Academic Year (Fall, Winter, Spring)
During Fall, Winter, and Spring terms, graduate students must be registered for a minimum of three graduate credits each term, starting with the term of admission. This includes students who are taking only comprehensive exams, final examinations, completing advancement to candidacy requirements, or presenting recitals, terminal projects, or theses.
Students not in residence while writing a thesis, dissertation or project, but using faculty assistance, university services or facilities (for example, sending chapters to an advisor by email for feedback) must register for a minimum of three graduate credits per term. Registration should be for thesis or dissertation or project credits.
Students admitted for Fall, Winter, or Spring term must register for at least three graduate credits in the term of admission, and may not be on-leave in the term of admission. Admitted students who do not register in their term of admission should work with their prospective program to determine whether admission is possible for a future term.
Specific populations of students, such as Graduate Employees, international students, and those receiving federal financial aid, may have higher credit minimums. See Credit Limits and Full-Time Course Load for details.
Academic On-leave status is available for students who need to pause their studies.
Summer Term
Summer session registration is not required unless: a) it is the student's first term in the program, or b) the student's program requires it. For students who do register for summer, the minimum enrollment requirement is one graduate credit.
Students admitted for Summer term must register for at least one graduate credit in the term of admission. Admitted students who do not register in their term of admission should work with their prospective program to determine whether admission is possible for a future term.
Failure to Maintain Continuous Enrollment
A graduate student who fails to maintain continuous enrollment or obtain on-leave status is required to file a petition for reinstatement. Approval from both the department and the Division of Graduate Studies is required for reinstatement.
The student may, at the discretion of the department, be required to meet departmental admission policies and degree completion requirements that are in effect on the date of reinstatement.
Doctoral students may, at the discretion of the department, be required to complete a new residency requirement — at least 27 UO credits, at least half of which must be in regular coursework. They may also be required to retake the comprehensive examinations if completed prior to stopping out (withdrawing temporarily from enrollment), if the department feels that this is necessary in order to demonstrate currency of knowledge.
Revised April 24, 2024