Following are brief descriptions and links to additional information regarding enrollment and registration. In addition, other useful information can be obtained at the Registrar’s website, “Registrar’s Office.”
Prior to the quarter for which they have been admitted, new students will receive information from their college regarding orientation dates, course enrollment, and fee-payment deadlines. Enrollment materials will be provided at the college provosts’ offices on the days assigned for new students’ registration. New freshman students admitted for the fall quarter will be invited to attend a new student orientation during the summer preceding fall quarter.
Continuing students (those currently registered or eligible to register) should refer to TritonLink for enrollment information, dates, and fee payment instructions.
Students are considered enrolled when they have requested space in at least one course and space in classes has been reserved. Students are not considered registered until they have both enrolled in courses and paid registration fees. Waitlisting a class does not constitute enrollment. Enrollment is processed using WebReg in TritonLink. Continuing undergraduate students are assigned a start time, after which they may enroll in classes. Start times are based on the number of units completed. Students who have completed more units will receive earlier start times than students with fewer units. Students are responsible for all courses in which they are enrolled. Students should check WebReg in TritonLink to confirm class enrollments. Students must make any necessary changes by the add/change/drop process (through WebReg in TritonLink) or by appropriate withdrawal.
The enrollment checklist provides students with important information on appointment times, advising, holds, enrollment limitations, prerequisite requirements, restrictions, approvals, wait lists, and class confirmation.
Students can attend UC San Diego at less than full-time status. Undergraduates are considered part-time if they have been approved for part-time status and enroll in ten or fewer units per quarter. Graduate students are considered half-time if they have been approved for half-time status and enroll in six or fewer units per quarter.
Enrolling at half-time or part-time status requires approval. See more details about fees, eligibility, and the application process:
UC San Diego undergraduates can take classes at other campuses through the simultaneous enrollment program (take classes at another UC campus while simultaneously enrolled at UC San Diego), the cross enrollment program (take classes at California State University campuses), or the Intercampus Visitor Program (visit another UC campus for a quarter).
After enrollment, students may make any necessary corrections to their class schedules on WebReg in TritonLink. Through the second week of instruction, students may add courses via WebReg. After the second week and through the end of the final week of instruction, students may add courses only with the approval of the instructor and of the department. Students may continue to change grading options through the end of the fourth week and to drop courses through the end of the ninth week of instruction. Note: Effective fall 2018, the deadline to drop courses will change for undergraduate students from the end of the ninth week of instruction to the end of the sixth week of instruction. Approval to withdraw from a course after the end of the sixth week of instruction may be granted by petition to a student’s college provost for emergency reasons.
Undergraduate students who wish to drop all their courses are required to file an undergraduate withdrawal form with their college academic advising. Please see the W (Withdrawal) grade regulation that applies after the fourth week of instruction. Graduate students who plan to withdraw from UC San Diego should contact their graduate program.
If an undergraduate student has been absent for more than one quarter, he or she must apply for readmission to UC San Diego. Graduate students who have been out at least one quarter must apply for readmission through the Graduate Division. The readmission process is different depending on the amount of time the student has been absent from UC San Diego, and the academic standing when the student left.
The undergraduate program consists of four four-unit courses each quarter, or sixteen units per quarter, for four years. Students must complete a minimum of thirty-six units in three consecutive quarters in order to satisfy the minimum progress requirements (see “Minimum Progress” in the “Academic Regulations” section). Undergraduate students wishing to take more than twenty-two units of credit in a quarter will need their college provost’s approval.
The minimum unit requirement for the bachelor’s degree is 180 quarter-units in Revelle, Muir, Marshall, Warren, Roosevelt, and Sixth colleges. A student is expected to complete the requirements for graduation within this minimum unit requirement. The bachelor of science degree may require satisfaction of additional units, depending upon the student’s major. Candidates for BS degrees in engineering are permitted 230 units (240 for engineering majors in Revelle and Roosevelt colleges). Under special circumstances, students may extend their undergraduate training beyond the minimum. Nonengineering students who are attempting to achieve more than 200 quarter-units will not be permitted to register without their college provost’s approval. Other exceptions will be granted only for compelling academic reasons and only with the approval of the college provost and the concurrence of the Committee on Educational Policy. Transfer units applicable toward general-education requirements or major requirements are included in the maximum unit calculation; all other transfer units are excluded. Advanced placement and international baccalaureate units are excluded. See information regarding “Maximum Unit Limitation” in the “Undergraduate Degree Requirements” section of this catalog.
A student may have a “hold” placed on his or her enrollment or registration (payment of fees) and/or academic transcripts for the following reasons:
Each student who becomes subject to a hold action is given advance notice and ample time to deal with the situation. However, if the student fails to respond, action will be taken without further notice, and he or she is entitled to no further services of the university, except assistance toward resolving the issue. Students must secure a release from the office initiating the hold action in order to receive further services from the university.
Registration at UC San Diego is a two-step process: (1) enrollment in classes and (2) payment of fees. You must enroll first so that your fees can be assessed. You can pay fees any time after you enroll in classes. An E-Bill notice will be e-mailed to your UC San Diego e-mail address after enrollment; however, if enrollment occurs just prior to the enrollment deadline, you may not receive an E-Bill notice. Pay by E-check on TritonLink or make checks payable to: UC Regents. Mail checks to UC San Diego Cashier’s Office, 9500 Gilman Dr. # 0009, La Jolla, CA 92093-0009. Be sure to include your student PID number on your check and include the remittance stub from TritonLink or the top portion of your billing statement. Fees are due and payable by the published deadline whether or not an E-Bill notice is received. Payments must be posted to your student account by published deadlines. Your current account activity and balance are available on TritonLink during normal TritonLink hours.
Students don’t receive printed bills via US mail. Instead, UC San Diego sends an E-Bill notice to your UC San Diego-issued e-mail address when your bill is ready to be viewed and paid.
The UC San Diego Triton Registration Installment Plan (TRIP) is available for students who desire an alternative method of financing their registration fees on a short-term basis. All students in good financial and academic standing are eligible for the program, except for those students whose financial aid or graduate support will pay their registration fees.
A hold on your student account can delay your financial aid disbursement, payments, transcript request, or other university services. Learn about the different types of student account holds and how to resolve them.
The university registration fee covers services that benefit the student and are complementary to, but not a part of, the instructional program, and it includes recreational activities, student organizations, and the Student Health Service. No part of this fee is refunded to students who do not make use of these privileges.
In addition, there is a campus activity fee for undergraduates, a university center fee for all students to be used for the construction and operation of the student centers, and a recreational facility fee. Note: Fees are subject to change.
To avoid late fees, students are should check bill availability and due dates.
Students who enroll in courses but fail to pay fees by the published deadline will be assessed a late payment fee. Students who fail to enroll in courses prior to the registration deadline will also be assessed a late enrollment fee and a late payment fee. Currently these fees are $50 each.
If you are entitled to a waiver or deferment of fees, the amount will show as a credit on your billing statement. If you have questions, contact the office responsible as listed below.
If you withdraw from UC San Diego, you may be eligible for a partial or full refund of prepaid fees, depending on date, prior debt, and schedule.
The rules regarding residence for tuition purposes at the University of California are governed by the California Education Code and implemented by standing orders of the Regents of the University of California. Under these rules, adult citizens and certain classes of resident aliens can establish residence for tuition purposes. There are particular rules that apply to the residence classification of minors.
Learn about the UC criteria for determining who is a California resident for tuition purposes.
Learn about how UC establishes residence for tuition purposes.
Instructions for a continuing UC San Diego student who wants to change from a nonresident to a resident for tuition purposes.
The residence determination date is the day instruction begins at the last of the University of California campuses to open for the quarter. To be considered a resident of California, you must establish your physical presence at least 366 days prior to this date.
Find out about exemptions and waivers from residence requirements.
Resources and information is available here for undocumented students, including the AB 540. AB 540 allows certain students who have attended high school in California for three or more years and earned a high school diploma or equivalent to be exempt from paying nonresident tuition at California public universities.
Important information for students that are not a US citizen or a permanent resident alien.
General and specific rules that apply to minors and their guardians.
Find out how leaving the state might affect your residence status.