The Registration Process

Complete registration instructions and deadlines are listed in the current class schedule for each semester or term. New students receive a current class schedule in the mail, and continuing students may buy one at the BYU Bookstore or the Registration Office.

Late Tuition Payment

Students who fail to pay by the tuition payment deadline will be assessed a late fee. For fall and winter semesters the late tuition fee is $90. For spring and summer terms the fee is $45 (effective after the tuition deadline).

Adding and Dropping Classes

Students may use the AIM (Academic Information Management) computer on-line system to add and drop classes until the add deadline. Each academic department determines how classes are added. The add method of each class is noted in either the current class schedule or on AIM with a T (AIM system from five to ten days into the semester or from three to six days into the term), S (can only be added through the department), Y (AIM system until classes start—instructor signature thereafter), or G (Freshman Academy students).

To add a class that requires a signature:

1. Obtain a change of registration (add/drop) card from the Registration Office, a college advisement center, or a department (also available in Smith Family Living Center [SFLC] step-down lounge during the add period).
2. Obtain a signature of approval from the instructor or department as shown in the current class schedule.
3. Take the add card to either the Registration Office or the Smith Family Living Center step-down lounge during the first ten school days of a semester (first six days of a term).
4. For classes not officially added before the add deadline, petition for acceptance through the Registration Office (B-150 ASB) and pay a $10 fee per class.

To drop a class once school begins:

1. Use the AIM system during the add period (first ten class days of a semester or first six days of a term). Drop cards are also accepted.
2. From the third week of classes through the fifth week (seventh through thirteenth day of a term) pay the fees at the Cashiers' Office in the ASB and return the card to the Registration Office (B-130 ASB). A W will appear for classes dropped during this time.
3. To drop a class after the drop deadline, petition for acceptance through the Registration Office (B-150 ASB) and pay a $10 fee per class.

   Note: A student can be registered for more than one section of an R-suffix course and therefore must drop each unwanted section.

Full-, Three-Quarter-, or Part-Time Status

A student who registers for more than 12 credit hours a semester or more than 6 credit hours a term is full-time for tuition purposes. Registration for 9 to 11.5 credit hours per semester or 4.5 to 5.5 credit hours per term is deemed three-quarter-time for tuition purposes. Registration for 0.5 to 8.5 credit hours a semester (0.5 to 4 credit hours a term) gives the student part-time status. International students and students receiving financial assistance may be required to register for more hours to be considered full-time.

Verification of Full-Time Status for Graduate Students

Graduate students (master's and doctoral students) who are enrolled for at least 2 credit hours per semester and who can be certified by their department as being engaged full-time in pursuit of their degrees can petition for graduate full-time status. Requests for such an exception should be directed to the Office of Graduate Studies.

Withdrawal from Classes

Students who choose to withdraw from (drop) a class must do so officially. Students who do not officially withdraw before the published deadline will receive a failing grade. Refer to the current class schedule for the appropriate procedure and deadlines and fees.

Auditing Classes

Students who wish to audit a class (take a course without receiving any credit for it) must add the class, listing it as an audit course, on an add/drop card within the first ten class days of a semester or the first six class days of a term. Audited classes do not appear on transcripts and do not count for verification purposes. Students must be officially enrolled either for credit or audit to be eligible to attend class.

Class Preparation Time

The expectation for undergraduate courses is three hours of work per week per credit hour for the average student who is appropriately prepared; much more time may be required to achieve excellence. These three hours may include one hour of lecture plus two hours of work outside class, three hours in a laboratory with little outside work, or any other combination appropriate to a particular course.

Maximum Hours per Semester/Term

An undergraduate student in good standing may register for as many as 18 credit hours in any one semester (9 per term) by following the regular registration procedure. Once school begins the college advisement center may authorize a student who has demonstrated superior academic ability to register for a maxiumum of 21 hours per semester (11 per term). Registering for classes through Continuing Education or auditing classes constitutes a part of the total registration. Through a petition process after the first day of school, exceptions to these rules may be granted by the university registrar (B-150 ASB).

Final Examinations

The university schedules reading and examination periods. An examination period occurs at the end of each semester and term. The examination period is preceded by reading days, which give time for conscientious review, study, and synthesis of the semester's work. The reading and the examination periods are firmly scheduled parts of the semester; students must not make plans that interfere with these important academic activities. Students may not take final examinations early. If illness or other uncontrollable circumstances prevent a student from taking an examination at the scheduled time, that student is responsible to inform the class instructor as soon as possible.

Registration Holds

The university may place a hold on a student's records that will block registration privileges. The hold will be indicated on the registration system. It is the student's responsibility to contact the appropriate office to clear any holds before attempting to register for classes.

Academic standards: