Registration and Lottery

Fall 2025 Gen Ed Registration and Lottery Overview

Registration closes on April 16.

Returning Student Registration for Fall 2025 Gen Ed Courses

• For a searchable list of Fall 2025 Gen Ed courses by category please see our course catalog.
• Fall registration opens on April 2 and closes on April 16.
• During registration you can enroll in uncapped courses directly, making sure to choose a section that has available seats OR submit your preferences, depending on how the course is configured.
• If you get an error message saying an uncapped course is full, it is likely that you tried to enroll in a full section. Please remove the course from your cart and add it back in, making sure to pick a section with open seats.

Capped Courses Info for Returning Students

• The Fall 2025 Gen Ed Lottery deadline for capped courses has passed. Lottery results were posted April 9.
• The “claim seat” deadline passed on April 11. New, post-lottery petitions for capped courses may now be approved at instructor’s discretion. Please note that having a petition approved does not guarantee your seat in the course. The only way to secure your seat is to enroll.
• As with uncapped courses, if you get an error message saying an uncapped course is full, it is likely that you tried to enroll in a full section. Please remove the course from your cart and add it back in, making sure to pick a section with open seats. Your approved petition will be retained.

Incoming Student Registration for Fall 2025 Gen Ed Courses

• Registration for incoming students will run August 12-14.
• During registration you can enroll in uncapped courses directly, making sure to choose a section that has available seats OR submit your preferences, depending on how the course is configured.
• A limited number of seats for incoming students will be added to capped courses prior to registration opening. Enrollment in capped courses is by petition. Please note there is no Gen Ed lottery for incoming students.

Registration for Spring 2025 Gen Ed Courses

• The enrollment deadlines for spring courses have passed. If you are in a placeholder section please ensure you are switched into a scheduled section as soon as possible. Any course switches at this late stage must be approved by the Ad Board.

Looking to browse Gen Ed courses? Check out our course catalog, where you can filter by semester offered or by category.

Do you have a question or issue pertaining to lottery logistics or enrollment within my.Harvard? Get in touch with us at gened_enrollment@fas.harvard.edu.