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Special Registration Statuses

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.

Special Registration Statuses — Undergraduates
Status Effective Quarters Eligibility Max Enroll Units
13th Quarter Aut/Win/Spr Undergraduates who have completed a minimum of 12 quarters of full-time enrollment, who are eligible to graduate, and who have applied to graduate, may petition to register in the final quarter for a minimum of 8 units. Undergraduate dual degree students must complete at least fifteen full-time quarters before petitioning for 13th Quarter. 8
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Permit to Attend for Services Only (PSO) Aut/Win/Spr/Sum

PSO can be granted for up to two quarters to those matriculated undergraduates for whom it is academically appropriate. Undergraduates in the terminal quarter who are completing honors theses or clearing incomplete grades may petition for PSO. Undergraduates requiring registered student status can also petition for PSO.

Coterminal students are not eligible for PSO status. The PSO rate is $3012 per quarter in 2008-09 and 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.

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Reduced Course Load Aut/Win/Spr

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.

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Graduation Quarter Any Quarter Undergraduates may petition to register for Graduation Quarter registration status in the quarter in which they are receiving a degree if all course work and University requirements have been completed, and the student has formally applied to graduate. Undergraduates approved for completing up to 15 final units out of residence, or Last Units Out of Residence status, may also petition for Graduation Quarter. Students on Graduation Quarter are registered at Stanford and, therefore, have the rights and privileges of registered students. Only one Graduation Quarter may be requested. 0

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Special Registration Statuses – Graduate/Professional Students

Matriculated graduate students are expected to register at the full-tuition rate applicable to their degree program, unless they are in the final stages of their degree programs and therefore in a special reduced tuition category. Eligible categories include Terminal Graduate Registration (TGR), Graduation Quarter, Final Registration, and Graduate Tuition Adjustment.

Students in the Law School, Graduate School of Business, or in the M.D program in the School of Medicine should consult appropriate school officers about tuition reduction eligibility.

Special Registration Statuses — Graduate Students
Status Effective Quarters Eligibility Max Enroll Units
Terminal Graduate Registration (TGR) Aut/Win/Spr/Sum

Doctoral students who have been admitted to candidacy, completed all required courses and degree requirements other than the University oral exam and dissertation, completed 135 units, and submitted a Doctoral Dissertation Reading Committee form may request Terminal Graduate Registration status to complete their dissertations. Students pursuing Engineer degrees may apply for TGR status after admission to candidacy, completion of all required courses, and completion of 90 units. Students enrolled in master’s programs with a required project or thesis may apply for TGR status upon completion of all required courses and completion of 45 units

Each quarter, TGR students must enroll in the 801 (for master’s and Engineer students) or 802 (for doctoral students) course in their department for zero units, in the appropriate section for their adviser. TGR students register at a special tuition rate: $2,760 in 2008-09. TGR students may enroll in up to 3 units of course work at this tuition rate. Within certain restrictions, TGR students may enroll in additional courses at the applicable unit rate. The additional courses cannot be applied toward degree requirements since all degree requirements must be complete in order to earn TGR status.

Information about enrolling in TGR courses is available in the pdf file: How to Enroll in TGR Courses.

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Graduation Quarter Aut/Win/Spr/Sum Registration is required for the term in which a student submits a dissertation or has a degree conferred. Students who meet all the following conditions are eligible to be assessed a special tuition rate for the quarter in which they are receiving a degree:
  • All course work, degree requirements, oral exams, and residency requirements for all graduate degree programs, including joint degree programs, have been completed.
  • A graduate or professional student must have enrolled or have been on an approved leave of absence in the term immediately preceding the term chosen as the graduation quarter.
  • The student has formally applied to graduate.
  • The student has only to submit the dissertation, project, or master’s thesis by the deadline for submission in the term designated as the graduation quarter. Or, if enrolled in a joint degree program, the student will complete all requirements for the joint degree by the end of the term designated as the graduation quarter.
  • The student has filed all necessary forms regarding graduation quarter before the first day of the term chosen as graduation quarter.
Students on graduation quarter are registered at Stanford and, therefore, have the rights and privileges of registered students. Only one graduation quarter may be requested. There is a tuition rate of $100 for the graduation quarter.
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TGR Final Registration Aut/Win/Spr The TGR Final Registration status may be granted for one quarter only to a graduate student who is returning after reinstatement, or to graduate students who register for one final term after all requirements are completed when Graduation Quarter is not applicable. TGR requirements above apply. 0
Graduate Tuition Adjustment Aut/Win/Spr

Graduate students who need only a few remaining units to complete degree requirements or to qualify for TGR status may register for one quarter on a unit basis (3-7 units) to cover the deficiency. This status may be used only once during a degree program.

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.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Special Registration Statuses for Undergraduates

Q: At the end of Winter Quarter, I will have completed all my degree requirements and I would like to walk in the Spring graduation ceremonies. Do I need to file paper work in order to not take classes Spring Quarter?
A: If you are not planning to enroll in courses for Spring, not planning to live on campus and only wish to participate in Spring Commencement ceremonies, you can apply to graduate Winter Quarter. You can arrange to attend the Spring Commencement ceremonies in Axess or through your department when you apply to graduate Winter Quarter.
Q: I have completed all course work and only need to work on my honors thesis in order to graduate next quarter. Do I need to register and pay tuition?
A: Registration status is required for the quarter for which you apply to graduate. Students completing honors work may request Permit for Services Only status. For more information regarding registration status, see http://registrar.stanford.edu/students/academics/reg_status.htm.
Q: I am working on clearing an Incomplete course this term and plan to apply to graduate. What registration status should I apply for?

A: Students in their terminal quarter clearing incompletes, and who meet the PSO requirements in the chart above, may request Permit for Services Only status. For more information regarding registration status, see Undergraduate Special Registration Statuses above.

Q: I am currently on a leave of absence. I have completed all degree requirements and Axess does not allow me to apply to graduate. Why can’t I apply to graduate? Do I need to be registered in order to graduate?

A: You cannot apply to graduate when you are on a leave of absence. A registration status is required. If you have completed all degree requirements and you are not using University facilities, you may request to file a Graduation Quarter Petition with the Office of the University Registrar. The petition is available for downloading at http://registrar.stanford.edu/pdf/grad_qtr.pdf. You must also file a Returning Student Request form (pdf) with the Office of Undergraduate Advising and Research. This form is required in order to change your leave of absence status to an active status. This change will allow you to apply to graduate in Axess.

Q: I have already had Graduation Quarter, but I did not graduate. May I have a second Graduation Quarter?

A: No. Graduation Quarter is granted only one time. You would, however, be eligible for the Permit to Attend for Services Only (PSO) registration status. For more information regarding registration statuses, see http://registrar.stanford.edu/students/academics/reg_status.htm.

Q: I am planning to enroll at another college and transfer courses to complete my major or University requirements. Do I need to be registered at Stanford in order to transfer my units and apply to graduate?

A: If you are planning to transfer your final units in to complete your degree requirements, you must file the Request for Last Units Out of Residence form and the Graduation Quarter petition. Registration Status is required for the quarter in which you apply to graduate. The Graduation Quarter petition, when approved, makes you a registered student for the quarter in which you intend to graduate.

Q: I only need to enroll for 5 units next quarter in order to complete my degree requirements. Can I only pay for 5 units of tuition?

A: Undergraduates register at the regular full-tuition rate. Undergraduates who have completed at least 12 full-time quarters may submit a 13th Quarter Petition one time to register at a reduced tuition rate for their final quarter. They must pay for a least eight units of tuition for that quarter even if they enroll in fewer than eight units of credit.

Frequently Asked Questions About Special Registration Statuses for Graduate Students


Q: Am I eligible for the $100, one-time Graduation Quarter? How do I apply for it?

A: Registration is required for the term in which a student submits a dissertation or has a degree conferred. Students who meet all the following conditions are eligible to be assessed a special tuition rate for the quarter in which they are receiving a degree:

  • All course work and residency requirements have been completed.
  • A graduate or professional student must have enrolled in the term immediately preceding the term chosen as the graduation quarter (summer is optional).
  • The student has formally applied to graduate.
  • The student has only to submit the dissertation or thesis or project by the deadline for submission in the term designated as the graduation quarter. Or, if enrolled in a joint degree program with another institution, the student must complete all requirements for the joint non-Stanford degree by the end of the term designated as the graduation quarter.
  • The student has filed all necessary forms regarding graduation quarter before the first day of the term chosen as graduation quarter.

Students on graduation quarter are registered at Stanford and, therefore, have the rights and privileges of registered students. Only one graduation quarter may be requested. There is a registration fee of $100 for the graduation quarter.

Additional criteria and requirements are outlined on the Graduation Quarter Petition. The petition requires the signature of an authorized representative from your department (e.g., your student services officer), and the Bechtel International Center for international students only.

Submitting a Graduation Quarter Petition does not automatically mean that you have applied to graduate for the quarter. In addition to submitting this petition, you must login to Axess and apply to graduate for your degree(s) and enroll in the appropriate 801 or 802 course for your degree program.

Q: I am a doctoral or engineer degree student on Graduation Quarter but will/did not graduate as expected. What are my options?

A: Doctoral students can revert to their former TGR status the quarter following their one-time Graduation Quarter if they did not graduate as expected. Submit a Student Service Center Help Ticket and include your student ID# along with the nature of your request. Doctoral students who were never in TGR status may apply for it by submitting a Request for TGR Status form. Requests for TGR status are due before the start of the effective quarter.

Q: I am a master’s student on Graduation Quarter but will/did not graduate as expected. What are my options?

A: Master’s students who did not graduate as expected during their Graduation Quarter may consider one of the following options:

  1. Apply for a one-time graduate tuition adjustment to the unit-based rate by submitting the Graduate Tuition Adjustment form and then enroll in 3-7 units. You may do this only if this option has never been used before.
  2. Enroll as a regular graduate student, i.e., a minimum of 8 units.
  3. Apply for final registration at the regular TGR rate. Health insurance and ASSU fees are assessed, unless waived.

You should apply to graduate online via Axess before the applicable deadline for the quarter following your Graduation Quarter. All forms are due before the start of the effective quarter.

Q: What is TGR and am I eligible for it?

A: Terminal Graduate Registration (TGR) allows students to register at a reduced tuition rate while they work on a dissertation, thesis, or department project.  Students registered in TGR status must enroll each quarter in a TGR course, either 801 or 802. Your graduate department administrator must verify eligibility based on your degree program(s). See the Request for TGR Status form, the Stanford Bulletin, ad the Graduate Degree Policy site for eligibility information.

Q: I have fewer than 8 units to complete before qualifying for TGR status or applying to graduate. What are my options?

A: Graduate students who have fewer than 8 units of course work or residency requirements to complete before qualifying for TGR status or graduation may apply for a one-time tuition adjustment to the unit-based rate. If approved, you may enroll in 3-7 units and pay the applicable unit-based tuition on a one-time basis. The Graduate Tuition Adjustment form is due before the start of the quarter for which a tuition adjustment is desired.

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