Canadian Universities Accepting Backlogs

Top Universities in Canada accept only those students who do not have any backlog. Do Canadian universities accept backlogs for admission? Yes! few colleges and universities do consider applications from students with a limited number of backlogs.

Do Canadian universities offer admission with a backlog? How many backlogs are accepted to study in Canada? Well, these are the most common queries of a student who has backlogs and wants to study abroad, especially in Canada.

The good news is that while top-tier institutions have strict rules, several reputable Canadian universities accept backlogs under specific conditions. It is important to remember that most institutions require a Backlog Certificate, even if you have zero failures. To strengthen your application, use your Statement of Purpose (SOP) to explain the reasons for your backlogs and highlight your recent academic growth. 

Typically, most Canadian Universities and colleges allow between 5 and 10 backlogs. You need to clear them before applying. For instance, Wilfrid Laurier University and Cape Breton University are known for their flexible policies. Your chances of admission improve significantly if you have an impressive overall GPA. In this article, we will help you to know every detail about Canadian universities accepting backlogs of Indian students.

What is Backlog?

In simple words, you get a backlog when you have not passed the exam of a particular subject on the first attempt. The backlog can be cleared when you re-appear for the exam of that subject. Once you complete the program from the university, you will be given a backlog certificate that will specify the number of cleared and uncleared backlogs. In case, you have cleared the exam for all subjects, then you will not get a backlog certificate. However, a zero backlog certificate may be required for admission to colleges accepting backlogs in Canada.

Factors Affecting Backlog Acceptance in Canada

If you have a history of backlogs, you need to understand that factors like your overall academic performance and scores of standardised tests make a huge impact on the chances of your profile acceptance. Since all the Canadian universities give preference to strong candidates, the universities that accept backlog would majorly consider the following factors:

Overall Academic Performance

This is one of the most important factors that Canadian universities consider in order to evaluate a student’s potential. High GPA and a good academic profile will help you to take admission to Canadian universities accepting backlogs.

Score in Standardised Exams

The GRE score and TOEFL score, which act as an eligibility criterion for applying to universities abroad, are of utmost importance. If the score is good enough to beat the other applications, there is always room for exceptions.

Effect of Courses/Subjects of Backlogs

Another factor that Canadian universities consider is the subject with a backlog. The universities check whether the backlog is directly related to your choice of program or not. If you have a backlog in a major subject related to the program, then it might cause a problem.

Time Taken to Clear Backlogs

The universities in Canada count the number of subjects as the number of backlogs. The number of attempts would also matter if the backlog subjects were major ones. Under any circumstances, you are required to submit a Backlog Certificate. It shows the subjects you had to reappear and also the number of attempts you took to clear that subject.

The top universities reject the applications of students who have backlogs. Therefore, it is advised to keep a backlog certificate with clear status at the time of admission.

Effect of the Reason Behind Backlogs

There may be two reasons for a backlog to occur, one being absenteeism and another low grade. Let us consider both the reasons separately:

Low Grades: Scoring less in the exam would depict a weak profile in that subject. If you have a record of score low in any subject throughout your academic programme (in which you also had a backlog), it may not be in favour of your candidature. Especially, if the subject of the backlog is a major one. Also, if this score makes your overall CGPA a low one, then that is a problem. Nevertheless, if you were able to score so well in the re-appear exam that it helped you maintain a good overall score, then the backlog may not be a problem.

Absenteeism: The sad part is that absenteeism due to any reason is counted as a backlog. Absenteeism may be again due to two reasons:

1. Medical Reasons: Suppose you were due to health/medical issues (maybe you were sick or had an accidental encounter), your college would have required a medical certificate to prove the same. Similarly, you would need to prove the same to the AdCom of universities abroad, if they are convinced about considering your backlog reason to be a genuine one.
2. Family or Travel: Having a family emergency or travelling to someplace may be another reason for absenteeism. However, travel may make you look less sincere towards your studies. No university wants to entertain the profile of a student who prefers to travel over appearing for an external exam. There better a good reason behind that travel which made you miss a semester/annual examination.

In both cases, the university may or may not consider your candidature a weak one.

Does Backlog Affect Admission in Canada

When taking admission to foreign universities, not just the academic record of an applicant is taken into account. Scores in standardized exams like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, and GRE are also considered. On top of this, SOP, LORs, and work experience are also given weightage at the time of admission to foreign universities. However, it is true that backlogs affect admission in Canada, especially, when you have to apply to the top universities in Canada.

• The top Canadian universities like the University of Toronto, University of Ottawa, and McGill University do not see backlogs in an appropriate manner. However, if you have 1 or 2 backlogs with an excellent overall academic profile and resume, you may have a chance to take admission.
• The backlogs are going to impact admissions if the backlog is in an important subject and if the number of attempts to clear the exam is high.

Colleges Accepting Backlogs in Canada

The list of colleges accepting backlogs in Canada is not very long. However, if you have exceptional academic records, you will be accepted for admission to the universities. Given below is the list of Canadian universities accepting backlogs.

For further guidance, it is recommended that you connect with the Shiksha Counselling Team for free.