Senior Auditors
Follow these steps to apply for the Non-Degree Studies (NDS) program and enroll in NC State classes as a senior resident of North Carolina.
Eligibility
The Senior Auditors program is available for senior residents that meet certain criteria to audit classes. Senior Auditor applicants will have their $40 application fee automatically waived, and are eligible to have tuition waived upon request. Applicants for the Senior Auditors program must:
- Be residents of North Carolina;
- Be aged 65 or older as of the First Day of Classes for the term;
- Be in good standing with the university; and
- Not have any financial holds on any institutional accounts.
Current NDS students must maintain their eligibility as outlined on the Continuation Eligibility page.
Step One: Get Started
Review class schedules, deadlines, registration details, and financial responsibility with the links provided below.
Step Two: Residency
Complete your residency determination form through the Residency Determination Service (RDS) and receive a Residency Certification Number (RCN). Guidance regarding in-state or out-of-state tuition and fees can be found on the Residency Status page of the Student Services Center website.
Step Three: Apply
Applying to the Non-Degree Studies program does not guarantee acceptance into any given course.
Applicants are notified of admission decisions on a rolling basis. Applications take between two to five business days to process in our system, which cannot be expedited under any circumstances. For students who require a background check, this may delay processing by two to three weeks.
Step Four: Activate Student Account
You will log in to the system using your Unity ID and password. Your default password is the last four digits of your student ID number followed by your birth month and birth date (mmdd).
For example:
- Student ID: 000111234
- Birthday: July 4 (07/04)
- Default Password: 12340704
Students are required to complete a password change before they can log in to the MyPack Portal. If you need assistance with your login, please contact the NC State Help Desk at 919-515-HELP through the Office of Information Technology (OIT).
Find more information about how to access your NC State Gmail account here.
Step Five: Review Prerequisites
The class search tool allows you to search by term offered, subject, meeting time, and more! Search results display prerequisites and delivery methods to easily see if the class is offered in-person, online, or through hybrid instruction.
Search results also display instructors with links to their contact information on the Campus Directory.
Step Six: Enroll
Non-Degree Studies students are able to enroll in classes during open enrollment. Dates for upcoming terms can be found on the enrollment calendar on the Student Services Center website. Enrollment directions differ if a class has prerequisites or restrictions.
With Prerequisites or Restrictions
Departments have different contacts for enrollment support and may ask for proof that you meet listed requirements. Since NDS students are unable to document transcripts or test scores, they should be provided directly to enrollment contacts if needed as proof of eligibility to enroll in a class. If an NDS student is deemed eligible, enrollment contacts will enroll them in the desired class, or provide written permission * over email to the NDS coordinator.
* If a class is full, closed, or reserved, the NDS coordinator will need written permission to explicitly state they are allowed to override your enrollment for that reason. If this is not explicitly stated, the NDS coordinator would not be able to enroll an NDS student in said course.
Without Prerequisites or Restrictions
If a class does not have prerequisites or restrictions, NDS students will be able to enroll on their own through the Enrollment Wizard in MyPack Portal.
Credit Limit Considerations
According to NC State Rule 02.66.03 on Non-Degree Studies Enrollment, “students are limited to a maximum cumulative enrollment of 30 hours as an NDS student.” If an NDS student exceeds this 30 credit hour limit, they will need to complete the NDS Eligibility Form for a one-time exception. If an NDS student expects to continue taking classes over multiple terms, they should contact the NDS coordinator for assistance.
Step Seven: Waive Tuition
Senior auditors must be enrolled in a class before their Tuition Waiver Form can be processed. NC State permits the waiver of tuition for seniors auditors for up to three classes per academic year. All previously listed steps for application and enrollment must be completed first, as completion of the form will not enroll auditors in classes.
Once those steps have been completed, the Tuition Waiver Form must be returned to [email protected] over email before the Census Date of the term.