Two students outside with laptop computers, smiling

Yale College Registration

Discover the possibilities and unlock your future.
Yale Course Search Yale Degree Audit

Key Registration Dates (Yale College & GSAS)

Date Day Event
May 15 F Registration ends for all YC & GSAS students, 5:00 p.m.
 
Fall 2026
Date Day Event
Aug. 17 M Registration opens for incoming first-year students at 12:00 p.m.; worksheets remain open through add/drop period.
Aug. 26 W Add/drop period begins for all YC & GSAS students.  Registration worksheets reopen for all returning students, 8:00 a.m.
Sep. 2 W Fall classes begin, 8:00 a.m.
Sep. 11 F Add/drop period ends for all YC & GSAS students, 5:00 p.m.

Key registration dates for Yale College and the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences are published on the University Registrar’s Office registration site in advance of registration period. 

Yale College Academic Calendar

Registration System

Yale College students select courses utilizing the registration worksheet within the registration system, Yale Course Search. They should also review their degree audit which is updated daily to reflect their schedules.

Yale Course Search Degree Audit

Questions about Registration?  You’re not alone. 

See our Registration FAQs for answers to common questions from students, staff and faculty or choose from one of our many registrations guides and videos below.

Yale College Registration Guides

Registration Video Guides

Registration and Add/Drop Periods

Course registration takes place in Yale Course Search (YCS) twice a year, once in mid-April for the fall term and again in mid-November for the spring term.  Students register for courses during the term before the term for which they are enrolling. 

About one week before the start of term, add/drop period opens for students to adjust their course schedules. Add/drop period is open for approximately two weeks.

First-year students register for the fall term in late August. 

Returning students register for the fall term in the spring term (typically mid-April) of the previous academic year.

All students register for the spring term (typically in mid-November) during the fall term of the same academic year.

The registration system reopens for several days at the start of the term, allowing students  to make adjustments (add or drop) to courses for which they enrolled during registration. The changes to course schedules at this time should be minimal.  

Add/drop period typically opens a few days before the term begins.

See Advising.  Students should consult with their academic advisors to ensure that their selections align with their degree requirements. They should also review their degree audit which is updated daily to reflect their schedules. 

Yale College students with concerns about meeting academic requirements should contact their Residential College Dean without delay.

See also the DUS Directory for a listing of the Director of Undergraduate Study in each major program. 

Forms requesting exceptional actions affecting  registration for Yale College students include:

Registration Guidelines

Yale College students should consult the Academic Regulations especially Course Enrollment and Course Credits and Course Loads and their adviser(s) during the registration process.  For concerns about policy or meeting the requirements of the degree they should consult with their Residential College Dean as early as possible. 

DUS & Registrar Directory

The Yale College Directors of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) and Registrars are critical to the success of Yale’s undergraduate programs.

 

Yale College DUS & Registrars

Residential College Deans and Assistants Directory

The chief academic adviser for every Yale College student is their Residential College Dean. 

Find your Residential College Dean