How to Register

Students should register during Advance Registration and during the course selection period. Dates for advance registration for the Spring and Fall semester can be found on the University Academic Calendar. PhD students do not enroll in the summer.

Course Load Requirements

All students enrolled in a degree program are required to be continuously registered. Three or four graduate course units (CUs) per semester (including dissertation research, such as BE 9999) is considered to be a normal, full-time load for all students. Students must consult with the Graduate Group Chair if a deviation from the normal load is contemplated.

Part-time students usually take one or, at most, two courses per semester.

BE 9999 is the course number assigned to independent study/dissertation research. Section numbers for BE 9999 are assigned according to each advisor’s name. The section numbers for BE 9999 are found through Path@Penn registration system. Up to 3 units of this course may be taken simultaneously.

Changes in Registration/Leave of Absence

Continuous registration as a graduate student is required unless a formal leave of absence is granted. All students who desire a leave of absence must submit a request through the appropriate form found here: Forms and Requests

Students may add or drop courses without penalty in any semester if it is done by the deadline. The student should discuss all changes in registration with his/her advisor and receive approval before making any changes. Approval should be communicated via email to the Graduate Program Coordinator before making any changes to the registration.

A student in the PhD program at Penn is eligible for a “Time Off” period of eight weeks for the birth or adoption of a child. The student must notify the graduate group chair and Advisor/Supervisor in writing, at an early date, of his/her plans to initiate a “Time Off” period, so that appropriate arrangements can be made to cover any teaching/research responsibilities.

Please learn more about this policy here:

Graduate Student Support | Penn Valuing Grad Students

Support for PhD Students with Children | Penn Valuing Grad Students

Family Friendly Policies for PhD Students < University of Pennsylvania

A student in the PhD program at Penn may take an unpaid Family Leave of Absence for the birth or adoption of a child, child care, or care of an immediate family member (spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent) with a serious health condition.

Students may take a Family Leave of Absence for one or two semesters. The student is expected to notify the graduate group chair and adviser in writing of his/her plans to take a Family Leave at an early date, so that appropriate arrangements can be made to cover any teaching/research responsibilities. Family Leave “stops the clock” on the student’s academic requirements, including service requirements, for the duration of the leave.

During the period of Family Leave, the student may arrange to continue Student Health Insurance, but is responsible for the payment of his or her own premiums. Upon paying a fee, students on approved Family Leave will retain their PennCard, e-mail accounts, library privileges, and building access. Funding commitments from the institution are deferred until the student returns from Family Leave.

Students receiving funding from external sources, such as government grants, are subject to the conditions established by the funding source. Service requirements (e.g., teaching, research) will be met by the student following return from Family Leave.

Requests for extension of Family Leave beyond one year, or for repeated Family Leaves, may be made. Approval of an extension, deferral of funding, and continued academic accommodation is at the discretion of the Graduate Dean.

Family Friendly Policies for PhD Students < University of Pennsylvania

Grading System

The grading system for graduate courses is A+ through F. If a student receives an F, the course must be taken again; however, the F remains on the student’s record. Courses for which a passing grade was obtained cannot be taken again for credit.

GPA Requirement

Doctoral students in the School of Engineering and Applied Science are expected to maintain at least a B average (3.0) in their work. A student whose record falls below a minimum of a B average will be put on academic probation and may be required to withdraw.

Graduation GPA Requirement

Graduation requires a minimum of a B average (exclusive of dissertation credits). Requirements cannot be satisfied by auditing courses or receiving an incomplete (I) grade.