D1. Registration
Updated: May 11th, 2012
Students are expected to be registered continuously throughout their graduate careers. Students satisfy the continuous registration requirement by enrolling during regular academic semesters (fall and spring); registration during the spring semester maintains graduate status until the beginning of fall semester. For information on how to register, see Section D1.2 below.
Definition of registration. The Office of the Registrar considers a student officially registered for the semester once he or she:
- has enrolled in at least one course (however, see “Enrollment Requirements” below);
- has paid either full fees or at least 20 percent of assessed registration fees; and
- has no registration blocks.
Enrollment requirements. The minimum enrollment requirement for all graduate students who are not yet advanced to doctoral candidacy is 12 units per semester, including those holding academic appointments. International students on F-1 or J-1 visas should also enroll in 12 units, but there may be exceptional circumstances in which they may enroll in fewer units and be considered full-time in compliance with the regulations of SEVIS.
Registration and fee payment deadlines. Students must register no later than the Friday of the third week of instruction (fourth week of the semester), and are responsible for paying fees by August 15 for the fall semester and January 15 for the spring semester.
Consequences of failing to register on time. Students with academic appointments at 25 percent time or greater may lose their fee remissions if they are not registered and enrolled by the deadline. For further information, see “Fee Remissions” (Section H1.9).
Most international students have non-immigrant (F-1 or J-1) visas that require registration for the fall and spring semesters of each academic year. In order to comply with federal immigration requirements under the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), the University must report whether students with F or J status are registered by the 30th day after the first day of classes. Failure to register in a timely manner can result in jeopardizing a student’s visa status, leading to possible deportation and ineligibility to re-enter the United States. International students who do not register by the deadline must immediately contact the Berkeley International Office (located in International House, 2299 Piedmont Avenue, 642-2818; http://internationaloffice.berkeley.edu).
Students who miss the registration deadline will be subject to late fees and must submit the Petition for Late Enrollment/Registration, for which there is an additional processing fee. See Section D1.2 “How Students Register” for further information.
Registration and use of university resources. Students must be registered whenever they are using University facilities or faculty time. Students are permitted to be on Filing Fee status to file their dissertations or theses (see Section D2., “Filing Fee”) but they are not then considered registered and, therefore, are ineligible for university services. Students on Filing Fee can have their library privileges extended for up to 6 months by applying to the Library and paying a small fee: http://lib.berkeley.edu/services/for_users/unregistered_ucb.html.
Completion of degree and subsequent registration. Students may not register and enroll the semester after the award of the degree for which they were admitted unless they have been approved for a new degree goal or major.
See All Topics in the Category: D. Registration and Exchange Programs, Guide to Graduate Policy
