If you are requesting to take courses within the State of Florida, visit Florida Shines to submit an electronic form prior to registering to take courses at another institution. Online applications will be routed electronically to the appropriate departments for approval.

If you are an FSU student who wants to attend a private/out-of-state school, download and complete the Transient Student Application form from the FSU Registrar’s website. You will be required to obtain approval and signatures per the form’s instructions prior to enrolling in a course(s).

Eligibility

• Current Florida State University (FSU) students in good academic standing with an FSU cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher may request to take transient coursework away from FSU. Students approved for transient coursework must have an official transcript sent to the FSU Office of Admissions as soon as the transient term is over, but no later than the end of the student’s next semester of enrollment at FSU so that degrees may be conferred in a timely manner.
• Per FSU policy, the last 30 hours towards a bachelor’s degree must be completed in residence through FSU (online or face-to-face classes).
• The College of Arts & Sciences can approve up to six degree-applicable hours out of residency (away from FSU) in the last 30 hours in documented emergency situations. Students requesting to take more than six degree-applicable hours away from FSU in the last 30 hours must document exceptional circumstances by downloading and completing the Out of Residency form. Students petition for an exception to this requirement should email the completed form to the College of Arts and Sciences Student Affairs Office at as-advising@fsu.edu prior to enrolling in any courses at another institution.

FAQ’s

The course I need is offered for less money at my local community college. Can I enroll there for financial reasons?

We cannot allow students to enroll in another institution for only financial reasons. Students are expected to take courses for their expected degree in residence at FSU. However, if you are in good academic standing at FSU and will complete at least 30 hours at FSU after the term in which you are a transient student, you may submit a transient form to take a course that is degree applicable (needed for your CURRENT degree program).

Can I take a class for my future degree program (Medical school, nursing school, PA school, etc.) even though it is not required for my current FSU degree program?

If you are in good academic standing at FSU and will complete at least 30 hours at FSU after the term in which you are a transient student, you may submit a transient form. We are unable to approve requests for coursework that is not required for your current FSU degree if you are within your final 30 credit hours. An alternative to taking the requested coursework as a transient student would involve enrolling at another institution as a non-degree seeking student to complete the coursework for the future degree program. Unlike taking coursework as a transient student, you would not submit the transcript to FSU once you finish the non-degree seeking coursework. Once you apply to the future program (Medical school, nursing school, etc.) then you would provide the transcripts from FSU and the institution at which you completed the non-degree seeking coursework.

Can I take classes at TCC?

In general, we do not allow coursework to be completed at TCC. Requests to take courses at Tallahassee Community College (TCC) will only be considered for students with fewer than 90 hours, including current enrollment and earned hours under one of the following conditions provided that the course(s) in question are not required for the student’s current declared degree program (i.e., major, minor, foreign language, General Education, etc.):

• Course is not offered at FSU during the semester in question or the subsequent semester.
• Course is full at FSU during the semester in question or the subsequent semester.

Can I take classes at FAMU?

Requests to take courses through the FSU-FAMU Cooperative Program Agreement, regardless of number of earned hours, will be considered under of one following conditions:

• Course is not offered at FSU during the semester in question or the subsequent semester.
• Course is full at FSU during the semester in question or the subsequent semester.
• Course is not required for declared degree program at FSU but required for career goals (e.g., Animal Science courses).

Can I take a course/courses at another institution while also being enrolled at FSU?

The College of Arts & Sciences will consider inter-institutional dual enrollment for: Distance Learning or Panama City campus students; or Main campus students enrolled in online (non-face to face) courses and requesting face to face courses away from the Tallahassee campus during summer terms only following the above requirements regarding the number of earned hours.

If I wish to take classes as a transient student, what is the maximum number of hours I can take at another institution?

We can permit students to enroll in a maximum of 6 degree-applicable hours outside of FSU in the final 30 hours of their degree. If you will be completing 30 hours at FSU after the term in which you are a transient student you can enroll in more than 6 hours, provided the course is degree applicable (required for CURRENT degree program), following the eligibility rules above.

I find the smaller class size at the community college near my home fits my learning style better. Can I take the coursework there if it will better suit my educational needs?

If you are in good academic standing at FSU and will complete at least 30 hours at FSU after the term in which you are a transient student, you may submit a transient form to take a course that is degree applicable (needed for your CURRENT degree program), following the eligibility rules above.

I've worked with the instructor when taking previous coursework before transferring to FSU. Can I finish the sequence of courses with the instructor to maintain the working relationship?

If you are in good academic standing at FSU and will complete at least 30 hours at FSU after the term in which you are a transient student, you may submit a transient form to take a course that is degree applicable (needed for your CURRENT degree program). However, if you are enrolled at FSU and in residence in Tallahassee for face-to face classes, you will need to take the required course at FSU. If you’ll be home for the summer, for example, you can take a course at another institution provided you do not exceed 6 hours outside of FSU within the final 30 hours of your degree, following the eligibility rules above.