Enrollment-related information

Credit Load

The enrollment system does not allow students to enroll for more credits than their maximum credit limit or drop below the minimum credit limit if applicable. Students must contact their academic dean’s office for exceptions.

*Note: Undergraduate and special students will be subject to additional tuition if they exceed their credit load based on all credits for which they may have enrolled during the term. Students should consult with their academic dean regarding credit loads.

Special Notes for Summer

Students are limited to course enrollment equal to one credit per week of session with the exception of the eight week general session. That session allows for 9 credits over the eight week period. The enrollment system does not allow students to enroll for more credits than their credit limit. Students must contact their academic dean’s office for exceptions.

*Note: Undergraduate and special students will be subject to additional tuition if their credit loads exceed 12 credits based on all credits for which they may have enrolled during the term. Graduate and professional school students should check with their dean regarding maximum credit loads.

Summer Session Credit Overload
Below is the recommended process for a session credit overload request:

1. Student should add classes through their Add a Class page in the Student Center until the maximum session credit load has been reached.
2. Student should go to the Course Change Request page to initiate their request to add another class in that same session.
3. Student should save their request, print the form, obtain the appropriate signatures, and take the form to their academic dean’s office for approval.
4. The academic dean’s office would accept or deny the request.
5. If approved, Enrollment Services will process the request.

Students earning Retroactive Credits (in foreign languages)

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 a student’s 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.

Late Initial Enrollment

A $50.00 late initial enrollment fee is assessed to students who add their first class after their respective Late Initial Enrollment Deadline:

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For questions regarding late enrollment, view the Late Enrollment Policy.

Initial course enrollment after the Add Deadline Date requires the permission of the student’s academic dean and departmental permission for each course for all students. Advisor approval, if required, should be accomplished in accordance with the procedures established in the respective college or school (see the following table).

*Note: Permission to enroll late is not granted automatically.

Type of Student	Advisors Approval*	Academic Dean’s Office
Grad Students	Yes	217 Bascom Hall
Law Students	No	5105 Law
Medical Students	No	2150 HSLC
Pharm D Students	Yes	1203 Rennebohm Hall
Physical Therapy Master’s	Yes	1140 Med Sci Center (MSC)
Master of Public Health	Yes	1140 Med Sci Center (MSC)
Veterinary Medicine	No	Rm 2268, 2015 Linden Dr.
Undergrad and College Special Students:
Ag & Life Sciences	No	116 Ag Hall
Business	*see below	3150 Grainger Hall
Education	No	139 Education Bldg
Engineering	Yes	2620 Engineering
Engr First Year	Yes	1150 Engineering
Human Ecology	No	1194 Nancy Nichols Hall
Letters & Science	*see below	110 Ingraham Hall
Nursing	Yes	1131 Cooper Hall, Signe Skott
Pharmacy	Yes	1203 Rennebohm Hall
Division of Continuing Studies:
University Specials	No	21 N. Park St, 7th floor
Guest Students	*see below	21 N. Park St, 7th floor

*Late Enrollment Activities for these students may require advisor’s approval:

Business Students Late Enrollment: no advisor’s authorization
-academic dean’s approval required; visit 3150 Grainger Hall.
Business Students Late Add:
-instructor’s, department’s office & dean’s office authorization required.
Business Students Late drop:
-Dean’s approval required; visit 3150 Grainger Hall.

Letter’s & Sciences Late Enrollment:
-department’s approval & dean’s approval both required; visit 110 Ingraham Hall
Letter’s & Sciences Late Add:
-instructor’s, department’s office & dean’s office authorization required
Letter’s & Sciences Late drop:
-dean’s approval required; visit 110 Ingraham Hall

Guest students must obtain the authorization of the instructor for each course in which they enroll.

Religious Observances and Mandatory Academic Requirements

It is the university’s policy that mandatory academic requirements, such as exams, should not be scheduled on days when religious observances may cause substantial numbers of students to be absent from the university. Any student who has a conflict between a mandatory academic requirement and a religious observance (which may include travel time) must notify their instructors within the first two weeks of class of the specific days or dates on which they request relief. It is understood that instructors may set reasonable limits on the total number of days claimed by any one student. Make-ups may be scheduled before or after the regularly scheduled requirements. If, after speaking with the instructor, a student believes they have not been accommodated, that student should speak with the faculty member’s department chair.

For more information, contact the Secretary of the Faculty.

Obtaining a University Photo ID Card (Wiscard)

To be eligible for an ID card, a student must be enrolled for classes and present some form of valid photo identification.

For more information, office hours and location, please visit the Wiscard website.

Final Exam Information

Detailed final exam date and time information can be found in Student Center in My UW.

Repeatable Courses

Undergraduates are not able to repeat any course, with all grades (A through F) and their associated grade points included in the grade point average, but with credits counted only once for any other purpose. Students should consult their dean’s office for any additional requirements.

Students may carry courses on a refresher basis if they wish to repeat a course for which they have college credit. Courses taken on a refresher basis do not count for degree credit a second time. Graduate students should see Graduate Academic Guidelines for information on repeating courses.

Incompletes

For more information regarding incompletes, visit the Incomplete page on the Office of the Registrar website.