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Find the official policies that govern our student and academic community.
Undergraduate students are required to enroll in at least 12 units during the Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters. Special registration statuses allow a student to take fewer units than what is typically required in their final quarter. Students on an approved special registration status are typically assessed a reduced tuition rate.
All special registration status requests must be submitted by the Preliminary Study List opens in a new tab deadline of the applicable degree conferral quarter. Students must first apply to graduate through Axess if requesting any of the following statuses. All special registration statuses may only be used once.
Undergraduates in their terminal quarter who are completing honors theses, clearing incomplete grades, or have completed all requirements and are requiring a registration status to utilize university resources (e.g. university housing and libraries), may petition for PSO status. PSO does not permit any course enrollment.
Undergraduates who have completed at least twelve full-time quarters may petition to register for part-time enrollment at a reduced tuition rate for their final quarter. Undergraduate dual degree students must complete at least fifteen full-time quarters before petitioning for reduced tuition in their final quarter. An undergraduate student on a part-time enrollment status should register for at least eight units and will be charged tuition accordingly.
Students may petition to complete their final 15 units out of residence to complete their degree requirements. The final 15 units of transfer credit must meet the criteria outlined in the Undergraduate Transfer Credit policy. Students should review the Student Services webpage before requesting this status to determine eligibility and sufficient documentation of approval for transfer credit.
Undergraduates may petition for a Graduation Quarter in their final quarter only if:
filing a Last Units Out of Residence Petition 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, including honors theses, have been completed and the student requires a registration status to graduate, but will not be using University resources or housing.
Coterminal students with an active undergraduate program should review the policy on Coterminal Special Registration Statuses for enrollment options applicable to their specific situation and student group.
Details for students on requesting a special registration status can be found at https://studentservices.stanford.edu/my-academics/time-away-stanford-leave-withdraw-return/special-registration-statuses opens in a new tab
By the Preliminary Study List deadline each quarter, students must be enrolled at either full-time status or enrolled in sufficient units to meet requirements for an approved part-time status.
Undergraduate students are required to take at least 12 units per quarter. Graduate students must take at least 8 units per quarter, but departments and schools may set a higher minimum.
Undergraduates are admitted to Stanford University with the expectation that they complete their degree programs in a reasonable amount of time but a Leave of Absence can allow a student to take a break from enrollment either before or after a
