Graduate Registration and Scheduling
Registration at the University of Washington is accomplished by going to MyUW.
A minimum of 10 credits and no more than 18 (without a petition) must be taken each quarter to maintain full-time status. New students should register for OCEAN 600, Independent Study/Research, offered for 1-10 credits, if they would otherwise fall short of ten total credits. After passing the general examination, students register for OCEAN 800. OCEAN 700, Master's Thesis, is taken if planning to submit a thesis instead of a paper – 9 credits are required prior to receiving the degree. It is important for the student to discuss their schedule with their research adviser prior to registration, and the Graduate Program Advisor can also be of great help in assembling a schedule, for information on courses, and for assistance with any registration or billing problems.
Summer Registration. To keep your RA-ship for summer quarter, you only need to register for 2 credits. However, fellowships may have other requirements. If you have loans in deferment, you are required to be registered half-time (5 credits) in the summer. If you are an international student on an F1 visa, you only need to register full time during 3 of the 4 quarters. So if you were registered full time for Autumn, Winter and Spring, you can register part-time in the summer. These rules may change, so please double check with the ISO or Financial Aid Office, or your fellowship agency. Please contact the Graduate Program Advisor with questions.
Degree Credit Requirements. There are minimum requirements for graduate degrees (See Graduate School Policy 1.1), with important highlights below:
- Any degree – minumum 18 numerically graded (> 2.7) credits at UW at the 400 and 500 levels (499 and transfer credits do not count toward this requirement).
- M. Sc. degree – minimum of 36 credits
- Ph. D. degree – minimum of 90 credits
Registration Changes. Registration changes (additions/withdrawals) may be made without charge on MyUW until the seventh evening of the first week of class. During the 8th through 30th days of the quarter, a $20 change fee is assessed. No entry is made on the transcript for withdrawals made by the end of the second week. Thereafter any withdrawals will be listed on the transcript, except for one annually (September through August) permitted drop. Consult the Graduate Program Advisor for information on Hardship Withdrawal.
Non-MyUW Transactions. In order to register for a course as an audit or register for classes with time conflicts, a UW Registration Transaction form is available at the Registrar's Office (2nd floor of Schmitz Hall). If you wish you wish to audit a class, you must first register for the class on MyUW and then go in person to the Registration Office at 225 Schmitz Hall (campus map) to change your registration to audit.
These transactions must be completed by the end of the second week of class.
On-Leave Status. There are a few valid reasons for students to apply for on-leave status (e.g. health problems, family issues, educational opportunities). UW Graduate School Policy 3.5 describes the requirements and restrictions of on-leave status. See the University Requirements section of this guide for more details.
