Special Registration Statuses

There may be a time in which you wish to adjust your enrollment requirements during your studies at Stanford. In order to do this, you’ll need to make a request for a special registration status.

Special registration statuses allow you to take less units than what is typically required. As a reminder, Stanford’s standard enrollment requirements are:

For undergraduate students, you are required to enroll in at least 12 units during the Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters.
For graduate students, you are required to enroll in at least 8 units during the Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters.

Jump to:

Special Registration Statuses for Undergraduate Students
Special Registration Statuses for Graduate & Professional Students
Special Registration Statuses for Coterminal Students

How to request a status change

To request one of the statuses below, submit the applicable eForm in the Student eForms portal within Axess (My Academics > Petitions & Forms).
Before submitting a request, ensure your My Academic Path (MAP) degree audit is showing 'in progress' or 'completed' status. More on reviewing MAP...
See Tuition and Fees for this year's charges relative to each status.
See Forms and Processes for processing timelines for each special registration status.

Special Registration Statuses for Undergraduates

Part-Time Enrollment Petition for Undergraduate Students (Terminal Quarter Only)
- If you are an undergraduate and have completed at least twelve full-time quarters, you may petition to register for Part-Time Enrollment Petition registration status at a reduced tuition rate for your final quarter. To qualify, you must register for at least eight units. If you are in dual undergraduate degree programs, you must complete at least fifteen full-time quarters before petitioning for reduced tuition in your final quarter.
  Effective Quarters: Aut/Win/Spr
  Max Enrolled Units: 8-11
  Deadline for Submission: Preliminary Study List deadline
Permit to Attend for Services Only (PSO)
- If you are an undergraduate in your terminal quarter, you may petition for PSO status (one time) under any of the following circumstances:
  - Currently completing an honors thesis
  - Clearing incomplete grades
  - Completed all requirements and are requiring a registration status
  PSO does not permit any course enrollment at Stanford. Coterminal students are not eligible for PSO status. Please note that all students registering for PSO are not eligible for loan deferments or financial aid for students registering for PSO.
  Last Units Out of Residence: If you are an undergraduate student, you may petition to complete your final 15 units out of residence to complete your degree requirements. This status must be indicated on your eForm submission. The Registrar's Office must receive your official transcript by the grades due deadline for the quarter in which you are requesting this status.
  Effective Quarters: Aut/Win/Spr/Sum
  Max Enrolled Units: 0
  Deadline for Submission: Preliminary Study List deadline
Reduced Course Load
- You are eligible for a reduced course load if you are covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act and have been recommended by the Office of Accessible Education (OAE). The minimum course load is 8 units.
  To request this status, visit Academic Advising's Requests for Exceptions to Academic Policy page.
  Effective Quarters: Aut/Win/Spr
  Max Enrolled Units: 8-11
  Deadline for Submission: Course withdrawal deadline
Graduation Quarter
- If you are an undergraduate student, you may petition one time only for Graduation Quarter in your terminal quarter if one of the following is true:
  - You are filing a Last Units Out of Residence request in order to complete up to 15 final units at another institution (must be indicated on your Graduation Quarter request). The Registrar's Office must receive your official transcript by the grades due deadline for the quarter in which you are requesting this status.
  - You are returning from a discontinued status and filing a Request to Return and Register in Undergraduate Study with Academic Advising in order to confer your degree
  - If all degree requirements have been completed and you require a registration status to graduate but will not be using university resources or housing.
  Effective Quarters: Aut/Win/Spr/Sum
  Max Enrolled Units: 0
  Deadline for Submission: Preliminary Study List deadline

Special Registration Statuses for Graduates & Professional Students

Terminal Graduate Registration (TGR)
- Graduate students may apply for TGR status finishing a thesis, project, or dissertation. To be eligible for TGR status, you must complete the minimum residency unit requirements for all programs in 'active' or 'completed' statuses and be enrolled in the appropriate TGR course by the above deadline.
  Generally, PhD students must complete at least 135 units to be eligible, Engineer students must complete at least 90 units to be eligible, and MA/MS students must complete at least 45 units to be eligible. For more information regarding residency requirements (including the requirements for students who are active in or have completed more than one graduate degree), refer to the Minimum Residency Requirements page. (Note: coterm students are only eligible for TGR status if undergraduate careers have been closed/degree conferred.)
  Note: There is no term limit once a TGR status is approved, but you must continue to enroll in your TGR course each quarter to maintain TGR status and the special tuition rate (up to 3 units of course work at this tuition rate). Within certain restrictions, you may enroll in additional courses at the applicable unit rate, but they cannot be applied toward degree requirements (all degree requirements must be complete in order to earn TGR status).
  For more information, please see the TGR page.
  Effective Quarters: Aut/Win/Spr/Sum
  Max Enrolled Units: 0-3
  Deadline for Submission: Preliminary Study List Deadline
TGR Final Registration
- The TGR Final Registration status may be granted for one quarter only to graduate students working on incompletes in your final quarter, or registering for one final term after all requirements are completed when Graduation Quarter is not applicable. TGR requirements above apply with the exception of the residency requirement. Students may be working on "I" (incomplete) or "N" grades in order to reach residency requirements while on this status. Students are not permitted to have any enrollment aside from their TGR course in the quarter they are applying for this status. (Note: coterm students are only eligible if your undergraduate careers have been closed/degree conferred.)
  Effective Quarters: Aut/Win/Spr/Sum
  Max Enrolled units: 0
  Deadline for Submission: Preliminary Study List deadline
Graduate Petition for Part-time Enrollment
- Graduate students with 3 to 7 remaining units to complete degree requirements, or to qualify for TGR status, may register for one quarter on a unit basis — 3 to 7 units — to cover the deficiency. This status may be used only once during a degree program.
  Matriculated and enrolled pregnant graduate students may request up to two quarters of part-time enrollment for an approved Childbirth Academic Accommodation.
  Effective Quarters: Aut/Win/Spr
  Max Enrolled Units: 3-7
  Deadline for Submission: Preliminary Study List deadline
Graduate Petition for Part-Time Enrollment - OAE Accommodation
- Graduate students covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act that have been recommended for an approved reduced course load by the Office of Accessible Education (OAE) may also request this status for multiple quarters. If you are requesting part-time enrollment on the basis of an OAE accommodation, submit the Graduate Petition for Part-Time Enrollment - OAE Accommodation eForm.
  Effective Quarters: Aut/Win/Spr
  Max Enrolled Units: 3-7
  Deadline for Submission: Course withdrawal deadline
Graduation Quarter
- Registration is required for the term in which you defend and/or submit a dissertation or have a degree conferred. You must meet all the following conditions to be eligible for a special tuition rate for the quarter in which you are receiving a degree:
  - All course work, degree requirements, and residency requirements for all graduate degree programs, including joint degree programs, have been completed prior to the start of the requested Graduation Quarter.
  - You have formally applied to graduate.
  - You only have left to defend and/or submit the dissertation, project, or master’s thesis by the deadline for submission in the term designated as the graduation quarter.
  - You have filed all necessary forms regarding graduation quarter before the first day of the term chosen as graduation quarter.
  - If you are returning after reinstatement in which all degree requirements are complete (with the exception of the dissertation defense and/or submission) you are eligible to reinstate into a Graduation Quarter status.
  - Enrollment requirement while on Graduation Quarter status:
    - Ph.D./D.M.A. candidates should enroll in their designated 802 course.
    - ENG degree candidates should enroll in their designated 801 course.
    - M.A./M.S. candidates with a thesis or special project should enroll in their designated 801 course.
    - Degree candidates that do not need to be enrolled in their department's 801 or 802 course will be enrolled by the Registrar's Office upon approval of the eForm.
  Effective Quarters: Aut/Win/Spr/Sum
  Max Enrolled Units: 0
  Deadline for Submission: Preliminary Study List deadline

Special Registration Statuses for Coterminal Students

Reduced Course Load
- You are eligible for a reduced course load if you are covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act and have been recommended by the Office of Accessible Education (OAE). The minimum course load is 8 units. Coterminal students in the undergraduate billing group are eligible for this status.
  To request this status, visit Academic Advising's Requests for Exceptions to Academic Policy page.
  Effective Quarters: Aut/Win/Spr
  Max Enrolled Units: 8-11
  Deadline for Submission: Course withdrawal deadline
Graduate Petition for Part-Time Enrollment - OAE Accommodation
- Graduate students covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act that have been recommended for an approved reduced course load by the Office of Accessible Education (OAE) may also request this status for multiple quarters. If you are requesting part-time enrollment on the basis of an OAE accommodation, submit the Graduate Petition for Part-Time Enrollment - OAE Accommodation eForm. Coterminal students in the graduate billing group are eligible for this status.
  Effective Quarters: Aut/Win/Spr
  Max Enrolled Units: 3-7
  Deadline for Submission: Preliminary Study List deadline
Graduation Quarter
- Coterms with both an active undergraduate and graduate career are only eligible for the Graduation Quarter special registration status if you are conferring both degrees in the same quarter. If you have already conferred your undergraduate degree, you may apply for graduation quarter for the conferral of graduate degree. Coterms are unable to use a graduation quarter to confer just the undergraduate degree. You may petition one time only for Graduation Quarter in your terminal quarter if one of the following is true:
  - You are filing a Last Units Out of Residence request in order to complete up to 15 final units at another institution (submit through Axess; log in and select Student eForms in the Mega Menu)
  - You are returning from a discontinued status and filing a Request to Return and Register in Undergraduate Study with Academic Advising in order to confer your degree
  - If all degree requirements have been completed and you require a registration status to graduate but will not be using university resources or housing.
  Effective Quarters: Aut/Win/Spr/Sum
  Max Enrolled Units: 0
  Deadline for Submission: Preliminary Study List deadline
Graduate Petition for Part-Time Enrollment
- Coterminal students are eligible for this status when they are in the graduate tuition group and are able to confer their undergraduate degree within the same term in which part-time status would apply. Students may submit this help request to change billing groups prior to submission.
- Graduate students with 3 to 7 remaining units to complete degree requirements, or to qualify for TGR status, may register for one quarter on a unit basis — 3 to 7 units — to cover the deficiency. This status may be used only once during a degree program. Matriculated and enrolled pregnant graduate students may request up to two quarters of part-time enrollment for an approved Childbirth Academic Accommodation.
- Effective Quarters: Aut/Win/Spr
  Max Enrolled Units: 3-7
  Deadline for Submission: Preliminary Study List deadline

Reviewing My Academic Path for Eligibility

My Academic Path (MAP) is the place to check your degree progress status to assist you in determining if you are eligible to apply for the status you're looking for.

Log in to map-login.stanford.edu and create a new audit.
Review your MAP to ensure you have the Diamond in progress, and Checkmark for completion.

An In-progress Requirement

Completed Requirement