Students who wish to enroll as a passive learner in a class that is not needed for their degree requirements may request permission to audit that class. Auditing a course allows a student to enroll in a class for the purposes of self-enrichment without earning credit or an A-F grade.  Fees apply.  Campus policy is available in the Guide.

The following information applies to College of Letters & Science undergraduate students.  Processes and policies may differ in other colleges or schools. Individuals not currently in a UW–Madison degree plan who are interested in auditing an L&S course as a special student should refer to policies for guest auditors.

Which courses may be audited?

An auditor is considered an observer who is expected to attend class regularly and do some assigned work (such as completing assigned readings).  However, auditors may not actively participate in class, seek feedback on written work, or take examinations. For that reason, several types of courses are ineligible for auditing:  

• Courses satisfying the student’s major requirements
• Courses for which the student may want or need to earn an A–F grade
• Courses for which a student has already earned a grade (A-F, S/NR)
• Courses that may be used to satisfy the L&S language requirement
• Mathematics courses at the elementary and intermediate level
• Any course that requires enrolled students to participate synchronously or asynchronously, including but not limited to
  • Studio or performing arts courses,
  • Courses focused on development of physical skills,
  • Courses focused on development of written or oral communication skills,
  • Directed Study or Independent Study courses,
  • Seminar, research, and colloquia courses,
  • Courses with a LAB meeting type designation, or
  • Courses with high levels of instructor feedback.

How are Audited courses graded?

Professors may not respond or provide feedback to auditors as their priority is focused on degree/credit students in the course. All exceptions are at the discretion of the instructor. For options that permit more engagement in a class, students may be more interested in the Pass / Fail Grading Option.  Read more about Pass/Fail here.

Students will receive a final grade of Satisfactory (S) or No Report (NR) on their transcript, per approved grading policy, and AU will appear in the term’s credit columns.  

How are Audited credits counted?

In addition, Audited courses may affect eligibility for financial aid.  Any student receiving financial aid who wishes to audit a course should consult an advisor in the Office of Student Financial Aid.

Is there a fee?

Tuition is calculated on the basis of all enrolled credits, whether or not they are audited or not. (Review information on the tuition plateau.) Students who wish to add credits that will exceed the maximum number allowed per term must seek permission for a credit overload and pay associated fees, whether those additional credits are audited or not. 

How is permission to Audit a course obtained?

Students are responsible for decisions made about enrollments and academic plans. 

• Start by consulting with an advisor. Ask whether the proposed course is fulfilling any major requirements or necessary to meet minimum credit requirements (e.g., for full-time status).
• Ask the instructor for permission.  If auditing this course seems like a reasonable option, use Course Search & Enroll to find instructor contact information and ask for permission to audit. Seats for auditors may only be offered if not taken by credit-/degree-seeking students.
• Submit a formal Course Change Request through Student Center using the following instructions: SIS/Managing Your Enrollment - Student Center: Course Change Request.
  • The Audit option can be requested as soon as a student enrolls in the class up to the course change request deadline, which usually occurs within the first quarter of the session. Use the Office of the Registrar’s complete Session Dates table to find the specific “Request Pass/Fail Deadline” for the session in which a class is offered: https://registrar.wisc.edu/session-dates/.
  • Requests are reviewed by L&S Undergraduate Academic Deans’ Services to confirm eligibility. This can take 10 to 14 days. Caution: If a request is submitted within two (2) weeks of the deadline, notification of ineligibility may arrive too late for a student to drop the course or to add another.
  • After the deadline has passed, the Audit option cannot be approved, removed, canceled, or reverted to an A–F grade or a Pass/Fail Grading Option. It is a permanent change to the way that course will be graded in that term.
• Change of plans?  Students are responsible for reviewing dates and deadlines for each session of enrollment, regardless of session length: see Session Dates
  • Taking the course for credit: Students may cancel requests to Audit a course by updating the Course Change Request form in Student Center up to the deadline for requesting Pass/Fail status for the term.
  • Dropping the course: Use the normal process to drop the course up until the deadline for the session.  Requests to drop a course after the deadline has passed require approval of an L&S academic dean.

Notes for Advisors: 

When working with a student who is considering requesting to audit a course, please clarify:

• The difference between auditing a course and seeking the Pass/Fail Grading Option, especially in regard to course eligibility and course engagement.
• Restrictions regarding courses eligible for audit, particularly if a student is considering declaring in that department at a later date.
• How audited courses count (or do not count) toward minimum and maximum credit load for any individual term, especially in terms of fees and full-time status. 

Notes for Instructors:

• Instructors are not obligated to approve requests to Audit a course. 
• Instructors should not approve Audit requests if students are on a wait list for the class.
• At the end of the term, instructors should award the grade appropriate for the student’s work (NR or S).