Understanding Your Booking Window
Learn about Booking Windows in TSS — a set period of time when you're allowed to book your courses that quarter.
Before you can sign up for classes each quarter, TSS assigns you a Booking Window — a set period of time when you're allowed to book your courses. If the term booking is new to you, it's the same thing as enrolling or registering. We use the term booking at UC San Diego.
Undergraduate Students: Your window won't open at the same time as everyone else's — it's based on how many units you've completed + class standing + quarters you’ve been enrolled in, so it can vary quarter to quarter as you progress. That's normal and not something you can change, but knowing your window ahead of time, along with what to expect during each pass, means you will be ready to book.
Graduate Students: Your Booking Window works differently. Instead of an individual window based on units or class standing, all graduate students share one standard booking window that opens on the same day and time for everyone and runs through the Add Deadline. There's no personal appointment time to look up — if the window is open, you're able to book.
What's a Booking Window?
Your Booking Window is the specific period of time when you're able to book (enroll/register in) courses for an upcoming quarter. You can't book before your window opens, and your window may open at a different time than other students you know. Each booking pass has its own booking window, so you'll see multiple appointment-time cards for the same quarter.
Graduate students - jump to your section at the bottom of this page for more information.
| Pass | What It's For | UG Unit Cap | Waitlists |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Pass | Your initial booking period — book your priority courses here | 11.5 units | Not allowed |
| Second Pass | A later window to add, drop, or change courses | 19.5 units | Allowed |
| Instruction Session Enrollment | Booking continues once the quarter's instruction session opens, through the Add Deadline | 22 units | Allowed |
| Pass | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| First Pass | Nov 12, 2026, 3:00 PM PT | Nov 14, 2026, 11:59 PM PT |
| Second Pass | Nov 19, 2026, 3:00 PM PT | Jan 3, 2027, 11:59 PM PT |
| Instruction Session Enrollment | Jan 4, 2027, 12:00 AM PT | Jan 15, 2027, 11:59 PM PT |
Note: Dates shown in TSS are specific to you and the term. The examples above reflect unit caps and a SAMPLE booking window only — your actual Open/Close dates depend on your class standing and the quarter you're booking for.
Always check your own Appointment Times for your real dates.
Finding Your Appointment Window
Log in to TSS at sis.ucsd.edu.
You'll arrive at the TSS Homepage. At the top of the screen, you will see two tabs: My Home and Student. You're currently on the My Home tab.
Toward the top of the screen, you will see a section called Pages. Underneath, you will see a Student tile. Click the Student tile to go to your Student Overview.
From your student homepage, select My Appointment Times.
Choose your Academic Year and Academic Session (term) from the dropdown menus.
Your personal booking windows will appear as cards on screen.
Note: In fall, the second pass is broken in two pieces, to allow new students dedicated time to book in the middle. This is why you see two Second Pass cards on the My Appointment Times screen.
Reading Your Appointment Times
| Field | What It Tells You |
|---|---|
| Status | Whether the window is Upcoming (not yet open), Active (open now), or Ended . |
| Open/Close | The exact date and time your window starts and ends. |
| Unit Cap | The maximum number of units you can be booked into during that window, including waitlisted courses. |
| Waitlists | Whether you're allowed to join a course waitlist during that window. |
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- First pass is the period of time when you can book in up to 11.5 units
- Second pass is the period of time when you can book and waitlist in up to 19.5 units
- In fall, Second Pass is divided into two booking windows so new students have dedicated time to book between them. If you see two Second Pass cards, you may book during the dates shown on either card; booking is temporarily paused for continuing students between the two windows.
- Instruction session enrollment is the period of time when you can book and waitlist in up to 22 units, and request to go above 22 units if needed
❗See a red warning banner at the top of the Appointment Times page? That means you have an active hold that may affect your ability to book. Check My Holds before your window opens.
Need More Units Than Your Cap Allows?
If you need to book above your current unit cap, you can request an exception through Triton Enrollment Authorization (TEA) once you're within the pass that allows it. If you need to exceed the 22-unit cap, you can submit a Triton Enrollment Authorization (TEA) request during Instruction Session Enrollment. TEA requests are reviewed by your College and are not guaranteed to be approved. Read all about TEA Requests.
Graduate Students
Graduate students have a standard booking window that opens on the first day of the booking period for the term and runs through the Add Deadline. There are no individual appointment times — all graduate students can begin booking at the same time. Your unit caps also follow a different schedule than undergraduates.
| Booking Pass | GR Unit Limit |
|---|---|
| First Pass: First day of enrollment through one week before instruction begins | 20 units |
| Instruction Session Enrollment: One week before first day of instruction through add deadline | 30 units |
Questions? Contact your graduate program coordinator for help.Need More Units Than 30 Units? If you need to book above the 30 unit cap, you can request an exception through TEA Requests.
Quick Tips
- Check your My Appointment Times and My Holds tiles before your window opens — not the day of.
- Waitlists are not available in First Pass — plan your priority courses accordingly.
- Your unit cap includes any courses you're waitlisted for, not just ones you're booked into.
- Missed First Pass? You can still book during Second Pass and beyond, up to that pass's unit cap.