New Student Orientation (NSO) and New Student Enrollment (NSE)

Picture of student is decorative only

New Student Orientation (NSO) and New Student Enrollment (NSE) is required for all new to Bellevue College, degree and certificate seeking students.

Purpose:

  • Find a career or BC pathway based on your interests
  • Find campus support services
  • Learn how and when to pay for classes
  • Understand the rules, and processes that make BC a safe, creative, and positive learning community.

  • Learn how to search and enroll in classes
  • Learn about expectations and college terms you will hear
  • Find your program of study and degree requirements
  • Understand college processes and how to be successful

Orientation is a two-part process

Pink box with the words NSAAC124-B-New Student Orientation

Part 1: New Student Orientation (NSO)

  • Self-enroll in the online NSO course on Canvas (see link below)
  • Duration: 45 – 60 minutes
Blue box with the title New Student Enrollment (NSE). Below is a Select Service header. Below the header there is a selection option for NSE modalities. On the left is Virtual NSE Session for (insert term). On the right is In-Person NSE Session for (insert term). Below the modality options there is a calendar and the words Select Time.

Part 2: New Student Enrollment (NSE)

  • After completing NSO, students are required to sign up for NSE
  • NSE is a live group session with a Peer Educator and an Academic Advisor
  • NSE is available in-person and virtually (MS Teams)
  • The orientation hold will be removed from your account within an hour after completing NSE
  • Duration: 90 minutes

The following students and programs are EXEMPT from completing NSO and NSE

Students that have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a U.S. institution are exempt from NSO and NSE.

Email orientation@bellevuecollege.edu to request to be exempt. Include the following:

  • First and Last Name
  • ctcLink ID number
  • Attach an unofficial college transcript (diplomas will not be accepted)

Students accepted to a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) program at Bellevue College are exempt from NSO and NSE.

Students enrolled in the Basic and Transitional Studies (BATS) program are exempt from NSO and NSE.

To learn more about the program, visit the Basic and Transitional Studies (BATS) website.

Student enrolled in the Career Education Options (CEO) program are exempt from NSO and NSE.

To learn more about the program contact 425-564-2026 or visit the Career Education Options website.

Students enrolled in the College in the High School (CHS) program at Bellevue College are exempt from NSO and NSE.

To learn more about the program contact CiHS@bellevuecollege.edu or visit the College in the High School website.

International Students (F-1 visa holders) are required to attend an in-person New Student Orientation session through the International Education department.

To learn more about the program contact ie@bellevuecollege.edu or visit the International Education website.

Students enrolled in the Neurodiversity Navigators (NdN) program are required to complete the Neurodiversity Navigators New Student Orientation (NSO), followed by a New Student Enrollment (NSE) meeting. To get started with the process, visit the Future Students page.

To learn more about the program, visit the Neurodiversity Navigators website.

Non-Award/Non-Degree Seeking students do not plan to earn a degree or certificate at Bellevue College. Their goal is to enroll for classes for personal development or to transfer a few classes to another college/university.

You can update your degree on the system by completing the Change Major/Program of Study Request and selecting “Non-Award/Non-Degree Seeking”. The request will be processed within 3 to 4 weeks.

A returning student has previously attended Bellevue College and completed a minimum of one 100-level course with a passing grade.

Email orientation@bellevuecollege.edu to request to be exempt. Include the following:

  • First and Last Name
  • ctcLink ID number

If you attended Bellevue College prior to Fall 2015, then you will need to Submit an Online Help Request Ticket to connect with Enrollment Services or call 425-270-8022 (option 1).

If you have not taken classes for at least 2 years, you will need to submit a new application. If it has been less than 2 years but more than 4 quarters since you last took classes, you can submit a request for Term Activation. Students returning after not taking classes for four or more quarters enroll during the open enrollment period. Check the Academic Calendar for open enrollment dates for each quarter.

Students enrolled in the Running Start (RS) program are required to sign up for the Running Start New Student Orientation (NSO-HSP) course on Canvas.

To learn more about the program contact 425-564-2026 or visit the Running Start website.

A visiting student is currently enrolled at another college and is planning to only take a few classes at Bellevue College to transfer back to their college (home school). A visiting student does not plan to earn a degree or certificate at Bellevue College.

When completing the Bellevue College application, select “Non-Award/Non-Degree Seeking”.

Email orientation@bellevuecollege.edu to request to be exempt. Include the following:

  • First and Last Name
  • ctcLink ID number
  • Forward the confirmation page that you’ve recently submitted the Change Major/Program of Study Request and selected “Non-Award/Non-Degree Seeking”

Sign up for New Student Orientation!

Please Note:

New NSE sessions are posted every Monday morning for the following two weeks. If you don’t see any NSE sessions available, please check again on Monday at 10:00 AM. If Monday falls on a holiday, NSE sessions will be posted the next business day.

You can sign up for a NSE session on the last page of the NSO (Self-enroll below).

Click Here to Self-Enroll in NSO on Canvas

(Make sure you already have setup your BC email address to go through NSO)

If you have any questions – please let us know and email us at orientation@bellevuecollege.edu

Last Updated May 26, 2026