Registration Process

Matriculated students use MyUW or the MyPlan academic planning tool to register for courses each quarter. Learn more about the registration process and important registration policies - see separate links for MS Thesis and PhD students, and MS Capstone students. Contact the Registration Office for general registration questions.

Viewing Section Notes in MyPlan

In MyPlan, be sure to check for section notes by clicking on the triangle next to the section letter. If available, these notes will often indicate instructions on enrolling, such as course restrictions and contacts for add codes.

Adding a Course to MyPlan

Important tip: Be sure you've selected a specific section (e.g., A, B, etc.) when you "Add to Plan" even if only one section is being offered for that course.

Register for the BIOST Section for Joint Courses

Many BIOST courses are "joint" with a STAT (Statistics) course number. Whenever possible, register using the BIOST course number. This makes degree audits smoother.

Subscribe to Seat Availability Notifications

If a course is full, you can subscribe to seat availability notifications. In MyPlan, click on the alert bell icon by the course section. In the Time Schedule, click on the Schedule Line Number (SLN) and then subscribe to notifications. You can also subscribe via Notify.UW.

Credit Requirements for TA/RA Appointments

Students with RA/TA appointments must register for at least 10 credits in Autumn, Winter, and Spring, and 2 credits in Summer. Tuition waivers cannot be applied unless the minimum credits are registered.

Notes for MS Capstone Students Only

The Biostatistics MS Capstone program is a fee-based program that is partly administered by the University of Washington Professional and Continuing Education (PCE) office. MS Capstone students should register for most courses under the UW Professional and Continuing Education (PCE) Time Schedule. In MyPlan, you can check the "Find PCE sections only" box or make sure that the section you add to your plan is the one listed in the PCE tab, not the Seattle tab.

Please contact your academic advisor if you are interested in taking courses that are not listed on the timeline. Note that you will be charged additional course fees for each additional credit you take.

Registration Periods and Deadlines

Be mindful of registration periods and deadlines each quarter, available on the Academic Calendar.

You should register as soon as possible after your registration period begins, especially for STAT and MATH courses which fill up quickly. Most new students register in Period II for Autumn quarter (mid-June) and Period I thereafter.

Course Add Codes and Faculty Codes

Courses that Require add Codes or Faculty Codes

Generally, Biostatistics students can register for most BIOST prefix courses without an add code. Only courses with "Restr" or the ">" symbol next to the Schedule Line Number (SLN) in the Time Schedule, or icons next to the section letter in MyPlan have restrictions or add code requirements, but for BIOST courses those restrictions are usually for non-Biostatistics/Statistics majors.

BIOST 590 Consulting requires add codes for all students. Independent study courses (BIOST 600, 700, 800) require a faculty code.

Late Registration

All UW courses require add codes starting the second week of the quarter.

How to Obtain add Codes or Faculty Codes

To request an add code, see the contact information or method noted in the Time Schedule or MyPlan. Each department has their own contact or they may ask you to complete an add code survey. If no information is provided, for BIOST prefix courses, contact the Department of Biostatistics Curriculum Coordinator.

Biostatistics faculty codes for independent study are posted on the department's Intranet. See more below regarding registering for independent study. 

If the faculty member you want to work with is not on the faculty code list, first contact the Biostatistics Curriculum Coordinator to find out if the person can be added. Generally this can be done only for new core Biostatistics faculty, faculty who are from another department but have a joint appointment with Biostatistics, or Statistics faculty with Graduate Faculty status. The Curriculum Coordinator can make this determination for you. If the faculty member is not granted a faculty code, you will need to contact the faculty member’s home department to register.

Independent Study

You may register for an independent study (BIOST 600A), often referred to as a reading credit. Some new students take a one-credit independent study with their academic advisor during their first quarter in the program. It is up to you and your advisor to determine if this would be useful.

When you register for BIOST 600A, you will be asked for a faculty code and the number of credits you are taking. Credit hours should be discussed with the faculty member, but in general, one credit is approximately 3 hours/week of study.

English Requirements for International Students

If you are an international student who has been required to take an ENG class to satisfy English proficiency or TA requirements, you may visit the Academic English Program website for details. Contact aep@uw.edu for registration questions, add codes, and drop codes.