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Bulletin Archive

This archived information is dated to the 2008-09 academic year only and may no longer be current.

For currently applicable policies and information, see the current Stanford Bulletin.

Enrollment Requirements

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General Requirements

Graduate students must enroll in courses for all terms of each academic year (Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters or, for Law students, Autumn and Winter semesters) from the admission term until conferral of the degree. The only exception to this requirement occurs when the student is granted an official leave of absence. Failure to enroll in courses for a term during the academic year without taking a leave of absence results in denial of further enrollment privileges unless and until reinstatement to the degree program is granted and the reinstatement fee paid. Registration in Summer Quarter is not required and does not substitute for registration during the academic year. Students possessing an F1 or J1 student visa may be subject to additional course enrollment requirements in order to retain their student visas.

In addition to the above requirement for continuous registration during the academic year, graduate students are required by the University to be registered:

  1. In each term during which any official department or University requirement is fulfilled, including qualifying exams or the University oral exam.
  2. In any term in which a University dissertation/thesis is submitted or at the end of which a graduate degree is conferred.
  3. Normally, in any term in which the student receives financial support from the University.
  4. In any term for which the student needs to use University facilities.
  5. For international students, in any term of the academic year (summer may be excluded) for which they have non-immigrant status (i.e., a J-1 or F-1 visa).

Individual students may also find themselves subject to the registration requirements of other agencies (for example, external funding sources such as federal financial aid). Course work and research are expected to be done on campus unless the department gives prior approval for study in absentia.

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