Grades given for completed, credit-bearing graduate courses not taken on a pass/no credit (P/N) basis are A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, and F (for failing work).

A grade of Y is given when a student does not submit all assigned work in a course; a grade of X is given when a student fails to take the final examination. All X or Y grades are incompletes and must be made up within one calendar year of the date the grade is incurred, with the exception of 499 Projects in the Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science. After one calendar year, at the discretion of the associate dean for current students, the X or Y becomes a permanent grade on the record.

Each grade of F, N, X, or Y entered for a course, except for 499 Projects in the McCormick School, reduces the total credit toward residency for that quarter by one-third, regardless of the number of courses in the registration for the quarter. Neither University scholarships nor teaching assistantships will provide tuition for any additional courses needed to complete the residency requirement when residency is reduced by a permanent F, N, X or Y grade.

All 590 research registrations must be taken on a P/N basis. A grade of K, not a Y, is given when the work for 590 is still in progress. The one-year deadline to make up an incomplete does not apply to the K grade.

A minimum grade average of B is required for all work presented for an advanced degree. Therefore, every unit grade of C must be balanced by a unit grade of A. Students receiving financial aid from the University must maintain an overall B average and keep their records free of incomplete grades.

Pass/No Credit Option

Many courses may be taken on a pass/no-credit (P/N) basis rather than for a letter grade. Some departments have specific regulations concerning P/N registration. Students who wish to use this option should consult their department or program advisors. The P/N option must be declared during the first five days of classes and cannot be changed thereafter.

Each 590 Research registration must be taken on a P/N basis. Except for 590, P/N courses cannot be counted in a program presented for a master's degree.