Residency Policy

New England Conservatory requires students to register full time. Baccalaureate students must enroll for eight full-time semesters to qualify for the degree; Undergraduate Diploma students, for six. Master of Music and Graduate Diploma students must enroll for four full-time semesters. Undergraduate and Graduate Performance Certificate students must enroll for two full-time semesters. Doctoral students must be enrolled full-time for the first four semesters. During the third year, they may register part-time for two semesters or full-time for one semester. Students may not accelerate requirements to complete programs in fewer than the required number of full- time semesters (exceptions will be considered as appropriate for undergraduate transfer students). Master’s students must complete requirements within five years of matriculation. Doctoral students must complete requirements within seven years of matriculation.

PART-TIME STATUS
Part-time status is only granted after students have met their full-time residency requirement. Exceptions are occasionally made for students enrolled in programs of study that do not require ensemble or studio.