enroll

Enroll is a verb meaning to officially register or sign up to participate in a program, course, membership, or service. The noun form is enrollment. In British English, the verb is usually enrol and the noun is enrolment, while in American English the standard forms are enroll and enrollment.

The word derives from Old French enroller, from en- “in” plus rouler “to roll,” referring to the historical practice of recording names on a roll or list. Over time, enrollment came to signify the act or process of being registered or admitted into a group or program.

Enrollments occur in many contexts. In education, students enroll in courses, and institutions enroll or admit students for admission periods. Organizations, clubs, professional associations, and training programs enroll members or participants. In some systems, enrollment also covers ongoing eligibility and participation, including payment of fees or verification of prerequisites. Online services and digital platforms increasingly use self-enrollment, where users sign up themselves, sometimes with automated verification.

Enrollment is related to, but distinct from, admission or matriculation in some settings. Admission often refers to being accepted into an institution, while enrollment is the act of registering for classes, services, or membership after acceptance. Periods for enrollment—the windows when individuals can register—are common features of many programs and can be subject to capacity limits and deadlines.

See also: registration, sign-up, admission, matriculation, enrolment.