First-Year Student Next Steps
Find key dates and deadlines for what you need to do as an incoming RISD student, as well as info about course registration and transferring credits.
Dates and deadlines
We will update this page over the coming months with additional deadlines and tasks. Please contact welcome@risd.edu with questions or concerns. The dates and deadlines below are for all new first year students arriving on-campus for Fall 2025.
Required tasks that are marked with a (P) need to be completed in the incoming student portal. All tasks are required unless otherwise noted.
If you are a student with an F-1 Visa status, please see our International Student Information.
If you are an incoming transfer student, please visit Transfer Student Next Steps.
If you are considering deferring your admission, please review our deferral policy.
December 2024
DEC 12
Early decision student notification
January 2025
JAN 15
Regular Decision applications due
February 2025
FEB 15
Regular decision financial aid deadline
March 2025
MAR 20
Regular decision student notification
MID-MARCH
Register for info sessions and on-campus Admitted Students Day events
Admitted Students Days will occur on April 11 and April 19. You can find more information and register for Admitted Students Days here.
LATE MARCH
Brown | RISD Dual Degree (BRDD) acceptance notification
April 2025
APR 11
Admitted Students Day
APR 18
Admitted Students Day
May 2025
EARLY MAY
Students receive RISD credentials
Students who submit their deposit after May 15 will receive their credentials within 5 business days.
MAY 1
Deadline for Regular Decision students to submit $500 enrollment deposit (non-refundable)
Submit a nonrefundable enrollment deposit of $500 to reserve your space. (This deposit will be applied to your first tuition bill.) To pay by credit card or debit card, please use the link below to go to our secure online site. In order to access the deposit link, you will need to log into your applicant status portal.
MAY 5
Housing application and other forms open
The housing portal is your one stop location for accessing a wide variety of forms, applications and information related to housing and dining at RISD. This is where you will create your housing profile, let us know your residence hall preference and create a resident profile to help match you with potential roommates.
Learn more about Residence Life to find answers to your questions about applying for housing, selecting your room, general residence policies and more, as well as how to use our online housing portal.
Please note, if you need a change or an accommodation for your housing on campus due to a medical reason, please review the medical accommodation guidelines and timeline. Contact Disability Support Services with questions.
MAY 26
Optional residency requirement waiver and medical housing accommodation requests due
If you are a student in need of an accommodation or believe you are eligible to waive the residency requirement, visit Residence Life for deadlines and more information related to the Medical Housing Accommodation Request and Residency Waiver.
June 2025
JUN 2
Housing application closes
Learn more about Residence Life to find answers to your questions about applying for housing, selecting your room, general residence policies and more, as well as how to use our online housing portal.
JUN 4
Housing selection times sent to students with completed housing applications
Learn more about Residence Life to find answers to your questions about applying for housing, selecting your room, general residence policies and more, as well as how to use our online housing portal.
JUN 4
Start looking for “Pre-Arrival” emails
JUN 9–13
Room selection for first-year students
Learn more about Residence Life to find answers to your questions about applying for housing, selecting your room, general residence policies and more, as well as how to use our online housing portal.
JUN 13
Room assignments issued to students who did not select housing
Learn more about Residence Life to find answers to your questions about applying for housing, selecting your room, general residence policies and more, as well as how to use our online housing portal.
July 2025
JUL 1
Deadline to accept or decline your financial aid
Review your financial aid package and accept or decline in Workday.
EARLY JULY
Fall billing notification sent
JUL 14
Health forms due
RISD Health Services requires all new students to submit health forms. Your registration is not considered complete until we receive your completed and signed health forms.
JUL 15
High school transcripts due
If your school submits transcripts electronically, please have yours delivered to admissions@risd.edu.
If you applied through the Common Application, your school may submit them using the transcript upload feature.
JUL 15
Incoming student forms and to-do items due (P)
Complete in the incoming student portal.
JUL 15
Update personal information in Workday
Login with your RISD credentials to update your personal information in Workday.
August 2025
AUG 1
Fall tuition bill (P) and optional health insurance waiver due
Complete in the incoming student portal.
Visit University Health Plans to review your coverage plan or to opt-out of health insurance.
AUG 8
ID Photos due (P)
Complete in the incoming student portal.
AUG 13
First-Generation College Student Pre-Orientation Program (FGC POP) move-in
Learn more about Residence Life to find answers to your questions about applying for housing, selecting your room, general residence policies and more, as well as how to use our online housing portal.
AUG 13–29
FGC POP
Also known as FGC POP, our summer program for first-gen students lays the foundation for what to expect academically and socially during your first year at RISD.
AUG 27
BRDD move-in
Learn more about Residence Life to find answers to your questions about applying for housing, selecting your room, general residence policies and more, as well as how to use our online housing portal.
AUG 28
International student move-in
Learn more about Residence Life to find answers to your questions about applying for housing, selecting your room, general residence policies and more, as well as how to use our online housing portal.
AUG 29–30
International student orientation
AUG 31
New student move-in
Learn more about Residence Life to find answers to your questions about applying for housing, selecting your room, general residence policies and more, as well as how to use our online housing portal.
AUG 31–SEP 2
New student orientation
September 2025
SEP 3
First day of classes
Courses and credits
During your first year, you and your incoming peers will all take the three core studios in our Experimental and Foundation Studies (EFS) program. Learn more about EFS, as well as how to transfer any qualifying credits you received prior to RISD.
Courses and credits
During your first year, you and your incoming peers will all take the three core studios in our Experimental and Foundation Studies (EFS) program. Learn more about EFS, as well as how to transfer any qualifying credits you received prior to RISD.
Courses and credits