University of Wisconsin–Madison

Enrollment Appointment Times

To enroll in classes, you are assigned a specific enrollment appointment time, which is the earliest that you can begin enrolling in classes for a term. This is referred to as the “priority enrollment” cycle for continuing students.

If you are a new undergraduate first-year or transfer student, you will enroll with the assistance of advisors when you attend SOAR (Student Orientation, Advising and Registration).

If you are a new fall-term graduate students, you will typically enroll in fall courses at the end of June.

Priority Enrollment Cycle by Term

The pattern below represents the typical timeline for publication of the schedule of classes in Course Search & Enroll and the priority enrollment cycle for continuing students.

Spring

  • Courses visible in Course Search & Enroll: Mid-October
  • Priority enrollment begins: Mid-November

Summer

  • Courses visible in Course Search & Enroll: Early January
  • Priority enrollment begins: Early April

Fall

  • Courses visible in Course Search & Enroll: Early March
  • Priority enrollment begins: Mid-April

Resources

How Appointment Times are Assigned

Enrollment appointment times are based on your academic program, projected class standing (e.g., senior), and number of earned credits.

  • Specific student populations receive priority enrollment.
  • Some large groups, like sophomores, have enrollment appointment times distributed across multiple days.

If your assigned time is significantly different than what you’d expect, please contact us.

Find Your Day and Time

After times are assigned, you can find yours on the “Course Search & Enroll” tile in MyUW. Additionally, you will receive an email from the Office of the Registrar with your enrollment appointment time.

Retroactive Language Credits

Retroactive credits are entered on the university transcript during the term following the term in which these credits are earned. Retroactive credits do not advance your enrollment priority for the term immediately following the term in which the course to earn retroactive credits was taken. For more information, read the University of Wisconsin–Madison Language Institute’s page on retroactive language credits.

Enrollment Appointment Schedule for Upcoming Terms

The approximate schedule for the earliest that continuing and reentry students may have appointment times is in the table below.