When to Register

Continuing/Returning Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate students (except undergraduate professional students in the School of Architecture) should register via ESTHER during the Course Request Period. The Course Request Period will open for Spring 2027 registration on Friday, October 30, 2026, and will remain open and available through 5:00 PM Friday, November 13, 2026. Spring 2027 registrations will be processed on Monday, November 16, 2026, and results will be made available in ESTHER by 5:00 PM. Registration will re-open on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, beginning at 7:00 AM. At that time, you may begin adding or dropping classes, or adding yourself to the ESTHER wait-list.

Additional information on registration times can be found on the Spring Registration: Undergraduate Students webpage.

Undergraduate Professional Students and Graduate Students

Continuing/returning undergraduate professional students in the School of Architecture and all continuing/returning graduate students should register online via the Register or Add/Drop Classes page in ESTHER. Spring 2027 registration for continuing/returning undergraduate professional and graduate students begins on Monday, November 16, 2026, at 5:00 PM.

Additional information on registration times can be found on the Spring 2027 Registration: Graduate Students webpage.

Registration Deadlines

For a comprehensive list of Registration Deadlines (including Add/Drop, Pass/Fail, Variable Credit deadlines etc.), please consult the semester-specific Academic Calendar.

Spring 2027 Registration Timeline

Continuing and Returning Students - Registration begins Friday, March 27, 2026

Important: Check your Registration Priority Group

  • Friday, October 30, 2026
    • 8:00 a.m. - Registration Course Request Period opens for currently enrolled and returning Undergraduate Students
  • Friday, November 13, 2026
    • 5:00 p.m. - Registration Course Request Period closes for currently enrolled and returning Undergraduate Students
  • Monday, November 18, 2026
    • Monday Morning - Registration Course Requests for currently enrolled and returning Undergraduate Students are processed
    • 5:00pm - Email of results sent to Undergraduate Students
    • 5:00 p.m. - Registration opens for currently enrolled and returning Graduate and Undergraduate Professional Students
  • Wednesday, November 18, 2026
    • 7:00 - 7:59 a.m. - Add/Drop Period opens for currently enrolled and returning Undergraduate Students as listed below
      • 7:00 a.m. - 7:14 a.m. - Group A only
      • 7:15 a.m. - 7:29 a.m. - Group B only
      • 7:30 a.m. - 7:44 a.m. - Group C only
      • 7:45 a.m. - 7:59 a.m. - Group D only
      • 8:00 a.m. - Registration Add/Drop Period open for all students
  • Saturday, November 24, 2026
    • 12:00 a.m. - Late Registration begins for all currently enrolled Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional, and Graduate Students. Continuing students who have not registered for any Fall classes are charged a $75 Late Registration Fee
  • Monday, January 11 – Friday, January 22, 2027
    • Spring registration for continuing students who have not registered for any Spring classes is charged a $125 Late Registration Fee

New (Incoming) Undergraduate Professional Students and Graduate Students

  • Thursday, January 7, 2027 at 5:00 p.m.

Summer Sessions Registration

Students seeking to register for courses during one of Rice's summer sessions should view the Summer Sessions page for important dates and deadlines.