A graduate non-degree seeking student, who holds a baccalaureate degree or higher and may take classes in most graduate or certificate programs, but is not enrolled as a degree candidate. Additional policies for graduate non-degree students are as follows:

• Graduate non-degree students, who intend to enroll into a degree are allowed to register for a maximum of 12 credits toward that degree prior to admission.
• Graduate courses at the 6000 level are exempt from this policy.
• Credit from courses taken prior to admission may apply to a degree only if prerequisites for the program are met and approval is received from the program chair or advisor at the time of admission to the program.

An undergraduate non-degree seeking student is a high school graduate or equivalent who is not applying for a degree program but wishes to enroll in undergraduate university courses. (Students interested in taking courses while still in high school must apply to the Fitchburg State Dual Enrollment Program or participate as a part of an established university pathways program.) Students registered for academic coursework, as a non-degree student, are not eligible for federal financial aid.