Registration Overview for Admitted NDSS

Upon acceptance into the NDSS Program, students will receive an acceptance letter along with a program handbook and information on next steps. It is your responsibility to read all materials completely and carefully.

Admission as a NDSS (visiting student) does not guarantee enrollment in all courses: Northwestern undergraduates have priority in registration, course prerequisites must be met, and individual departments have final approval for enrollment.

Course auditing is not allowed through the NDSS Program.

Non-degree Special Students may register only during the Change of Registration period. See the Academic Calendar for specific dates. We recommend NDSS have alternate courses selected as your first choice(s) may be unavailable.

Registration Process

  1. You will receive your NetID and activation instructions from the NDSS office before the quarter begins. It is important to set up your student account and Northwestern email right away.
  2. As an NDSS, you cannot enroll in courses directly via CAESAR, but you will use CAESAR/CANVAS to access course information once the Registrar's Office has enrolled you into a course.
  3. NDSS need to obtain a permission number from the department that is offering the course in order to register. Students are responsible for contacting the department offering the course(s) to obtain this permission number. Students should reach out to individual departments 1 - 2 weeks prior to the start of the quarter.
  4. Registration Forms will be emailed to you the week prior to the first week of classes. Students are required to fill in the registration form with all relevant course information and the department permission number and return the form to the NDSS Office via email: ndss@northwetern.edu  The NDSS Office will approve your registration form and submit to the Registrar's Office on your behalf to be enrolled into your course.
  5. You must submit your registration form to the NDSS Office before 3:00 pm on the last day of the Change of Registration period for that particular quarter. After that date and time, you will not be able to register for courses. See the Academic Calendar at www.registrar.northwestern.edu/calendars/ for specific dates.
  6. After you register, you will be billed for your tuition and fees. Please review your information packet for details on billing and payment.

Please contact the NDSS Office if you have any questions about registration: ndss@northwestern.edu

Additional Procedures for International Students

International students must enroll as full-time students (3 or more courses per quarter).

Health Insurance for International Students

ALL visiting international students  are required to have health insurance throughout the duration of their studies  at Northwestern University, either through the Office of Risk Management or an alternative insurer that meets or exceeds minimum requirements.

Participation in the Northwestern’s Visiting Scholar Plan (VSP) is mandatory unless visiting scholars are able to provide evidence of coverage that meets the University’s minimum requirements and a waiver is filed and approved with the Office of Risk Management. Further details on the Visiting Scholar Health Plan can be found here.

NDSS Program Restrictions

Non-degree Special Students are admitted for a maximum of three consecutive quarters, as long as a grade of C or above is  maintained.

The NDSS Program is for enrollment in undergraduate courses only.

Northwestern University policy does not allow course auditing.

Changes in Registration

Students who register for a course are considered enrolled for the duration, and are expected to attend all sessions of the courses for which they are registered. Excessive absences do not signal a student’s intent to drop or withdraw, and may be cause for failure in the course. If a student does formally drop or withdraw, the student is responsible to pay any tuition balance on the account, according to the refund schedule determined by Northwestern University Student Financial Services. Students wishing to drop a course must do so through CAESAR. If you are only taking one course in the quarter, you will not be allowed to drop via CEASAR and must contact the NDSS Office to fill out a term withdrawal form.

For More Information

If you have any questions, please contact the NDSS Office at ndss@northwestern.edu.

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