There are two ways to take graduate courses without admission to candidacy for a degree:

Student Not Candidate for a Degree (SNCD)

Admission may be granted to qualified students who hold a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent, who wish to enroll in graduate courses on a non-degree basis, and who receive approval from a degree program. Examples include international exchange students who are studying at the University for a limited duration, students in good standing at other graduate schools, and students who wish to test their capabilities in a graduate setting. Students in this category are assigned faculty advisors and are accorded the same privileges as degree candidates. Applicants for SNCD study the Graduate School should follow all application procedures outlined in the section headed “Application Process.” Continuation as a Student Not Candidate for a Degree is subject to the same academic and other standards that apply to degree candidates. SNCD students may, upon recommendation by the admissions committee of a graduate program and approval by the Dean of the Graduate School, be subsequently advanced to degree status without formal reapplication. In special cases, SNCD students might be eligible for financial aid.

Unclassified Graduate Student

A student who wishes to enroll for selected graduate-level courses without admission to the Graduate School is generally permitted to do so by registering as an Unclassified Graduate Student with the Registrar of the Graduate School. Application for admission is not required for such registration, and permission to register as an Unclassified Graduate Student does not constitute admission. Permission to take more than 6 hours of graduate credit in any one program requires the signature of that program’s Director of Graduate Studies. Unclassified students are not eligible for student services, including financial aid.