FAQ's on Registration and Billing

How do I register for my classes?
Registration instructions and tip sheets for new graduate students were mailed with your acceptance packet. In order to complete the Registration process all students must have an active NetID. Here are the basic steps.

1. Select your course(s) from the graduate course listings at www.scs.northwestern.edu/grad/courses.
   


2. The online registration website is http://www.northwestern.edu/caesar/.
   


3. Enter your NetID and NETID password into the fields provided and click the "Login" button.
   


4. To enroll, click on the "For students" choice in the Enterprise menu then choose the "Enrollment" choice twice.
   


5. Next, select the quarter hyperlink that corresponds to the term for which you want to register. If the term is not visible send an email to onlinereg@northwestern.edu asking to be term activated for the quarter you desire.
   


6. Click on "Add Classes" to get menu to review classes.
   


7. Click on the magnifying glass next to the registration field and this will bring up the class search menu. Choose the desired subject from the drop list of classes (MMI students should search by the "Med Inf" subject heading). Enter the catalog number in the corresponding box and then select the "wildcard" option in the drop down box on the right. Select the blank field for course career drop down menu.

Note that all online courses have a prefix of DL. For general information on using the University registration system, CAESAR, please visit the SCS Registration homepage.

What if I have not received my Net ID or have questions about my Net ID?
Your NetID information is sent along with an admissions/registration packet. In the event that you did not receive this packet, please call (847) 491-3582 or email the graduate admissions coordinator.

If you received this information but are having problems/questions about your NetID, please call (312) 503-3333 and select option #1, Monday-Thursday, 9:00-6:00 pm; Friday 9:00-5:00 pm (CST), or send our IT office an email: scs-help@northwestern.edu.

Note: You must establish a PIN and security question(s) when you set up your NetID. That way, you can re-set your password if necessary. SCS staff cannot re-set your password for you on the phone!

How do I find out whether or not a specific course is still open?
When you use CAESAR to register, you will see how many spaces remain in a given class. If you for a class you need in order to graduate is full, please contact your graduate coordinator.

I previously completed an online course and then took some time off. Now I'm ready to take more classes. How do I register?
You can interrupt your study for up to 3 consecutive quarters and simply notify the SCS registrar so we can reactivate you to return to classes. (Please see page 25 of the SCS graduate student handbook for more information.)

Students who have not been enrolled for more than 3 consecutive quarters should e-mail onlinereg@northwestern.edu to have their student status reactivated and to be activated to register. After this is completed, you may need to reset your NET ID password (provided you have created a PIN).

What if I want to add or drop an online course?
You can add or drop classes using CAESAR, the university registration system. Students are responsible for adhering to all deadlines listed in the graduate calendar. The graduate calendar can be found at www.scs.northwestern.edu/grad/calendar. If you wish to drop all your classes in a given term, this cannot be done through CAESAR. Please send an email to: onlinereg@northwestern.edu for assistance.

If I drop a class, will I receive a refund?
If you drop a class during the add/drop period (first week of term), you will get a full refund. After the first week, you will be billed for the entire class. Should you withdraw from all your courses for a quarter, you might be entitled to a partial refund. More information is available at: www.northwestern.edu/sfs/school_specifics/scs_quarter.html.

What do I do if I can't access my course, that is, the course I registered for is not listed on my course home page?
If you are experiencing problems with the Course Management System you can send an e-mail to: course-management@northwestern.edu or call (847) 491-4044. Please be aware that the course may not appear if your instructor has not made it available or if you registered for it less than 24 hours prior to trying to access the site.

How do I get my course materials, including books?
You can order books and coursepacks at http://www.shop-edmap.biz/nuo/. Other materials will be available to you through the course web site.

When will I be billed for my tuition?
Bills are not mailed out, but rather appear on CAESAR about a month after registration. Graduate students pay online through CAESAR by direct transfer from a bank account (credit cards are not accepted).

Please note that if you miss a deadline for making a tuition payment, you will be assessed a $100 late fee by Student Accounts.

If your employer is paying for your education, you might be eligible to defer payments via the Employer Reimbursement Plan (ERP). Please visit the ERP page for more information.

How do I file a petition to request a tuition refund, a drop after the deadline, or other exception?
If you want to make your case for a refund or drop after a drop deadline you should complete a petition form at this site. Generally requests are processed within 5 days of receipt.

You might also be eligible to receive a grade of "Y" (incomplete) if you have done almost all the required work. Please consult your instructor.