Enrollment Timeline

Source: https://approaching.stanford.edu/transfers/advising-enrollment/enrollment-timeline Parent: https://approaching.stanford.edu/transfers/advising-enrollment/course-planning

*This page will be updated for 2026 Approaching Stanford by June 1.

June to July

In the early summer, browse course listings for the past academic year (2024-25) in Navigate Classes, Stanford's official course catalog. While courses for the upcoming academic year (2025-26) will not be published until mid-August, you can use this time to read about courses that will allow you to explore academic interests and potential majors. Explore what interests you, even if you are unfamiliar with the discipline. Many of Stanford’s fields will be entirely new to you. Note your interests on the 2025 Academic Planning Worksheet and use course planning resources to help in your exploration. Review the schedule for summer placement assessments, if appropriate.

August to September

In August, the 2025-26 course listings will be published in Navigate Classes and you will have the opportunity to browse course offerings for the upcoming academic year. The Transfer Advisor can review with you information from academic departments about course placement, entry points for different pathways, and academic opportunities and considerations. Be proactive about connecting with your advisor and gathering multiple perspectives on how best to explore your interests within Stanford’s curriculum. In preparation for conversations with your advisor, you may choose to complete the 2025 Academic Planning Worksheet.

As you identify possible courses for Autumn Quarter, log in to Navigate Enrollment (link coming soon) and enter these courses as “planned” courses. A “planned” course indicates interest only – it does not reserve a space for you in a course, nor does it commit you to enrolling in it. Later, when enrollment opens, you will return to Navigate Enrollment and click "Enroll" on your "planned" courses.

Upon completion of a summer advising meeting with the Transfer Academic Advisor, your New Student Enrollment Hold will be released and incoming transfer students can begin enrolling* in Autumn Quarter courses when enrollment opens for continuing students in early September, according to your enrollment group.

*Note: In order to enroll in courses, you must also have completed all other obligations required of new students, including submission of Approaching Stanford Forms, health requirements, final school transcripts, and test scores (if applicable). International students may need to wait until they arrive to campus and attend the mandatory immigration session with Bechtel International Center before they are able to enroll.

Enrollment Deadlines

Quarterly Enrollment Deadlines

Preliminary Study List Deadline:5:00 p.m. on the first day of the quarter. By the Preliminary Study List deadline, all students must enroll at a full-time status (minimum 12 units for undergraduate students; or 8 units for students with a reduced course load). You will be charged a $200 late study list fee for not enrolling at a full-time status by this quarterly deadline. Enrollment in waitlisted classes does not count toward full-time status.
Final Study List Deadline: 5:00 p.m. on Friday of Week 3. You may add, drop, and swap courses — or adjust units if it’s a variable unit course — up until the Final Study List Deadline at the end of Week 3.
Change of Grading Basis Deadline: 5:00 p.m. on Friday of Week 8. Through the end of Week 8 (or Week 6 of Summer), you may choose the grading option for courses in which an option is offered.
Course Withdrawal Deadline: 5:00 p.m. on Friday of Week 8. You may withdraw from a course after the drop deadline through the end of the Week 8 (or Week 6 of Summer). In this case, a grade notation of 'W' (withdraw) is automatically recorded on your transcript for that course. If you withdraw after that date, you are assigned the appropriate grade or notation by the instructor to reflect the work completed.

Quarter System

One challenge will be getting used to the fast pace of the quarter system. During these first few weeks, students often choose to explore and attend a few classes prior to making their final choices. You can review syllabi (lists of assignments, readings, etc.), look at the textbooks for the courses, listen to lectures, and talk to your advisor. However, do not take too long to finalize your list. Faculty begin assigning work on the first day of class and midterms may begin as early as your third week. Good time management skills are absolutely essential for keeping up with your classes and for balancing your coursework with your other commitments.