Undergraduate Registration Requirement
The Undergraduate Registration Requirement (URR) applies to undergraduate students seeking a bachelor’s degree and must be completed in addition to the degree requirements established by the school faculties. The URR is predicated on the principle that when a student receives a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University, the majority of the student’s academic work is completed at the University. Each school specifies a minimum number of units of credit needed for a bachelor’s degree (42 or more, depending on the degree). In addition, the URR specifies:
- The number of quarters a student must be registered at Northwestern
- The number of units of credit a student must earn at Northwestern
URR for first time freshmen
| Degree type | 4-year degree | Dual bachelor's degree* |
|---|---|---|
| Quarters at Northwestern | 9 | 11 |
| Earned Northwestern Credits | 32 | 42 |
URR for transfer students
| Degree type | 4-year degree | Dual bachelor's degree* |
|---|---|---|
| Quarters at Northwestern | 6 | 9 |
| Earned Northwestern Credits | 21 | 32 |
*See the undergraduate catalog for information on approved dual bachelor’s degree programs.
^Students in the Honors Program in Medical Education (HPME) and Integrated Science Program (ISP) are subject to special URR regulations. Check with the program for the most accurate information.
For the purpose of counting toward the URR, a "quarter at Northwestern" requires:
- Being under the supervision of Northwestern faculty member(s)
- Registering for and completing classes worth at least 2.00 units of credit in a term
- Receiving any of the following grades in credit-bearing classes: A, B, C (including pluses and minuses), D, F, P, N, X, Y, K or W.
Please note: most study abroad and transfer credit does not count toward either requirement of the URR. There is one exception: Completion of Northwestern study abroad programs that offer courses with Northwestern course numbers and the “-SA” course suffix counts toward the URR as long as all other provisions are met.