Close menu Resources for... William & Mary
W&M menu close William & Mary

Non-Degree Seeking (NDS) Students

William & Mary offers limited enrollment access to non-degree seeking students during the fall and spring terms. During the summer term, W&M offers access without the requirements that exist in the fall and spring terms. All NDS students are required to review the Student Policies & Resources before enrolling in classes.

Please note that the application process for undergraduate courses and graduate courses is different.

Undergraduate Courses
Apply as a Non-Degree Seeking (NDS) Student

If you are interested in taking undergraduate courses as a non-degree seeking student, complete the online non-degree seeking application at least 10 business days prior to the first day of the term (check the academic calendar for term dates). Additional documents may be required to accompany your application. Starting with the Spring 2024 semester, a $50 application fee per semester applies for all UG NDS applications. (W&M employees are exempt from the application fee.) Select your current status below for additional application details. 

Concurrent high school students do not apply through this application and should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admission regarding application requirements and the process.

When does the undergraduate NDS application open for my chosen term?

Dates are subject to change.

  • Fall - June 1
  • Spring - December 1
  • Summer - March 1
Apply Now - Undergraduate NDS
Select Your Status for Application Process Details:
Senior Citizens

No supplemental documents are required to accompany your online application, but please review the Senior Citizen Non-Degree Seeking (NDS) page for information related to audit vs. credit status, technology requirements, course registration, and tuition information. A $50 application fee is required each semester you apply to take courses as an NDS student.  Please review and use the Senior Citizen NDS Checklist.

Postbaccalaureate Students
Supplemental Documentation Required (fall and spring terms only)

An official transcript is required if you did not graduate from William & Mary. A $50 application fee is required each semester you apply to take courses as an NDS student.

Visiting College Students

Visiting status is intended for a clearly articulated academic experience that is unique to William & Mary or central to the degree at your home institution. Visiting status is not intended for mere credit accrual. Enrollment as a visiting student is limited to one semester, except for existing exchange agreements. Visiting students must enroll full-time (12 or more credits for undergraduates) if attending in a fall or spring term unless part-time goals are approved in the application process and validated by the student's home institution. A $50 application fee is required each semester you apply to take courses as an NDS student.

International Students

International students should contact the Reves Center for International Studies for information on submitting an exchange student application.

Transfer Students

Visiting student status is not an initial stage for transferring to W&M and admission as a visiting student does not guarantee admission as a transfer student to W&M. Students who have been denied admission to W&M as transfer applicants will not be offered admission as non-degree seeking visiting students.

Eligibility for Fall & Spring Terms

Students enrolled full-time at other institutions may request to attend W&M for one semester provided they:

  • have permission from the sending college and they plan to return to that institution
  • are in good standing and matriculated at an accredited four-year college or university
  • can present academic credentials that demonstrate likely success at W&M
  • have not been denied transfer acceptance at W&M 
Supplemental Documentation Required (fall and spring terms only)

Three items are required: a Personal Statement, a Letter of Approval from your home institution, and official transcripts for all of your college work. The Personal Statement and Letter of Approval are both required to be uploaded to your application before it can be submitted. Optionally, you may choose to upload an unofficial transcript to be used for a preliminary review of your application, however, official transcripts are still required to be sent separately. (Please note that any transcript uploaded and attached to your application will be considered unofficial.) 

  • Official transcripts for all college work (required to be sent to W&M once you have applied)
    • A transcript is considered official if received by W&M directly from the sending institution, or in a sealed envelope from the institution
    • Optional: upload an unofficial copy to your application for preliminary review
  • Personal Statement (required to submit your application)
    • Explain your reason for seeking visiting student status. A very clear academic proposal outlining academic experiences unique to W&M and central to the degree at the student's home institution should be provided and will weigh heavily in consideration of admissibility
  • Letter of Approval (required to submit your application)
    • From your home institution's Office of the University Registrar or academic advisor identifying courses that will transfer to the home institution. This letter must include both: permission to take classes at W&M and confirmation that W&M courses will transfer to the home institution and count toward a bachelor's degree
Eligibility for Summer Terms

Visiting college students attending in the summer must be in good standing at their home institution and must not have been denied transfer acceptance to W&M. Other supplemental materials are not required. Students are not required to enroll in 12 credits during the summer.

Summer Students

No supplemental materials are required to accompany your application. Students are not required to enroll in 12 credits during the summer. Additional information about summer academic sessions can be found on the Undergraduate Arts & Sciences websiteA $50 application fee is required each semester you apply to take courses as an NDS student.

Faculty and Staff

No supplemental documents are required to accompany your online application, but please review the Employee Educational Assistance page for additional policy information, required documents, and FAQs related to tuition and fees. W&M employees do not need to pay an application fee. 

Concurrent High School Students

Information on admission requirements as a non-degree seeking concurrent high school student is found on the Undergraduate Admission websitePlease contact the Office of Undergraduate Admission at (757) 221-3859 or admission@wm.edu.

Students who have received and accepted an offer of admission for the Fall and who choose to start their program at William & Mary during the preceding Summer Session should apply as an Undergraduate NDS.

After You Apply: Undergraduate NDS Next Steps
I have submitted my NDS application. What comes next?

Once your complete undergraduate NDS application has been submitted and any documentation that is required to accompany your application has been received by the University Registrar's Office, your application will be reviewed and you will receive an email within 7 days. Please check the email address listed on your application regularly, including your email's spam folder.

I have been approved to enroll as a NDS student. How and when can I register?

Once you have been approved to enroll as an Undergraduate NDS student, you will receive an email containing information on how to activate your W&M Username. If you have not received an email within a week of the beginning of the term, please contact the [[w|registrar, University Registrar's Office]].

Registration

Your W&M Username enables you to register for courses through PATHRegistration for fall and spring terms begins on the first day of classes. For summer terms, the date registration begins will be listed on the academic calendar. Remember to check the academic calendar for important term dates. Senior Citizens: For other information specific to you, please review the Senior Citizen Non-Degree Seeking (NDS) page.

Audit a Course

You will not be able to select audit status when you register in PATH. If you wish to audit an undergraduate course, fill out the Undergraduate Permission to Audit form (pdf), have your instructor sign off, then submit the completed form to the University Registrar's Office for processing by the add/drop deadline for the term.

Registration Resources
Tuition

Tuition and fees are due and payable by the due date as established by the Bursar's Office. Senior citizens should review the Tuition section on the Senior Citizen Non-Degree Seeking (NDS) page. Tuition may be waived for William & Mary employees.  All non-degree seeking students are required to complete the online Financial Responsibility Agreement form.  Failure to complete this form will prevent registration.

Policies & Resources for NDS Students

Please visit the Policies & Resources webpage for non-degree seeking students. 

Graduate Courses
Apply as a Non-Degree Seeking (NDS) Student

If you are interested in taking graduate courses as a non-degree seeking student, select the Graduate School for additional application details. All NDS questions should be directed to the appropriate school.

Graduate Arts & Sciences

For Graduate Arts & Sciences courses, the non-degree seeking application is due least 10 business days prior to the first day of the term (check the academic calendar for term dates). 

Graduate Arts & Sciences courses (numbered 500 and above) are restricted to degree seeking students. NDS students must obtain permission from the instructor and the department's director of graduate studies prior to admission.

All non-degree seeking students are required to complete the online Financial Responsibility Agreement form. 

When does the Graduate A&S NDS application open for my chosen term?

Dates are subject to change.

  • Fall - June 1
  • Spring - December 1
  • Summer - March 1
Senior Citizens

Complete the online application and submit the following form to the Office of Graduate Studies least 10 business days prior to the first day of the term (check the academic calendar for term dates).

Specific information for senior citizens interested in taking graduate courses is available on the Senior Citizen Non-Degree Seeking (NDS) page in the Graduate Courses section.

Apply Now - graduate A&S NDS
Postbaccalaureate Students

Complete the online application and submit the following documents to the Office of Graduate Studies least 10 business days prior to the first day of the term (check the academic calendar for term dates).

Apply Now - graduate A&S NDS
Faculty and Staff

Complete the online application and submit the following form to the Office of Graduate Studies least 10 business days prior to the first day of the term (check the academic calendar for term dates).

Apply Now - graduate A&S NDS
After You Apply: Graduate Arts & Sciences NDS Next Steps
I have submitted my NDS application. What comes next?

Once your complete Graduate Arts & Sciences NDS application has been submitted and any documentation that is required to accompany your application has been received by Office of Graduate Studies, your application will be reviewed and you will receive an email within 7 days. Please check the email address listed on your application regularly, including your email's spam folder.

I have been approved to enroll as a Graduate Arts & Sciences NDS student. How and when can I register?

Once you have been approved to enroll as an Graduate Arts & Sciences NDS student, you will receive an email containing information on how to activate your W&M Username. If you have not received an email within a week of the beginning of the term, please contact the [[w|dean-gsr, Office of Graduate Studies.]]

Registration

Registration for fall and spring terms begins on the first day of classes. For summer terms, the date registration begins will be listed on the academic calendar. The Graduate A&S Registrar's Office will register you for courses. Senior Citizens: For other information specific to you, please review the Senior Citizen Non-Degree Seeking (NDS) page.

Mason School of Business

For questions about the process, or to enroll in graduate courses in the Mason School of Business, please contact them at (757) 221-2921.

School of Marine Science (VIMS)

For questions about the process, or to enroll in graduate courses in the School of Marine Science (VIMS) (pdf), please contact them at (804) 684-7106.

School of Education

For questions about the process, or to enroll in graduate courses in the School of Education, please review the School of Education Non-Degree Seeking Students page or contact them at (757) 221-2317.

For those seeking Teacher Certification, contact the School of Education prior to submitting the NDS application.

Law School

For questions about the process, or to enroll in graduate courses in the Law School, please contact them at (757) 221-3782.

Tuition

Tuition and fees are due and payable by the due date as established by the Bursar's Office. Senior citizens should review the Tuition section on the Senior Citizen Non-Degree Seeking (NDS) page. Tuition may be waived for William & Mary employees.  All non-degree seeking students are required to complete the online Financial Responsibility Agreement form.  Failure to complete this form will prevent registration.

Policies & Resources for NDS Students

Please visit the Policies & Resources webpage for non-degree seeking students.