To become fully involved in a field of study and to be satisfactorily in contact with members of the Department/Program and students in the field, it is necessary to be studying on a full-time basis and be full-time on-campus for some part of the degree program. This is known as being "in residence". While the School of Graduate Studies has no formal requirements for length of residence, departments/programs may impose such requirements, if they are appropriate to the program of study.

Full-time off-campus registration must still be approved as specified in the regulation Full-Time.

Students admitted to a degree program on a part-time basis are responsible for maintaining close contact with faculty members and students in their field of study. They will normally be expected to take at least one, one-term course in two of the three terms per year in every year until the course requirements have been met.