Enrollment Overview

You can find your assigned advisor(s) in the MyUW Academic Navigator portal. Use the Find an Advisor page to explore options for connecting with advisors in a variety of schools, colleges, and campus-wide units.

Your Enrollment Appointment Time will display through the MyUW Student Center module.

If you attempt to enroll prior to your Enrollment Appointment Time, the enrollment system will prevent you from enrolling. You may enroll on or after your Appointment Time.

Prior to priority enrollment each semester, you are required to complete the Pre Enrollment Checklist (PEC). A hold will be placed on your record until you have completed the checklist, and will be automatically removed once you’ve finished all seven steps of the PEC. View step-by-step instructions on how to complete the PEC.

Students may view their holds by clicking on the “Tasks” tile in the My UW Student Center module. Click on the name of the hold to view contact information regarding who is assigning the hold. Students are not permitted to add or drop courses if any of the following holds exist:

1. Fines or charges
2. Past due fees in any amount
3. Overdue financial aid and/or delinquent loans in any amount
4. Unresolved questions regarding residence for tuition purposes or provisional admission status
5. Failure to complete an “exit interview” as required by federal regulations for certain student loans
6. Imposition of academic or disciplinary restrictions
7. Restrictions imposed by the UW-Madison Graduate School
8. Restrictions imposed by students’ advisors

Guest students need permission prior to enrolling in a course. Audit credit is automatically assigned.

Guest auditor

Senior guest auditors

Course Search & Enroll – Add & Enroll in Classes

Add and drop a course within the same enrollment transaction. Rules and deadlines for drop and add will apply. To change sections within a course, use Course Search and Enroll to swap a class or consult with your instructor to make a section change on the class roster. Do NOT drop the course and re-add if the add class deadline has passed, unless the department has entered a class permission for you.

Use Course Search and Enroll to edit a class feature to update your honors selection for % designated courses. Do not drop and re-add.

Honors Options:
It is important to read the class footnotes and departmental notes to determine if an additional component/section or credit value is required when taking honors. Graduate, university special/guest and professional students may not enroll for honors credit.

H – “Honors Only” course open to students in a formal honors program. The enrollment system will automatically assign honors. Course numbers under 700 with the middle digit ‘8’ (e.g. English 282) are designated as honors (H) courses. You must be designated in the computer as an official honors program student to enroll for the middle digit ‘8’ courses, otherwise you will need departmental permission.
! – Courses are unrestricted honors courses open to all students. They are recommended for students planning or participating in an honors program. The enrollment system will automatically assign honors.
% – Honors available course. Students must contact the instructor regarding expectations for earning honors in the course. The enrollment system will prompt for a selection of honors. Changes in or out of % honors designation can be accomplished through Course Search and Enroll to edit a class.

Use Course Search and Enroll to edit a class to change the number of credits within the range indicated in Class Search for a variable credit course for which you are already enrolled. Verify your enrollment by viewing your Class Schedule. Total credits cannot exceed maximum Term Credit Limit.

It is your responsibility to make sure your enrollment is accurate. Verify your enrollment by viewing your class schedule within Course Search and Enroll.

Changes to existing enrollment can differ based on several variables. View the KB document for more information on enrollment actions.

All individualized study courses (e.g. research or independent study) require instructor and department approvals before enrolling. Obtain permission from the instructor and department prior to enrollment. Enrollment class numbers change each term.

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.

View more information about the late initial enrollment fee.

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