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If you are registering for a lecture course that has a linked recitation and/or lab, be sure to select both sections in Buff Portal. You can identify these linked courses in the course listing. Once you select the lecture, the system prompts associated recitations of labs.

The maximum credit load allowed for most colleges and schools during Summer Session is 16 credit hours. Law students may register for no more than 8 credit hours, and graduate students in the School of Education may register for no more than 9 credit hours.

Summer at CU Boulder is an exceptional time of year! Summer Session classes provide students with a number of flexible options not available the rest of the academic year. However, there are limitations to certain sessions that you need to keep in mind when registering.

Maymester and Augmester

Undergraduate degree-seeking students, new graduate students and non-degree students may enroll in only one Maymester and/or one Augmester class each summer. You may be enrolled in other sessions as long as the course times don't overlap. Maymester and Augmester sessions are designed for experienced college students. Due to that, we do not recommend that High School ACCESS students enroll in these sessions. If you have questions regarding High School ACCESS summer enrollment, contact hsaccess@colorado.edu.

Variable Sessions

Classes in Variable Sessions do not follow a typical session schedule. These classes can meet on any days within Summer Session, so be sure to check the beginning, end and final exam dates before enrolling in a Variable Session class.

Independent Study and Thesis Hours

Any class with a 700- or 800-level section number has controlled enrollment. If you try to register for one of these classes, you will receive an error message. Instead, contact your department administrator or advisor for enrollment instructions. 

Most courses are taken for a letter grade (A, B, C, D or F), but you may choose a different credit or grading basis, pass/fail or no credit. Independent study courses, and occasionally regular courses, are offered on a variable credit basis. Â鶹ÒùÔº must designate the number of credit hours they wish to receive for the course at the time of registration. Visit the  website for more information about these options.

The deadlines for making grading-basis changes in Buff Portal vary by session. See the Session Calendars for more information.

If you are eligible to take a course but find it is full, you may be able to waitlist. Placing your name on a waitlist does not guarantee enrollment in a course. If you are automatically enrolled from the waitlist, you will receive an automated email notification. If you don’t get enrolled off the waitlist then you’ll lose access to the class when the waitlists are canceled after the add deadline. Visit for more information.

Waitlist deadlines in summer vary by session. Refer to the Session Calendars section for details on the last day to add your name to a waitlist as well as when the waitlist is canceled.