Spring Start

Welcome to the Cane Family! The information below was compiled with newly admitted spring students in mind and will help ensure you stay connected, maximize your time in the fall, and make a smooth transition to college.

What to do in the Fall

Spring students have myriad options for ways to spend their time in the fall before enrolling at the University of Miami in the spring. These include study-abroad programs, taking courses as a non-degree-seeking student, gaining work experience, serving the community, and more.

Take Classes Elsewhere

If you would like to take coursework during the fall semester before joining us in the spring, you are welcome to do so as long as you meet the following three key requirements: 

  1. Enroll as a non-degree-seeking student: Enrolling as a non-degree-seeking student means that you attend another college or university for the fall semester as a visiting student. Since you intend to attend UM in the spring, the courses you take in the fall should not be going towards a degree at the other institution. Some schools may refer to non-degree-seeking students as transient students, but that designation typically only applies between Florida public institutions. Because the University of Miami is a private institution, you would not be eligible for transient student status and therefore must enroll as a non-degree-seeking or visiting student.

  2. Attend a regionally accredited institution: Most public colleges and universities already meet this requirement and usually list their accreditation status on their website, often on their "About Us" page. However, if you are unsure, we recommend you contact the institution directly to confirm. 

  3. Adhere to UM's transfer credit policy: One of the most important things to remember about the transfer credit policy is that you must earn a grade of C or higher in order for that course to transfer. Grades of C- or lower will not earn transfer credit at UM. Be sure to review the Official Transfer Policy.

In terms of course load, we typically recommend taking between 12 to 15 credits, which is the standard schedule for a first-semester college student. Taking at least 12 credits is considered full-time enrollment.   

As you begin selecting courses, we encourage you to do the following: 

Accordion Group

Open All Tabs
  • 1. Review  the Academic Bulletin

    Review your major curriculum via the Academic Bulletin. This will help you identify classes that will align well with your degree requirements.

  • 2. Check for AP, IB, or dual enrollment course equivalencies

    Make sure to check the Undergraduate Admission website for the specific scores needed to earn credit for AP, IB, or dual enrollment courses. You should avoid registering for courses that would duplicate these credits.

  • 3. Find good course options to take in the fall

    • General education requirements such as English/Writing and/or introductory courses for your major, if offered. 
    • DO NOT take any Business courses as those will not be approved for credit. Note, if taken as Dual Enrollment while in high school, please submit the syllabus via MATES to determine the appropriate UM equivalency.
    • Electives to fulfill remaining areas of knowledge, provided you haven’t completed them with transfer credits. 
    • We do encourage students to take math over the fall term to stay on track. However, students need to establish their math placement at UM first. Review the Math Placement Guide before registering for any math courses.

  • 4. Get courses evaluated for credit equivalency

    Once you have identified a few courses that you want to take in the fall, you should have those courses evaluated by UM through the Miami Academic Transfer Evaluation System (MATES). 

    Note, this only applies to courses taken at a college or university and not any AP or IB exams. Courses taken in the fall semester will need to be submitted through MATES for evaluation. 

    The MATES form allows you to submit a course syllabus for evaluation to the corresponding department and based on the results, you can align that with the courses listed in the Academic Bulletin.

    For example, if your major requires Introduction to Psychology and you want to start by taking that in the Fall, you should use MATES to have the course evaluated. Once reviewed, they will be able to confirm if that course is equivalent to the UM course. If confirmed, you would be able to apply those credits towards your major. If your course is not equivalent, you may still take the course, but it will simply count as an elective credit, as long as you adhere to UM's Transfer Credit Policy. 

  • 5. Take classes in-person if you are interested in Greek Life

    If you are interested in participating in Greek Life at UM in the Spring, you must enroll in at least 12 credits in the fall in-person. Online courses will not qualify for the minimum credit requirement to participate in Greek Life.

Academic Opportunities through UM

In addition to internships, community service, and/or work experience, students can participate in one of the following academic opportunities offered by the University of Miami.

Spring Starters have the opportunity to study alongside other UM spring admitted students on this academic program.

Spring Starters who enroll in one of these programs will develop bonds, which can lead to an established network of friends before arriving at the University of Miami in the spring.

These programs are only for Spring Starters who submit their enrollment deposit by May 1, 2026. Space is limited and on a first-come first-served basis. Depositing by the enrollment deadline does not guarantee you will be able to participate in the program.

The deadline to apply for a Start Abroad program is 11:59 PM ET on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.

Please review the information on the site or email the Start Abroad team at startabroad@miami.edu for more information.

The University of Miami's Division of Continuing & International Education (DCIE) is offering University of Miami Spring Start students the opportunity to take online non-degree courses in the fall semester.

Start Online at DCIE

Spring Start non-degree seeking students are limited to enroll in ten credit hours in the Fall semester. Space is limited and based on individual class capacity. This option is only available for Spring Starters who submit their enrollment deposit by the deadline.

Note, this program is not available to University of Miami spring start students enrolled in a Start Abroad program.

Once deposited, the deadline to apply for the non-degree fall online course experience is by 11:59 PM ET on June 15, 2026. Spring Starters who enroll in this option agree to acknowledge and adhere to list of terms and conditions. Starting mid-March, information and the application to apply for this academic experience will be available in your Applicant Portal after your deposit has been processed.

Additional information is available on the Start Online information page and the DCIE website or you can email the DCIE team at startonline@miami.edu for more information.

Support and Events

Even though your academic journey at UM starts in January, we'll stay in touch and provide resources to help you along the way.

The Spring Start LIVE Series, a series of virtual events, will run from May to December.

Topics include:

  • What to do in the Fall
  • Next Steps
  • Housing and Course Registration
  • Meet your Classmates
  • Billing & Payment
  • Orientation and Commuter Student Involvement

Academic advising for Spring 2027 students begins in mid-October. If you need assistance over the summer deciding what classes to take in the fall, we recommend reviewing the academic bulletin for your intended program. 

If you're participating in the Start Online or Start Abroad program, you'll work with the program liaison(s) to determine your fall classes.

Note: A limited number of virtual appointments with a Transitional Guide will be available during the summer. Check your Applicant Portal in June for dates, additional information, and more ways to connect before your arrival in the Spring.

Looking Ahead

The official Road to UM kicks off in October. One of the best ways you can prepare for your arrival in January is to check your Applicant Portal often. There, you will find next steps, followed by a personalized checklist that gets posted in mid-October. This will help ensure you are completing tasks on time.

 

Top