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The University has a continuous registration system organized into three distinct periods that are referred to as Registration Periods 1, 2, and 3. When you register largely depends on your category, which the table below summarizes. The accordion menus below will provide you with greater detail about each Registration Period.
| Registration Period 1 | Registration Period 2 | Registration Period 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn, Winter, Spring Quarters | continuing students | new students; returning students; cross-campus registration begins | non-matriculated students |
| Summer Quarter | continuing students; new students; returning students; non-matriculated students; cross-campus registration begins |
Autumn, Winter, and Spring Quarters
Registration period 1 is designed primarily to accommodate currently registered matriculated (i.e. continuing) students who have registered at the same University of Washington campus in the same degree level (i.e., undergraduate to undergraduate) or degree level program (i.e., graduate to graduate) the preceding quarter, or preceding spring quarter if registering for autumn quarter. Registration dates are assigned according to the following sequence:
| Sequence of Registration Priority | Who Can Register | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Eligible Disability Resources for Students (DRS) students* Eligible Veterans and National Guard Members and their spouses, domestic partners, and dependents** |
*eligibility is based on approval by the Office of Disability Resources for Students. Others register by class level. **eligibility is determined by information provided in the admissions applications process. Students who are not currently receiving veterans benefits will need to provide proof of veteran status to the Veteran and Military Resource Center in order to register on the first day of Registration Period 1. |
| 2 |
Contracted ROTC students Graduating seniors with a degree application on file*** NCAA athletes |
***If you must postpone your graduation, you may save your two Graduating Senior Priority (GSP) registration quarters for your last two quarters of attendance by not registering before the regular senior registration day. Students who have used their GSP registration prior to their last two quarters will revert to the regular senior registration date. |
| 3 |
Graduate students Professional students |
|
| 4 |
Seniors Postbaccalaureates |
Eligibility to register based on credits earned depends on your class standing and/or transfer credits that have been reviewed and added to your transcript as of the day your registration time first opens. |
| 5 | Juniors | Eligibility to register based on credits earned depends on your class standing and/or transfer credits that have been reviewed and added to your transcript as of the day your registration time first opens. |
| 6 | Sophomores | Eligibility to register based on credits earned depends on your class standing and/or transfer credits that have been reviewed and added to your transcript as of the day your registration time first opens. |
| 7 | First-Year Undergraduates | Eligibility to register based on credits earned depends on your class standing and/or transfer credits that have been reviewed and added to your transcript as of the day your registration time first opens. |
Registration opens at 6:00am for each priority date.
Students in the following categories begin registration at 6:00am on the first day of Registration Period 1:
- new, continuing, and returning UW graduate and professional students,
- new, continuing, and returning students with veteran status and spouses of veterans receiving benefits,
- new, continuing, and returning eligible students with disabilities
- Graduating seniors and post-baccalaureate students with a degree application on file may also register on the first day of Registration Period 1 for the final two quarters.
- If you must postpone your graduation, you may save your two Graduating Senior Priority (GSP) registration quarters for your last two quarters of attendance by not registering before the regular senior registration day. Students who have used their GSP registration prior to their last two quarters will revert to the regular senior registration date.
Students in the following categories begin registration at 6:00am on the third day of Registration Period 1:
- new, continuing, and returning students in all other class standings, and
- non-matriculated students
Summer courses may be setup with course restrictions or exclusions that could delay when students can add them to their schedules. Students are responsible for noting these course restrictions or exclusions and abide by the timelines.
Cross-campus registration also occurs during Registration Period 1 for summer quarter.
Autumn, Winter and Spring Quarters
Registration Period 2 is primarily for newly admitted students and returning students.
New students with veteran status and spouses receiving veteran benefits are eligible to register one day earlier than the newly admitted students and returning students.
- Your admission offer will not transfer to a future quarter. If you cannot attend UW Tacoma for the quarter for which you have been offered admission, you will need to contact the Admissions Office about your options.
Continuing students may register any day during this period.
Cross-campus registration occurs during Registration Period 2 for autumn through spring quarters.
Registration Period 2 opens at midnight.
This period is from the first day of the quarter through the 7th calendar day of the quarter. It is open to all students for adds and changes. Courses dropped during this period will not appear on your transcript through the 2nd week of the quarter. Registration and other fees may apply.
Tuition Exemption Program students are eligible to register during Registration Period 3:
- UW Faculty/Staff: on the third day of the quarter.
- Washington State Employees: on the fourth day of the quarter.
ACCESS Students register on specific days within Registration Period 3. Review the Academic Calendar for specific dates.
During autumn, winter and spring quarters, non-matriculated students are eligible to register at any time during Registration Period 3.
Registration Period 3 opens at midnight.
Late Add Period
This period is open to all students. All courses added during the late add period require an course enrollment/entry code request. A $20 change of registration fee will be charged for any registration transactions made on a single day during this period. However, Summer Quarter B-term courses are not assessed the $20 fee until after the first week of B-Term.
The last day of this period is the last day to add a course, as listed on the Academic Calendar. Entry codes will be canceled at 1pm on that day.
After the Late Add Period
After the Late Add Period, you cannot add courses via Register.UW. For reasons of public safety and instructional quality, course registration is limited to the approved classroom capacity after the Late Add Period.
Guidelines for Petitioning to Add a Course after the Late Add Period
We recommend that you first consult with your academic advisor if you believe you have extenuating circumstances that warrant consideration of adding a course late.
Then, submit a Registration Transaction Request form with the following information:
- Submit your completed form with both instructor and dean/director signatures and/or supporting documentation with approvals. Requests submitted without all signatures, including your own, will be denied.
- If the course requires an entry code, obtain the entry code from the respective department and include it on your form. If the class does not normally require an entry code, it may be omitted from the late add petition.
- If you are requesting a course section change with the same instructor, an entry code is sufficient. You do not need to obtain the required signatures.
- All independent study courses require a faculty code. If this is missing, the course cannot be added. Contact your department for the faculty code.
- All variable credit courses require the number of credits to be listed.
Upon receiving your completed form, the Office of the Registrar will thoroughly review it to ensure all required information is provided, including your contact details for any further inquiries. Additionally, our staff will confirm that all necessary details, such as Schedule Line Number (SLN), course name, number, section, and credits, are included on the form. Once the course is successfully added, you will be able to view the updates to your schedule through MyUW.
