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 2026 registration on Friday, October 31, 2025, and will remain open and available through 5:00 PM Friday, November 14, 2025. Spring 2026 registrations will be processed on Monday, November 17, 2025, and results will be made available in ESTHER by 5:00 PM. Registration will re-open on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 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 2026 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 2026 registration for continuing/returning undergraduate professional and graduate students begins on Monday, November 17, 2025, at 5:00 PM.

Additional information on registration times can be found on the Spring 2026 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 2026 Registration Timeline

Continuing and Returning Students - Registration begins Friday, October 31, 2025

Important: Check your Registration Priority Group

  • Friday, October 31, 2025
    • 8:00 a.m. - Registration Course Request Period opens for currently enrolled and returning Undergraduate Students
  • Friday, November 14, 2025
    • 5:00 p.m. - Registration Course Request Period closes for currently enrolled and returning Undergraduate Students
  • Monday, November 17, 2025
    • Monday Morning - Registration Course Requests for currently enrolled and returning Undergraduate Students are processed
    • Noon - 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 19, 2025
    • 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 22, 2025
    • 12:00 a.m. - Late Registration begins for all currently enrolled Undergraduate, Undergraduate Professional, and Graduate Students. Continuing students that have not registered for any Spring classes are charged a $75 Late Registration Fee
  • Monday, January 12 – Friday, January 23, 2026
    • Spring registration for continuing students who have not registered for any Spring classes are charged a $125 Late Registration Fee

New (Incoming) Undergraduate Professional Students and Graduate Students

  • Thursday, January 8, 2026 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.