CGS Registration FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
I am planning my spring classes and I don't know where to start. What should I do?
Students should first refer to the guidelines below for detailed instructions on spring course registration.
When can I register for classes?
CGS sophomores in the Class of 2029 may register for classes on Friday, November 13, 2026.
Incoming first-year CGS students in the Class of 2030 may register for classes on Friday, November 20, 2026.
Registration appointment times have been assigned based on the last digit of your BUID number. Please note that all times listed below are in Eastern Time and are set by the Office of the University Registrar:
| Last Digit of BUID# |
Start Time: |
| 0, 9 |
6:20 AM |
| 8, 7 |
6:40 AM |
| 6, 5 |
7:00 AM |
| 4, 3 |
7:20 AM |
| 2, 1 |
7:40 AM |
What is an Advising Hold?
An advising hold is a temporary block placed on your student account that prevents you from registering for classes until you have met with an academic advisor. Incoming CGS first-year and transfer students have an advising hold and must meet with their assigned CGS advisor before they can register for classes. Continuing CGS sophomores who have completed one year of study at BU do not have advising holds on their account, though it is recommended they consult their CGS advisor for guidance on course registration.
Can I use my AP or IB credit to count towards any CGS requirements?
First-Year Students:
Students with a 4 or 5 on AP English Literature will receive credit for CGS HU 103.
Students with a 5, 6, or 7 on IB English Language A – Literature (Higher Level) will receive credit for CGS HU 103 and an additional 4 units of CGS Humanities Elective credit.
Sophomore Students:
Students with a score of 5 on AP Biology will receive credit for CGS NS 201 and CGS NS 202.
Students who have AP or IB credit in Chemistry or Physics should consult with their CGS academic advisor.
First-Year Student Registration
How do I know what CGS team I am selecting?
Your CGS team is determined by the first letter of the “section code” of the CGS courses you are adding. The section code is the two characters that follow the course number. For example, CGS HU 103 AA has a course number of “CGS HU 103” and a section code of “AA.”
A student who enrolls in CGS HU 103 CC, CGS RH 103 CA, and CGS SS 103 CC is on Team C.
Can I select my CGS courses from different CGS teams?
No, students must remain on the same CGS team for all CGS courses. Students who do not register correctly will have their schedules adjusted by CGS Student Services.
How do I know which summer 2027 session I am attending?
Your CGS course registration/team for spring 2027 determines where and when you will study during the summer. Summer 2027 term dates are below.
| CGS Team(s) |
Summer 2027 Term Location |
Summer 2027 Term Dates |
| Team A |
Boston, MA |
Summer 1: May 18 – June 25 |
| Teams C, D, E |
London, UK |
Summer 1: May 16– June 26 |
| Teams F, G, H |
London, UK |
Summer 2: June 27 – August 7 |
How can I guarantee placement on my summer session of preference?
While we can guarantee that you will be able to enroll in the CGS courses that are recommended by your CGS academic advisor, we cannot guarantee a spot in a particular CGS team or summer term of preference. Students who register on November 20, 2026 are guaranteed the ability to study abroad in London in Summer 2027 during either summer session 1 or summer session 2.
How do I register for my CGS summer semester courses?
You do not need to register for your CGS summer semester courses on MyBU Student. Students will be automatically enrolled in their summer semester courses at a later date in the spring 2027 term by the CGS Student Services team.
CGS Team Selection
The team I wanted filled up. What should I do?
While we can guarantee you a spot in the courses you need to fulfill the CGS curriculum requirements, we can’t make any guarantees that you’ll get a spot on a particular team of preference. Please register for an open CGS team on MyBU Student.
MyBU Student says that seats are available in a CGS section, but it won’t let me add the class. What should I do?
The number of seats you see on MyBU Student does not accurately reflect the actual capacity of the section. If the system does not allow you to register for a CGS section, that means it is currently full. Please choose a different section and/or team accordingly.
I need to change my CGS team or adjust a CGS class section, but I’m unable to do so myself. What are my next steps?
CGS student services will accommodate schedule/team change requests for students who have unavoidable academic time conflicts. If you need to change your CGS schedule due to an academic time conflict and there are no options on MyBU Student that work, please email CGS Student Services at cgs@bu.edu.
An “academic time conflict” is defined as a scenario where all available sections of a required course conflict with all open CGS sections on MyBU. Please note that an academic time conflict does not include extracurricular obligations or work schedules.
I need to change my CGS section/team for a non-academic reason. How should I proceed?
CGS student services will accommodate schedule/team change requests for students who have unavoidable academic time conflicts, or for students with documented medical or disability accommodations.
Medical and disability accommodations must go through Disability Access Services (DAS).
For all other non-academic time conflicts, please contact cgs@bu.edu directly for further guidance. Please note that academic time conflicts do not include personal preference, extracurricular obligations, or work schedules.
All the available options for CGS teams conflict with my elective(s). How can I fix this?
If you are certain that no other combination of available CGS sections will fit with your elective(s), contact the CGS Office of Student Services at cgs@bu.edu. They will be able to help get you into sections that work with your elective(s).
Can I contact the CGS professors of the sections I want to add?
Please do not contact a CGS professor directly if their class is full. Enrollment in CGS classes is managed centrally by the CGS Office of Student Services (cgs@bu.edu). The CGS professors do not have the administrative ability to add students to their sections.
Elective Course Planning
How many electives can I take?
The number of elective courses a student can take depends on individual circumstances and intended degree plans. Please consult your CGS Academic Advisor to discuss further.
First semester CGS students can enroll in up to 18.0 units. Continuing CGS students can enroll in up to 20.0 units.
An elective course I need is completely full. What should I do?
Please consult with the Academic Pathways on the CGS Website to get a sense of other elective options that work for your degree plans. You should also consult your CGS Academic Advisor to discuss other elective course options.
I’ve looked through everything available and I still can’t figure out how to fix my schedule.
Please contact the appropriate resource below based on your inquiry:
- Registration errors, troubleshooting, or team/section inquiries: Questions regarding class enrollment on MyBU Student can be directed to CGS Student Services (cgs@bu.edu). Emails will be answered in the order received.
- Course selection, elective options, or degree planning: Questions regarding course selection and degree planning should be directed to your CGS Academic Advisor. Please email them directly or schedule an appointment on MyBU Student. Your patience is appreciated as advisors are experiencing a high volume of inquiries during class registration.
MyBU Student
I'm having trouble accessing MyBU Student. Who can help me?
If you are unable to access the MyBU Student Portal, please email ithelp@bu.edu and include your first and last name and BUID.
MyBU Student won't allow me to register for my courses. What is causing this?
You may have a hold on your account (financial hold, compliance hold, student accounts hold, immunization hold, etc.). Please check your student account, resolve any holds, and proceed with registration.
If you are still having issues that are not related to the class being closed, please contact cgs@bu.edu.
I am a first-year student currently enrolled in the BU Career Discovery Experience. My student account says I have a CGS Registration Restriction hold. Will this impact my spring class registration??
Students in the BU Career Discovery Experience have a Registration Hold that restricts them from adding additional BU courses in the Fall 2026 term. This hold will not affect your ability to register for your Spring 2027 courses.