The Grainger College of Engineering
Undergraduate Academic Advising

Summer Registration

Summer enrollment provides students with the opportunity to make progress toward degree requirements outside of the traditional academic year. Courses are offered in condensed formats during Summer Term, allowing students to complete coursework in a shorter time frame.

Students may use summer courses to:

  • Fulfill general education or major requirements

  • Reduce their course load during the fall or spring semester

  • Retake courses to improve academic standing

  • Explore elective coursework of interest

Both in-person and online options are available, and tuition rates are assessed separately for summer enrollment. Students are encouraged to consult with their academic advisor to determine how summer coursework aligns with their academic plan.

Time Tickets

To register for summer courses, each student is assigned a time ticket, which specifies the earliest date and time they may begin enrolling. Time tickets are released in March and are based on factors such as earned credit hours and student status (e.g., priority groups). Once a student’s time ticket opens, they may register at any point from that time through the start of the summer term. Students should check their assigned time ticket in Student Self-Service and plan their course schedule in advance to ensure timely enrollment.

Registration Restrictions

During the summer term, registration is limited to a maximum of 9 credit hours, and overloads beyond this limit are not permitted. This restriction is in place due to the accelerated nature of summer coursework and the condensed length of the term.

For purposes of determining full-time enrollment status in the summer, students must register for a minimum of 6 credit hours, as outlined in the Student Code. Students enrolling in fewer than 6 credit hours will be considered part-time for the summer term, which may have implications for areas such as financial aid, housing eligibility, and visa compliance for international students.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees for the summer semester are assessed differently than during the fall and spring terms, as they are based on the number of credit hours for which a student enrolls rather than a standard flat rate. In addition, some campus-based fees may be reduced or applied differently due to the shorter length of the summer term.

To help students plan, the university provides two tools for estimating costs:

  • Illinois Cost Calculator – Allows students to generate a personalized estimate of tuition, campus fees, and other expected costs based on course load and program of study.

  • Tuition and Fee Rates by Term – Provides detailed tuition and fee tables published by the Office of the Registrar for each academic term, including summer.

Students are encouraged to review these resources prior to registration to understand their financial responsibilities and to contact the Office of Student Financial Aid for guidance on how summer enrollment may affect aid eligibility.

Add/Drop of Summer Courses

Students are permitted to adjust their summer enrollment within the deadlines established by the university for the summer term. These deadlines vary depending on the length of the course (e.g., 4-, 8-, or 12-week sessions) and are published by the Office of the Registrar. 

  • Before Deadlines: Students may add, drop, or change summer courses directly through Student Self-Service without additional approvals.
  • After Deadlines: Once the posted campus deadlines have passed, changes require the submission of an official petition.
    • Late Add: Students who wish to enroll in a summer course after the deadline must submit a Late Course Change Form. Approval is not guaranteed.
    • Late Drop: Students may request to drop a summer course after the deadline; however, approved late drops will result in a grade of “W” (Withdrawal) on the transcript. This action indicates withdrawal without academic penalty but does not remove the course from the academic record. The deadline to request a late drop is the last day of instruction for the course.

It is important to NOTE that the college will not backdate drop requests. 

Students considering late adds or drops are strongly encouraged to consult with their academic advisor prior to submitting a petition, as these actions may impact academic progress, financial aid eligibility, visa compliance for international students, and time to degree completion.

Cancellation/Withdrawal of Summer Semester

Canceling or withdrawing from the summer semester applies to students who intend to completely un-enroll from all summer coursework. This action indicates that the student will not be enrolled in any classes during the summer term. 

To petition to cancel or withdrawal from the summer semester, students must complete the Grainger Summer Cancellation/Withdrawal Petition. 

  • Summer Cancellation applies to students who choose to drop all of their summer courses. To be eligible for cancellation, a student must not have attended or participated in any course-related activity (including online components such as assignments, discussions, or quizzes) as verified by the instructor of the course.  

  • Withdrawal refers to withdrawing from the semester after classes have begun and students have attended or participated in the course(s). A withdrawal may be noted on the transcript, depending on the date of withdrawal, and students may still be responsible for a portion or all of their tuition and fees.

Students considering a full cancellation or withdrawal should carefully review the published deadlines and refund policies, as outlined in the Student Code, and consult with their academic advisor. Additional considerations may apply for international students, financial aid recipients, or students with campus housing or employment.