Special Students

Fall & Spring Special Student Information and Application Process

Specific information about Special Student eligibility is outlined in the College Catalog.

Anyone seeking Special Student status at Connecticut College for the fall or spring semester, including Connecticut College faculty, staff and alumni, is required to submit a Special Student Application to the Office of the Registrar.

Please refer below for a list of application materials required and deadlines. If completed application materials are not received by the stated semester deadline, the application cannot be considered and enrollment will not be permitted.

Special Students are, at the time of enrollment, considered to be non-degree seeking, although the credits earned may be transferred to other institutions or may be included in the academic program of those who are subsequently admitted to a Connecticut College degree program.

Eligible students at Trinity College, Wesleyan University, and the United States Coast Guard Academy may enroll in one course per fall and spring semester at Connecticut College, subject to enrollment policies. Please refer to the Single Course Exchange Program for more information.

Please refer to the New London Scholars page for information about that program, participating high schools, and eligibility.


Required Application Materials Instructions for High School Applicants Any prospective Special Students who are in high school should contact Professor Christopher Hammond about the enrollment process. Prospective special students who are in attendance or teaching at high schools participating in the New London Scholars program should contact Professor Christopher Hammond about the program and enrollment process. All applicants, except Connecticut College Alumni/Faculty/Staff/Retirees Completed Special Student Application Form, including Academic & Social Honor Code Pledge Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended Two letters of reference Written statement outlining academic interests and reasons for wishing to study at Connecticut College Additional application requirements for Guest Students: One letter of reference must be from a current or former instructor A letter from the home institution granting permission to study at Connecticut College Connecticut College Alumni/Faculty/Staff/Retirees Connecticut College alumni/faculty/staff/retirees should complete the form to enroll in a course. A Tuition Remission Request Form - Special Student must also be submitted to the Registrar's office.

Required Application Materials

Instructions for High School Applicants

Any prospective Special Students who are in high school should contact Professor Christopher Hammond about the enrollment process. Prospective special students who are in attendance or teaching at high schools participating in the New London Scholars program should contact Professor Christopher Hammond about the program and enrollment process.

All applicants, *except Connecticut College Alumni/Faculty/Staff/Retirees

Completed Special Student Application Form, including Academic & Social Honor Code Pledge
Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
Two letters of reference
Written statement outlining academic interests and reasons for wishing to study at Connecticut College

Additional application requirements for Guest Students:

One letter of reference must be from a current or former instructor
A letter from the home institution granting permission to study at Connecticut College

*Connecticut College Alumni/Faculty/Staff/Retirees

Connecticut College alumni/faculty/staff/retirees should complete the form to enroll in a course. A Tuition Remission Request Form - Special Student must also be submitted to the Registrar's office.


Application Deadlines 2024/2025 Fall Semester: August 16 Spring Semester: January 10 Application decisions for special students will be made by August 22 (fall semester) for all completed applications received by August 16, and by January 17 (spring semester) for all completed applications received by January 10. Students will be notified in writing of all decisions. Once all application material is received, there will be a thorough review of the completed application packet. Tuition and Fees, Course Limits, Auditing Tuition and Fees for Special Students, including the fee to audit courses, can be found on the Office of the Controller's page. Special Students are normally limited to two courses (8 semester hours) per fall and spring semester. Guest Students may be approved to take three or more courses per fall or spring semester, in which case the full undergraduate tuition and fees will apply. The undergraduate comprehensive fee will apply for Guest Students approved to enroll in 12 or more semester hours and who reside in campus housing for the semester. Guest students are permitted to study at Connecticut College on a full-time or part-time basis for a maximum of two semesters. Campus housing is not available to Special Students, with the exception of full-time Guest Students (subject to room availability). Auditing requires permission of the instructor and is unlikely to be allowed in certain courses where the student must actively participate in the instruction (e.g., laboratory courses; studio courses in art, dance, music, or theater; foreign language conversation courses; writing courses; and most seminar courses). Alumni of the College may audit one undergraduate course free of charge per academic (fall or spring) semester. Alumni must submit a completed tuition remission form which should be submitted to the Office of the Registrar with the course registration form.

Application Deadlines 2024/2025

Fall Semester: August 16
Spring Semester: January 10

Application decisions for special students will be made by August 22 (fall semester) for all completed applications received by August 16, and by January 17 (spring semester) for all completed applications received by January 10. Students will be notified in writing of all decisions. Once all application material is received, there will be a thorough review of the completed application packet.

Tuition and Fees, Course Limits, Auditing

Tuition and Fees for Special Students, including the fee to audit courses, can be found on the Office of the Controller's page.

Special Students are normally limited to two courses (8 semester hours) per fall and spring semester.

Guest Students may be approved to take three or more courses per fall or spring semester, in which case the full undergraduate tuition and fees will apply. The undergraduate comprehensive fee will apply for Guest Students approved to enroll in 12 or more semester hours and who reside in campus housing for the semester. Guest students are permitted to study at Connecticut College on a full-time or part-time basis for a maximum of two semesters.

Campus housing is not available to Special Students, with the exception of full-time Guest Students (subject to room availability).

Auditing requires permission of the instructor and is unlikely to be allowed in certain courses where the student must actively participate in the instruction (e.g., laboratory courses; studio courses in art, dance, music, or theater; foreign language conversation courses; writing courses; and most seminar courses).

Alumni of the College may audit one undergraduate course free of charge per academic (fall or spring) semester. Alumni must submit a completed tuition remission form which should be submitted to the Office of the Registrar with the course registration form.


Course Registration Process Course registration for all Special Students begins on the first day of the fall and spring semester. Space availability and enrollment in specific courses is not guaranteed as part of the Special Student application process. Permission to enroll in specific courses is at the discretion of the instructor beginning the first day of the semester. Information about course offerings can be found on the Class Schedule page. All completed registration forms (with signature of instructor and accounting clearance stamp) must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar by the end of the registration period as published in the Academic Calendar. Accepted Special Students who are in high school should be in contact with their high school guidance counselor and Professor Christopher Hammond about the course registration process. Students who do not make satisfactory academic progress or abide by the social and academic regulations of the College may be denied the opportunity for further enrollment. Each student’s academic progress is reviewed at the end of the semester.

Course Registration Process

Course registration for all Special Students begins on the first day of the fall and spring semester. Space availability and enrollment in specific courses is not guaranteed as part of the Special Student application process. Permission to enroll in specific courses is at the discretion of the instructor beginning the first day of the semester. Information about course offerings can be found on the Class Schedule page. All completed registration forms (with signature of instructor and accounting clearance stamp) must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar by the end of the registration period as published in the Academic Calendar.

Accepted Special Students who are in high school should be in contact with their high school guidance counselor and Professor Christopher Hammond about the course registration process.

Students who do not make satisfactory academic progress or abide by the social and academic regulations of the College may be denied the opportunity for further enrollment. Each student’s academic progress is reviewed at the end of the semester.