Enrollment

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Current tuition and fees for The Graduate Center can be found on the GC's Tuition and Fees page.

To pay your tuition, see the GC's Paying Your Tuition page, which outlines payment methods. Full payment of tuition and fees is due by the first day of classes.

Review the Tuition Policies, including information regarding Tuition Waivers and the Tuition Refund Schedule, as well as the New York State Residency Policy.

Matriculated students may audit courses in which they have an interest so that they can increase their knowledge and proficiency. Independent Study courses cannot be audited. Students must formally register to audit courses in the same manner as for any other course. You must select the audit option in the action field on the Web registration screen. “Unofficial” auditing is not permitted. Auditor status cannot be changed to credit status after the change-of-program period has ended. Likewise, credit status cannot be changed to auditor status after the same period. The grade notation “AUD,” which carries no earned credit, cannot be changed to any other grade.

For doctoral Second- and Third-Level students, who are charged a flat tuition rate, there is no additional charge for auditing courses.

For doctoral First-Level students and master’s students, audited courses will be included in the calculation of total credits to determine tuition cost but audited courses do not count in the calculation for financial aid full-time status.

Non-degree students interested in auditing courses at The Graduate Center should consult the information below - Enrollment in Courses: Non-degree students. Enrollment in courses by students who have not been accepted for admission to The Graduate Center is at the discretion of each academic program.

During the first three weeks of the each term, students have the option of adding or swapping courses to their initial program as well as dropping courses. A change of program fee may be assessed for any program changes made during the first three weeks of classes. After the third week of the term, if a student elects to withdraw from a course, a Course Withdrawal Form (PDF) must be submitted in-person to the Office of the Registrar prior to the course withdrawal deadline (see the Academic Calendar for the deadline). A grade of “W” will be assigned and the student remains liable for tuition.

Use the swap function in CUNYFirst if you want to switch a class to avoid possible financial penalty.

See information regarding tuition implications of program changes under our Tuition Policies, including the Student Liability and Refund Policy and the Tuition Refund Schedule.

After the third week of the term, if a student elects to withdraw from a course, a Course Withdrawal Form (PDF) must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar at registrar@gc.cuny.edu prior to the course withdrawal deadline (see the Academic Calendar for the deadline). Be sure to use your GC Student Email account in all your communications. A grade of “W” will be assigned and the student remains liable for tuition. Current students if applicable should refer to the Student Handbook (PDF) for the special provisions for students in the military.

• Written notice of voluntary withdrawal from a doctoral program (PDF) must be approved by the appropriate Executive Officer, forwarded to the Office of the Registrar, and cleared by the Offices of Financial Aid, International Students (if applicable), and Residence Life (if applicable), as well as the Mina Rees Library, the Bursar, and the Business Office. Such notice must be submitted prior to the end of the third week of classes of a given semester to avoid full tuition liability for that semester. To resume doctoral study, a former student must apply to the program for readmission by using the Application for Readmission Form.  Students who have not been granted a leave of absence (please refer to the section on “Leave of Absence,” above) or who have not registered by the first week of a given semester will be withdrawn automatically from The Graduate Center.

All students register for courses via the world wide web. In order to enroll, you must claim your CUNYfirst user account and login to the CUNYfirst system. It is the responsibility of the student to know the general academic requirements of the University and the specific requirements of the program in which he or she is matriculated.

Doctoral and masters students will receive a personalized registration information letter which will include registration instructions and appointment times. All students are required to consult with their Executive Officer or academic advisor prior to registering.

See updated Registration Instructions in the section above.

Variable credit courses - In some cases courses do not have a fixed credit value and students may choose the number of credits they are to attempt. Examples of variable credit courses are most independent study courses and most courses offered by the English Program. When registering for variable credit courses, please note that the registration will be processed automatically for the lowest credit value available. You may change this credit value by clicking on the credit number in the registration screen.

When and how to register on record with Weighted Instructional Units (WIU) for doctoral students:

• If you are not Level III and you are not planning to take any courses in the upcoming term, then you need to register for Register on Record (ROR 1) and Weighted Instructional Units (WIU 7) to maintain your full time status. This will certify you as full time and will not affect any funding you will be receiving.
• If you are taking courses that add up to less than 7 credits, you will need to register for the appropriate number of Weighted Instructional Units (WIU 1 - WIU 6) along with the courses you are taking to equal to 7 credits in order to maintain your full time status.
• Weighted Instructional Units are billable if you are not paying a flat tuition rate. Registration must be completed prior to the start of the term.

Non-matriculants, permit students and auditors must file an application in advance of registration. The application for admission as a non-matriculant, permit student or auditor must be submitted before the semester deadline. In addition, enrollment in courses is at the discretion of each academic program. 

Enrollment in courses by students who have not been accepted for admission to The Graduate Center is at the discretion of each academic program. In no instance will anyone be permitted to accumulate a total of more than two courses or eight credits (whichever is less) as a nonmatriculant without written approval from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs.

• The first step to become a non-degree student or to register as a Permit student from another CUNY College is to contact the Executive Officer of the program that you are interested in taking the course/s and request a signed written permission on that department's letterhead.

• After you receive the department written permission, first time non-degree and audit applicant or if you are a first time Permit student from another CUNY College or Consortium School, you should contact the Office of the Registrar for the Application Form For Non-Matriculated/ Auditor/Permit or Consortium Students.

• Returning non-degree students who stopped attending beyond one semester must complete the Application Form For Non-Matriculated/Auditor/Permit or Consortium Students as well.

• Forward the department written permission and the completed application form together back to the Office of the Registrar for review prior to the filing for readmission and non-degree application deadline. Further registration instructions will be provided. Incomplete applications will not be processed.

• If you are a first time non-degree and auditor applicant, the $75.00 non-degree application fee will be automatically billed to you by the Office of the Bursar. Please note that non-matriculant and audit applicants pay the $75 application fee if they are attending for the first time or reapplying after an absence of one or more semesters and pay full tuition and fees at the time of their registration. Permit students (cross registering from another CUNY College) and The Inter-University Doctoral Consortium (IUDC) students are not charged the non-degree application or readmission fee.

The Graduate Center is a member of the Inter-University Doctoral Consortium (IUDC), which provides for cross-registration among member institutions. Learn more about the IUDC and who is eligible to participate on the Consortium Permits page, which also includes information latest updates, frequently asked questions, and consortium permit instructions.

See also the information above for Non-Degree Students.

Information about CUNY to CUNY e-permits are available on the e-Permit Enrollment page, which includes frequently asked questions, e-Permit registration instructions, and links to host campus e-Permit pages.

See also the information above for Non-Degree Students.

Leaves of absence will be granted to students deemed to be in good standing who wish to interrupt their doctoral study. No more than four semesters of total leave time will be granted to any student. Each leave request should be made in writing to the student’s Executive Officer prior to the semester or academic year during which the leave will be taken. If approved by the program’s Executive Officer, requests for leave will be forwarded to the Office of the Registrar. The leave must then be cleared by the Offices of Financial Aid and International Students (if applicable), the Coordinator of Residence Life (if applicable), and the Mina Rees Library, the Bursar, and the Business Office.

Leaves of absence are not counted toward the time limit for completion of degree requirements.

Any student subject to induction or recall into military service should consult the veterans’ certifying officer before applying for an official leave.

Any international student with F-1 or J-1 student status should consult the Office of International Students before applying for a leave. International students must remain outside the U.S. for the entire semester while on a leave of absence and may need to reapply for a new student status if their absence is longer than five months.

Find information regarding Refunds for Withdrawals and/or Leaves of Absence here.

International Students
Students who hold an F-1 or J-1 visa must get in contact with the Office of International Students prior to applying for readmission.

Time Frame
Students who have stepped away from their program for 7 years or more must speak to their Program prior to applying for readmission. In some cases, students will be told to re-apply to the program through the Office of Admissions.

Students who have reviewed the considerations above may submit their application. Your completed readmission application must be submitted on or prior to the deadline posted on The Graduate Center Academic Calendar.

• Students will fill out the application and submit their request. Be aware that submitting the application does NOT mean you were approved for your readmission request.  

• Students will receive a notification informing them of the next steps in the process.

• All requests will be forwarded to the Office of the Registrar. Our team will review the submitted form and notify your Program of your interest to return.

• Your Program Executive Officer will review the request and will approve or deny your request. Keep in mind, if the Executive Officer approves your request with conditions, the student will be notified of this and must accept the conditions prior to our office processing the request.

• Students will be notified of their Programs decision via email.

• If your request is approved, the Office of the Registrar will process the request and notify you via email of your registration date and time.

Your completed readmission application must be submitted on or prior to the deadline posted on The Graduate Center Academic Calendar.

Contact Us
Office of the Registrar
365 Fifth Ave
New York, NY 10016
Room: 7201.00
Phone Number: 212-817-7500
e-mail: Registrar@gc.cuny.edu

Marisa Panzani, Associate Director of Admissions: mpanzani@gc.cuny.edu or 212-817- 7472