All HST students are required to register at MIT during each regular term (fall and spring) of enrollment in their program.
- HST MD students are also required to register at HMS each year.
- MEMP PhD candidates enrolled through Harvard SEAS or Harvard Biophysics must also register at Harvard GSAS each term.
Important Dates 2024-25
Fall 2024 Registration Dates
Wednesday, May 1: MIT Summer and Fall Pre-Registration Opens
Thursday, August 22: MIT Fall Pre-Registration Deadline
Monday, August 26: MIT Online Registration Opens
Tuesday, September 3: Harvard GSAS/FAS Classes begin
Tuesday, September 3: Registration Day at MIT
Wednesday, September 4: MIT Classes Begin
Friday, September 6: MIT Registration Forms must be submitted via online registration to the MIT Registrar's Office
Monday, September 9: HST HMS Classes Begin
Spring 2025 Registration Dates
Monday, December 2: MIT Spring Pre-Registration Opens
Monday, January 6: MIT Spring Pre-Registration Deadline
Monday, January 27: Harvard GSAS/FAS Classes Begin
Monday, January 27 - Friday, January 31: MIT Spring Registration Week
Monday, February 3: HST HMS Classes and MIT Classes Begin
Friday, February 7: MIT Registration Forms must be submitted via online registration to the MIT Registrar's Office
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Pre-registration
Continuing students are required to pre-register for MIT subjects several months in advance of Registration Day. Pre-registration is available via WebSIS. Pre-registration deadlines are available from the MIT academic calendar.
Online Registration
MIT registration forms are available at one week prior to MIT's Registration Day. The form is populated with your pre-registration selections. (Note, the website login will indicate “Unauthorized” until the system opens.)
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MD Students - Advisor Meetings and Form Approval Process
HST MD students meet with their academic advisors at HMS to discuss both their MIT and HMS registrations. Locations of advisor meetings are sent by email prior to Registration Day.
MIT Registration:
Registration at MIT is a 3-part process completed through the MIT Registration system.
- Students must submit their pre-registration.
- Beginning on Registration Day/Week, HST staff at HMS will approve student registrations.
- Once a student's registration has been approved, students must log in and submit their approved registration. Late fees are assessed for tardy submissions.
Emails will be sent with details prior to Registration Day/Week.
First- and second-year MD students must complete the process above for their pre-clerkship courses.
Third-year and above MD students, including upper-class MD/PhD students not doing their PhD at MIT, will be automatically pre-registered for the administrative course number HST.HAR at MIT; however, students must officially log in once their registration has been approved to submit this selection and confirm their registration.
Students completing their PhD at MIT will work with their MIT PhD advisor to develop and submit their registration.
HMS Registration:
No forms are required for HMS registration into pre-clerkship MD courses. The HMS Registrar automatically registers students for these courses.
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MEMP Students - Advisor Meetings and Form Approval Process
Although the registration forms are on-line, MEMP PhD students are expected to meet with their academic advisor on or before Registration Day/Week to discuss academic progress and course selections. In preparation for the academic advisor meeting, please make any adjustments to the subject selections on-line. After the academic advisor approves the subject selections in the system, students will receive an email from the registration system with directions on completing the registration process. Registrations that are submitted after the due date may result in a late fee.
Emails will be sent with details prior to Registration Day/Week.
Summer Registration
Summer Registration at MIT is expected for most MEMP PhD students, specifically those who meet any of the following criteria:
- Students receiving funding processed through MIT during the summer;
- Students actively working on thesis research during the summer (HST.ThG);
- Students completing Summer ICM (HST.201 or HST.202);
- MIT PhD students on the September degree list (must register for HST.ThG).
Students should pre-register for summer courses on-line during the month of May and the Academic Office will approve all summer registration forms; advisor approval is not required, however students are required to SUBMIT the form online following Academic Office approval.
Calculating Research Units (HST.ThG)
These guidelines were developed in accordance with MIT policy on Accounting for Academic and Employment Effort. In accordance with MIT policy:
- HST generally expects PhD students to have a total time commitment of approximately 56 hours per week.
- Academic requirements and employment obligations of graduate students are accounted for separately, via subject unit registration and RA/TA/IG (research assistant, teaching assistant, instructor G) appointments, respectively. For each hour of expected effort, a student should get academic credit or pay but not both.
- Therefore, the number of HST.ThG units that an HST PhD student should register for depends on the type of graduate funding, that is, fellowship vs RA/TA/IG.
Students should register for HST.ThG after joining a lab, during any term in which they are enrolled at MIT and conducting research towards their thesis. First-year students participating in lab rotations should instead register for HST.599, with units calculated using the same method as for HST.ThG below.
MEMP student with full (100%) RA/TA/IG, during fall or spring term
If student is enrolled in X units of classes for credit*, and counting 20 hours/week for employment obligations:
Register for 56 - 20 - X = 36 - X units of HST.ThG
Example for student with full RA/TA/IG appointment and 24 units of classes:
Register for 56 - 20 - 24 = 12 units of HST.ThG
Exception: If a student is registered for 36 units of classes or more, they should still register for 1 unit of HST.ThG.
MEMP student with a partial RA/TA/IG, during fall or spring term
If student is enrolled in X units of classes for credit*, and Y is the RA/TA/IG appointment percentage expressed as a decimal:
Register for 56 - (20*Y) - X units of HST.ThG
Example for student with 50% RA/TA/IG appointment and 24 units of classes:
Register for 56 - (20*0.50) - 24 = 22 units of HST.ThG
MEMP student on full fellowship, with no supplemental RA, during fall or spring term
If student is enrolled in X units of classes for credit*:
Register for 56 - X units of HST.ThG (or HST.599 for students who have not yet joined a lab)
*Do not include classes taken as a listener
MEMP student, summer registration, regardless of funding source:
Students enrolled in the summer term should register for 24 units of HST.ThG (or HST.599 for students who have not yet joined a lab)
Exception: If a student is registered for HST.201 in the summer, they should register for 12 units of HST.ThG.
Harvard University Cross-Registration
Each school at Harvard maintains its own academic calendar. Please refer to the individual school's academic calendar for more detailed information. Additional resources can be found at: Harvard Cross Registration Instruction for MIT Graduate Students.