Academic Services
In Absentia Registration
Graduate students whose research or study requires them to remain outside California for the duration of a quarter, but who need to be registered, can take advantage of In Absentia registration. This includes recipients of fellowships who must be registered to receive financial support, or students on internships or conducting fieldwork related to the completion of their graduate degrees. Students are advised to check the requirements of their fellowship, internship, or student academic apprentice appointment - most stipulate registration as a condition of eligibility. To be eligible for In Absentia registration, students must remain outside California for the duration of the quarter.
Students who are approved for In Absentia registration will receive a reduction of one-half of the UCSB Registration Fee. The reduction is possible because the student's absence from the University means they will not be utilizing University facilities such as the Davidson Library and Student Health Service. Other fees, notably nonresident tuition and the education fee, remain unchanged.
Students using In Absentia registration are responsible for taking care of registration and fee payments, or finding someone else who will help them while they are outside California . Students must abide by the fee payment and registration deadlines published in the quarterly Schedule of Classes . Students going out-of-state sometimes forget about these deadlines and become subject to late registration fees or let their status lapse. These circumstances can be avoided by making arrangements for registration and fee payment for subsequent quarters before leaving UCSB.
Students who are approved for In Absentia Registration can use GOLD to register for courses.
Applying for In Absentia Registration
Students apply by completing the Request for In Absentia Registration Form indicating where they will be and the duration of time they will be outside the state of California . The departmental Graduate Advisor and the student's faculty advisor must verify on the petition that the student will be conducting research or engaging in study which will require the student to be outside California for one to three quarters. Students must secure faculty verification concerning where the student will be studying and the duration of the absence from California . Students on nonimmigrant visas must secure the signature of the Office of International Students and Scholars.
A memo or e-mail note containing the required information, verified by a faculty member, will be accepted in lieu of an In Absentia petition. There is no petition fee for the Request for In Absentia Registration.
Approval is for one to three consecutive quarters. If the student wants an extension for additional quarters, the student must secure faculty verification and re-establish eligibility.