Approval to Enroll in Courses

To be considered, you must complete a non-degree application. Your application will be reviewed by the relevant department on a course-by-course, quarter-by-quarter basis. For each course you wish to enroll in, we will submit your application on file together with your Stanford transcript.

To enroll in subsequent courses, you must earn a grade of B or higher in each course. If you receive below a B, you will need to submit a petition and be approved before enrolling in additional courses. Approval to enroll in a course, retake a course, or enroll in additional courses is at the sole discretion of the departments.

Some departments have specific minimum grade requirements for subsequent course approval:

• The Department of Computer Science requires that you have a final course grade of B or higher to be approved to enroll in additional courses. If you receive lower than a B, you will need to petition the department to continue. If you receive a subsequent grade lower than a B, you will be required to retake one or more of your previous courses and receive a higher grade in order to be considered for future coursework.
• The Department of Electrical Engineering requires that you earn a B or higher in EE courses and maintain a GPA of 3.0 in all courses taken as a non-degree student. If you earn a grade lower than a B in an EE course or your GPA is below 3.0, you must petition the department to be considered for any future coursework in EE.

Grades

As a non-degree student, you will be automatically enrolled in courses for letter grades. To have a course contribute to a graduate certificate, you must receive a letter grade that meets the certificate requirements.

Revision of End-of-Quarter Grades

Generally, end-quarter grades are final and not subject to change by reason of a revision of judgment on the instructor’s part; nor are grades to be revised on the basis of a second trial (for example, a new examination or additional work undertaken or completed after the end of the quarter).

Changes may be made at any time to correct an actual error in computation or transcription, or where some part of the student's work has been unintentionally overlooked; that is, if the new grade is the one that would have been entered on the original report had there been no mistake in computing and had all the pertinent data been before the instructor, the change is a proper one.

If you have questions about an end-of-quarter grade based on the grading of part of a specific piece of work (for example, part of a test) on the basis of one of the allowable factors mentioned in the preceding paragraph (for example, an error in computation or transcription, or work unintentionally overlooked, but not matters of judgment as mentioned below), the instructor may review the entire piece of work in question (for example, the entire test) for the purpose of determining whether the end-quarter grade was a proper one.

In general, changing an end-quarter grade is permitted on the basis of the allowable factors already mentioned whether an error is discovered by the student or the instructor; however, changing a grade is not permitted by reason of revision of judgment on the part of the instructor.

Appeals to Your Final Course Grade

To appeal your final course grade, start by reaching out to your instructor for a review. Clearly articulate the reasons for your appeal and include any relevant information about the situation.You can make your request through email, but we recommend that you arrange an in-person meeting with your instructor to discuss your concerns in detail.

If this review does not lead to a resolution, you can pursue an official complaint or grade appeal. To do so, you must submit a formal grievance to the relevant department chair within 30 days of the end of the quarter. Your grievance (sent as an email) should outline the specific reasons for your grade appeal, any steps you've already taken to address the issue with your instructor, the outcomes of those discussions, and any negative impacts you have experienced as a result. After the department chair receives your memo, they may request additional materials and provide guidance on the next steps in the appeals process. The decision made by the department chair is final.

A delay in filing a grievance (beyond the 30-day window) will constitute grounds for rejection of the grievance.

Conduct and Honor Code

Conduct at Stanford is governed by several sets of policies:

The Fundamental Standard articulates the standard of conduct expected of all Stanford students, including those in the non-degree option (NDO) program. It states, "Students at Stanford are expected to show both within and without the University such respect for order, morality, personal honor and the rights of others as is demanded of good citizens." Failure to do this will be sufficient cause for removal from the University. Read the Fundamental Standard.

The Honor Code is the university's statement on academic integrity. It articulates university expectations of students and faculty in establishing and maintaining the highest standards in academic work. Read the Honor Code.

The Community Standards Review Process is the set of policies and processes used to adjudicate concerns or allegations of NDO student misconduct, including violations of the Fundamental Standard or Honor Code. Read the Community Standards Review Process.