Final Quarter Registration
A student must maintain registration as a full- or part-time graduate student at the University for the quarter in which the master's degree is conferred. A student who does not complete all degree requirements by the last day of the quarter must be registered for the following quarter.
Continuous Enrollment and Official On-leave Requirement
To maintain graduate status, a student must be enrolled at least on a part-time or on-leave basis from the time of first enrollment in the Graduate School until completion of all requirements for the graduate degree. This includes applying for the master's degree, the passing of the master's final examination, or final examinations, the filing of the thesis or dissertation, and the receiving of the degree. Summer Quarter on-leave enrollment is automatic for all graduate students who were either registered or on-leave the prior Spring Quarter. Failure to maintain continuous enrollment constitutes evidence that the student has resigned from the Graduate School.
A student's petition for on-leave status must be approved by the department graduate program coordinator or alternate no later than the fifth day of the quarter. To be eligible for on-leave status, the student must have registered for and completed at least one quarter in the UW Graduate School and have been registered or on-leave for the immediate previous quarter (excepting Summer). An on-leave student is entitled to use the University Libraries and to sit for foreign language competence examinations, but is not entitled to any other University privileges of a regularly enrolled and registered full- or part-time student. The student pays a nonrefundable fee to obtain on-leave student status covering four successive academic quarters or any part thereof. A student who returns before the termination of the on-leave period and maintains registration for any part of a quarter cancels on-leave status. Please note: Periods spent on-leave are included as part of the maximum time periods allowed for completion of a graduate degree.
Readmission
A student previously registered in the Graduate School who has failed to maintain graduate student status, but who wishes to resume studies, must file an application by the published closing dates, in person, or by mail, for readmission to the Graduate School. If the student is readmitted, registration will occur during the usual registration period. If the student has attended any other institution during the period when not registered at the University of Washington, official transcripts of the student's work (in duplicate) must be submitted. An application for readmission carries no preference and is treated in the same manner as an application for initial admission. Payment of the application fee is also required.
The Graduate School normally allows six years to complete requirements for a master's degree. Periods spent on-leave or out of status are included.