Enrollment

Admitted Special students

Congratulations on being admitted as a University Special student!

Follow the steps below to enroll in courses and prepare for the upcoming term.

Not admitted yet?

In order to enroll, you must be admitted as a University Special student.

First, review our Special student types to see which fits you best. Next search for courses that fit your educational plans. Then apply to UW-Madison using the University Special student application.

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glass-etched Wisconsin crest
students discussing in class

Enrollment steps

1.  Activate NetID

Using your 10-digit Campus ID number (found in your application confirmation), activate your NetID and create a password. This gives you access to your MyUW portal. For step-by-step instructions visit this helpful tutorial.

Your NetID is your username which, along with the password you choose, allows you access to University services such as campus email and student records.

If you are a former student of UW–Madison, but do not recall your NetID or password, you may contact the DoIT Help Desk  for assistance.

2. Log in to MyUW

Log in to your MyUW portal using your NetID and password. Review the resources within the Student Center. You will find your earliest enrollment date, any enrollment holds on your account, your tuition bill, and grades along with many other resources.

3. View the earliest enrollment date

Enrollment appointments are published by the Office of the Registrar in late March/early April for summer and fall enrollment, and early November for spring enrollment. View your earliest enrollment date and time within the Course Search and Enroll tile in MyUW. Note, it may take up to 24 hours after you’ve been admitted for your enrollment appointment to appear in your MyUW.

4. Search for courses

Log in to MyUW using your NetID and password. Select Course Search & Enroll, and use the filters provided to find courses. Select your desired course to learn more including course description, required prerequisites, and course notes. There may be limited access for Special students to courses in some departments and schools.

Most courses involve both a lecture and a discussion section (lab courses will include a lab section). Make sure that the lecture, discussion, and lab if applicable, all fit into your schedule. Once you find a section that works for you, add the course to your Shopping Cart.

5. Resolve any validation errors

Before enrolling use the My Courses tool within Course Search & Enroll to ensure you are eligible to enroll in your course. Common reasons for getting a “problems with course” message include not meeting requisites for the course or needing permission to take the class.

When courses are in your Shopping Cart, they will appear in My Courses. Select your desired course to determine if you have any validation errors.

This tool will verify if you have all the requirements and permissions you need to enroll once your enrollment time arrives. Some classes fill up rapidly, so doing this step ahead of time will help you avoid problems enrolling.

If you receive an error message, you may need permission to enroll in the course. For more on validation and error messages, see this Office of the Registrar’s KB document.

6. Complete the pre-enrollment checklist

There are 7 tasks that must be done prior to enrollment each term. These tasks should only take about 5 minutes to complete. Once the checklist is complete the enrollment hold will be lifted from your student record. See the pre-enrollment checklist guide for more information.

One checklist task is to electronically sign the required Financial Responsibility Agreement which is listed in the holds section. For more information regarding the Terms and Conditions of this agreement, please see the Bursar’s Office FAQs. Note: This does not apply to Senior Guest auditors (UGSR).

7. Enroll

Any time after your earliest enrollment time, you can log in to MyUW to enroll. In the My Courses section of Course Search & Enroll, select your desired courses and click Enroll. Follow the onscreen prompts to complete your enrollment. Enroll before the enrollment deadline to avoid a late fee. If a section is full and a wait list is available, continue to enroll in the course to secure your spot on the wait list. The wait list does not pertain to Senior Guest auditors.

Contact the department’s curricular representative for course questions and access issues.

Feeling overwhelmed by the enrollment process? Get assistance from the help desk.

8. Tuition

After you enroll, your eBill will be available for viewing under the Financial tab in your MyUW Student Center. Ensure you pay your tuition on time to avoid the $100 late payment fee.

9. Deadlines to note

Now that you are enrolled, it is important to be aware of important dates and deadlines including add, drop, audit, and withdrawal deadlines.

10. Obtaining a transcript

After the successful completion of your course(s), you may order an official transcript. Once your grade is posted in your Student Center, you may go to the Office of the Registrar’s webpage for order instructions.