Registration
Student Enrollment Status
The ability to enroll in classes is just one characteristic that defines "a student" at UC Davis. At the time of registration, a student becomes financially liable and responsible for all tuition & fees for the term.
To carry full-time status, an undergraduate student needs to be enrolled in at least 12 units (including workload units) each quarter in order to be certified as a full-time student for insurance and financial aid purposes or to compete in intercollegiate athletics. A graduate student needs to be enrolled in at least 12 units each quarter in order to be certified as a full-time student.
It is important for all students to be knowledgeable and understand all of the University's published dates and deadlines. The Office of the University Registrar publishes calendars for registration & pass appointments, fees & billing, quarter dates & deadlines, and academic & administrative holidays, and other calendars for students reference.
If a student no longer wishes to attend, or can no longer attend classes at UC Davis, the student must complete a Cancellation/Withdrawal form. The student remains financially responsible for tuition and fees through the calendar day that the Cancellation/Withdrawal form is received by the Office of the University Registrar, as described by the system-wide Schedule of Refunds. The Schedule of Refunds also applies to those students who participate in the Planned Educational Leave Program (PELP).
Enrollment Restrictions
Enrollment in some courses is restricted to certain student populations. Restrictions are listed in Schedule Builder and the Class Search Tool. Students may not enroll in a course with a restriction unless they meet the requirements of the restriction. If the course is restricted to majors, non-majors, seniors, upper division or class, you may request permission to waive the restriction from the instructor or department that offers the course. If the restriction is waived, the department issues a PTA number that allows you to enroll in the course.
If you recently submitted a change of major form, Schedule Builder does not allow you to enroll in courses until the change is approved and your student record has been updated with your new major. You may request permission to waive the restriction from the instructor or department that offers the course. If the restriction is waived, the department issues you a PTA number that allows you to enroll in the course.
Freshman Seminars. All Freshman Seminar (FRS) sections are restricted to freshmen until after Pass Two. Students only receive credit for one seminar per quarter. For more information, see First-Year Seminar.
Please note most course restrictions are removed starting with Pass Two registration.
Types of Restrictions
Student Level Restriction
A student-level restriction refers to undergraduate, second baccalaureate, graduate, etc.
College Restriction
College course restrictions refer to the college of the student’s declared major(s).
Major Restriction
Field-of-study major course restrictions refer to the student’s declared major(s).
Class-Level Restriction
A class-level restriction refers to freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, etc.
Common Registration Issues
To be successfully added to a course when a space becomes available, students are advised to check their schedule periodically for any potential registration issues, such as enrollment limits, time conflicts, restrictions, and registration holds that will cause a registration error to occur.
The following registration errors are common registration issues that prevent the system from registering a student.
Max Hours Exceeded
The combined total of registered courses and waitlisted courses may not exceed the established limit for each registration period.
Registration Holds
Students with registration hold(s) cannot register for courses or be added from a waitlist. All registration hold(s) must be cleared prior to registration or to be added from a waitlist.
Registration holds can be viewed onh Schedule Builder. Contact the department that placed the hold for specific information about the hold and the requirements to have it removed.
Duplicate Course, Section, Equivalent, or Cross-Listed
Students may not enroll in multiple sections of a course, including cross-listed and equivalent courses.
Time Conflict
On occasion, departments must change the day/time a course is offered. If there is a time conflict, you will not be able to complete your registration transaction and must resolve the conflict to continue.
Illegal Repeat Errors
Undergraduate students will be prevented from enrolling in courses that are considered an illegal repeat. Students may be eligible to be registered after resolving a pending grade or by obtaining appropriate approval. See the Illegal Repeats webpage for information regarding a specific illegal repeat error.
Waitlist Ended
During the academic terms, waitlists begin during Pass One registration appointments and end after the last day to add classes, the 12th day of instruction. Summer terms and some professional school have different waitlist periods. Students who have not been added to a waitlisted course before the waitlist ends will be dropped and registration error, Dropped-Wait-list Ended, is displayed in the status box for the class on Schedule Builder.
