Enrol or Enroll: What Is the Difference?

Enrol and enroll are both correct spellings of the same verb. The main difference is regional. Enrol is the usual spelling in British English, while enroll is the standard spelling in American English.

Both words mean to officially join a school, course, program, organization, or another activity. Therefore, the meaning stays the same even though the spelling changes.

Quick Answer:

Enrol = British English
Enroll = American English
Enrolled = correct past tense in both varieties
Enrolling = correct present participle in both varieties
Enrolment = British English noun
Enrollment = American English noun

So, neither spelling is wrong. Instead, choose the form that matches the variety of English you are using.

Table of Contents

What Does “Enrol” or “Enroll” Mean?

Enrol and enroll mean to officially register or become a member of a school, course, program, organization, or similar activity.

For example, someone might enrol in a university, enroll in an online course, or enroll in a training program. In each case, the person officially joins that educational or organized activity.

Consider these examples:

I decided to enrol in a photography course.
I decided to enroll in a photography course.
She enrolled at the university last year.
Students can enrol in the program online.
Students can enroll in the program online.

Although the spelling varies by region, the basic meaning remains unchanged.

Enrol vs. Enroll: British and American English

The clearest difference is the spelling convention used in different English varieties.

English variety	Preferred spelling	Noun
British English	enrol	enrolment
American English	enroll	enrollment

In British English, enrol is normally written with one l at the end.

For example:

Students can enrol in the course before Friday.

By contrast, American English uses enroll, with two l’s.

Students can enroll in the course before Friday.

Both sentences are grammatically correct. The difference simply reflects the spelling convention being followed.

Why Does “Enroll” Have Two L’s?

The spelling difference becomes especially noticeable in American English because enroll keeps the double l.

For American English, the common forms are:

enroll
enrolled
enrolling
enrollment

British English commonly uses:

enrol
enrolled
enrolling
enrolment

Interestingly, the past and -ing forms use ll in both varieties:

enrol → enrolled
enroll → enrolled
enrol → enrolling
enroll → enrolling

As a result, the regional difference is most obvious in the base verb and the noun enrolment/enrollment.

Enrol or Enroll: Which One Should You Use?

The best choice depends on the audience you are writing for.

In American English, use enroll:

You can enroll in the course online.

By contrast, British English uses enrol:

You can enrol in the course online.

For an international audience, either spelling is generally understood. However, it is best to choose one regional style and use it consistently throughout your article, website, or document.

Enrol and Enroll in Education

These words frequently appear in educational contexts. Students can enrol or enroll in many different types of educational programs.

Common examples include:

a school
a university
a college
a course
a class
a training program
an online course
a degree program

For instance, British English would use:

She plans to enrol at a university next year.

American English would use:

She plans to enroll at a university next year.

The meaning remains exactly the same. Only the regional spelling changes.

Enrolment or Enrollment?

The noun follows the same regional spelling pattern.

Enrolment is the standard British English spelling. Meanwhile, enrollment is the standard American English spelling.

For example:

The university’s enrolment increased this year.

In American English, the same idea would be written as:

The university’s enrollment increased this year.

Both words can describe the process of officially joining a school, course, or program. They can also refer to the number of people who have joined.

Enrolled or Enrolling: Are These Different?

Yes. Enrolled and enrolling are different grammatical forms. However, neither form belongs exclusively to British or American English.

Enrolled

Enrolled is the past tense and past participle.

She enrolled in the course last month.

You can also use it to describe someone who is already registered:

They are already enrolled at the university.

Enrolling

Enrolling is the -ing form.

He is enrolling in a new course.

Similarly, you might say:

Students are enrolling for the fall semester.

Therefore, both British and American English use enrolled and enrolling with the same spelling.

Enrol vs. Register: Are They the Same?

Enrol/enroll and register can have similar meanings, especially in education. However, they are not always interchangeable.

Generally, register focuses on officially recording someone’s name or details. On the other hand, enrol/enroll often emphasizes joining a course, school, program, or organization as a participant.

For example:

I registered for the exam.

Meanwhile:

I enrolled in a degree program.

In everyday situations, there can be some overlap between the two words. Still, the exact choice depends on the context.

Common Examples of Enrol and Enroll

Here are several natural examples showing how the words work in context.

British English

I want to enrol in an English course.
She enrolled at the college last September.
You can enrol online.
The school is accepting enrolments for the new term.
He decided to enrol in a training program.

American English

I want to enroll in an English course.
She enrolled at the college last September.
You can enroll online.
The school is accepting enrollments for the new semester.
He decided to enroll in a training program.

Notice that enrolled appears in both sections with the same spelling. The main difference is the base form and the noun.

Common Mistake: Mixing the Spellings

One common mistake is combining British and American forms in the same style of writing.

For example, a British-English sentence should not normally mix the forms like this:

Students can enrol online. The enrollment period ends Friday.

A consistent British version would be:

Students can enrol online. The enrolment period ends Friday.

Likewise, American English should use:

Students can enroll online. The enrollment period ends Friday.

As a result, choosing one regional spelling system makes your writing clearer and more professional.

Is “Enrol” or “Enroll” More Correct?

Neither spelling is universally more correct.

Enrol is correct in British English, whereas enroll is correct in American English. The best choice depends on your audience, publication style, or the variety of English you are following.

For example, a US-focused website would normally choose enroll. A UK-focused publication would generally choose enrol.

Most importantly, remain consistent throughout the same article, document, or website.

Enrol or Enroll: Quick Comparison

Word	British English	American English
Base verb	enrol	enroll
Past tense	enrolled	enrolled
-ing form	enrolling	enrolling
Noun	enrolment	enrollment

The easiest rule to remember

British English: enrol, enrolment

American English: enroll, enrollment

Meanwhile, enrolled and enrolling use two l’s in both varieties.

FAQs

Is “enrol” correct in English?

Yes. Enrol is the standard British English spelling. It is commonly used in the UK and in other varieties that follow British spelling conventions.

Is “enroll” correct in English?

Yes. Enroll is the standard American English spelling. It has the same meaning as enrol.

Is enrol British or American?

Enrol is primarily the British English spelling.

Is enroll British or American?

Enroll is the standard American English spelling.

What is the difference between enrolment and enrollment?

There is no difference in basic meaning. Enrolment is the British spelling, while enrollment is the American spelling.

Is “enrolled” British or American?

Enrolled is correct in both British and American English. Therefore, you do not need to change its spelling when switching between these two varieties.

Is “enrolling” British or American?

Enrolling is also correct in both British and American English. The spelling remains the same in each variety.

Should I use enrol or enroll in a formal document?

Use the spelling that matches the English variety required by your audience or organization. For American English, choose enroll. For British English, choose enrol.

Can I use both enrol and enroll in the same article?

You can mention both forms when explaining the difference. However, when writing normally, it is better to choose one regional variety and stay consistent.

Final Answer

Enrol and enroll are both correct spellings of the same verb. The difference is mainly regional.

Use enrol in British English and enroll in American English. Their related nouns follow the same pattern: enrolment in British English and enrollment in American English.

If you are writing for a US audience, choose enroll. If your readers are mainly in the UK, choose enrol. Either way, consistency is the key to clear and professional writing.