Course Registration
As an exchange student, you have the option to take business classes at the Ross School of Business and, potentially, non-business classes in other colleges at the University of Michigan. Please check with your home institution to ensure you are able to register for non-business classes while at U-M. You will be contacted by our office and the Registrar about the registration process. Emails sent by ours and their office will be sent to your U-M email address, so please check your email account.
What Classes Are Available at U-M?
Use the resources below to find information about classes available at the University of Michigan.
Fall semester classes are typically posted in March.
Winter semester classes are typically posted in mid-October.
Read course descriptions of all Ross classes on iMpact. Search by program (BBA or MBA), academic area, and term.
Search for all U-M classes on Wolverine Access by term and subject area. See class times, instructor, course descriptions, and building location.
Navigation: Wolverine Access > Students > Student Business > Student Center > Search
View all classes available at the University of Michigan by semester. See class time and dates, instructor, and building location. (Available as Excel file, PDF, or Wolverine Access search.)
Find previous course syllabi for a select number of Ross classes. Search by subject area and term.
If you wish to take classes in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA), use this course guide to see what classes are available by specific term and subject area.
(LSA classes are only for undergraduate students/BBA. MBA students can find non-Ross classes through Wolverine Access: Class Search.)
Determine the location of your classes by using this helpful campus map. You can type the building abbreviation in the search bar.
What are Important Course Guidelines for Ross Exchange Students?
Ross Terms
Some Ross classes meet on half-term schedules (first 7-week, second 7-week), and others meet throughout the full term (14 weeks).
First 7-week classes are considered "A" term
Second 7-week classes are considered "B" term
14-week classes are considered full-term.
Ross Credit Loads
Undergraduate/BBA
Minimum full-time course load requirement: 12 credits
Maximum course load: 18 credits
Average course load for students: 15 credits
Graduate/MBA
Minimum full-time course load requirement: 9 credits
Maximum course load: 18 credits total, 9 credits per half-term
Average course load for students: 15 credits
Ross Course & Section Numbers
Undergraduate/BBA
You will be registering for courses with course/catalog numbers of 400 and below (e.g. MKT 313 or FIN 412).
You are eligible to register directly for most Ross courses with section numbers in the 001-009 number range (e.g. for ACC 300.009, the section number is “009”).
Course sections with numbers outside of this range (e.g. ACC 300.311) are currently reserved for other student populations, in this case our Minor in Business students.
Graduate/MBA
You will be registering for courses with catalog numbers of 500 and above (e.g. MKT 611 or FIN 580).
You are eligible to register directly for most Ross courses with section numbers in the 001-009 number range (e.g. for ACC 711.001, the section number is “009”).
Course sections with numbers outside of this range (e.g. ACC 711.451) are currently reserved for other student populations, in this case our Evening students.
Ross Course Prerequisites
Some classes have enforced "Course" prerequisites. Wolverine Access will not allow you to register for these courses on your own. To read more about course permissions, open this document.
If you have taken a similar course at your home institution and wish to take this course, please follow these steps:
Complete this eForm to request a course permission. You do not need to contact faculty members or program offices for course permission. You may need to provide supporting documents (e.g. transcripts or syllabus) to show that you have taken courses similar to the prerequisites. The Ross Registrar’s Office will review your request and will contact you with the appropriate next steps. Course permission requests will be processed in the order they are received.
If you are currently on the waitlist for a course, you should not complete this form. The Ross Registrar’s Office will issue permissions to eligible students on the waitlist when/if there is an open seat in the order of the waitlist.
Save your confirmation email from "U-M TeamDynamix <teamdynamix@umich.edu>". The ticket number will help the RRO manage your request and you can reply to the email to make changes or cancel your request.
Courses offered through LSA that have prerequisites will need to be discussed with the department and/or professor hosting the course. Know that we cannot assist with admission to courses outside of the Ross School of Business.
Courses at LSA that have a waitlist and enforced pre-requisites are unlikely for exchange students to be admitted. While you can attend a course on the first day of class to see if the professor will allow you to enroll, you should also enroll in backup courses.
How Do I Register for Classes?
Our office and the Ross Registrar's Office will work with you in preparing for course registration. They will only send emails to your U-M email address, so please check your email account regularly. For important dates and deadlines, please refer to the Academic Calendar. You can read more about registration tips and tricks here.
Once you complete your M-Compass application, are admitted to Ross, and have set up your U-M uniqname you will receive instructions on what your course registration next steps are from our office.
Backpack/Registration Process
Wolverine Access
Wolverine Access is an all-encompassing student service center at U-M. You will primarily use it for course registration (adding and dropping classes).
Tips for Using Backpack/Registration
Troubleshooting Registration Warnings or Error Messages
Navigation: Wolverine Access > Students > Student Business
STEP #1: Wolverine Access - Backpacking
During Backpacking, you can add classes to your backpack (like a shopping cart) and wait until your registration appointment time.
Navigation: Wolverine Access > Students > Student Business > Student Center > Backpack / Registration
STEP #2: Registration Appointment Time
The Registrar's Office will assign you a registration appointment time. Only at this time and until the Add/Drop deadline will you be able to add, drop, and waitlist classes.
Navigation: Wolverine Access > Students > Student Business > Student Center
STEP #3: Wolverine Access - Registration
At your registration appointment time, you can add, drop, or add yourself to the waitlist for classes.
Navigation: Wolverine Access > Students > Student Business > Student Center > Backpack / Registration
Still have questions?
Please reach out to the Ross Registrar's Office (rossregistrarsoffice@umich.edu) for course registration issues and questions. For assistance with academic planning and course selection, reach out to our academic advisors.
Undergraduate Academic Advisors: rossugacadadvising@umich.edu
Graduate Academic Advisors: rossgradacadadvising@umich.edu