Special Registration (and Course Registration Overrides)

Special Registration and Course Registration Overrides allow students to request exceptions or overrides for course registration restrictions. Instructor-approved registration overrides can be completed electronically through ESTHER. Office of the Registrar (OTR) special registration requests can be completed by submitting a paper Special Registration Form.

Note: Please see the Academic Calendar for important dates relative to registration and fee assessment.

Add/Drop

Students have the option of adding and/or dropping courses once registration opens, and after the start of the Add/Drop Period. Please refer to the academic calendar for important deadlines.

In most instances, the student-initiated action of adding and/or dropping course is done electronically in ESTHER. In some situations, to register or add a course a student may need to submit the appropriate Special Registration Form (Undergraduate or Graduate). Upon completion, this form is submitted to the Office of the Registrar either in-person or via e-mail to registrar@rice.edu.

Designate a Course as Pass/Fail

Please refer to the directions found on The Pass/Fail Option page.

Overlapping or Double-Booked Courses (Time Conflicts)

In order to register for more than one class which meets at this same day/time, you will need the approval of the instructors of each class. To register for Overlapped or Double-Booked Courses, you must submit an electronic course registration override request for a time conflict override.

Courses which require the permission of the instructor (Course Registration Overrides)

You will need the permission of the instructor to register for a course if:

  • The course is full, and the instructor is willing to permit your registration
  • The course is "instructor-permission required" and the instructor requires his or her approval prior to admitting a student to the course
  • The Add deadline has passed, and you have petitioned with extenuating circumstances and have been granted approval from the Committee on Examinations and Standing (EX&S) for Undergraduates or Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies for Graduates.
  • The instructor is willing to allow you to register and is willing to approve an exception or override where:
    • You are missing a required prerequisite
    • You cannot fit a required co-requisite into your schedule
    • There is a level restriction on the course
    • There is a classification restriction on the course
    • There is a major restriction on the course
    • You are attempting to register for a duplicate course in the same semester

To register for a course requiring the instructor's permission, submit an electronic course registration override request via ESTHER, or ask the instructor to submit the request on your behalf.

Submit Course Registration Override Requests

Follow these instructions to submit an electronic course registration override request within ESTHER.

  1. Log in to ESTHER: Log in to ESTHER, using your Rice NetID and password using Duo two-factor authentication.
  2. Navigate to Course Registration Overrides: From the Students tab, click Students – Registration, then select the Course Registration Overrides tile.
  3. Enter Course & Instructor Details: Select the Semester, enter the Course Subject and Number (or CRN), and select the Instructor.
  4. Select Override Type(s): Check the box for the override(s) types you are requesting*.
  5. Consent to Share Academic History: Choose Yes or No to indicate whether you consent to share your Academic History (Transcript) with the reviewing instructor.
  6. Provide Justification: Enter a detailed explanation for your request in the Justification text box.
  7. Click Submit Course Registration Override Request.
  8. Check Email & Finalize Registration: Monitor your Rice email for automated status updates. If approved, return to ESTHER to complete your course registration.

Please note: You may select multiple overrides in a single request. However, if your request includes either a Repeat Acknowledgment or a Time Conflict, you cannot combine it with any other override type.

Variable Credit Courses

Through the 2nd Week of Registration:

  1. You do not need to come to the Office of the Registrar. When you registered for the course, it defaulted to the lowest applicable credit hours for that course.
  2. If you need to adjust those hours, you can do so through ESTHER. You will find the Change Variable Course Credit option on the Registration page under Student Services. More instructions for adjusting credit hours of a variable credit hour course can be found here.

Past the 2nd week of registration:

  • Undergraduate students: In instances where an undergraduate believes that they may have legitimate extenuating circumstances, they may submit a petition to the Committee on Examinations and Standing at exs@rice.edu.
  • Graduate students: In instances where a graduate believes that they may have legitimate extenuating circumstances, they should obtain the appropriate form from their academic department and appeal for a late change to the Dean of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies at graduate@rice.edu.

Audit a Course

Students have the option of auditing courses. Audited courses will be noted on your transcript with a grade of either "AUD" or "NC" (No Credit). There are no credit hours associated with audited courses and auditing a course does not affect your GPA.

  1. Complete the appropriate Special Registration Request Form (Undergraduate or Graduate).
  2. Fill out the form and check the box for the appropriate exception and have the instructors approve and sign the form.
  3. Submit the completed form to the Office of the Registrar by the end of the 2nd week of the semester. (Please note: if you have previously registered yourself for credit for the course, you have until the end of the 7th week to change from registration to audit with permission from the instructor).

Drop-Back Provision for Select MATH/CHEM/PHYS Courses

For a select list of courses, a long-standing provision exists, one referred to as the Drop-Back Provision. For more information on this Drop-Back Provision, click here.