Winter Session FAQs
Saint Louis University's Winter Session 2025-2026 will be offered from Dec.15, 2025, to Jan. 11, 2026. For questions about the SLU Winter Session, please email winter@slu.edu.
All classes are offered exclusively online. Registration opens Monday, Oct.13, 2025, and closes Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 11:59 p.m. St. Louis time. Students may take only one course during the winter session. Each class is three credit hours.
No incoming, first-time spring 2026 freshmen or students taking fall 2025 and/or spring 2026 Madrid courses may enroll in the winter session.
Find frequently asked questions and general information below. Visit courses.slu.edu for specific course details and registration.
All courses are online asynchronous (self-paced on Canvas with deadlines for assignments, exams, etc.).
Deciding to Take a Winter Session Course
Yes. Students are not required to take classes during the winter session, as it is an optional term. For students not taking classes during the winter session, the break will last until the start of the spring semester in mid-January.
The decision to take an optional winter session course should involve a conversation with an academic advisor and/or a faculty mentor. A winter session course is a four-week online class (25 days) over the winter break, with 30-32 hours of dedicated coursework required each week. Additionally, there are only three days in which there will be no coursework or assignments/exams due: Dec. 24, 25, and Jan. 1.
Prioritizing your mental health and well-being is critical, and taking time off during the winter break may be beneficial as you prepare for the spring semester. These factors and others should be considered before enrolling in a winter session class.
For resources and information on student well-being at Saint Louis University, please visit our well-being resources page.
Students who have an Incomplete in a course taken in the fall semester should focus their time during winter break to finish their coursework. It is not recommended to take a winter course with an Incomplete on record.
Participating in our optional winter session allows undergraduate students both online and on our physical campus to take courses required to complete their degree in a flexible way that fits their schedule.
Enrolling in a Winter Session Course
The winter session is open to current undergraduate students in good academic standing at the St. Louis campus of Saint Louis University, including visiting students and students enrolled in the School for Professional Studies. No incoming, first-time spring 2026 freshmen or Madrid students are permitted to take classes through the winter session, including students who take Madrid Fall 2025 and/or Madrid Spring 2026 courses. Additionally, a winter session course cannot be your first class at Saint Louis University.
Students are considered to be in good academic standing if they are not on probation (either University probation or program probation) and have not been dismissed or suspended from Saint Louis University. Learn more about academic standing at Saint Louis University.
If you have questions about your eligibility to take a winter session course, please talk with your academic advisor.
The winter session will be offered entirely online - no classes will be offered on campus.
If you are a current SLU student, you can register for a winter session course starting Oct. 13, 2025, using the same process as you do for the fall, spring, and summer. To learn more about how to register as a SLU student, visit this page.
If you are a non-SLU student, please fill out the visiting student application, and a staff member will assist you with registration.
Students can only take one winter session course.
Registration will open for the winter session on Oct. 13, 2025. Winter 2025-2026 will run from Dec. 15, 2025, to Jan. 11, 2026. Students may take only one course during the winter session. Each class offered in the winter session is three credit hours.
SLU students can register for courses the same way they register for classes in fall, spring and summer. For questions regarding that, please reach out to your academic advisor.
The registration period for the 2025-2026 winter session begins Oct. 13, 2025. Registration will close Monday, Dec. 9, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. St. Louis time.
Important Information for Student Success in Winter Session
Winter session courses are entirely online, so access to a computer with reliable Wi-Fi is critical to achieving success in the winter session.
Winter session courses cannot be taken on a mobile device such as a cell phone or iPad/tablet. Courses must be completed on a laptop or desktop computer.
Students can acquire textbooks at the Saint Louis University bookstore in the Busch Student Center on campus. To purchase textbooks online or for store hours during the winter session, please visit Billikenshop.com.
Consult the class syllabus for specifics on all class information, including assignments and examinations. There will be no classes or assignments due on Dec. 24, 25 or Jan. 1.
Support Resources in Winter
A staff member at Saint Louis University will be available to answer questions during the winter session. Contact Jacob Wierson, director of the Office of Summer and Extended Studies, at winter@slu.edu for assistance.
The SLU ITS Service Desk (314-977-4000) will be available Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. to handle general technology and support calls, and Canvas support is available 24/7. You may also chat ITS at ask.slu.edu. Issues that cannot be resolved over the phone by the service desk will be escalated to the desktop team for resolution. Outside of normal business hours, press option 1 to have an on-call IT technician call you back for urgent issues only.
Please call the help desk at 314-977-4000 for immediate assistance. If it's an academic emergency, call 314-977-4000, press 1 to have an on-call technician call you back. Press 0 to have a ticket created for next business day support (non-urgent issues)
If it's a situation related to Canvas, call 314-977-4000, press 3 to speak directly with Canvas support.
If you have questions or need assistance in submitting an accommodation for the winter session, please contact Kendra Johnston, director of the Center for Accessibility and Disability Resources, at kendra.johnston@slu.edu or by phone at 314-977-2372.
There is an accessibility tool called Ally to increase usability for students who are interacting in a Canvas course. To learn more about how to use Ally in Canvas, visit this page.
Tuition and Fees
Winter session tuition is $770 per credit hour, or $2,310 for a three-credit hour winter course. There are no additional fees.
Winter session bills will be sent out to students in mid-December. Tuition is charged separately from the spring semester.
If you have any questions regarding financial aid in the winter session, please call Student Financial Services at 314-977-2350, stop into DuBourg Hall room 119, or contact your financial aid counselor.
The drop/withdrawal schedule for winter session 2025-2026 will be published soon.
Campus Facilities
Students have access to certain campus facilities during the winter session. Below are the special hours for each building.
Pius Library hours during winter session 2025-2026 will be announced later this year.
Please visit the Simon Recreation Center main page for hours during winter break.