Graduate Non-Candidate for Degree/Guest Information
Take graduate-level courses at the University of Michigan-Dearborn without enrolling in a graduate degree program. Graduate non-degree enrollment may be a good fit if you are:
- A professional seeking graduate-level study or professional development without completing a full degree
- A UM-Dearborn master’s graduate returning for additional study
- Enrolled in a graduate degree program at another university and seeking guest enrollment
- Exploring UM-Dearborn before deciding whether to apply to a graduate degree program
Graduate-level courses are generally numbered 500 or above. Enrollment is approved for a specific term and specific course or courses, is subject to academic-unit approval, and depends on available space.
Choose Your Student Type
Graduate Non-Candidate for Degree (NCFD) status is for qualified applicants who are not currently enrolled in a graduate degree program at another institution.
NCFD students:
- May take up to six graduate credit hours
- Enroll on a space-available basis
- Must apply again for each term
- Are not admitted to a graduate degree or certificate program
- Are not guaranteed future admission to a degree-seeking program
Courses completed under NCFD status do not automatically apply toward a future graduate degree. If you later receive degree-seeking admission, the graduate program will determine whether any completed courses may count toward the degree under its applicable policies.
College of Business requirement: The College of Business offers NCFD enrollment only to students who have already earned a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
Graduate Guest status is for students currently enrolled in a graduate degree program at another university.
Guest students:
- May take up to six credit hours if enrolled in a master’s program
- May take up to nine credit hours if enrolled in a doctoral program
- Enroll on a space-available basis
- Must apply again for each term
Students from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and University of Michigan-Flint are considered guests but are not subject to these credit-hour limits. Relevant transfer-credit policies still apply.
Before enrolling, confirm with your home institution whether the course will apply to your degree.
Michigan Intercollegiate Graduate Studies
UM-Dearborn participates in the Michigan Intercollegiate Graduate Studies (MIGS) program. A graduate student in good standing at a participating Michigan institution may be able to take a course or pursue a research opportunity at another participating institution when that opportunity is not available at the home institution.
If your institution participates and the course is unavailable there, consider applying through MIGS rather than through the standard Graduate Guest process. Your home institution determines whether the course applies toward your degree and how the grade is treated.
Applying to Graduate Non-Degree Studies
The Online Application generally opens for Graduate NCFD/Guest applicants two weeks before registration begins for new graduate students until 5 business days before the start of classes. Summer and Fall registration open together.
Final Day to Submit Graduate NCFD/Guest Application
- Winter 2027: December 17, 2026
Applicants must:
- Hold a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or an equivalent credential*
- Demonstrate English-language proficiency if required
- Receive approval from the academic unit offering the requested course
Preference is generally given to applicants with at least a B average (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) in relevant coursework or other evidence of readiness for graduate study that is satisfactory to the academic program.
Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission or permission to enroll in a particular course.
*International Credentials
Effective May 2026, UM-Dearborn is piloting a benchmarking approach to determine whether a three-year bachelor’s degree meets internationally recognized standards of quality and rigor. Evaluation is not based only on the number of years completed.
Some credentials may not be considered equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree. Additional qualifications may strengthen an applicant’s eligibility.
Applicants who are uncertain about their credentials may obtain a course-by-course evaluation with benchmarking from:
Your application must list the specific course or courses you want to take during the requested term. Consult the Class Schedule after it is published.
Before applying, consider contacting the academic program that offers the course to ask about:
- Course availability
- Prerequisites
- Restrictions on non-degree or guest enrollment
- Whether academic-unit approval is likely to be required
Approval applies only to the term and course or courses identified in your admission decision. It does not guarantee a seat. Registration remains subject to space availability and any applicable restrictions or prerequisites.
Create a login with a valid email address using the provided link and follow the prompts, which includes a verification email to set your password. You can save your progress since the system allows you to return and finish your application later with your login information.
In the admissions portal:
- Start A New Application
- Under Non-Degree and Certifications, select Start Application
- Select Graduate Guest (if currently enrolled in a graduate program elsewhere) or Graduate Non Candidate for Degree under Non Degree Student Type as applicable
- List the specific course(s) requested for that term
- Submit the application and required materials
Use your portal after submission to monitor your status and reach out to the Office of Graduate Studies with any questions.
Transcripts and Academic Records
Transcripts are required from:
- The institution or institutions that awarded your undergraduate degree
- Every institution where graduate-level coursework was completed or is in progress
An official transcript must be:
- Sent securely and directly by the issuing institution through an approved electronic method; or
- Received in an institution-sealed envelope bearing the institutional seal and the official signature of the registrar or records official
Electronic transcripts may be sent directly by the institution to [email protected]. Transcripts emailed by applicants are considered unofficial.
Paper transcripts may be mailed to:
Office of Graduate Studies
University of Michigan-Dearborn
4901 Evergreen Road
1145 Renick University Center
Dearborn, MI 48128-1491
Non-U.S. Transcripts
Non-U.S. records require verification of institutional accreditation, U.S. degree equivalency, and conversion of grades to a 4.0 scale. You may choose one of two options.
Option 1: External Course-by-Course Evaluation
UM-Dearborn strongly encourages an evaluation from an accepted provider because it may expedite application review. Accepted providers include:
- Educational Credential Evaluators - Use our custom UM-Dearborn link to designate University of Michigan-Dearborn - Graduate Studies in ECE Dispatch for a discounted rate of 10% off and a free digital report to be sent to UM-Dearborn
- International Education Evaluators - Use our custom UM-Dearborn link for a discounted rate of $145
- The Evaluation Company (formerly SpanTran) - Use our custom UM-Dearborn link for a discounted rate of 10% off your Course Analysis report
- World Education Services - Designate University of Michigan-Dearborn - Graduate Studies to submit your Course-by-Course ICAP report in Access WES
- Course-by-course evaluations from other NACES members may be utilized on a case-by-case basis.
Provider costs, turnaround times, and documentation requirements vary. Applicants who enroll at UM-Dearborn with an accepted external evaluation may receive reimbursement of up to $200, credited to the first-term bill after the add/drop period ends and enrollment is confirmed.
Option 2: UM-Dearborn Internal Evaluation
You may request an internal evaluation in the online application. This evaluation:
- Is used only for UM-Dearborn’s admission review
- Is not released to the applicant
- Begins after all required materials are received
- May add two to four weeks to the decision timeline
English Language Proficiency
Applicants whose native language is not English must submit an official score. Accepted minimum scores are:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic or IELTS Indicator: 6.5 overall
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) internet-based test: 79 overall
- Duolingo English Test: 105 overall
- Michigan English Test: 57 overall
A test score is not required if you have earned, or will earn, an accredited bachelor’s or master’s degree:
- In the United States, Australia, or the United Kingdom; or
- From an institution where English is exclusively the language of instruction
Admitted Non-Degree Students
Congratulations on being admitted as a graduate non-degree student. Whether you’re taking a few classes as a guest student, preparing for a graduate program, or learning for personal enrichment, we’re glad you’re here.
Your admission decision will identify the term and course or courses you are approved to take. Admission is valid only for those courses during that term.
Your admission email includes your eight-digit University of Michigan identification number (UMID) and instructions for creating your uniqname and activating your umich.edu email account. If you have not completed these steps, visit the U-M Information and Technology Services website.
If you already have a U-M uniqname, do not create another one. Follow the instructions in your admission email or contact the appropriate support office if you need help accessing your existing account.
Check your U-M email regularly after activation. University offices and academic programs will use it for registration, billing, and course-related communication.
After activating your U-M account, register through the My UM-Dearborn Student Portal. Find specific dates and details at the UM-Dearborn Registration Timetable.
You may register only for the course or courses approved in your admission decision unless the Office of Graduate Studies and the relevant academic unit authorize a change.
Academic advising and course authorization are handled by the program or academic unit offering the course. Contact that program if you need:
- Prerequisite verification or an override
- Instructor or program permission
- Assistance resolving a course restriction
- Clarification about an approved course
Graduate non-degree and guest students pay standard UM-Dearborn graduate tuition and related fees. Review tuition due dates, payment methods, and university policies, and pay your account by the published deadline.
Graduate non-degree and guest students are not eligible for financial aid from UM-Dearborn.
Complete important last steps before classes start, including:
- Obtain your M-Card (Student ID card)
- Obtain your parking permit
- Purchase course books and materials
- Review the academic calendar for important dates and deadlines
- Sign in to Canvas and review your course information when it becomes available
- Continue checking your umich.edu email for university and program communications
Need help? Connect with One Stop Student Services.
Graduate non-degree and guest admission is valid for one term only. To enroll in a future term, you must submit a new application and receive approval for the course or courses you plan to take.
All Graduate NCFD and Guest students:
- Are admitted for one term only
- Must submit a new application for each additional term
- May register only for approved courses and on a space-available basis
- Must satisfy all prerequisites, grading standards, attendance expectations, assignments, and other course requirements
- Are subject to all UM-Dearborn admission, registration, conduct, and academic policies
- Pay regular graduate tuition and applicable fees
- Are not eligible for federal or UM-Dearborn financial aid
- Are responsible for determining whether another institution or a future degree program will accept the credit
Colleges, schools, departments, and programs control access to their courses and may limit or prohibit enrollment by non-degree and guest students.
Admission as an NCFD or Guest student does not guarantee or imply:
- Admission to a UM-Dearborn graduate degree or certificate program
- Eligibility for a future degree program
- Enrollment in a requested course
- Acceptance of the course toward a future UM-Dearborn degree
- Transfer of the course to another institution
To seek admission to a graduate degree program, submit a separate degree-seeking application and all required supporting materials. A graduate program will determine whether previously completed non-degree coursework may count toward its degree requirements.