REGISTRATION
How to Register
- UVA students: Use the Registration Request form, or use SIS once Summer Session's courses are posted
- Non-UVA students: Use the Registration Request form
Registration is limited to one course per session. All Registration Requests require approval.
Registration Deadline
Course registration is open until the Friday before the course starts, but early registration is strongly encouraged. If a course fills, a waitlist will be established. Review of applications for financial support begins on March 15, so if you plan to request support it is best to submit your request by then. Please see below for the drop policy, refund policy, and more. Feel free to email mlbs@virginia.edu with questions.
FEES - Expected for summer 2026
Subject to change
Tuition |
|
| In-state undergraduate students | $484 per credit |
| Out-of-state undergraduate students | $1787 per credit |
| Graduate students & Continuing Education students | Contact us |
Room & Board |
|
| Total Room & Board | $1,265 per 3-week course |
Payment
Payment for tuition, room, and board must be made before the start of class. UVA students will receive information on how to pay through the Summer Session office. Non-UVA students will pay MLBS directly. Purchase of text books and/or other course material (e.g. lab supplies) may be required. Tuition fees are set by UVA Summer Session and may vary from what is posted here.
Financial Support
MLBS Scholarships are available based on academic record and need. To be considered for support, 1. include a statement of need when you submit your Registration Request form, and 2. have a reference send us a letter of recommendation. Requests for financial support are reviewed beginning March 15. Later applications are also considered as long as funds are available.
EXPECTATIONS
Schedule and Activities
Plan to arrive Sunday afternoon (the day before your course begins) and depart Saturday morning (the day after your course ends). Some days may be a combination of lectures/discussion in the morning, and lab/field work in the afternoon. However, schedules vary. Most course obligations occur Monday through Friday, but instructors may also schedule activities for any day or time during the session.
Field courses can be physically demanding. Participants should be willing to embrace long hours outdoors in sometimes rugged environments, and in all weather conditions!
Housing and Meals
Accommodations are 1930s-era historic buildings, and are rustic in nature. Course students are typically assigned to double-occupancy rooms in single-sex dorms with shared a living room and bathroom. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or require alternative arrangements. Three meals a day are served in the cafeteria-style dining hall. Please peruse the website for details on Station life, housing, what to bring, and more.
Please contact us with any questions about life at the Station or course expectations.
We look forward to having you as part of the MLBS community!
FAQ's & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
What if I want to drop a class?
Please contact us if you wish to drop a class (in addition to dropping the class in SIS if you are a UVA student). UVA Summer Session defines course dropping policies and regulations. Also see the refund policy below.
Can I receive a refund if I drop a class?
A $100 deposit for each course is charged as part of the board fee. SIS-enrolled students will see this charge posted to their student account. The deposit is refundable UNLESS the course is dropped less than 14 days before the start of class. Wait list students who have paid fees but are unable to get into the class will receive a full refund. UVA Summer Session defines all other tuition and fee adjustments and course dropping policies and regulations.
What if the course I want is full?
If you register for a course that is full, you will be placed on a waitlist in the order we received your Registration Request.
What UVA requirements do MLBS courses fulfill?
- Laboratory requirement for the biology major
- Area 3 requirement for the biology major
- At least one distributional requirement for the conservation concentration
Course Level and Credit
Most courses are appropriate for undergraduate or graduate students and may be taken for undergraduate or graduate credit. Please contact the station if you have questions about prerequisites or course level expectations. Course numbers are set to accommodate graduate student participants and other university requirements. Do not assume you are not qualified! Course credit is usually transferable to other institutions. However, your home institution makes this decision. Check with them. Courses meet the lab course requirement in the Department of Biology at UVA, and satisfy at least one distributional requirement for the Conservation Concentration at UVA. Any exceptions or additions to requirements fulfilled by a course are indicated in the course description. You should confirm applicability of specific courses with the MLBS office and with your UVA advisor before registering. Students who wish to apply credit earned at Mountain Lake toward a graduate degree from the University of Virginia must be admitted to the graduate program at the University before enrollment in the course.
Liability and Vertebrate Animal Use
Students must complete the"Field Station Risk Acknowledgement Application" (Liability Waiver) before arriving at the station. Some course descriptions include this note: This course includes handling vertebrate animals (mammals, birds, amphibians, fish). When you complete the Liability Waiver, please make sure you answer "Yes" to the animal handling question.
Honor Code
Students at Mountain Lake are considered students of the University of Virginia and are therefore bound by the University's Honor System. Students are responsible for knowing its content and are required to follow its procedures.
Continuing Education Students
Contact us to find out about participation requirements, costs, and registration.