know which courses to take to fulfil my program requirements and that I'm registered in the correct courses?
Program information and recommended progressions are available in “Degree requirements” section of our Degree advising page.
Program information and recommended progressions are available in the “Diploma requirements” section of our Diploma advising page.
If you are unsure if you are registered in the correct courses, please feel free to contact the academic advisors at aginfo@umanitoba.ca. You can also run a UMAcheive audit.
What is a prerequisite (prereq) / what high school courses are needed for my program / how do I upgrade a high school prereq?
Prerequisites are specific course(s) that you are required to take before you register in a course. Some courses will require high school prerequisites but others will require university-level prerequisites. The prerequisite requirements of each course are listed online in Aurora Student in the Course Catalog, or in the Academic Calendar.
High School courses and minimum grades required for prereqs in FAFS degree programs can be found in the Academic Calendar Admission Regulations.
You can find more information about how to upgrade your high school courses on this page.
What courses should I take for my Free Electives?
For their Free Elective requirement, students can take any courses they wish for which they meet the requirements/prereqs! Free Elective courses do not have to be from a specific Faculty.
Some students use their Free Electives to complete a minor, either in a subject complementary to their degree, or complete a minor in a separate area of interest. Here are a list minors offered at the UM.
Students can use their Free Elective credits to take part in our Co-op program. A minor or the Co-op program are not required, but are excellent options to consider.
What is a minor and how do I declare one?
A minor is an optional secondary area of academic study. Generally, at least 18 credit hours of course work in one academic area constitutes a "minor."
A list of available minors at the University of Manitoba is available here. You can choose a minor in the FAFS Faculty, or in a different faculty.
To declare a minor, you can send an email to the academic advisors at aginfo@umaniotba.ca.
How does the UM determine a full-time or part-time student status?
Student status is determined by the number of credit hours in each term (Fall and Winter). In the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, a student who is registered in a 60% course load which is a minimum of 9 credit hours in each term is considered to be a full time student. Therefore, a student with less than 9 credit hours is considered to be a part time student.
Diploma students should note these requirements defer from government student loans and should refer to their student loan information for course load requirements.
Please note that the definition of full-time and part-time status may vary depending on offices / institutions. To be eligible for most scholarships students will need to have an 80% course load of 12 credit hours in Fall and 12 credit hours in Winter.
International Students should consult with the International Centre regarding their course load requirements for their visas, etc.
-
Registration
A step-by-step guide on how to register for courses, and what to do next!
-
Course outlines
View course outlines from a previous term.
-
How to Voluntarily Withdrawal (VW) from a course
Students are encouraged to contact aginfo@umanitoba.ca prior to VWing from a course.
-
Transfer credit information
Transfer in courses taken at another University/institution.
-
FAFS academic advising
Contact us at aginfo@umanitoba.ca
-
Important dates and deadlines
Find important dates and deadlines such as University closures, registration revision periods, etc.
Career and student involvement
How to stay up-to-date with Faculty and University events?
How can I get involved with student clubs and organizations?
We are home to some of the most active student groups and clubs on campus, which provides extensive opportunities for fun and non-academic skills development.
- Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences Students' Organization (FASO)
- Nutrition Education and Community Outreach (NECO)
- U of M Dairy Club
- Agribusiness Students' Association
- U of M Pre-Vet Club
- U of M Wetlanders
- Stockman's Club
- U of M 4H Club
Some student organization, volunteer and club experience may be eligible to be added to your Co-Curricular Record.
How can I find volunteer opportunities?
Volunteering is an excellent way to gain the skills and experience to reach your academic and career goals. Some UM resources include:
- Volunteer resources
- UM Orientation Volunteer program
- UMSU Volunteer program
- Language Partner Volunteer Program
External UM resources:
Check your emails
-
Co-op program
The Co-operative Education (Co-op) Program aims to connect student classroom learning with valuable work experience, preparing students for a successful career ahead of them.
-
Career opportunities and planning
The best place for resources and assistance with career planning is Career Services. They have excellent information and resources.
Student supports
-
Academic Learning Centre
Strengthen your writing, studying and research skills.
-
Accessibility for students
Student Accessibility Services (SAS) is available to provide supports for students with disabilities and to foster success for your academic future.
-
English as an additional language
Support is available through the Academic Learning Centre
-
FAFS awards and financial aid
The Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences offers awards, bursaries and prizes to students enrolled in the Faculty.
-
UM bursary program
Bursaries are based on financial need and require an application. View important deadlines and learn how to apply.
-
UM financial aid and awards
The University of Manitoba issues more than $30 million to students each year in the form of scholarships and bursaries. Find out how you can access funding so you can focus on your studies.
-
Mental health support
If you are struggling with your mental health, support is available. Explore the Student Counselling Centre (SCS) for all available resources.
-
Work-study program
Offers part-time, on-campus employment for students with financial need during the school year.
-
International student support
Consult with the International Centre advisors about your visa, student status, and documentation.
-
Additional student supports
We want to ensure you succeed - resources are available to support you every step of the way.
First year student resources
Contact Us
Agricultural and Food Sciences Student Services Office
160 Agriculture Building | 66 Dafoe Road
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3T 5V6 Canada