Full-Time Enrollment

J-1 exchange students must be registered full-time for the fall and spring semesters.

Undergraduate exchange students must take a minimum of 12 credits per semester, which is typically the equivalent of 4 courses. Generally, UMD students do not take more than 2 or 3 classes within their major discipline of study during the semester.  Exchange students should plan to take a few elective classes as well as 2 or 3 classes in their major discipline of study.  You are expected to select your first choice classes and an alternative class list with your application.  We cannot guarantee that you will be able to register for particular classes at UMD.

Graduate exchange students must take a minimum of 48 units per semester, which is typically the equivalent of 3 courses. Please note that not all masters students are eligible to take graduate courses at UMD per our exchange agreements. Please check with your home university exchange coordinator to confirm at which level you should be enrolling.

Please calculate your units and credits accordingly and note that as an exchange student, you enroll directly in courses at UMD, and therefore there is no guarantee that there will be enough space in every course you request. Courses may also be canceled before the start of the semester. Consequently, you should plan on identifying a number of alternate courses in the event that your first choices cannot be accommodated.

Registration

Exchange students can select from thousands of course offerings over 12 colleges.  A complete list of current course offerings can be found on the UMD Schedule of Classes. See details on how to register in the UMD registration guide.

Course Levels

Course numbers at UMD have a 4-letter academic department code followed by a three-digit course number. The course numbers indicate the following:

• 000-099: Non-credit courses.
• 100-199: Primarily freshman undergraduate courses (not acceptable for graduate students)
• 200-299: Primarily sophomore undergraduate courses (not acceptable for graduate students)
• 300-399: Junior and senior undergraduate courses (not acceptable for graduate students)
• 400-499: Junior and senior undergraduate courses (acceptable for graduate students; however, the number of such credits is limited based on Graduate School policies)
• 600-898: Courses restricted to graduate students

Limited Enrollment Programs

Students are expected to select their first choice classes and an alternative class list with their application.  We cannot guarantee that students will be able to register for particular classes at UMD. 

The following departments or schools have high enrollment demand and limited space in classes.  Consequently, students will need to have maximum flexibility in course choices from these departments.

• Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Chemistry, & Environmental Sciences and Policy-Biodiversity and Conservation
• Business (only business majors from institutions that have a specific exchange agreement with the Smith School of Business may pre-register for business classes)
• Communication
• Computer Science (priority is given to students who are Computer Science majors at their home institution. Students cannot enroll for more than two, maybe 3 CS classes per semester)
• Criminology & Criminal Justice
• Economics (priority is given to students who are Economics majors at their home institution. Students cannot enroll for more than two, maybe 3 ECON classes per semester)
• Engineering (only engineering majors from institutions that have a specific exchange agreement with the A. James Clark School of Engineering may take engineering classes)
• Government & Politics
• Information Studies
• Journalism
• Neuroscience
• Psychology

In addition to restrictions you may encounter in the Limited Enrollment programs, exchange students do not have access to the following programs:

• College Park Scholars
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program
• Global Communities (BSGC)
• Hinman CEOs
• Honors College (only students from institutions that have a specific exchange agreement with the Honors College may take Honors courses)
• Quest Honors Program
• Any courses taught on the Shady Grove or DC campuses