Letter of Permission
A Letter of Permission (LOP) is an essential document for taking a course listed on eCourses Manitoba. Consult these questions for specific information on what the Letter of Permission is, why it's important, and how to request one.
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What is a Letter of Permission?
An LOP is a letter from your home institution that approves your request to take a course at another university or college. An LOP request does not register you in the course, but it does signal your intention to register and will appear on your academic record. LOP requests normally require a fee, but that fee is waived when you request an LOP through eCourses MB.
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Do I need an LOP to register for a course listed on the eCourses website?
Degree students:
If you intend to register for a course from an institution other than your own, yes. If you would like to take an online course offered by your home institution, you do not require an LOP.
Diploma/Certificate students:
If you intend to register for a course from an institution other than your own and transfer the credit back to your program, yes. If you intend to register for a course from an institution other than your own but do not want to transfer the credit back to your program, you do not require an LOP. If you would like to take an online course offered by your home institution, you do not require an LOP.
Not a student yet:
If you intend to register for diploma/certificate courses, you will complete an application as part of the registration process.
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When should I request my LOP?
The earlier the better. If you’re sure you want to take the course and you’ve discussed it with your academic advisor, you should request an LOP. It can take 1-6 weeks to process your request.
Requests made in the month prior to the course start date can be difficult to accommodate. If a course begins in January, for example, we recommend requesting an LOP no later than November.
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How long does it take to get an LOP?
Students should expect 1-6 weeks to receive a Letter of Permission (LOP). This period varies by institution and depends on whether the course has been evaluated for transfer. A course without a transfer evaluation will take longer to approve. Contact the Virtual Help Desk for a more specific timeframe.
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Is there a fee for an LOP?
Normal LOP fees are waived when you make the request with your account on eCourses MB.
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I have a question about my LOP. Who should I speak to?
Any questions regarding an LOP request can be directed to the Virtual Help Desk via chat, email, or phone. Questions about whether you are eligible for an LOP can be directed to an academic advisor. If you have already requested and/or received your LOP and have questions about whether it has been approved, please contact the department that processes LOP requests for your home institution.
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Who receives and processes my request for an LOP?
Your home institution processes all LOP requests. Once the request is approved, the LOP is mailed to you and to the host institution. LOPs are processed by these departments:
- Assiniboine Community College - Admissions and Registration
- Brandon University - Registrar's Office
- Red River College - Registrar’s Office
- The University of Winnipeg - Registrar’s Office
- University College of the North - Academic advisors at UCN assist students with preparing and submitting an LOP request.
- Université de Saint-Boniface - Registrar’s Office
- University of Manitoba - Registrar’s Office
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Where can I find information about my home institution’s LOP process?
Some institutions have the policies and procedures surrounding LOPs available on their websites (such as Brandon University, University of Manitoba, and The University of Winnipeg), while others do not. These LOP pages refer to the process of requesting an LOP directly from your home institution without using eCoursesMB. As such, they mention a fee that you can avoid by requesting the LOP through eCourses. However, the details surrounding eligibility, regulations, and responsibilities contained at these URLs are informative.
- Assiniboine Community College - Contact Admissions and Registration.
- Brandon University - Letter of Permission
- Red River College - Contact Student Service Centres
- The University of Winnipeg - Letter of Permission
- Université de Saint-Boniface - Registrariat
- University College of the North (Contact your academic advisor for more information about requesting an LOP.)
- University of Manitoba - Applying for a Letter of Permission
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Will my home institution always approve an LOP request?
Each institution has its own criteria for issuing an LOP. They will consider your residency (how many credit hours you’ve already taken at your home institution), your academic performance, and more. Since requirements vary by institution, go here for specific information.
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Does the LOP guarantee that I'll get into the course?
Not necessarily. An LOP is your home institution’s way of granting permission for you to take a course, not a guarantee that the host institution will accept your registration for the course. For example, if you do not have a university, college, or high school prerequisite for a course, you can still get permission to take the course while being restricted from enrolling in it. In addition, a course you want to enroll in may already be full. Your home institution may not check either the course's prerequisite or its availability.
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I requested my LOP. What's my next step?
Your next step is to apply for visiting student status if you haven’t already. Once you are accepted, you can register through the host institution’s registration process.
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I requested my LOP. Am I registered?
No. Requesting permission does not register you for the course. Registration is completed through the host institution for the course.
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I requested an LOP, but decided not to take the course. What do I have to do?
Have you received the LOP? If not, you may be able to contact the LOP issuer at your institution to cancel your request. Contact the Virtual Help Desk immediately so we can connect you to the right person.
If you’ve already received it, then refer to the issued letter. It will indicate the person you need to contact if you don’t register for the course or if you decide to withdraw.
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