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Certifications and Verifications

Enrollment Certification

Stanford University has contracted with the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) to provide enrollment certification service to students free of charge. You will be able to generate and print an NSC enrollment certification directly from your computer. This is equivalent to an official Stanford enrollment certification. Stanford University will not fill out third party forms; students must obtain an enrollment certification and attach it to any forms.

The enrollment certification document can be used whenever enrollment certification or student status is required for scholarship purposes, medical coverage, loan deferments, car insurance, etc. For employment purposes see Degree Certification below. Due to the large number of requests, Stanford University does not provide individualized or personal requests. However, students may obtain a cover letter (in person at the Student Services Center) to accompany the certification which explains Stanford's policy and can be attached to the certification.

Stanford University certifies current or past enrollment. Stanford cannot certify enrollment for future quarters (even for the current academic year).

How do I use an Enrollment Certification?

An enrollment certification, also known as enrollment verification, contains information about your enrollment status at Stanford for each term. An enrollment certification:

  • Provides confirmation of registration and enrollment
  • Does NOT include individual course/grade/unit information, or GPA, or class rank
  • Is provided at no charge when ordered on Axess via the Student Center tab (see ‘How do I order an enrollment certification?’).

What does an Enrollment Certification show?

  • Student name
  • Enrollment history
    • Quarters enrolled
    • Start and end dates of each quarter
    • Status: less than 1/2; half-time; full-time
    • Expected graduation date

How does Stanford define enrollment status?

Career Full-time Half-time Less than half-time
Undergraduate 12 or more 8-11 7 or less
Graduate 8 or more 6-7 5 or less
GSB (MBA) 11 or more 6-10 5 or less
LAW 9 or more 6-8 5 or less
Medicine (MD) 9 or more 6-8 5 or less
Graduate (Graduation Qtr.) Considered full-time when enrolled in an 801 or 802 course and in Graduation Quarter status.
TGR Considered full-time when enrolled in an 801 or 802 course and in TGR status.
Post Docs Considered full-time.

Note: Work necessary to complete units from previous quarters does not count toward the current quarter.

How often is the NSC enrollment data updated?

Stanford sends student enrollment information to the NSC twice weekly during the weeks prior to the start of each term and for the first four weeks of a term. After the fourth week, the information is updated regularly, though less frequently. It may take two to three business days for the NSC to process the latest enrollment information. Students will be able to check the date of the last transmission from Stanford at the NSC site. If you recently made changes to your enrollment and would like an enrollment certification that reflects these changes, please allow time for the NSC information to be updated. If you are unable to wait, you may request an enrollment certification in person at the Student Services Center located at Tresidder Memorial Union, 2nd floor.

How do I order an enrollment certification?

Axess Students

Those with Axess accounts must order official printed certifications using Axess. Students will be redirected to the National Student Clearinghouse and will be able to print an enrollment certification.

  • Go to the Student Center tab from the Axess home page
  • In the Academics section, select ‘Request Enrollment Certification’ from the drop down menu
  • You will be automatically redirected to the NSC

If you have reported a social security number to Stanford University, but are directed to Stanford's request page instead of the NSC self-service site, there may be a problem with your social security number. In this instance, go to the Student Services Center located at Tresidder Memorial Union, 2nd floor, with your ID and original social security card.

Students without a Social Security Number

Students who do not have a social security number can now use the NSC self-service enrollment certification. Please note that certification of full-time or part-time enrollment cannot be provided until after the quarterly study list is filed.

Non-Axess Students

Students without Axess accounts can order proof of past enrollment or verification of a degree by submitting a completed Degree Certification Request Form (pdf) to the Student Services Center.  Mail, fax, email (degreecert@lists.stanford.edu), or deliver the completed degree certification request form to the Student Services Center located at Tresidder Memorial Union, 2nd floor. If you wish to place your request via email (degreecert@lists.stanford.edu) you must attached a scanned copy of your signed degree certification request form.

Certifications
459 Lagunita Drive
Tresidder Memorial Union, 2nd floor
Stanford, CA 94305

Fax 650-721-1585