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FAQ for non-degree graduate students
When can I register?
You can register after open enrollment begins for non-degree or visiting students each term, as follows: fall semester in early May; spring semester in early December; and May/summer term in April. Find the non-degree graduate registration option that fits your circumstances. Then, check the Academic Calendar for the actual date that registration begins for non-degree or visiting students.
My employer is paying for the class. How is payment made?
Your employer must set up a billing arrangement by calling the University's Third Party Billing Office. You will receive an email notice in your University email account with a link to your billing statement. Your balance due must be paid in full by the statement's first billing due date or your registration will be canceled. If your employer cannot pay for the class by the due date, you will need to pay your bill by the first due date and have your employer reimburse you for that amount.
Why do I have a PRD hold on my student record?
The PRD hold prevents you from using online registration for enrollment. Instead, you must register with One Stop Student Services in person, by mail, by scanning and attaching the form to an email, or by fax. The hold does not prevent you from cancelling a class online during the cancellation period. Graduate nondegree students do not have an email registration process similar to undergraduate students.
Can I get financial aid?
No, financial aid is not available when you take graduate-level classes as a non-degree student. You may be eligible for a private loan through a bank or other private lender. Make sure that the lender does not require degree-seeking status.
Can I switch my enrollment this semester from the undergraduate level to the graduate level?
Yes, if authorized staff from the department offering the class(es) approve the switch by signing the Registration Request for Graduate Credit form. Submit the registration form, along wth a statement that you will make payment in full of additional fees and increased tuition by the next billing due date.
Can I be a degree-seeking student and take classes as a graduate non-degree student at the same time?
- Medical School, Dental School, School of Pharmacy, or Veterinary Medicine degree students can concurrently be enrolled as either graduate non-degree or undergraduate non-degree students.
- Law school students, students admitted to the Public Health program, and undergraduate students are not eligible to concurrently take courses as a graduate non-degree student.
Can I take both undergraduate and graduate classes at the same time?
Yes. However, you will be billed graduate rates for all classes, both graduate and undergraduate, in which you enroll during the term. Also, be aware that undergraduate classes may not transfer into a graduate program. To add an undergraduate class, submit a Registration and Cancel/Add Request form to One Stop Student Services.
If I'm currently registered for graduate classes as a non-degree seeking student, will I have graduate status automatically for the next term?
No. You must obtain an authorized departmental signature on the Registration Request for Graduate Credit form each semester in which you want to take classes as a non-degree graduate student. Submit the completed form with the authorized signature to One Stop Student Services for processing.
Will any graduate level class transfer into a degree program?
Some graduate-level classes may not transfer and transfer credits may be limited, depending on your specific degree-seeking program. If you are planning to transfer your course work into a program at the University of Minnesota, consult the college or school before enrolling in a class. If you are planning to transfer to an institution other than the University of Minnesota, contact that institution to find out what courses will transfer.
- I usually register as a non-degree student with CEHD. Is this option still available?
- No, registration requests for non-degree graduate students are no longer processed by the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD). You must now obtain a departmental signature on the Registration Request for Graduate Credit form, and submit it each semester to One Stop Student Services.
- I need to take some undergraduate-level prerequisites in order to be admitted into a graduate program. Is this the correct enrollment option for me?
- No. If you need to take undergraduate classes as prerequisites to get into a program, take those classes as a non-degree undergraduate student. In order to register for undergraduate classes as a non-degree student you can submit an online email registration request. More information on undergraduate non-degree status is available from the College of Continuing Education.
- Are any advising services available to me?
- The University does not have a formal advising structure for non-degree graduate students. However, it is important that you consult with the department/program from which you are taking courses to make sure that the class credits will transfer into a degree program and that the courses are appropriate to your academic goals.
- Who do I contact to sign the Registration Request for Graduate Credit form?
- Contact the department, program or One Stop Student Services for the name and contact information of the department or program's director of graduate studies or his/her designee. The instructor of the course is not the authorized signer unless s/he is also the director or the designee. To add or cancel a class after the cancel/add deadline, you may need the signatures of both the instructor and the director/designee.
