Current Degree-Seeking Students

If you were placed on an academic suspension at the end of the spring 2020 semester, you can still register for Summer Session through Buff Portal. Once your summer coursework is complete, you may be able to contact your dean’s office and have the hold released.

If you have problems or questions concerning online registration, contact the Office of the Registrar at registrar@colorado.edu or 303-492-6970.

Current Nondegree Students

If you want to enroll in CU Boulder summer courses without pursuing a degree at the university, you may do so by term-activating yourself for the summer semester in Buff Portal or by contacting Continuing Education at 303-492-5148. 

If you're thinking about applying to CU Boulder as a degree-seeking undergraduate student in the future, you may transfer an unlimited number of credits taken as a nondegree student on any CU campus; however, the applicability of these credits toward degree requirements is established by individual schools and colleges. Consult the dean’s office of the school or college you plan to enter for further information.

If you enroll in summer classes and then change your mind, you may be assessed a financial penalty for the classes you dropped. See the withdrawal section and call Continuing Education at 303-492-5148 for more information.

Enrollment Dates
Student Group Date
Seniors Wednesday, March 4
Juniors Thursday, March 5
Sophomores Friday, March 6
Freshmen Friday, March 6
Graduate, law and business graduate students Thursday, March 5
Guest and nondegree students Monday, March 9

  1. Log in to Buff Portal
  2. On the registration checklist card, open the semester drop-down and select "Summer 2020." Your enrollment dates should appear at the top of the card.
  3. Expand the "Complete preregistration" section and click "Continue" to complete your preregistration items.
  4. Expand the "Search for classes" section and click "Continue" to search for classes.
  5. When you are ready to register for classes, either:
    • Log in to CU Boulder Class Search, open your shopping cart and click "Continue to Enrollment."
    • Log in to Buff Portal, go to the registration checklist card, expand the "Enroll in classes" section and click "Continue."
  6. If prompted, select the term you're enrolling in, then click "Continue."
  7. Scroll down to your shopping cart and tick the checkbox next to each class you want to enroll in.
  8. Click "Add Selected Classes."
  9. Confirm your selection(s), then click "Finish Enrolling."

In Buff Portal, you can see your enrolled classes on the change your schedule card. Once you're within 10 days of the first day of classes, each class meeting displays on the class schedule card.

If you are registering for a lecture class that has a required recitation and/or lab, the system will prompt you to add that component.

If you would like to take an independent study course or register for thesis or doctoral dissertation hours (900-level section numbers), you must contact the department for permission before you can enroll. Enrollment in these courses is limited by each department.

You have through July 10 to register for independent study course work and thesis hours. While these sections are listed as Session D, they follow the add/drop/withdrawal deadlines for Session B.

The maximum credit load allowed by most colleges and schools during Summer Session is 16 credit hours. Graduate students in the School of Education may register for no more than 9 credit hours.

When you add a class to your shopping cart, you'll be prompted to select from the available class options.

The grade mode drop-down will include at least one of the following options: letter grade, pass/fail and no credit basis (audit). The deadline to change your grading basis varies by session; see the session calendars section for details.

Independent study and occasionally regular courses are offered on a variable-credit basis. You must designate the number of credit hours you wish to receive for the course at the time of registration. Visit the CU Boulder Catalog website for more information about these options.

When a class is full but registration is still open, some departments allow students to join a waitlist to be automatically enrolled in the class if a seat becomes available. Placing your name on a waitlist does not guarantee you'll be enrolled in that class.

If you're enrolled from the waitlist, you'll receive an automated email confirmation. Visit the Office of the Registrar website for more information.

Waitlist deadlines in summer vary by session; see the session calendars section for details on the last day to add your name to a waitlist and when the waitlist is canceled.