Student Affairs
Special Registration Statuses for Undergraduates
Stanford students are expected to be fully engaged in their academic programs so that they can complete their undergraduate degrees in four years. Hence, undergraduates are expected to carry a full-time academic load of at least 12 units per quarter and to pay the requisite regular tuition rate. Less than full-time study, and consequently reduced tuition, may be permitted in the categories specified below. The Registrar, in consultation with the Subcommittee on Academic Standing, is responsible for approving each request to register for less than a full-time academic load. Eligible categories include:
13th Quarter
Effective Quarters: Aut/Win/Spr
Max Enroll Units: 8-11
Deadline for submission: Preliminary Study List deadline
Eligibility: Undergraduates who have completed at least twelve full-time quarters may petition to register for 13th Quarter registration status at a reduced tuition rate for their final quarter, but must register for at least eight units. Undergraduate dual degree students must complete at least fifteen full-time quarters before petitioning for reduced tuition in their final quarter.
Permit to Attend for Services Only (PSO)
Effective Quarters: Aut/Win/Spr/Sum
Max Enroll Units: 0
Deadline for submission: Preliminary Study List deadline
Eligibility: Undergraduates in their terminal quarter who are completing honors theses, clearing incomplete grades, or have completed all requirements and are requiring a registration status, may petition one time only for PSO status. PSO does not permit any course enrollment. Students should apply to graduate in their PSO quarter. The deadline for the completed PSO petition is the Preliminary Study List deadline of the applicable quarter. Coterminal students are not eligible for PSO status. There is a special Permit to Attend for Services Only tuition rate, which does not permit any course enrollment. Please note that students registering for PSO are not eligible for loan deferments as the status is less than half-time. Financial aid is not available for students registering for PSO.
Reduced Course Load
Effective Quarters: Aut/Win/Spr
Max Enroll Units: 8-11
Deadline for submission: Course withdrawal deadline
Eligibility: Students covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act who have been recommended for an approved reduced course load by the Student Disabilities Resource Center (SDRC). Minimum course load is 8 units.
For petitions, see the Undergraduate Advising and Research petitions page.
Graduation Quarter
Effective Quarters: Any Quarter
Max Enroll Units: 0
Deadline for submission: Preliminary Study List deadline
Eligibility: Undergraduates may petition one time only for Graduation Quarter in their terminal quarter only if:
- filing a Request for Last Units Out of Residence (pdf) in order to complete up to 15 final units at another institution; or
- returning from a discontinued status and filing a Request to Return and Register in Undergraduate Study in order to confer their degree; or
- if all degree requirements have been completed and student requires a registration status to graduate, but will not be using University resources or housing.
Coterm students are only eligible for the Graduation Quarter special registration status if they are conferring both the undergraduate and graduate degree in the same quarter. Undergraduates may be eligible for Graduation Quarter status in these three situations only if the student has completed all graduation requirements and will not be utilizing University resources, including housing. Students will be considered at full-time status under the graduation quarter special enrollment status, however, students are not eligible for financial aid.
The deadline for the completed Graduation Quarter petition is the Preliminary Study List deadline of the applicable quarter.
