Frequently Asked Questions
Registration
1. I am a new degree seeking student, how do I register for classes?
Students must register for classes via ISIS . For current registration dates please visit the registration page of the Registrar�s website.
2. There are no language courses to register for when online registration opens why not?
The initial online registration period is for non-language course only. Once online registration and add/drop have closed for non-language courses, a special language registration period then opens online where students have the ability to both drop and add language courses only. Students planning to take a language need to work with the Language Program to determine proper level placement within that language. Students should visit the Language Studies Web Site for placement exam times. Once you have completed your placement exam, you will be notified by the Language Studies Program of the level for which you should enroll.
3. Can I drop or withdraw from a course?
Students may drop non-language courses online during the first week of the academic period. After that date, students may still drop courses in-person at the Registrar’s Office through the 4th week of classes with an Add/Drop/Withdraw Form. Dropped courses do not show on a student’s transcript.
From the 5th to 7th week of classes, students may withdraw from a class by submitting an Add/Drop/Withdraw Form . A withdrawal does not affect a student's GPA, but will appear on the transcript as a "W".
Please see the Red Book for details concerning adding, dropping, and withdrawing from courses.
4. How do I register to audit a course or change a course from audit to credit or credit to audit?
A student's minimum obligation for auditing a course is to attend all class sessions. Students who intend to have an audit recorded on their SAIS transcript must obtain the professor's signature on an Official Audit Form, preferably early in the course, but not later than the seventh week of classes. The professor notes the requirements for auditing the class on this form, which must be submitted to the Registrar's Office. No course credit or letter grade is earned for an audited course, indicated on the transcript with "AU". If a student fails to meet the audit requirements, a Withdrawal from an Audit (W/AU) appears on the transcript.
During the fall and spring semesters, those who wish to change the status of a course from audit to credit may do so (subject to policies in the Red Book section entitled Course Load and Full-time/Part-time Definitions for M.A. and M.I.P.P. Students) by asking the professor to sign the Audit to Credit Form no later than the last day of class within that term. This form is available online and must be submitted according to the deadlines located on the Academic Calendar. The professor's approval will depend on the student's regular class attendance and agreement to fulfill all the course requirements. Once changed from audit status to credit status, the course status cannot be reversed.
5. Why can't I register for Economics courses that have prerequisites when I just passed the necessary economics waiver exam?
The economics waiver exam site and ISIS are not interfaced. The ISIS registration system will not be notified automatically of successfully obtained waivers. The International Economics program will provide all waivers to the Office of the Registrar. Please allow up to three business days for your economics waivers to be placed on your registration account.
6. I am enrolled in a foundation Economics class that conflicts with my Language class. What do I do?
Because all MA students are required to take both foundation Economics courses as well as a Language, the class schedule is set up to have certain days/times reserved for only those courses. Thus a student may find his/her Economics course conflicts with a Language course. Foundation Economics courses generally have multiple offerings each term, so students should be able to select an alternate section of economics to fit both into their schedule.
Exams
1. Where is the Core Exam schedule?
The Core Exam schedule is accessible off the Registrar's website under More Information on the right hand toolbar.
2. When are final exams? How do I know if I have a final exam?
The final exam period is defined in the Academic Calendar.Not all classes have final exams, please consult your course instructor and the posted exam schedule
3. How can I register to take a core exam?
Registration is available on line for Core Exams. Students are encouraged to contact the program office who administers the exam (denoted by the authoring faculty) for any special considerations.
Graduation
1. When and how do I apply to graduate?
Students are contacted via email and provided with instructions to locate the link to the application. All students who anticipate graduating should complete the application appropriate to their degree completion date.
2. Can I request a digital copy of my diploma?
No. All diplomas for Johns Hopkins University are produced through an outside vendor (Herff Jones). Therefore, our office does not maintain a digital or hardcopy record of any diploma produced. After you receive your diploma, you may have it digitally reproduced with any commercial vendor at your convenience.
3. I never received my diploma. Does the Office of the Registrar still have it?
Depending on how recently you graduated, our office may have your diploma. If it has been less than a year since you graduated, it is likely that we may still have it, though it is standard for our office to return unclaimed diplomas to the production vendor. If it has been over a year since you graduated, it is likely that we no longer have your diploma, and you may have to order and pay for a duplicate diploma.
4. My diploma contains errors or was damaged during shipment. Must I bear the cost of purchasing a duplicate diploma?
For legitimate errors or damages, you will not have to cover the cost of duplication. However, for changing the appearance of your name to include/exclude names that were/were not on your original application to graduate, you may have to cover the cost. Please provide your name as you wish for it to appear on your diploma on your application to graduate.
5. I have a job offer overseas and must show my diploma as proof of graduation. Can I get a copy of my diploma ASAP?
Duplicate diploma orders generally take a minimum of 4 weeks to process. Because the diploma production process is through an outside vendor, the process can be lengthy, especially in the months leading up to the University commencement ceremony in May. Unless your potential employers are willing to accept a transcript or a letter of verification as proof of degree conferred, it is unlikely that we can provide a short-term solution. Our office recommends always to have a copy of your diploma, especially if you anticipate working overseas at any point in your future career.
Bidding
1. Why does SAIS have bidding?
The course bidding process was introduced to provide a fair structure through which students would gain access to a class when it was oversubscribed, and in the case of the foundation economics courses of Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, International Trade Theory and International Monetary Theory, to balance attendance in various sections of the same course.
2. What is Round One of bidding and what is Round Two?
Round one of bidding is limited to heavily oversubscribed limited enrollment courses and the foundation economics course only. Round two of bidding is limited to the remaining limited enrollment courses that may become oversubscribed at the end of the first week of classes. If a course is limited yet does not become oversubscribed it will not go to bid. Students must check http://www.sais-jhu.edu/academics/registrar/bidding.htm for the bidding dates and deadline and it is their responsibility to monitor this site for updates regarding bidding during both round one and two.
3. What strategy should I use for bidding on a course, what resources do I have?
Students should review the information regarding bidding located at http://www.sais-jhu.edu/academics/registrar/bidding.htm. Located at the bottom of this page are reports that provide detailed historical information on what classes went to bid, the number of students registered, the number of students who had to bid, bid range values, clearing prices, and special rules. This is your main resource in creating a strategy for upcoming rounds of bidding. It is also helpful to check the enrollment reports to see how far oversubscribed classes are, which may help you gauge your chances of getting in to the class via bidding.
4. What if I do not get in to the course I bid on?
Students should have alternate courses selected for any limited enrollment courses in which they plan to register. If a student does not gain entry in to a class they bid on they will not lose those bid points.
5. How do I know how many points I have?
MA students receive 1000 points entering their first semester and 100 additional points after each successfully completed full-time semester (4 courses). MIPP students receive a total of 1100 points and Ph.D. students receive a total of 1300 points. Prior to the start of bidding each semester an email is sent o each students that states the amount of bid points they have going in to the subsequent round. If there is any question regarding the validity of this amount the students must contact SAISBids by the date noted in the email.
Transcripts
1. How do I request a transcript?
Official and unofficial transcripts can only be obtained through the Office of the Registrar. Non-degree seeking students may collect one free transcript from our office following grade entry. Current degree seeking students receive transcripts free of charge including a free transcript at graduation. All other requests are $5.00 per transcript. Students may request transcripts online through the National Student Clearinghouse located at or by mail or fax by filling out the Transcript Request.
2. Can I have my transcript/ Verification Letter/Diploma notarized or apostilled through the Registrar's Office?
While the SAIS Office of the Registrar does not provide apostille services, there is a notary public at SAIS who can notarize any of these documents. While you are not obligated to use our notary public for your verification letters or diploma, we highly recommend that you request that your official transcripts be notarized when you submit your transcript request. Our office can then arrange to have your transcript notarized prior to being sealed. When requesting a notarized signature, please provide detailed information regarding the intended recipients (State Dept, Embassy, etc.) and the intended use (visa application, employment screening, etc.) of the document.
3. What is the fastest way to submit my transcript request?
Whether you complete an online request or traditional fax or mail-in form, the processing time is the same for all transcript requests. The process is only delayed if our office does not receive signed consent to release your transcript.
4. Can I order a transcript over the phone?
In adherence to FERPA guidelines, our office must receive signed consent before we release your transcript. Therefore, we do not process transcript orders over the phone. Additionally, our office does not process credit card transactions, so requesting your transcript online at the National Student Clearinghouse may be most expedient.
5. I ordered a transcript through the National Student Clearinghouse, but I have not received it yet. What happened to my order?
Student Clearinghouse transcript requests are processed daily. Therefore, unless our office has contacted you to explain any delay, the most likely reason why we have not processed your request is that the Student Clearinghouse has not received your consent form via fax, email or mail, and, consequently, have not forwarded your actual order to our office.
6. I am ordering a transcript through the National Student Clearinghouse. Can I fax my consent form directly to your office to expedite the process?
No. Faxing your consent form directly to our office will only delay the process as we will have not yet received your actual transcript request order (how many transcripts and where to send them). Therefore, do not fax your consent form to any other number other than the Clearinghouse;s fax number listed on the form They will immediately forward your order to our office upon receiving your consent.
7. What's the difference between an official and unofficial transcript?
An official transcript is printed on Scrip-Safe paper and sealed in Scrip-Safe envelope, bearing the Registrar's signature. An unofficial transcript is printed on plain white paper. If you intend to fax , photocopy, or scan your transcript, we recommend that you request an unofficial transcript, as digital scans of Scrip-Safe documents are rendered illegible by a COPY watermark.
8. I am applying to law school and need my LSAC Transcript Request Form to be included with my transcript. Can this be accommodated?
Yes. If you forward us your LSAC Transcript Request Form, we will enclose it along with your transcript at no extra cost.
9. Can someone else pick up my transcript for me?
Yes, provided that our office is notified in writing who will be receiving the transcript and he/she shows photo ID.
Other
1. What if I need to take a leave from school for a professional or personal reason?
To request a leave of absence, you must submit a completed LOA form and a statement outlining your reasons for taking a leave of absence to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs (Nitze 202). Except under extraordinary circumstances, leaves of absence will not exceed two years in length. The deadlines for submitting requests are March 1st for fall semester leaves or November 1stfor spring semester leaves. Individuals who do not meet these deadlines will be charged a late penalty fee of $500.00. In order to return from a leave of absence, you must submit the Returning from Leave of Absence Request form by January 15th for fall semester enrollment and November 1st for spring semester enrollment.
2. What kind of documents can I receive to provide proof that I am currently enrolled in or have graduated from SAIS?
You may request a simple letter of verification, your transcript, or a copy of your diploma to verify your enrollment at SAIS.
3. I am a recently accepted incoming student and need a letter of verification to provide proof to my landlord/insurance company/bank/DMV/etc. that I will be enrolling in SAIS this upcoming Fall/Spring semester . Can the registrar provide a letter to verify my future enrollment?
Generally, the Registrar's Office can provide a letter to verify enrollment only after you have registered for classes for the upcoming semester. Even if you have paid your matriculation fees, our office only regards placement on a course roster (or submission of appropriate deferment materials) as established intent to enroll. Until you are able to register for courses, we recommend that you use your acceptance letter, when acceptable, as proof of future enrollment at SAIS.
4. Can I obtain copies of my immunization, acceptance letter, or undergraduate transcripts that are in my current student record?
Yes. With the exception of any document that you have waived your access to (letters of recommendation), you may request a photocopy of any document in your student record. Please note that we can only provide unofficial photocopies of your undergraduate transcripts, and official copies must be requested from your undergraduate institution.
5. Can I receive a copy of my GRE scores that I submitted with my application?
Generally, students should go through ETS to receive their official test scores. After 5 years, however, ETS may purge your test scores. In that event and provided that your test scores are still in your file, we can provide an unofficial photocopy of your GRE score sheet.