Reduced Registration is a status that advanced students in thesis based programs may qualify for through December 31, 2026. After December 2026, students will follow regular registration guidelines unless they qualified prior to 12/31/2026. To qualify for Reduced Registration, students must have met certain criteria:

Students enrolled in thesis-based degree programs who have completed all the required courses, research credit hours, and academic milestones listed below in their degree programs are eligible to continue to pursue their graduate program as full-time students at a reduced level of tuition charging.

To be considered for this reduced registration status, students must complete the following requirements:

For MS students

1. 1. Completion of 30 credits of eligible course, research and transfer credits combined (36, if Master’s degree requires 36 credits), and
   2. Paid for 24 credits (27, if Master’s degree requires 36 credits).
      • 1-9 credits per semester count as paid credits; 10-15 credits do not count as paid credits. See Reduced Registration Credit Calculator
   3. Submit Degree Audit form (student’s approved Committee form must already be on file with OGS). Some programs may require the completion of qualifying exams or proposals as part of the Degree Audit.
   4. Indicate on the Degree Audit form that you want to be on Reduced Registration by:
      • August 31 for fall semester reduced registration
      • December 31 for spring semester reduced registration. Spring 2027 will be the last term for which students can qualify for Reduced Registration as long as they meet all requirements by December 31, 2026. Students will not be able to qualify for reduced registration after December 31, 2026.

For PhD students

1. 1. Completion of 72 credits of eligible course, research and transfer credits combined, and
   2. Paid for 54 credits.
      • 1-9 credits per semester count as paid credits; 10-15 credits do not count as paid credits. See Reduced Registration Credit Calculator
   3. Submit Degree Audit form (student’s approved Committee form must already be on file with OGS). Indicate on the Degree Audit form that you want to be on Reduced Registration by:
      • August 31 for fall semester reduced registration
      • December 31 for spring semester reduced registration. Spring 2027 will be the last term for which students can qualify for Reduced Registration as long as they meet all requirements by December 31, 2026. Students will not be able to qualify for reduced registration after December 31, 2026.
   4. Submit Admission to Candidacy form. Most PhD programs require the completion of qualifying exams, proposals, and/or other requirements before a student is eligible to for Admission to Candidacy. The committee-approved Admission to Candidacy form must be submitted to OGS by:
      • August 31 for fall semester reduced registration
      • December 31 for spring semester reduced registration. Spring 2027 will be the last term for which students can qualify for Reduced Registration as long as they meet all requirements by December 31, 2026. Students will not be able to qualify for reduced registration after December 31, 2026.

Summary

Any MS / PhD student requesting approval for Reduced Registration must have completed, by the dates indicated above:

1. All required earned and paid credits listed above
2. Committee established and approved via the Committee form
3. Degree Audit form, including all required milestones, approved by committee and OGS
4. For PhDs – Admission to Candidacy form, including all required milestones, approved by committee and OGS

Reduced Registration Credit Calculator

Once a student qualifies for Reduced Registration, the student will be notified. Then students must register correctly following the steps below. Students who qualify for Reduced Registration, but fail to register correctly, will not be put on Reduced Registration.

To be put on reduced registration, students must

Register for either:

• 9 credits of research (707)  – OR –
• 8.5 credit of research (707) + .5 credit of –
  • MTGN 501 (Metallurgical and Materials Engineering major only) OR
  • ENGY 693 (Advanced Energy Systems major only)
• 8 credits of research (707) + 1 credit of any of the following:
  • CBEN 605 (Chemical & Biological Engineering major only)
  • CHGN 560 or 660 (Chemistry major only)
  • GPGN 581 or 681 (Geophysics major only)
    
  • NUGN 505 (Nuclear Engineering major only)
  • PHGN 501, 502, 601 or 602  (Physics major only)
  • MNGN 625 (Mining Engineering major in their final semester)
  • BIOL 590 (Quantitative Biosciences and Engineering majors only)

Reduced Registration Calculator