Enrollment Timeline
June to July
In the early summer, browse the class schedule for the past academic year (2025-26) in Navigate Classes, Stanford's class search experience. While classes for the 2026-27 academic year will not be published until August, you can use this time to read about classes that will allow you to explore academic interests and potential majors.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 2026 Academic Planning Worksheet (link coming soon) 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 2026-27 class schedule will be published in Navigate Classes and you will have the opportunity to browse class offerings for the upcoming academic year. The Transfer Academic 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 the Transfer Academic 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 2026 Academic Planning Worksheet (link coming soon).
As you identify possible courses for Autumn Quarter, log in to Navigate Enrollment and enter these classes as “planned” classes. A “planned” class indicates interest only—it does not reserve a space for you in a class, nor does it commit you to enrolling in it. Later, when enrollment opens for first-years, you will return to Navigate Enrollment and click "Enroll" on your "planned" classes.
After completing a summer advising meeting with the Transfer Academic Advisor, your New Student Enrollment Hold will be lifted. You will then be able to enroll* in Autumn Quarter classes when enrollment opens for continuing students in early September, based on your assigned enrollment group.
*Note: In order to enroll in classes, you must also have completed all other obligations required of new students, including submission of Approaching Stanford Forms, health requirements, final official school transcript(s), 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 classes—or adjust units if it’s a variable unit class—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 classes in which an option is offered.
- Course Withdrawal Deadline: 5:00 p.m. on Friday of Week 8. You may withdraw from a class 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 class. 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 classes, 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.