/Office of the Registrar
Summer Session

Accessing and Preparing for your Courses

If you are new to Stony Brook University as a visiting student, the information below is designed to help you prepare for attending classes for summer or winter sessions. Whether you have just applied or are returning from previous semesters, the guide below will help you get familiar with our systems to prepare for your class!

Setting up Your Account

  • SBU ID# - Upon your application processed, you will receive your SBU ID# and instructions on how to navigate to SOLAR to enroll. SOLAR is Stony Brook University’s student portal where students can register, view their bill, grades and more. 
  • Net ID - All students are issued a login credential that is used to access resources such as Brightspace, your SBU email account and other platforms. This is sent out typically 1-2 days after your SBU ID# is sent to you, and comes from our IT Department to your personal email on file. 

Typically a Net ID will consist of all caps and a combination of your first and last name. 

Students will be prompted to set up a password and set up authentication methods. More information can be found on the Net ID Resource Guide page. 

Contact the IT Help Desk for assistance if needed. 

Registration Instructions

Please refer to the Academic Calendar for the semester/session you are seeking to enroll for important dates and deadlines. 

*Visiting Students can only enroll in Summer and/or Winter Sessions. 

Visiting Non-Matriculated Student Registration Instructions - link to reg/apply page

Undergraduate Visiting Non-Matriculated Students can enroll during the advanced registration period on or after their enrollment appointment date. Please refer to your SOLAR account to review your enrollment appointment date to confirm the earliest day/time you can enroll. 

Keep in mind enrolling on or after the first day of classes will result in a late registration fee of $50. 

Accessing your Courses

  • Course Management - Stony Brook University utilizes Brightspace for online learning
  • By default, Brightspace courses are NOT available.  Your instructor needs to make the site available.  This typically occurs in the days leading up to the course starting. If your instructor has told you that Brightspace will be used and you do not see the course when you log in, contact your instructor.
  • Notifications and emails sent from Stony Brook's Brightspace automatically go to your Stony Brook Google account. 
  • Not familiar with Brightspace? Our student technologists have compiled a Getting Started with Brightspace for Students guide for you.