Graduate Student Registration

Use this page for helpful information about registration-related matters that are specific to SPS graduate students. Students should visit the SPS Academic Catalog to view all policies related to graduate registration.

Registration in CAESAR

  • Registration for all SPS courses is handled through CAESAR,  Northwestern University's registration system. 
  • Students can view the CAESAR Registration Tip Sheet for help registering in CAESAR. 
  • All students must manage their own class registrations. Students should register for classes by the deadlines published in the SPS Academic Calendar.

Add/Drop

  • Graduate students are able to drop/add course(s) until the end of the first week of the term. After the term begins, the system will not allow students to drop their last remaining course.
  • Students will need to submit a Change of Registration Form to the SPS Registrar’s Office for assistance in dropping courses.  
  • Forms are processed within one to two business days. Students are responsible for verifying changes to enrollment via their CAESAR account.

Withdrawals

  • All withdrawals after the drop deadline will result in a “W” (withdrawal) grade. This will be posted to the student’s official transcript. Students who withdrawal for the term may be eligible for a tuition refund, minus any nonrefundable fees and deposits. Please contact Student Financial Services regarding refunds.
  • Students requesting to withdraw will need to submit a Change of Registration Form to the SPS Registrar's Office.
  • Forms are processed within one to two business days. Students are responsible for verifying changes to enrollment via their CAESAR account.

Course Waivers

  • In rare situations, if a student’s prior academic experience is assessed as equivalent to the mastery of the course content, a course waiver may be granted.
  • Waivers will only be considered for courses taken at an accredited institution within the last 10 years in which a grade of B or better was earned.
  • Students requesting a course waiver will need to submit a Course Waiver Request Form. Supporting documentation must be included with the form to be reviewed.

Graduate Continuous Registration

Students that do not register during the registration period for three consecutive terms will be discontinued from their program. SPS 512 is a placeholder course for graduate students to use in order to maintain continuous enrollment in their program in a quarter where they do not enroll in any credit-bearing courses (e.g. during continued work on a thesis project).

  • SPS 512 may only be taken a maximum of four consecutive times and cannot be taken as a student's first course.
  • SPS 512 does not carry any units of credit, so it cannot be used to establish eligibility for financial aid programs, defer loans, or maintain international residency requirements.

Registration FAQ

Where can I find the registration deadlines?

Students can visit the SPS graduate student important dates page to view registration dates and deadlines.

I have a registration hold on my account. How do I remove it?

Students can log into CAESAR to view information about removing the holds on their account. In the tasks section, students can view information about removing their registration holds. All registration holds must be removed before you can register for classes. The SPS Registrar's Office is not able to register students if there is a registration hold on their account.

Can I submit a Change of Registration to be added to a closed class?

Please contact your Academic Advisor to request permission to be added to a closed class. If approved, your advisor will instruct you to submit a change of registration form.

Will I receive a refund if I drop my course?

If a student drops a course before the add/drop deadline, they may be eligible for a refund. The Student Finance office maintains a withdrawal calculator which allows students to view their anticipated refund based on the date the class was dropped.

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