The Independent Activities Period takes place for four weeks in January and is an integral part of the Institute's educational program. Students, faculty, staff, and other members of the MIT community organize about 600 non-credit activities and 100 for-credit subjects. These are publicized in the IAP Guide, beginning in late September. In addition, there are many individually arranged projects that are not officially publicized.

Any member of the MIT Community (student, faculty member, or staff) may organize and host a non-credit activity, either independently or jointly with others. For directions on how to organize and/or post activities, see the IAP Guide or visit the Office of Undergraduate Advising and Academic Programming (UAAP). (All offerings are subject to the approval of the IAP Program.)

IAP Student Status

Regular students who complete the fall semester are eligible to participate in IAP. New students admitted for the spring term and former students readmitted for the spring, prior to the beginning of IAP, are also eligible to participate.

Regular students who pay full tuition in either the fall or the spring semester will not be charged tuition for IAP. Other students will be charged on a per-unit basis for IAP subjects taken for credit.

A student who is assigned a room in a undergraduate residence hall on campus may live there during IAP at no additional expense except for meals. For more information contact the Department of Housing. A health fee paid for the fall or spring term includes coverage during IAP.

Cross-registration during IAP

See also:

As part of the Wellesley-MIT Exchange, Wellesley College students are invited to participate in IAP. The Exchange also allows MIT students to participate in Wellesley's Wintersession program. Information on Wintersession is available in the Student Services Center (SSC).

There are no cross-registration programs during IAP with Harvard University, the Massachusetts College of Art, and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts.

IAP Credit Subjects

A number of academic subjects are offered for credit (often 3 or 6 units) and are advertised in the IAP Guide. A student wishing to receive credit for research and reading projects must arrange the subject number and the number of units with the faculty supervisor. Credit is awarded only for subjects listed in the MIT Bulletin and approved by the Committee on Curricula (COC) or Committee on Graduate Programs (CGSP).

The following procedures apply to subjects taken for academic credit:

IAP Credit Limit

Students may earn no more than 12 units of credit per IAP.

There are guidelines for undergraduate subjects extending beyond IAP. Students completing 8.01L (Physics I) or 18.02A (Calculus), which began in the fall semester, will have 6 units count toward their IAP credit limit for each of those subjects. Similarly, students who have not passed 18.01 (Calculus) in the fall term and take make-up exams during IAP will use 6 of their IAP credits. Therefore, within the credit limit, students can take only two of these three subjects, or one of these subjects and an additional 6 units.

Departmental Requirements during IAP

Some departments may require a student to take up to 12 units of departmental requirements during one IAP. This work may be in the form of one 12-unit (or less) subject or a combination of subjects with units totaling 12 units. For information on these subjects contact the departmental undergraduate office.

IAP Registration

Registration procedures are specified in the IAP Guide, and in the registration instructions on WebSIS.

A number of subjects have a pre-selection process prior to pre-registration. Follow the instructions for that subject in the IAP Guide.

If a subject is over-subscribed, the instructor may limit enrollment at the first class meeting.

A student may change his or her registration (add or drop a subject) on WebSIS or by notifying the instructor by the last meeting of the subject before the final assignment or examination. The instructor will make the registration change on the grade sheet.

Grades and Units for IAP Subjects

See also:

All subjects giving credit during IAP are to be graded following the grading system approved for that subject number. A subject can be graded P/D/F during IAP only if it has been approved with P/D/F grading.

Similarly, the number of units awarded must be as specified for that subject, and the hours of work, though in intensive form, must merit the amount of credit. 

Pass/No Record grading for freshmen extends from first semester through IAP.

Sophomores may not designate subjects as Exploratory during IAP.

Juniors and seniors may use the Junior-Senior P/D/F option for IAP subjects.

Grades will be posted on WebSIS. If the expected grades are not posted by mid-February, students should check promptly with their instructors to be certain the grades have been submitted. IAP grades submitted after Add Date of the subsequent spring term will not be recorded. Students must petition the CAP to have such grades added to their transcripts.