All graduate students at The University of Texas at Austin are expected to enroll and pay tuition and fees by the 12th class day of the fall and spring term of each academic year until graduation.
International Independent Study and Research Requirement
If the student has been admitted to candidacy for a doctoral degree, registration in the dissertation course, the equivalent, or International Independent Study and Research is required. The _99W course must be registered for continuously during the spring and fall terms until the degree is completed.
Grades & Credit
Students must register for at least six hours of dissertation before graduating. These courses are evaluated and graded each semester by the student's supervisor and assigned a grade of Credit or No Credit.
Registration
To assist doctoral candidates in meeting the continuous registration requirement, the Graduate School will automatically register eligible students for the spring and fall terms. (Students who have financial or nonfinancial holds excepted.) Doctoral candidates who wish to be enrolled during a summer session may register online.
Leave of Absence
The only alternative to continuous registration is a leave of absence.
Readmission
Students who fail to register after 12 days of class and who have not been granted a leave of absence must apply for readmission and pay the requisite fees.