Skip to content
OUR News

Category: Register.UW

Checklist to Withdraw

Students who are considering withdrawing from the University, whether currently enrolled or not, should review and complete the following steps in order to facilitate a smooth transition both leaving and returning to the University.

Academic Advising

STEP 1
  1. Consult with your academic adviser and discuss your plans to return.
  2. Review the Returning Student Reenrollment instructions if you plan to return to UW-Seattle.

Applies to Students: Currently Enrolled | Not Currently Enrolled

Reenrollment Instructions

Drop & Withdrawal Dates-Academic Calendar

STEP 2

Review the Adding/Dropping Courses or Complete Withdrawal dates on the UW Academic Calendar to understand your options and corresponding deadlines.

Applies to Students: Currently Enrolled

Dropping Courses/Withdrawal Dates

Refund Information

STEP 3

Review the Drops, Withdrawals, Forfeitures & Refunds information from Student Fiscal Services to understand the financial ramifications or requirements.

Applies to Students: Currently Enrolled

Refunds/Forfeitures

Drop Courses via Register.UW

STEP 4

Review the Current Quarter Drop process.

Applies to Students: Currently Enrolled

Current Quarter Drop

Financial Aid

STEP 5
  1. Students receiving financial aid should consult with a Financial Aid counselor to understand the implications of withdrawing; especially if there is no plan to attend the subsequent quarter and have federal loans.
  2. Review Withdrawal and Refund information.

Applies to Students: Currently Enrolled | Not Currently Enrolled

Financial Aid: Withdrawal and Refund

Technology and Communications

STEP 6

Students not planning to return for the subsequent quarter should make arrangements to save any documents stored on any UW Google Suite or U Drive and set up forwarding on their uw.edu email address to a private email address.

UW NetID services, Google Apps, and other storage services will expire and be purged 10 days into the second quarter in which they are not registered.

IT Connect provides several resources with more information.

IT Connect: NetID Service Expiration
IT Connect: Change UW Email Forwarding
IT Connect: Google G Suite FAQ re: Leaving

Applies to Students: Currently Enrolled | Not Currently Enrolled

Campus Housing

STEP 7

Students who reside in University of Washington housing must notify Housing & Food Services of their intention to withdraw per HFS Guides and Handbooks.

Applies to Students: Currently Enrolled | Not Currently Enrolled

HFS: Guides and Handbooks

International Visas

STEP 8

Taking time-off or leaving the University will have an impact on your immigration status. Please contact International Student Services if you are thinking about dropping your classes.

Applies to Students: International students on F-1 or J-1 visas

International Student Services

Disability Resources

STEP 9

Students receiving assistance from Disability Resources must reach out to DRS.

Applies to Students: Currently Enrolled | Not Currently Enrolled

Disability Resources for Students

Exit Indicator Survey

STEP 10

UW-Tacoma and UW-Bothell Students Only: Please fill out the Exit Indicator survey to help UW understand and address the reasons students take time off. If you plan to return, you’ll be offered personalized support when you come back.

Applies to Students: Currently Enrolled

Time Off

Course Fundamentals

Add & Drop Entry Codes

Entry codes are five-digit numbers issued to students by academic departments as authorization to add or drop in restricted course sections.

  • Entry codes are one time use codes
  • All courses require an add code in order to be added beginning the 8th calendar day of the quarter.
Add Codes

Some courses require Add Codes that are available through the department offering the course. Courses requiring add codes are designated with the symbol > to the left of the schedule line number (SLN) in the Time Schedule.

Additional Stipulations

  • Departments reserve the right to require entry codes whether the course is so designated in the Time Schedule or not.
  • Directions on where to obtain an entry code are in the comment section of the Time Schedule listing, either as a comment after the course section or following the title of the course.
  • Contact the department offering the course if the registration system advises an entry code is required and the location for obtaining one is not identified in the Time Schedule.
  • Instructors may issue Add (Entry) Codes to students when a course is full which will allow registrations or overloads above the limit set by the department.
  • Once an entry code has been used, the registration system removes it from the list of viable codes and will not accept it again. Dropped sections which require an entry code to be added will require another entry code from the department in order to re-add the section.

Some courses require a Drop Code to remove a course from a student’s schedule. Students must obtain the drop code from the department offering the course.

Independent study courses such as 499, 600, 700, or 800 require students to first obtain a Faculty Number from the instructor or department.

Change Fees

Students can expect to be assessed a Change of Registration Service Fee for any registration changes which take place beginning the second week of the quarter.

Course Capacity

For reasons of public safety and instructional quality, course enrollment in each section will be limited to the approved classroom capacity. The Office of the University Registrar monitors course enrollments throughout the quarter according to the following guidelines:

  1. Through the first seven calendar days of a quarter, a student may add a section without permission unless the course is full or requires permission; then an add code is required.
  2. Beginning the eighth calendar day, add codes are required to add any course. The registration system will accept course overloads up to 115% of classroom capacity to compensate for expected course drops.
  3. The registration system closes for course adds at the end of the Late Add Period.

Course Co-Requisites

To register for a course that requires a co-requisite course, first register for that co-requisite course before registering for the primary course. Courses with co-requisites are identified in the comment section of the course listing in the Time Schedule. Courses with co-requisites cannot be dropped until the co-requisite is dropped.

Course Pre-Requisites

Certain courses require prerequisites in order to add that course to a schedule. These courses are identified by the word “Prerequisite” in the title bar in the Time Schedule. Prerequisites may be one or more courses, a minimum placement test score, or a minimum grade in a prerequisite course.

A course section may be added without having completed the course prerequisite provided the student is currently registered for the prerequisite course. However, departments may elect to have the course that required the prerequisite dropped from a student’s schedule if the student does not satisfactorily complete the prerequisite course.

Courses subject to cancellation are identified by “Prerequisites (cancellation in effect)” in the title bar in the Time Schedule. In this case, the course that required the prerequisite will be dropped from the student’s schedule no later than the third calendar day of the quarter.

Placement Tests

Some courses have placement tests as prerequisites. Many of these tests can be taken directly through the department. Undergraduate Advising offers information about placement testing.

Understanding Prerequisites

A prerequisite may consist of a single course, multiple courses, placement tests, or a choice of courses or placement tests.

Because of space restrictions, prerequisites are written in the most concise way possible. Certain conventions have been used for consistency and clarity.

Prerequisite Conventions

Prerequisite Conventions

The main division of prerequisites is the semicolon (;), which divides required courses or groups of courses.

Example 1
Course: SPAN 401 The Morphological Structure of Spanish (5)
Prerequisite: SPAN 303; SPAN 323.
Translation: A student must take SPAN 303 and SPAN 323 before taking SPAN 401.
Example 2
Course: CHEM 317 Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory (3)
Prerequisite: Either CHEM 165 or CHEM 312; either CHEM 242 or CHEM 347
Translation: A student must fulfill each of two prerequisites before taking CHEM 317:

  1. either CHEM 165 or CHEM 312, and
  2. either CHEM 242 or CHEM 347

A prerequisite may consist of two or more courses (or sets of courses) that a student may choose from. Such groups begin with the word “either” and have “or” before the last choice. Separate courses (or sets of courses) are divided by commas.

Example 1
Course: CHEM 237 Organic Chemistry (4)
Prerequisite: Either CHEM 155, CHEM 160, or CHEM 162
Translation: A student must take one of the following before taking CHEM 237: CHEM 155 or CHEM 160 or CHEM 162

A prerequisite choice may consist of more than one course. These groups are defined by the use of “and”.

Example 1
Course: CHEM 152 General Chemistry (5)
Prerequisite: Either CHEM 140 and CHEM 141, CHEM 142, or CHEM 145
Translation: A student must take one of the following sets before taking CHEM 152:

  1. CHEM 140 and 141 or
  2. CHEM 142 or
  3. CHEM 145

A course may have a combination of groups of choices and several prerequisites.

Example 1
Course: CHEM 241 Organic Chemistry Laboratory (3)
Prerequisite: Either CHEM 155, CHEM 160 and CHEM 161, or CHEM 162; either CHEM 224, CHEM 238, or CHEM 336
Translation: A student must take one of the following sets before taking CHEM 241:

  1. CHEM 155, or
  2. CHEM 160 and 161, or
  3. CHEM 162

As well, a student must take one of the following before taking CHEM 241: CHEM 224 or 238 or 336.
Example 2
Course: ZOOL 438 Comparative Endocrinology (3)
Prerequisite: Either BIOL 202 or BIOL 102 with either ZOOL 301 or ZOOL 315
Translation: A student must take one of the following sets before taking ZOOL 438:

  1. BIOL 202, or
  2. BIOL 102 and ZOOL 301, or
  3. BIOL 102 and ZOOL 315

A course may have a combination of placement tests and courses as a prerequisite.

Example
Course: MATH 124 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I
Prerequisite: 2.5 in MATH 120, score of 68% on MATHPC placement test, score of 75% on MATHEC placement test, or score of 2 on AP test.
Translation: A student must take one of the following before registering for MATH 124:

  1. MATH 120 with a minimum grade of 2.5
  2. MATHPC placement test with a minimum score of 68%, or
  3. MATHEC placement test with a minimum score of 75%

Retaking a Course

Departments may restrict undergraduates from repeat registration into courses. Restrictions may include:

  • only allowing registration after Period I
  • only allowing registration after the quarter has begun, or
  • requiring an Entry Code for a repeat registration

Courses considered to have been taken once include any numerical grade or those with grades of I, CR/NC, or S/NS. Withdrawn or dropped courses and courses with X or no grade reported will not count as the first taking of a course. Students currently enrolled in a course, registration for the same course in the following quarter will be counted as a repeat registration.

A second repeat (taking a course for a third time [or more]) cannot be done using Register.UW. A second repeat requires the department to register the student into the course. Grades in the third or subsequent takings will not be included in the student’s grade-point average (GPA).

Sequence Courses

Departments may establish a registration priority for students enrolled in sequence courses. For example, students enrolled in a foreign language 101 course may have priority to register in the next course sequence (102) for the succeeding quarter.

Special Course Fees

The amounts charged for tuition and fees normally cover University charges for course registration. Some courses, however, have extraordinary expenses associated with them and in such cases, the University may charge additional fees in amounts approximating the added instructional or laboratory costs. Some departments do not charge auditors these fees.

Most course fees will be included in the quarterly tuition bill. Dropping a course with a course fee after the first week of the quarter will not remove the fee from any balance owed. Any adjustment to course fees after the first week of the quarter must be handled by the academic department offering the course.

Variable Credit Courses

Some courses such as independent study, thesis, and dissertation credits are offered for a variable number of credits (whole credits only).

  • Faculty Codes & credits are obtained by contacting the department in order to register for the course on Register.UW.
  • Beginning the third week of the quarter through the last day of instruction for the quarter, all variable credit changes require the signature of the instructor by completing the Changes in Variable Credits section of the Registration Transaction form [UoW 2127] and sending it to the Registration Team or submitting it in person – second floor in Schmitz Hall.
  • Before the third week of the quarter, variable credit changes must be made by adding and dropping the course on Register.UW.
Register.UW Variable Credits
Register.UW Variable Credits

Registration Periods

Period I – Continuing Students

Registration Period I is designated for continuing students (students who are currently enrolled and registering for the next quarter).

You are considered a continuing student if you meet ALL the following criteria:

  • Currently enrolled at the UW,
  • Registering for the next quarter* or taking advantage of UW’s one-quarter-off policy,
  • Remaining on the same campus (Seattle, Tacoma, or Bothell),
  • Remaining in the same degree level (i.e., undergraduate to undergraduate) or degree level program (i.e., graduate to graduate)

*To retain your continuing student status, you do not need to enroll in summer quarter as long as you enroll for the following autumn quarter.

Your registration start date is based on your completed credits as of the Thursday before the first day of Period I registration. You may register using Register.UW on, or after, your registration start date and make changes to your schedule.

Go to Period I Registration Dates

Understand How Registration Dates are Calculated

Period II – New and Returning Students

Registration Period II is primarily for newly admitted students and returning former students. You may register on, or after, your registration start date. Continuing students may register any day during this period.

Registration Period II opens at midnight. Newly admitted students register at 8:30 a.m. View the current quarter’s Registration Period II dates on the UW Academic Calendar.

Period III – All Enrolled Students

Registration Period III is from the first (1st) day of the quarter through the seventh (7th) calendar day of the quarter and is open to all students for adds and changes.

Registration Period III opens at midnight. View current quarter’s Registration Period III dates on the UW Academic Calendar.

The following students are restricted from registration until specified dates:

  • ACCESS Students are registered only by the OUR Registration Team on the third (3rd) day of the quarter. They cannot register themselves.
  • Tuition Exemption Program – UW Employees register on the third (3rd) day of the quarter.
  • Tuition Exemption Program – Washington State Employees register on the fourth (4th) day of the quarter.

Audit Grading Changes

You may change to or from the audit grade option through the last day of the second (2nd) week of the quarter by completing the Audit Grading section of the Registration Transaction Form [PDF] and sending it to the Registration Team.

Late Add Period

After the Late Add Period, students can no longer add courses through Register.UW and will need to submit a Late Add Petition to make changes. View the Late Add Petition Information webpage for more information.

View the current quarter’s Late Add Period dates on the UW Academic Calendar.

Withdrawal, Quarter-Off, and On-Leave Policies

Withdrawal Policies

Withdrawal Policies

It is your responsibility to withdraw if you are unable to attend for the quarter.

  • Through the end of the Unrestricted Drop Period, you may withdraw by dropping all courses via Register.UW.
  • Beginning the first day of the Late Course Drop Period through the last date of instruction, you must withdraw by following the Adviser Assisted Drop process, as listed on the Current Quarter Drop webpage.
  • If you drop your last course using the Current Quarter Drop process and do not add another course you will be considered withdrawn for the quarter.
  • Beginning the eighth (8th) calendar day of the quarter, if you drop your last course you will be charged a Change of Registration Service fee plus any tuition forfeiture.
  • Tuition forfeitures will be applied for any drop resulting in a change of tuition cost in this period.

Transcript Entries

If you totally withdraw from a quarter during the first two weeks, the courses for that quarter are not recorded on your UW transcript; however, the date of the withdrawal is recorded and posted to the transcript. After this deadline, each course will be listed on an undergraduate’s transcript with an “RD’ for Registrar Drop grade.

Tuition

Students who withdraw may be entitled to a refund of all or a portion of the tuition and fees for a given quarter depending on the time of the quarter the withdrawal is completed. (Review Withdrawals or Refunds for Aid Recipients.) If you drop all of your courses, you will be charged a Change of Registration Service fee beginning the eighth (8th) calendar day of the term or quarter.

Tuition owed will be based upon the date the complete withdrawal is recorded at the Office of the University Registrar, the date that the last course is dropped through the Current Quarter Drop process by your campus registration team, If you withdraw, the amount of the U-PASS fee to be refunded is based on the date of withdrawal and follows the tuition forfeiture schedule.

Withdrawal by International Students

In general, U.S. law requires F-1 and J-1 students to be registered full-time. This is defined as at least:

  • 12 credits each quarter for undergraduate students
  • 10 credits each quarter for graduate students

Review the ISS Dropping a Course, Withdrawal, and On-Leave Status webpage for more information about possible legal exceptions to this requirement.

Withdrawal by Newly Admitted Students

Withdrawal from any quarter prior to the first day of the quarter for a newly admitted student invalidates your status as a continuing student.

You must submit a new admission application by the published closing date for each quarter depending on your admission type (first-year, transfer, post-baccalaureate, graduate, international). Review the Registration Eligibility section of the Time Schedule if you are withdrawing before the first-course day of the quarter.

Withdrawal for Two Consecutive Quarters

Both undergraduate and graduate students who withdraw during the first week of two consecutive quarters will not be eligible to register as a continuing student for the third quarter.

To re-enroll at the University, you will be required to submit the Returning Student Request Form, as well as pay the form submission fee. For example, if you withdraw during the first week of winter quarter and spring quarter, you must follow the returning former student process in order to register for autumn quarter.

Summer quarter at the University of Washington is scheduled for nine weeks each summer. Students may register for Full-term, A-term, B-term, or Special Dates courses, or a combination of the four.

  • Full-term courses are held during the entire nine weeks.
  • A-term courses are held during the first four and a half (4.5) weeks.
  • B-term courses are held during the second four and a half (4.5) weeks.
  • Special date courses begin or end on dates other than the standard dates of A-term, B-term, or Full-term courses.

Withdrawal deadlines depend on whether the course is identified as a/an A-term, B-term, Full-term, or Special Date course and whether you are registered for only A-term, B-term, Special Dates, Full-term or a combination of the four course types.

Summer Withdrawals

It is the student’s responsibility to withdraw when unable to attend for the quarter. Failing to attend class or notifying the instructor that you wish to drop a class does not constitute an official withdrawal from the course.

Through the end of the Unrestricted Drop Period, you may withdraw by dropping all courses via Register.UW. Beginning the first day of the Late Course Drop Period through the last date of instruction, you must withdraw by following the Adviser Assisted Drop process, as listed on the Current Quarter Drop webpage. You will not be able to completely withdraw or drop all courses using Register.UW.

If you drop your last course using the Current Quarter Drop process and do not add another course you will be considered withdrawn for the quarter. Beginning the eighth (8th) calendar day of the quarter, if you drop your last course you will be charged a Change of Registration Fee plus any tuition forfeiture.

Depending on the date you withdraw, you may incur a tuition forfeiture fee.

Full-Term Course Withdrawal

The last day to withdraw from Full-term courses is on the Friday of the eighth week of the quarter. No withdrawals will be accepted after this date.

A-Term Course Withdrawals

A-term courses begin the same day as Full-term courses. No withdrawals are accepted 24 calendar days after the beginning of A-term courses. (The last day you may drop an A-term course if you are also enrolled in B-term or Full-term courses is 21 calendar days after the beginning of A-term.)

B-Term Course Withdrawals

B-term courses begin the day after A-term ends. The last day to withdraw (dropping all courses) from B-term is on the Friday of the eighth week of the quarter. No withdrawals will be accepted after this date. (The last day you may drop a B-term course if you are also enrolled in Full-term courses is 21 calendar days after the beginning of B-term.)

Special Dates Course Withdrawals

Special dates courses begin on the date listed in the Summer Quarter Bulletin. No withdrawals are accepted after the first day of the course. No drops of any kind are permitted on the last day of the course. (You may drop a course until the first 40 percent of a special dates course is completed. No drop is permitted after 40 percent of a special dates course is completed except with a complete withdrawal for the quarter.)

Transcript Entries

During summer quarter withdrawals shall be entered on your permanent record as follows:

  1. For full-quarter courses, during the first 14 calendar days of the quarter only the date of withdrawal is recorded.
  2. For A-term courses, during the first seven (7) calendar days of the quarter only the date of withdrawal is recorded.
  3. For B-term courses, from the first day of the quarter through the first seven (7) calendar days of B-term only the date of withdrawal is recorded.
  4. For Special Dates courses, from the first day of the quarter through the first day of the course only the date of withdrawal is recorded.

After these deadlines, the courses will be listed on an undergraduate’s transcript with a RD for Registrar Drop grade. Courses will be listed on a graduate or professional student transcript with only a RD for Registrar Drop grade.

Tuition

Students who withdraw may be entitled to a refund of all or a portion of the tuition and fees for a given quarter depending on the time of the quarter the withdrawal is completed. (Review Withdrawals or Refunds for Aid Recipients.)

If you withdraw, you will be charged a course Change of Registration Service fee beginning the eighth (8th) calendar day of the term or quarter. You will also be charged this fee if you withdraw after the first 40 percent of a Special Dates course is completed.

Tuition owed is based upon the date the withdrawal is recorded by the Office of the University Registrar, i.e., the date that the last course is dropped. If you withdraw, the amount of the U-PASS fee to be refunded is based on the date of withdrawal and follows the tuition forfeiture schedule.

Withdrawal by Newly Admitted Students

Withdrawal from summer quarter prior to the first day of the quarter for a newly admitted student invalidates your status as a continuing student. You must submit a new admission application by the published closing dates for each quarter depending on your admission type (first-year, transfer, postbaccalaureate, graduate, international). Review the Registration Eligibility section of the Time Schedule if you are withdrawing before the first course day of the quarter.

Former Quarter Drop Policy

Former Quarter Drop petitions may be submitted for dropping individual courses after the 14th calendar day of the quarter or after the drop deadline for A- or B-terms during summer quarter.

Students may petition the Registrar for a Former Quarter Drop if circumstances beyond the student’s control prevented them from dropping the course by the drop deadline (the last day to drop an individual course for the quarter).

Former Quarter Drops will not be granted for course work that has already been applied to a completed degree. Petitions must be submitted within one year of the quarter being petitioned or have support for an extension from the student’s adviser.

Grades cannot be changed after a degree has been granted.

Please review the Former Quarter Drop webpage for more information.

Students who are called to active U.S. military duty during a quarter in which they are registered may either request to be withdrawn or request to receive credit or grades.

Withdrawals before the end of the seventh week of the quarter

You do not have the option of receiving credit or grades when withdrawing before the end of the seventh week of the quarter.

Refer to the Tuition section above regarding the possible cancellation and refunding of tuition and fees.

You may follow the drop procedures during the Unrestricted Drop Period or Late Drop Period (Current Drop Period) to withdraw from your courses or you may contact your corresponding campus registration team with questions regarding a full withdrawal.

If you withdraw after the end of the seventh week of the quarter

Students who withdraw after the end of the seventh week of the quarter may elect to use the above procedure and withdraw without earning credit and receive a full refund, or you may elect to receive credit and grades. Students who you choose to receive credit may not receive a refund.

Refer to the Tuition section above regarding the possible cancellation and refund of tuition and fees.

If you elect to receive credit or grades, you must contact the Credentials Team along with your military orders. A Credentials Team member will contact each of your instructors requesting grades. You may elect to have numeric grades recorded as by the instructor or to have them recorded as CR/NC (credit or no credit).

You may follow the drop procedures during the Unrestricted Drop Period or Late Drop Period (Current Drop Period) to withdraw from your courses or you may contact your corresponding campus registration team with questions regarding a full withdrawal.

Return from Military Leave

You may apply to return using the Returning Student application form. The returning student submission fee will be waived. Registration will be permitted beginning Registration Period I.

Please consult with the Registration Team for complete details.

As long as you are not registered for any courses for upcoming quarters that you are not planning to attend, there is no paperwork that you need to formally complete through the Office of the University Registrar. Some things to keep in mind, however, depending on your situation:

  • Make sure you have paid any tuition or fees you owe the UW. Having any outstanding fees could result in holds being placed on your records, preventing you from ordering transcripts.
  • Students in a major or graduate program must let them know your intention of leaving and/or your planned time to return.
  • Students in University housing or who plan to be in a future quarter, contact the Housing and Food Services Office. Phone: 206-543-4059
  • Students receiving financial aid, must contact the Financial Aid Office for assistance with any paperwork you may need to complete. Phone: 206-543-6101
  • International students must contact their advisor in the International Student Services to make sure there is nothing you need to do through their office or issues involving your visa and requirements. Phone: 206-221-7857
  • Please be aware that the UW G Suite and/or UW Office 365 email & productivity platform account(s) and data that you create with your UW email address are temporary and will expire when you graduate and/or separate from the UW. However, you do have the ability to forward your UW email address to a personal, non-UW email address as a student and upon separation from the UW.

If you are an undergraduate or professional student (dental, law, or medical) who has completed the preceding quarter here at the University of Washington, you may take a quarter off under the Quarter-Off Eligibility Policy.

Subject to college, school, and departmental enrollment policies, an undergraduate or a professional student who has completed a quarter at the University of Washington may take the following quarter off and remain eligible to register in Registration Period I for the subsequent quarter without submitting an application as a returning student. For example, a student completing winter quarter may, without registering for or completing spring quarter, register during Registration Period I for autumn quarter without reapplying.

Any quarter from which a student has completely withdrawn, or from which he/she is canceled, does not constitute a completed quarter.

Returning students who do not meet the criteria described in the above paragraph must submit a Returning Student Reenrollment Form by the published deadlines and pay the submission fee.

The Quarter-Off Eligibility Policy is not available to graduate students. Graduate students are governed by the Graduate School On-leave Policy.

Graduate students are required to maintain graduate status during their program of study. Students who desire to take a quarter or quarters off without going through the reinstatement process must apply for on-leave status for each quarter they do not register. Graduate students are not eligible for a U-PASS while they are on-leave. Review Graduate On-Leave Status for on-leave eligibility, the procedure for requesting leave, and information about reinstatement.

Review Returning Student Reenrollment Policies for information on how to return from on-leave status.

WAC 478-161-015 on-leave status for graduate students.

Students who drop or withdraw from classes after the first day of the quarter may be subject to a change of registration fee and may or may not be eligible for a complete refund of tuition. For more information, review the Student Fiscal Service’s tuition forfeiture information.