Enrollment Information
- Courses numbered 500-699 are graduate courses and carry graduate credit for all graduate students, whether in the student’s area of study or not. These credits are calculated in each student’s cumulative graduate grade point average (GPA) if taken while in graduate status. See your departmental guidelines for specific degree requirements.
- Some 300 and 400-level courses are available for graduate credit if listed in the UNM Catalog with either a single asterisk (*) or a double asterisk (**). If you enroll in any 300/400-level courses listed with a single asterisk, you are automatically enrolled for graduate credit, whether in your area of study or not. 300/400-level courses listed with a double asterisk are available for graduate credit only to students outside that particular area of study. To receive graduate credit for a course with a double asterisk, an eligible student must complete and fully process a “Graduate Credit Authorization Form” by the published dates.
Courses numbered 700 are generally considered “professional courses” and might not carry graduate credit.
Each student is admitted to a specific level (associates, undergraduate, graduate, etc.). Each course also has a level (associates, undergraduate, graduate, etc.). Students who wish to enroll in courses outside their level must obtain permission by submitting a green card.
Examples of level restrictions are:
• A graduate student who wishes to enroll in an undergraduate course for graduate credit
• A graduate student who wishes to enroll in a law, medical, or business course for graduate credit
• A law or medical student who wishes to enroll in a graduate level course for graduate credit
• A business student who wishes to enroll in a law course for graduate credit
If you live in New Mexico only to attend school and have a residence out-of-state the rest of the year, you are resident of that state and are not eligible for New Mexico residency. If you are financially independent and can provide documentation of residing in New Mexico for the past 12 consecutive months, you may be eligible to petition for residency and secure resident tuition.
To learn how to petition for New Mexico Residency, please go to the Registrar's Office main page, or to the Residency Information page for a checklist of documentation required for the petition and deadlines for their submission. You can also find other forms for programs available to nonresidents.
To register for classes,
- Log on to My UNM with your NetID and password
- Select the 'Student Life' Tab and 'Enter LoboWeb'
- Once in LoboWeb, select 'Registration and Records' and then select 'Registration (Add/Drop classes)’
See the Office of the Registrar’s website for semester-specific add/drop/withdrawal dates. See the UNM Catalog and your departmental guidelines for specific enrollment guidelines.
To make tuition payments:
- Log on to My UNM with your NetID and password.
- Select the 'Student Life' Tab and 'Enter LoboWeb'.
- Once in LoboWeb, select 'Make Payments'.
- Select 'UNM Account suite.’
Students who fail to pay their full required tuition and fee charges or make adequate financial arrangements with the Bursar's Office on or before the tuition deadline will have their registration canceled and be disenrolled from all classes. Graduate students who have been awarded assistantships with tuition waivers must have their contracts processed by the Monday before the tuition deadline to avoid being disenrolled by the Bursar's Office.
Students with canceled registration who wish to be enrolled at UNM must re-register. Such students will be required to make full payment, or must complete financial arrangements for all University charges, and pay a non refundable re-registration/late registration fee.
Graduate students may Petition the Dean of Graduate Studies for an exception to any of the University-wide policies or regulations specified in the University Catalog. Petitions are intended to allow students the opportunity to deal with unusual or extraordinary events, particularly circumstances beyond their control that would penalize them unfairly. Please keep in mind, however, that a hallmark of fairness is the uniform application of the same standards and deadlines to all students.
Graduate students without assistantships must enroll in at least nine credit hours to be considered full time; students registered in eight credit hours or less are considered part-time. Graduate students with assistantships must enroll in at least six credit hours to be eligible for full-time status.
International graduate students without assistantships must complete at least 9 credit hours each semester to maintain legal immigration status. International graduates with assistantships must complete at least 6 credit hours each semester. Grades of W, WP, WF or courses taken for a grade option of "audit" do not count toward the minimum enrollment requirements for maintaining legal immigration status. The Global Education Office (GEO) must report any drops below these minimum requirements to immigration within 21 days of the drop (even if the drop occurs after the semester is complete). All international students must speak with the Global Education Office before dropping below these required minimums FOR ANY REASON.
To remain in good academic standing students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 in all courses taken for graduate credit after admission to a graduate degree program at the University of New Mexico. For more information, including guidelines for probationary status and incomplete grades, visit the Graduate Catalog.
“Time-to-Degree” refers to the time taken to complete all degree requirements, from the point of admission to graduation.
Most master’s degrees require 30 to 36 semester hours. Students enrolled full-time with continuous enrollment may potentially complete their degrees in 18 months to 2 years. The average completion rate is generally 2 to 3 years.
Doctoral degrees require at least 48 hours of coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree, plus 18 units of dissertation credits. Students enrolled full-time with continuous enrollment may potentially complete their degree in 3.5 to 5 years. The average completion rate is generally 4 to 7 years in disciplines which do not require previous professional employment in their admissions decisions.
The University’s specific time limits for both master’s and doctoral degrees are as follows:
Time Limits – Master’s Degree Students:
Student’s seeking master’s degrees at the University of New Mexico must complete all requirements for the degree within seven (7) years from the date of the earliest course listed on the Program of Studies. No course work older than seven years at the time of graduation may be included as part of a student’s Program of Studies. An exception will be considered if, and only if, a) some catastrophic event beyond the student’s control occurs in the last semester of the seventh year following completion of the earliest course work, and b) the student would have graduated had the event not occurred. In such cases, students may petition the Senate Graduate Committee for an exception.
Time Limits – Doctoral Students:
All doctoral students are required to take a doctoral comprehensive examination that usually takes place at the time when coursework for the degree is completed and the student is ready to begin the dissertation. Once students pass the comprehensive examination, they have five (5) years to complete all degree requirements, including the defense of the dissertation and submission of the dissertation to the Graduate Studies office.
