Academic Services
In Absentia Registration
Graduate students whose research or study requires them to remain outside California for the duration of a full quarter, can take advantage of in absentia registration. The research or study must be directly related to the student’s degree program and of a nature that makes it necessary to be completed outside of California. This includes students holding a fellowship, internship, or having a graduate student research appointment.
Students who are approved for in absentia registration will receive a reduction of 85% of the combined registration, educational, and campus fees. Other fees, notably the nonresident tuition and graduate student health insurance remain unchanged.
Students using in absentia registration are responsible for adhering to the registration and fee payments deadlines published in the Registrar’s quarterly Schedule of Classes. Students going out-of-state sometimes forget about these deadlines and become subject to late registration fees or worse, allow their status to lapse. These circumstances can be avoided by making arrangements for registration and fee payment for subsequent quarters before leaving UCSB.
Eligibility Criteria for In Absentia Registration
- Doctoral students must have advanced to candidacy by the time in absentia status would begin.
- Master’s and graduate professional students (Ed.D) must have completed one year of coursework by the time in absentia status would begin.
- Doctoral students may be granted up to two years, with the second year requiring special approval by the Graduate Dean.
- Master’s and graduate professional students may be granted up to one year in absentia registration.
Applying for In Absentia Registration
Students should submit to Graduate Division the Request for In Absentia Registration petition by the deadline posted in the Registrar’s Schedule of Classes. The petition requires the approval of the Department Graduate Advisor and the student's research advisor. Their signatures verify that the student will be conducting research or engaging in study which requires that the student be outside California for one to three quarters. Students on nonimmigrant visas must secure the approval of the Office of International Students and Scholars prior to submitting the petition to Graduate Division.
Approval is for one to three consecutive quarters. Extensions for additional quarters are at the discretion of the Graduate Dean.
Refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for more information on in absentia registration.