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Policy Topic: Enrollment

Guidance (Student Status) – Reinstatement and Re-Entry

A matriculated student previously registered in the Graduate School who has failed to maintain graduate student status (on-leave status or registration) but who wishes to resume studies in their previous graduate program must submit a reinstatement request to the Graduate School.

This includes:

  • Reinstatement- for students returning to a graduate degree program
  • Re-Entry- for students returning to a graduate certificate program or stacked degree with a certificate component

Students enrolled in both a degree and certificate program must submit separate requests for each program.

For complete details regarding the on-leave, continuous enrollment and reinstatement policies, refer to Graduate School Policy 3.5: On-Leave, Reinstatement, and Re-Entry.

Accessible Accordion

  • Must be an inactive matriculated graduate student wishing to return to their previous degree program. Non-matriculated, undergraduate, or active graduate students are not eligible for reinstatement.
  • Must have been registered for at least one quarter of graduate study at the UW.
  • Must have approval from the graduate program to reinstate or re-enter.
  • Must satisfy any additional graduate program policies about reinstatement/re-entry.
  • International students must have confirmation from the International Student Services office that an I-20 can be issued in time to meet registration deadlines.
  • Students must be within their program’s time-to-completion limits. See the Graduate School policy based on certificates and/or degree level.

Students who do not meet these requirements are not eligible for reinstatement/re-entry without a petition from their graduate program. Ineligible students should instead submit a new application for admission after consulting with their graduate program. Please note that students who meet reinstatement requirements but instead submit a new degree application for admission will have their application fee refunded and be assessed the $250 Reinstatement Fee.

Step 1: Student Action

    1. Consult with your graduate program advisor before starting a request to confirm eligibility and any internal departmental requirements.
    2. Choose the quarter of return with your program. Students may request the current academic quarter or the next academic quarter.
    3. Submit the online Request for Reinstatement (degree programs) or Re-Entry (certificate programs) through MyGrad Program, Reinstatement/Re-Entry Portal*.
      • You will receive a confirmation email once your request has been submitted.

 

Step 2: Department Action

 

  • The graduate program reviews your request to determine eligibility.
  • If approved, the department submits its approval in MyGrad Program.

 

  • You will receive a confirmation email once departmental approval is complete.

 

Step 3: Student Action (Payment- Degree Programs Only)

  • If you are requesting reinstatement to a degree program, return to MyGrad Program to pay the $250 Reinstatement Fee via MasterCard or Visa.
  • You will receive a confirmation email once payment is received.
  • The reinstatement fee must be paid no later than 11:59:59 p.m. PST on the last day of instruction to be reinstated for the requested quarter.
  • No fee is required for re-entry to certificate programs.

 

Step 4: GEMS/Graduate School Action

  • The Graduate School (GEMS) processes the approved reinstatement or re-entry request (weekdays only, excluding UW holidays).
  • You will receive a confirmation email once your request has been processed and your registration status for the quarter is active.

 

Step 5: Student Action

 

  • Register for the quarter of reinstatement or re-entry to maintain active student status.
  • Update your contact information in the MyUW Student Directory.

 

Note: If returning to both a degree and certificate program, submit a separate request for each.

Important Notes

  • A valid UW NetID and password are required to access MyGrad and submit requests. 
  • Requests must be submitted separately for each program. 
  • Reinstatement requests for degree programs require a fee once approved. 
  • Re‑Entry requests for certificate programs do not require a fee. 

Contact & Support

For questions about:

  • Eligibility, requirements, or department approval → Contact your Graduate Program Advisor (GPA/GPC) first. 
  • International student status (F-1/J-1) → Contact International Student Services (ISS) at iss.washington.edu or 206-221-7857. 
  • Financial aid or loan deferment → Contact the Office of Student Financial Aid at finaid.uw.edu or 206-543-6101.  
  • NetID access and password → Contact UW Information Technology (IT) or visit the NetID management site
  • Technical issues with MyGrad or reinstatement/re-entry problems → Email uwgrad@uw.edu or call 206-685-2630. 

Revised January 12, 2026

Guidance (Student Status) – Graduate On-Leave Status

Graduate students must maintain active status throughout their graduate program. If you need to take one or more quarters off without registering, you may request on-leave status for each quarter. This prevents loss of graduate status and avoids the reinstatement/re-entry process. See Graduate School Policy 3.5 for full details.

LOG IN TO MYGRAD TO REQUEST ON-LEAVE STATUS

Who Can Request On-Leave Status

You may request on-leave status if all of the following apply:

  • You were registered or on leave the previous quarter
  • You have completed at least one quarter of graduate study at UW
  • Your graduate program approves the leave request
  • You are not currently registered, graduated, inactive, non-matriculated, or in a visiting student status
  • International students (F-1/J-1) must confirm eligibility with International Student Services

Additional notes:

  • Leave request are required for Autumn, Winter, and Spring.
  • Summer leave is automatic for students enrolled or on-leave the previous Spring quarter.
  • Students in two graduate programs must have both programs approve the request; only one request and one fee is required.
  • Students may drop all courses before the first day of the quarter to become eligible for leave.
  • Students with financial aid, loans, or GAIP insurance should consult the Office of Financial Aid or UW Benefits Office to avoid loss of coverage.

What On-Leave Status Provides

Status You Keep You Lose
On-Leave UW email, library access, very limited faculty and staff counsel/resources, Hall Health Primary Care Center (pay-for-service basis), IMA (UW Seattle campus students only, extra fee) Most faculty advising/resources, exam privileges, thesis/dissertation filing, university housing, student insurance, financial assistance

How to Request On-Leave Status

  1. Log in to MyGrad and click “Request Leave”.
  2. Review leave requirements before starting the request.
  3. Submit your request in MyGrad (opens two weeks before the quarter starts).
  4. Obtain departmental approval (both programs if enrolled in two).
    • If your department approves, you will receive an email notification from the Graduate School with instructions and the deadline.
    • If your department does not approve, contact your graduate program advisor for next steps.
  5. Pay the $25 non-refundable fee via MyGrad by the deadline.
    • Military personnel with deployment orders must still log in and click “Pay” after approval but you will not be charged.
  6. Receive email confirmation for your records.

Multi-Quarter Requests:

  • Peace Corps, military deployment, UW Fulbright, or Bonderman fellows may request up to three consecutive quarters.
  • Fees: $25 per quarter (e.g., $50 for two, $75 for three)
  • Summer quarter: no fee required.
  • Military with deployment papers: no fee required.

Deadlines & Reminders

  • Request opens: Two weeks before the first day of instruction each quarter
  • Student request deadline: 5:00 p.m. PST, last day of instruction (one week before quarter end)
  • Department approval deadline: 5:00 p.m. PST, last day of the quarter
  • Payment deadline: 5:00 p.m. PST, last day of the quarter
  • Loan deferment: Complete the request and pay by the 2nd Friday of the quarter to stay eligible for loan deferment reporting.
  • Incomplete Requests: Requests not paid or approved by the deadline will be withdrawn automatically. You must request reinstatement and/or re-entry to return.

Reinstatement & Re-Entry

If you did not maintain graduate status (no registration or complete the on-leave status process in full with approval):

  1. Request reinstatement (degree programs) and/or re-entry (certificate programs) through your department
  2. Pay the reinstatement fee to the Graduate School, only for degree programs.

Students enrolled in both degree and certificate programs must submit separate requests for each program.

For more information, see Reinstatement & Re-Entry.

Contact & Support

For questions about:

  • Eligibility, requirements, or department approval → Contact your Graduate Program Advisor (GPA/GPC) first. 
  • International student status (F-1/J-1) → Contact International Student Services (ISS) at iss.washington.edu or 206-221-7857.
  • Financial aid or loan deferment → Contact the Office of Student Financial Aid at finaid.uw.edu or 206-543-6101. 
  • Technical issues with MyGrad or leave payment problems → Email uwgrad@uw.edu or call 206-685-2630. 
  • Reinstatement after missing deadlines → Contact your graduate program first, then the Graduate School if needed. 

Revised October, 2025

Policy 3.10: Graduate Student Classifications

The following classifications are assigned to graduate students and postdoctoral appointees on the basis of advancement toward or completion of graduate degrees:

  • Premaster: A Premaster has been admitted to the Graduate School, but has not yet completed a master’s degree or the equivalent.
  • Post-Master: A Post-master has completed the master’s degree or equivalent, but has not yet had a doctoral Supervisory Committee appointed.
  • Precandidate: A Precandidate has had a doctoral Supervisory Committee appointed, which signifies admission into a doctoral program, but has not yet completed the Graduate School General Examinations.
  • Candidacy: A student in candidacy status has completed the General Examination, but has not yet completed the dissertation and final examination.
  • Postdoctoral: A Postdoctoral appointee has completed a doctoral degree and is engaged in research or scholarly work in residence at the University, but is neither an enrolled student nor a member of the faculty.

When a student is first admitted to the Graduate School, the student is placed in the appropriate classification which recognizes the highest academic degree which the admitted student holds in the field of the proposed graduate work at the University of Washington. When a graduate student officially completes the master’s degree, or has a doctoral Supervisory Committee appointed, or completes the General Examination, the classification is changed accordingly.

Every quarter each graduate program advisor reviews the graduate student list and informs the Graduate School of any changes needed.

Policy 3.10 revised: November 1977; July 2015

Policy 3.6: Graduate Registration Waiver

A student must maintain registration as a full-time or part-time graduate student for the quarter the degree or certificate is conferred. However, certain eligible students may be allowed to graduate the following quarter without being required to register by paying the Graduate Registration Waiver Fee.

3.6.1     Eligibility

The student must have been registered for the previous quarter and meet one of the two following criteria:

  • A thesis or dissertation student has completed all Graduate School and graduate program degree requirements (courses, examinations, etc.), the thesis or dissertation has been approved for submission by the student’s committee, and the student needs additional time for formatting the document.
  • A non-thesis master’s student has completed all Graduate School and graduate program degree requirements (courses, examinations, etc.), but missed the master’s degree request deadline.

3.6.2     Process Requirements

  • The thesis or dissertation must be submitted in the UW ETD Administrator Site no later than 14 calendar days following the last day of the quarter in which all degree requirements were met.
  • Thesis master’s students must submit a new master’s degree request within the first week (5 weekdays) of the quarter in which the student will graduate.
  • Non-thesis master’s students must submit a new master’s degree request by the last day of instruction for the quarter in which the student will graduate
  • All students must pay the Graduate Registration Waiver Fee by the last day of instruction for the quarter in which the student will graduate.

3.6.3     Exclusions

The following do not meet eligibility requirements for the Graduate Registration Waiver

  • Students with unfinished capstone or culminating project requirements with the exception of the thesis or dissertation formatting
  • Students with Incomplete coursework
  • Students who were on leave the previous quarter
  • Thesis or dissertation students requiring content revisions to the document

3.6.4     International Students

F-1 and J-1 students who are planning to remain in the U.S. after completing degree requirements must notify International Student Services (ISS) of the student’s new expected degree conferral date and that the student is using the Graduate Registration Waiver. ISS may need to update I-20 or DS-2019 documents to reflect the completion of degree requirements.

Policy 3.6 created: December 2022

Policy 3.5: On-Leave, Reinstatement, and Re-Entry Policy.

See also: Guidance (Student Status) – Graduate On-Leave Status and Guidance (Student Status) – Reinstatement & Re-Entry for guidance on procedures associated with these policies

3.5.1     On-Leave Status and Reinstatement for Graduate Programs except for Stacked Degree or Graduate Certificate Programs

To maintain graduate status, a student with the exception of students in a stacked degree program or students only in a Graduate Certificate program must be enrolled on a full-time, part-time, or official on-leave basis from the time of first enrollment in the Graduate School until completion of all requirements for the graduate degree. (Summer quarter on-leave enrollment is automatic for all graduate students who were either registered or officially on-leave during the prior spring quarter.) Failure to maintain either continuous enrollment or on-leave status constitutes evidence that the student has resigned from the Graduate School.

A student who has registered for a quarter may not submit a petition for on-leave status for that specific quarter unless the student officially withdraws from all courses before the first day of that quarter. Students who have been registered for even one day of a quarter are deemed to have status for the quarter and will be eligible to register for classes or apply for on-leave for the following quarter (spring enables registration for summer or autumn); the student’s email account will be active for the quarter, but library privileges will not be maintained once courses are dropped.

If a student who is in on-leave status registers in any other status, i.e. Non-Matriculated or Graduate Non-Matriculated, it will terminate the student’s official on-leave status for that quarter, even if the student subsequently drops those courses.

3.5.1.1     On-Leave Eligibility

To be eligible for on-leave status, a student must meet all of the following:

  • Satisfy any graduate program policies pertaining to going/remaining on-leave.
  • Be registered or on leave as a graduate student at the University of Washington the quarter immediately prior to going on leave
  • Not be registered the first day of the quarter the student goes on leave.
  • Eligible international students will be required to consult with International Student Services regarding the student’s immigration status prior to final approval
  • Request leave on a quarterly basis and pay a non-refundable, quarterly fee

3.5.1.2     Access to University Resources While on Leave

On-leave students are entitled to the following:

  • use of the University libraries
  • access to student email accounts
  • use of the Hall Health Primary Care Center on a pay-for-service basis
  • pay for use of the IMA

On-leave students are not entitled to the following:

  • extensive faculty and staff counsel
  • examinations of any type (except for language competency)
  • thesis/dissertation filing
  • appointments as Academic Student Employees
  • University housing
  • student insurance
  • any form of financial assistance

3.5.1.3     Reinstatement to the Graduate School if On-Leave Status was Not Secured and Registration Not Maintained

Students previously registered in the Graduate School who have failed to maintain graduate student status but wish to resume studies within the same degree program must file a request for reinstatement to the Graduate School. Requests will first be reviewed and approved by the department. Once the department has approved the request and the Graduate School has confirmed students’ eligibility for reinstatement, students will be notified to pay a non-refundable reinstatement fee before registering for the requested quarter of reinstatement.

3.5.1.4     Time to Degree and Limits for On-Leave Status

See Graduate School Policy 1.1 for limitations on time to degree and relationship to on-leave status.

3.5.2     Re-Entry for Students in a Stacked Degree or only in a Graduate Certificate

As described in Scholastic Regulations 102.7, the Graduate School approves and processes re-entry requests for students previously registered in the Graduate School who were only enrolled in a Graduate Certificate or in a Stacked Degree and have not maintained continuous enrollment.

Policy 3.5 revised: November 2021; December 2022; December 2024

Policy 3.4: Visiting Graduate Student Status

Visiting Graduate Student status allows certain students to take University of Washington coursework without being admitted to a University of Washington graduate degree program.

All applications for Visiting Graduate Student status are processed by the Graduate School’s Graduate Enrollment Management Services (GEMS) office. All documentation submitted by the applicant must be in English or official translations into English accompanied by the original foreign language document.

If a student with Visiting Graduate Student status later applies for admission to the Graduate School in order to pursue a graduate degree, the student must formally apply and submit complete credentials as outlined in Policy 3.1.

3.4.1     Enrollment for Visiting Graduate Student Status

There are two pathways to enroll with Visiting Graduate Student status, described below.

3.4.1.1     Enrollment by Graduate Students in Good Standing at Another Institution

Graduate students who are actively pursuing a graduate degree (Master’s, Ph.D., Ed.D., etc.) at another college or university may be hosted by the University of Washington as visiting graduate students. Visiting Graduate Student status allows these students to take graduate courses at the University of Washington without pursuing a University of Washington graduate degree. Visiting graduate student status does not confer priority for later admission to a graduate program. The length of enrollment is determined by the number of quarters approved by the home institution and the University of Washington graduate program that hosts the visiting graduate applicant. Visiting graduate students may hold this status in only one graduate program at a time and may not hold any other student status while enrolled as a visiting graduate student.

Admissions criteria for visiting graduate student applicants in good standing at another institution:

  • The student must have been admitted to a recognized domestic or international graduate school, be in good standing, and actively pursuing a graduate degree at that institution.
  • The student must be approved by a University of Washington graduate degree granting department/program and the University of Washington Graduate School.
  • Students who are non-native English speakers must meet Graduate School Policy 3.2.

3.4.1.2     Enrollment by Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistants (FLTA)

Fulbright FLTA (Foreign Language Teaching Assistants) may also be hosted by UW departments in Visiting Graduate Student status at the University of Washington. Visiting Graduate Student status allows these students to take graduate courses at the University of Washington without pursuing a University of Washington graduate degree. It is the department’s and the FLTA student’s responsibility to ensure the student meets enrollment requirements of the FLTA program.

Admissions criteria for Fulbright FLTA applicants:

  • There are no University of Washington Graduate School admissions criteria for native speakers of English who have been accepted into the FLTA program.
  • Students who are non-native English speakers must meet Graduate School policy on English Language Proficiency Requirements and Conditions of Appointment for TAs who are not Native Speakers of English.

3.4.2     Performance Expectations

In order to continue in Visiting Graduate Student status, students must maintain the standard minimum Graduate School cumulative grade point average of 3.0.

Policy 3.4 created: March 2022

Policy 3.3: Enrollment of Graduate Non-Matriculated Students

Under the conditions given below, departments, schools, or colleges may choose to offer enrollment in their graduate courses to Graduate Non-matriculated (GNM) students. In this context, a Graduate Non-matriculated student is a post-baccalaureate student who wishes access to a limited number of graduate courses, but who has not been admitted by the Graduate School to a degree program. These Graduate Non-matriculated students must not be enrolled in any courses where they would displace admitted degree-seeking graduate students. This status is not appropriate for international students on F-1 visas.

Applicants for GNM status must meet Graduate School minimum admission requirements and must be evaluated for acceptance by the academic unit according to the typical criteria for admitting students to the unit’s graduate programs.

Tuition and fees charged GNM students for graduate level courses cannot be less and may be more than those charged to graduate students.

Acceptance as a GNM student confers no guarantee or priority for later admission to a graduate degree program.

3.3.1     Admissions

Applications for the GNM program are processed by the Graduate School’s Graduate Enrollment Management Services (GEMS) office. Applicants who present at least a 3.0 grade point average in the applicant’s last 90 quarter (60 semester) hours, along with other applicable credentials, may be admissible as Graduate Non-matriculated (GNM) students. Non-native English speakers must also meet the English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirement as outlined in Policy 3.2.

3.3.2     Enrollment

No department is required to open its courses to GNM enrollment; participating departments have the authority to create and monitor standard enrollment limits for all admitted GNM students. GNM students must obtain approval from course instructors before enrolling in graduate level courses. Registration for most Seattle Campus GNM students is handled by UW Continuum College Registration Services; however, students taking advantage of the university employee or state employee tuition benefit register in the same manner as matriculated UW students. GNM students at the UW Bothell and UW Tacoma campuses will receive registration materials and instructions from the appropriate departmental office.

3.3.3     Credit

A student who is later admitted to the Graduate School may apply a maximum of 12 applicable GNM credits (or any combination of GNM and up to six approved transfer credits totaling twelve credits) towards a graduate degree, or a maximum of 6 applicable GNM or transfer credits towards a graduate certificate. If applying GNM or transfer credits towards a graduate certificate that is part of a stacked master’s degree, no more than 6 applicable GNM or transfer credits may be applied to each individual graduate certificate that is part of the stacked master’s degree and no more than 12 applicable GNM or transfer credits may be applied to the stacked master’s degree total.

Time limits for master’s and doctoral degrees (Six- and ten-year, by default) commence at the point of enrollment in the first GNM course which is later applied for credit toward degree requirements.

3.3.4     GNM Students at UW Bothell and UW Tacoma

GNM status as the UW Bothell and UW Tacoma campuses is not funded on a self-sustaining basis. Tuition and fees are comparable to those charged to graduate students.

3.3.5     Performance Expectations

In order to continue in the GNM program, students must maintain the standard minimum Graduate School cumulative grade point average of 3.0.

Policy 3.3 revised: November 2021; December 2022

Policy 3.3.1 revised: August 2023

Policy 2.1: Graduate Course Numbers, Titles, and Audience

Graduate courses numbered in the 500s through 800s are intended for and ordinarily restricted to either students enrolled in the Graduate School or graduate non-matriculated students who meet the requirements of Policy 3.3.

Graduate courses should be presented at a level that assumes enrolled students bring to the class a background at least equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in the field or a related interdisciplinary field. Graduate courses must not be used to correct deficiencies in the student’s undergraduate work; courses normally expected to be part of undergraduate preparation for graduate study must be identified by undergraduate course numbers.

Some courses at the 300 and 400 levels are open to graduate students; see Policy 1.1 for using these courses for graduate degree requirements. 

2.1.1     Course Numbers and Titles

In order to maintain as much breadth as possible in the course offerings of a graduate unit, graduate level courses normally will carry the prefix designation of the academic unit authorized to offer the graduate program, e.g., English, Drama, Education, etc. However, in certain fields identification of specializations in graduate courses may be necessary or desirable. To propose special designation, the faculty in that unit may transmit to the Dean of the School or College the request to identify the field of specialization in the prefix. Special designation, if approved by the Dean of the College and the Registrar, may be established.

The following standardized course numbers and course titles have been established for graduate courses in all disciplines numbered 600, 601, 700, 800. Courses numbered 801 may have alternate course titles. Descriptions for all courses below are at the discretion of the proposing unit.

  • 600 – Independent Study or Research: Used for individual readings or study, including independent study in preparation for doctoral examinations, research, etc. Prerequisite: permission of Supervisory Committee Chair, Graduate Program Coordinator, or Graduate Program Coordinator’s designee.
  • 601 – Internship: Used for Internships. Prerequisite: permission of Supervisory Committee Chair, Graduate Program Coordinator, or Graduate Program Coordinator’s designee.
  • 700 – Master’s Thesis: Used for research for the master’s thesis, including research preparatory and/or related thereto. Limited to graduate students who have not yet completed the master’s degree in the student’s program of enrollment at the University of Washington. Prerequisite: permission of Supervisory Committee Chair, Graduate Program Coordinator, or Graduate Program Coordinator’s designee.
  • 750 – Educational Specialist Capstone: Used for the culminating capstone experience for Educational Specialist degree programs (see Policy 1.1.3). Course title may vary to reflect the specific nature of the capstone.
  • 800 – Doctoral Dissertation: Used for research for the doctoral dissertation, including research preparatory and/or related thereto. Limited to those who have completed the master’s degree or the equivalent and have been admitted into a doctoral degree program, or candidate-level graduate students. Pre-master students initiating doctoral dissertation research should register for 600. Prerequisite: permission of Supervisory Committee Chair, Graduate Program Coordinator, or Graduate Program Coordinator’s designee.
  • 801 – Practice Doctorate Project/Capstone: Used for the culminating project/capstone experience for practice doctorate degree programs (see Policy 1.1.5). Course title may vary to reflect the specific nature of the project/capstone (e.g., project, practicum, portfolio, applied dissertation, clinical work, etc.).

2.1.2     Course Delivery Location

Graduate courses are offered on campus except for courses where all of the following conditions are satisfied:

  • The course is equivalent in quality to courses offered in residence at the University, as judged by consideration of course content, assignments, examinations, performance expected from students, grading practices, assignment of graduate faculty, etc.
  • It is designed for and presented mainly to students who have been admitted to and are enrolled in the Graduate School of the University of Washington or who have been enrolled by units as graduate non-matriculated students.

2.1.3     Course Enrollment

Under certain conditions, qualified graduate non-matriculated students may be enrolled in graduate courses and earn credit later applicable towards a graduate degree. These conditions are outlined in Policy 3.3.

Postbaccalaureate students, undergraduate students, and non-matriculated students who do not meet Graduate School admission requirements may enroll in 500-level courses provided that permission has been obtained in advance from the faculty member who will teach the class, and from the unit Chair/Director or designated representative. Permission should be granted only when the student appears to be exceptionally well prepared for entrance into the course so that the tempo and quality of the graduate instruction is not adversely affected. Such students should not constitute more than 20% of the total number enrolled in the class.

2.1.4    Parallel 400-500 Courses 

Units that expect regular graduate enrollment in an undergraduate 400-level course should propose a 400-500 parallel course.

There must be significant differences between the undergraduate and graduate courses that are reflected in areas such as course content, grading practices, learning outcomes, readings and assignments, exams, and performance. Student evaluation criteria for the 500-level course should be established such that graduate students completing only 400-level assignments, or completing assignments only at the level expected of an undergraduate would receive a grade of less than 2.7. 

Policy 2.1 revised: August 2021; December 2022; January 2025; November 2025