Is it possible to sit in a class without registering it?

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Solution 1

In the US, as far as I'm aware, the term you're looking for is "auditing" a class. You'll need to check your school's policy for this, as they vary.

For example, here's the audit policy for The University of Texas at Austin, which requires filling out a form, getting permission from the professor and there being space available in the class. But, when you're auditing, you only go to lectures, you don't participate in discussions or do any of the actual coursework.

This is pretty similar for other schools I've looked at but, as noted, you'll need to check your specific university's policy for it. Hopefully knowing the term will help.

For huge classes with 100+ students, you may be able to get in the unofficial way but for smaller classes of 10-30, the professor will probably notice that there's someone extra in the class, particularly if there aren't enough seats in the room.

Solution 2

(Per the comments, this might be country-specific. In my experience, this answer applies to the countries where you can take as many or as few courses as you like per semester, for the same price).

Are you a student of the university? If so, you're generally free to sit in, although it's polite to ask the lecturer first (I've never had a lecturer say no, in fact they were very happy, so don't worry). Still, if you're going to sit in, I'd also try to take it formally for credit.

If you're not a student of the university, then it's mandatory to ask. Again however, I've never seen a lecturer say no, and they were even happy to talk to me about the material after class even though I'm not a student.

In both cases, you won't be able to do anything other than sit in for the lectures - so no tutorials, no labs, no homework assignments, and so on.

Solution 3

Many online universities offer free online classes without registration for getting knowledge. You need to attend these classes in your manageable time period.

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Updated on August 01, 2022

Comments

  • nikki
    nikki over 1 year

    I wanted to know that whether it is possible to sit in a grad-level course or undergrad course without registering? What should I do before going to the class? should I talk to the professor? Is it illegal to participate in a class without registration? I need to learn about some other area that is why I need to participate in other classes as well.

    • Nate Eldredge
      Nate Eldredge about 5 years
      You have to look to your university's regulations. We have no way of knowing whether it's legal or permitted where you are.
    • A Simple Algorithm
      A Simple Algorithm about 5 years
      Just ask the professor, they can tell you the if any of this applies--and whether they mind regardless of what the rules say. One problem you might run into however is course materials may be within some management system like blackboard so you need to be formally added as an auditor.
    • user111388
      user111388 over 4 years
      @ASimpleAlgorithm: regarding "just ask the professor": In some countries, this is not at all expected and can be annoying. Indeed, our dean once told us he was annoyed because somebody asked him a similar question, so he gave the student a wrong.answer.
  • orezvani
    orezvani about 5 years
    Just to add to your answer: unless the course requires some lab facilities or consumables that attendees may be using. As well as understanding the code of conduct for that course.
  • Nate Eldredge
    Nate Eldredge about 5 years
    Hm, this doesn't reflect the situation in the US, as I've seen it. Students are generally required to register for the class (and pay, if applicable). Audits may be allowed (you don't get a grade and you pay nothing or a nominal amount) but almost always require the instructor's permission. The instructor is often not allowed to let non-registered, non-auditing students attend, nor non-students (though sometimes it happens anyway). It would basically be giving away the university's expensive product for free.
  • Allure
    Allure about 5 years
    @orezvani in my case, I was only sitting in for the lectures. I didn't attend tutorials or labs, and didn't have access to homework problems, exam questions and the other things that come outside of lectures.
  • nikki
    nikki about 5 years
    @orezvani yes there would be a lab also each week.
  • Allure
    Allure about 5 years
    @NateEldredge weird, I have never seen a roll call in a university class. It's possible the lecturer memorized every face of every student and compared them to the class records, but that seems rather implausible, given that there are so many students. I did not take classes in the US however - it was in the UK, Singapore, and Australia.
  • Allure
    Allure about 5 years
    @nikki2 if you're not enrolled in the course, you almost surely won't be able to attend the labs, unfortunately.
  • orezvani
    orezvani about 5 years
    @nikki2 Does the lab has some special facilities or consumables that you may use?
  • Nate Eldredge
    Nate Eldredge about 5 years
    @Allure: In a large lecture, as for an introductory course, you might get away with it. But advanced courses often have only 10-20 students. Someone who's not registered would be noticed quickly.
  • orezvani
    orezvani about 5 years
    @Allure I agree with Nate in this one. It is quite easy to notice non-registered students in the lab, as they are small. In addition to that, instructors are advised to let only registered members to attend, to ensure the safety of others. I usually let non-registered students to sit in my lab, as long as they have a valid university ID.
  • orezvani
    orezvani about 5 years
    @Allure No need for that, I will edit your answer.
  • Allure
    Allure about 5 years
    @orezvani I've never actually have to pay to take a course - I was basically free to take as many or as few courses a semester as I wish. For example when I was in Singapore, the recommended courses per semester was five, the minimum was four, but there's no upper limit. I took 6 per semester for the same price, and I know some who went all the way to 8/semester. Not sure what to do about this - perhaps edit the answer to say it's country-specific.
  • orezvani
    orezvani about 5 years
    @Allure It is certainly country-specific. But there is a general rule, if you want to get credit or make use of equipments, you need to register (in some case pay) for it. Otherwise, it really depends on the lecturer and yourself.
  • Allure
    Allure about 5 years
    @orezvani yes, that's what I meant to say in the answer.
  • orezvani
    orezvani about 5 years
    @Allure I can make another exception that in Australia, you can actually register and get access to the material as well. But if you want to get credit, you must pay for it.
  • Massimo Ortolano
    Massimo Ortolano about 5 years
    @NateEldredge Instead in some countries like mine (Italy), universities are public and anyone can attend lectures for free without being enrolled and without the need of notifying the professors (even though it's corteous to do so). Indeed you need to be enrolled to get credit.
  • Buffy
    Buffy about 5 years
    I'll add that many universities have such an audit option is partly to prevent walk-ins of unregistered students. This is due to liability concerns. The concerns may be overblown, but they exist. Also, most audit systems require the payment of some fee to help defray the cost of any services used, including salaries as well as space.