The forms below are provided for students to request an exception to a published policy. Because these are exceptions, they are not always approved.  It is recommended you speak with an academic advisor before submitting a form and requesting an exception to policy. Forms are also known as "petitions". 

The forms below are for undergraduates declared in a College of Engineering major. All forms are submitted via the Student Success Hub. 

Individual majors and departments within the College have their own forms (e.g., faculty approval of electives and major course substitution).

The Office of the Registrar also hosts a number of forms (e.g., complete withdrawal, incomplete, and graduate course registration).

The Office of International Students and Scholars also hosts form for international students on UCSB Global (e.g., reduced course load, concurrent enrollment, and leave of absence).

Petition for Change of Major and/or Change of College

Students petitioning to change from one College of Engineering major to another College of Engineering major and students petitioning to change into the College of Engineering should review the change of major requirements for your intended major and meet with the advisor in that major.

Students petitioning to change out of the College of Engineering should consult with the advisor in your intended major and/or the College (Letters and Science or Creative Studies) to ensure that you have met that requirements for the change.

How to submit your form: The advisor in the major you are changing into will initiate the form on your behalf in the Student Success Hub. 

Petition for Dual College Double Major

Students who wish to pursue a dual college double major must meet with the advisor in the major they wish to add. Double majors within the College of Engineering are not permitted.

How to submit your form: The advisor in the major you are adding will initiate the form on your behalf in the Student Success Hub. A study plan is required for submission of the request.

Request to Withdraw from a Course (Late Drop Request)

Used to request to withdraw from a course after the published drop deadline. Requests to drop a course after the deadline are rarely approved. Requests will be considered in situations where circumstances outside of the student's control had a detrimental effect on the student's ability to complete and to participate in the course. 

Late drop requests will not be approved for poor academic performance, academic difficulties, lack of interest in a course, or plans to change major. 

A late drop may be initiated only for the following reasons and should be accompanied by supporting documentation when possible: 

1. Death in immediate family
2. Medical, including mental health, complications for which an incomplete isn't viable (include documentation from Student Health, therapist, or a licensed physician or clinician)

Requests submitted from Week 8-10 are subject to heightened scrutiny. Requests submitted during this time that are absent an extreme or extenuating circumstance will be denied. Students who have received an approved request of this nature in the past will also receive heightened scrutiny. Requests are considered retroactive after the end of instruction. Retroactive drops receive an even higher level of scrutiny.

Your statement should address the timing of your request and the circumstances or challenges impacting the course(s) you are requesting to drop.

Your instructor will receive a form via email to answer questions about your participation in the course. The final decision on your request rests with the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies in the College of Engineering.  

Request to Add a Course (Late Add)

Used to request to add a course after the add deadline. Requests to add a course after the deadline are only approved in exceptional circumstances, such as a student being prevented from adding the course prior to the deadline due to factors out of their control. Situations where students request to add a course after an exam or other assignments/projects have been graded are typically not approved. 

Your instructor will receive a form via email to answer questions about your participation in the course. The final decision on your request rests with the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies in the College of Engineering.  

Note: If you are requesting to add a graduate course, you must upload your signed Undergraduate Registration in a Graduate Course petition.

Petition for Late or Retroactive Change of Grading Option

Used to request to change your grading option (Passed/No Passed to Letter Grade, or vice versa) after the published deadline. Requests to change your grading option are only approved in exceptional circumstances in which the student was prevented from changing their grading option in GOLD prior to the deadline. Students may only request to make this change for courses that are offered for Optional grading. Letter Grade Only courses may not be modified. 

Petition for Second Repeat

Used to request to repeat a course for the second time (i.e., take a course for a third time). Students must provide rationale as to why the course is being repeated again and why they believe they will be successful the third time. Students who are approved to enroll in a second repeat are expected to earn a B or higher in the course.

A study plan is required for submission of the petition.

Please be advised, these petitions are rarely approved. Second repeats of major courses require approval by major and college. Second repeats of GE courses only require approval by the college. 

Petition for Excess or Deficit Program

Excess: Used to request to take more than 21 units in a quarter (or more than 16 while on academic notice). Excess requests are reviewed alongside a thorough review of the student’s grades and progress in the major. The College will not accept this petition until you have enrolled in courses during Pass 2. The petition should accurately report the courses you are enrolled in and those you are petitioning to add during Pass 3. The College will not approve an excess request if courses conflict within a students' schedule as it appears in GOLD - no exceptions will be made. 

Deficit: Used to request to take less than 12 units in a quarter. International students do not need to submit the deficit form. Instead, submit a Reduced Course Load (RCL) request through UCSB Global.

Deficit requests are only considered in three situations:

1. Documented medical or family challenges prevent the student from enrolling in a full-time status. The student must provide medical documentation supporting their request as well as a study plan showing how their degree will be completed. The final decision rests with the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies in the College of Engineering. Permanent and multi-quarter deficits are typically not approved but may be discussed with an advisor.
2. Students who are working 20 hours per week or more and can still graduate in 12 quarters if admitted as freshmen or 9 quarters if admitted as transfers. Students must be in good academic standing. This type of request requires proof of employment and a study plan showing how the degree will be completed in the allotted quarters. 
3. Students who are in their final quarter before graduation. Students in their final quarter may request a deficit load and, if approved, also request a partial fee reduction from the Office of the Registrar. To be eligible for a fee reduction, you also need to complete the Request for Partial Fee Reduction form and submit it to the Office of the Registrar prior to the first day of instruction. Office of Registrar form: Request for Partial Fee Reduction. Please note fee reductions may impact financial aid.  Please consult with the Financial Aid Office for additional information. Looking for step by step instructions?  Check out this short video

Review: Risks of Enrolling in Less than 12 Units in a Quarter

American History & Institutions Waiver for F-1 and J-1 Students

Foreign students on a non-immigrant visa who do not intend to remain permanently in the US may petition for a waiver of the American History & Institutions Requirement. The Graduation Matters Petition is used for this request. 

Academic Self Assessment and Study Plan

The Academic Self Assessment and Study Plan is a requirement for students who have been academically dismissed from the university and are appealing that decision or are requesting to return after absence on academic notice. 

Download: Academic Self Assessment and Study Plan (.pdf); Academic Self Assessment (.docx)

Credit and Enrollment (Legal Repeat, Concurrent Enrollment)

The Legal Repeat petition is for students who have repeated a UCSB course at another UC campus (or vice versa). Before taking the course, students must contact the UCSB department that offers the course you wish to repeat. Request an email from them verifying that the course at the other UC campus is a direct equivalent. Save the email. After completing the course, submit a Legal Repeat petition. Use the text box to state your request and upload the department's email as your documentation. Your request will then be routed to our office and the Registrar. If you have questions about repeating courses at other institutions, please meet with an advisor prior to enrollment. 

The Concurrent Enrollment petition is for students on Academic Notice who wish to get approval to take a course at another institution. International students seeking approval for concurrent enrollment must use the OISS form located on UCSB Global. 

General Education Requirement Substitution

This petition is used to request a transferrable course be applied to General Subject Areas (A, D, E, F, G) and Special Subject Areas (Ethnicity, World Cultures, and/or European Traditions). The Special Subject Writing Requirement must be completed at UCSB with the exception of students completing courses through UC EAP who may petition up to two courses toward the Writing Requirement. Please consult the guidelines detailing course requirements. 

A course syllabus is required to be uploaded with your request. 

When is this petition not necessary? Most California community college courses have been evaluated for transfer credit and do not need to be petitioned. Use assist.org to check if a course transfers to UCSB and applies to GE requirements. If a transfer course or UC EAP course clearly meets GE requirements, a petition might not be necessary. Meet with a College of Engineering advisor to confirm. 

This petition may not be used for UCSB courses. Only UCSB courses approved by the UCSB Academic Senate can be used to fulfill GE requirements.

Proposed Schedule for Graduation (PSG)

The college expects students to graduate within 12 regular quarters for those who are admitted as freshmen and 9 regular quarters for students admitted as transfers and with no more than 215 units. Students who will exceed these thresholds will need to submit a PSG. The PSG must account for all remaining degree requirements and be endorsed by the department/major advisor. 

Download: Proposed Schedule for Graduation

Study Plan Template

Study plans are required for students who are requesting to return after absence. Academic advisors may also request or require that a student obtain a study plan from their major advisor if a student is on academic notice, is repeating major courses, or is off grid. Check with the requesting advisor if a major advisor signature is necessary or not.

Download: Study Plan

Registration Worksheet

Prepare for pass times and plan your weekly schedule with this helpful worksheet.

Download: Registration Worksheet