- The Academic Year
- The academic year at Brown University consists of two semesters, each of which is approximately fifteen weeks in length as well as a 7 week for-credit Summer Session.
- The Semester Course
- The semester course is the unit of credit. This is defined as a course taken for the duration of one semester and, for purposes of evaluation, may be considered the approximate equivalent of four semester hours.
Office of the Registrar
Course Enrollment
Course Enrollment Information
All enrolled students are required to register for courses in order to maintain their standing as actively enrolled students at the University.
The Brown curriculum offers a robust and diverse set of course offerings.
In most undergraduate and graduate level courses a student may, in consultation with the advisor, elect to be graded on a basis of either A,B,C/No Credit or Satisfactory/No Credit.
Banner is the official registration portal for Brown courses. Students will use the Banner online system during the pre-registration period and the add/drop period each semester.
Standard Meeting Times
During the fall & spring semesters classes are typically scheduled in standard meeting times that meet either 3 days per week for 50 minutes each; 2 days per week for 1 hour and 20 minutes each; or seminar courses that meet 1 day per week for 2 hours and 30 minutes. There are instances in which a department will offer courses on a non-standard time schedule but it is discouraged as it limits student choice so this is typically found at the advanced undergraduate or graduate levels. The link below is a visual representation of Brown's standard meeting patterns.