Registration
Course registration is processed through the University of Illinois Student Self-Service portal. You will use your NetID and password to access the registration portal. The Office of the Registrar is the steward of official learner academic records and is responsible for the accuracy, integrity, and security of those records under the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA).
Each learner receives an individual time ticket which indicates the earliest date and time eligible to register for the upcoming semester. Learners should register as soon as their time ticket allows as courses may reach capacity. Please review the University’s Academic Calendar each semester to identify the date your time ticket is viewable and the date your specific time ticket opens for course registration for the upcoming semester.
Late course registration
Learners must register for courses by 11:59 PM CT on the first day of class. If seeking late registration (no later than 12:00 PM CT on Day 3 of the course), they must submit a Late Course Change Form through the Graduate College Student Portal. Before submitting, learners are required to acknowledge the following risks:
- No extensions will be granted for Module 1 assignments.
- Access to Canvas and Coursera may take 2–3 business days after registration.
- Standard tuition refund policies apply even if the course is later dropped.
Review & Decision Process
The department reviews Late Course Change Forms submitted by the Day 3 noon deadline. Requests will be denied if:
- The learner is trying to enroll in their first Gies Online course.
- The learner is not in good academic standing.
- The learner is a PAT learner or non-degree student.
- The course would put the learner over the maximum credit limit. Approval is rare and granted only under exceptional, justified circumstances.
Learners will be notified of the decision by the Graduate College. If approved, they should monitor the LMS (Canvas) for access and keep pace with coursework despite delayed entry. Learners denied late registration will need to select a future session.
Courses outside of primary program
Learners are only permitted to enroll in courses within their admitted Gies Online program. Exceptions are rare and must be clearly defined. This ensures that learners remain within the academic and financial structure of their designated program.
Learners who enroll in unapproved courses outside of their iDegree program may be required to drop the course or may not receive credit towards the degree.
Overloads
The maximum amount of credit in which a graduate learner may enroll is 20 hours in the fall and spring terms and 12 hours in the summer term. Learners may request up to 4 additional credit hours each semester. To request, learners will need to submit a Graduate Student Petition which will be reviewed by Gies Graduate Programs and the Graduate College. Learners who are required to be enrolled in a specific credit hour range for financial aid purposes should contact Financial Aid.
To be considered for an overload, learners must be in good academic standing. All overload requests must be approved by Gies Graduate Programs.
Learners enrolled in online programs must also:
- Have completed a minimum of 8 credit hours in their program
- Have a cumulative GPA of a minimum of 3.0 at the time of the request (iMBA and iMSM); have a cumulative GPA of a minimum of 3.25 at the time of the request (iMSA)
Registration after degree completion
If a learner wishes to continue course enrollment after graduation, they should reach out to their academic program to submit a Curriculum Change Petition. Learners will be required to switch to a non-degree or alternate program. Degree learners are permitted to enroll in zero-credit hour courses, such as capstones and other experiential courses required for their program. Non-degree and graduate certificate learners are not eligible to enroll in zero-credit hour courses.

