The Short Answer
Yes, you can study part-time at university and still qualify for a recognized degree — it just takes longer. Most accredited institutions allow students to carry a reduced course load each semester, which is a practical option for people managing work, family, or health commitments alongside their studies.
How Part-Time University Study Actually Works
A full-time student typically takes four to six courses per semester. Part-time students usually carry one to three. The degree requirements stay the same — the same credits, the same exams, the same academic standards. You’re just spreading that workload across more time.
This matters for a few reasons. First, the credential you earn at the end is identical to what a full-time student receives. Employers and professional licensing bodies look at the degree itself, not how many years it took you to finish it. Second, the flexibility can be the difference between finishing a degree and not finishing one at all.
How Long Does Part-Time Study Add to Your Timeline?
A standard four-year bachelor’s degree requires roughly 120 credit hours in most Canadian programs. If a full-time student completes 30 credits per year, they finish in four years. A part-time student taking 15 credits per year would finish in eight. Taking 20 credits per year brings that down to six years.
There’s no single right answer. A lot of students aim somewhere in the middle — enough courses to make steady progress, but not so many that everything suffers. Some programs also let you switch between full-time and part-time status from one semester to the next, which gives you room to adjust based on what’s happening in your life at any given point.
Does Part-Time Status Affect Financial Aid?
This is where things get more specific, and it’s worth understanding before you register. In Canada, student loan eligibility for part-time students does exist, but the thresholds and amounts differ from full-time funding. You generally need to be taking at least 20% of a full course load to qualify for any federal aid at all, and full government loan amounts kick in at 60% or more of full-time status.
Scholarships and bursaries vary by institution. Some are open to part-time students, others are not. Checking the Scholarship & Bursaries page directly for the programs you’re considering is the most reliable way to find out what applies to your situation. It’s also a good idea to review the FAQ for answers to common enrollment and funding questions.
What Programs Tend to Work Best for Part-Time Students?
Programs that offer flexible scheduling — evening classes, online delivery, or asynchronous coursework — are generally the most manageable for part-time students. Health information management and nursing programs, for example, have structures that some institutions offer in blended formats, which allows students to keep working while completing their coursework.
In Sackville and across New Brunswick, students have increasingly been looking for programs that don’t require them to uproot their lives. That’s pushed more institutions to think carefully about how they schedule courses and what support they provide to students who aren’t on campus every day.
If you’re looking at specific program structures, the Admissions Requirements page outlines what each program expects, including any course load minimums. For an overview of the institution’s approach to student support, the About Us page gives useful context.
New Brunswick’s government also provides resources through Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour on financial planning for adult learners, including part-time students. For broader context on Canadian post-secondary education standards, Universities Canada maintains up-to-date information on degree recognition and accreditation.
Related Questions
Can taking fewer courses affect your GPA or academic standing?
Your GPA is calculated the same way regardless of how many courses you take — each grade is weighted by credit value. However, some institutions have minimum annual progress requirements, so it’s worth confirming with your registrar that your planned part-time course load still keeps you in good academic standing each year.
Do employers care how long a degree took to complete?
Most employers focus on the credential itself and the skills you bring, not the number of years on your transcript. In fields like healthcare and health information management, professional regulatory bodies look at program accreditation and competency requirements, not how many semesters you were enrolled.