Each degree program has a policy that describes the residency requirement for candidates for doctoral degrees. The college/departmental committee in charge of each degree program defines residency and specifies the method by which any residence requirement is satisfied. You should check with your adviser and graduate school for the criteria that applies to you.

Each degree program has its own policy that defines degree candidacy. Students in this classification have completed 30 semester hours of acceptable graduate work beyond the bachelor's degree, or have received a master's degree in the same or related field from an accredited college or university, and have satisfied all other requirements for candidacy set by the committee in charge of the degree program. You should check with your advisor and graduate school office for the criteria that applies to you.

After the establishment of degree candidacy, a maximum of 5 years will be allowed for the completion of the degree requirements, unless an extension is granted by your graduate school. Information on the procedure to request an extension is available from your academic department or your graduate school office.

A graduate student is considered full-time if enrolled in a minimum of 8 semester hours of credit per semester. Students will only be considered full-time if they are continuously enrolled for at least 2 consecutive semesters annually.

The following considerations also apply:

• Students for whom English is a second language, at the discretion of their academic department, will be considered full-time if enrolled in a minimum of 3 courses or are carrying 8 semester hours of credit per semester;
• Students who hold graduate assistantships (TA or RA) will be considered full-time if enrolled for a minimum of 6 semester hours of credit per semester;
• During the summer session, graduate students will be considered full-time if enrolled for a minimum of 4 semester hours of credit;
• Students enrolled in doctoral research are considered full-time;
• All graduate students who are in continuation status may be considered full-time at the discretion of their academic department. It is ordinarily assumed that such students will be in residence, but exceptions are permissible.
• Students who are engaged in a practicum experience as part of their degree requirements may be considered full-time at the discretion of their academic department.

You must maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to be considered in good standing by the University. Individual colleges or graduate programs may have higher requirements and you should check with your academic adviser.

Yes. You can purchase a campus parking permit online.

You must maintain required health coverage while being a graduate student by either purchasing health coverage through the university provided heath plan or by providing evidence of alternative insurance that is adequate according to regulations of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The burden of proof that the alternative insurance is adequate falls upon the student choosing to waive. By submitting the waiver form the student will be accepting responsibility for all medical expenses incurred, and neither Northeastern University nor its student health plan will be responsible for these expenses. Each academic year, eligible students may waive NUSHP via myNEU once they have been billed for NUSHP. In addition, to be eligible to waive, comparable coverage must be effective from the beginning of the term the student meets Student Health Program requirements.

Since September 1989, Massachusetts law (M.G.L. c.15A, § 18) has required every full-time and part-time student enrolled in a certificate, diploma or degree granting program in a Massachusetts institution of higher learning to participate in a Student Health Program or in a health benefit plan with comparable coverage.

Massachussetts law has been revised to include the following important clarifications.

1. A health plan that provides coverage through a closed network of providers (for example, coverage by an HMO) and which is accessible only for emergency services where the student is studying is not comparable coverage. Students may not waive the NUSHP based on such a plan.
3. Students studying in the United States may not waive insurance based on coverage through insurance carriers owned and operated outside the United States, nor with coverage through foreign National Health Service programs. Students sponsored by foreign embassies, agencies and organizations are no longer excluded from the requirement for U.S.-based health insurance.
4. Students with Commonwealth Care plans cannot waive out of NUSHP. Students who are subject to Student Health Program requirements are not eligible for Commonwealth Care. Students may obtain health insurance through their parents' health insurance offered by their employer or enroll in a Commonwealth Choice plan.

Yes, that is possible. The individually –designed program is for the student who wishes to pursue graduate study in an area that substantially overlaps two or more academic disciplines. In such cases, an interdisciplinary program may be designed by the student in conjunction with appropriate faculty at Northeastern. The program must correspond in scope and depth to regular degree standards, but need not agree exactly with the regulations of individual programs.

Application for admission to an interdisciplinary program consists of the admissions material required for graduate study plus a carefully thought out written proposal describing the areas of proposed study and research as well as the qualifying and comprehensive examinations to be used. The proposal may be part of the initial application for admission to graduate study at Northeastern, or it may be submitted by a student already enrolled. In either case, the admission material should be prepared in consultation with the program's graduate coordinator or the faculty advisor.

In the case of master's programs and certificates of advanced graduate study, the admissions material and proposal may be directed to a graduate degree-granting unit or to the director of the graduate school, who will direct it to the appropriate academic unit. In either case, admission to interdisciplinary study requires favorable recommendation by all units involved, one of which must be chosen by the applicant as the registration base.

In the case of doctoral study, the admissions material and proposal may be directed to a doctoral degree-granting unit or to the director of the graduate school, who will direct it to the appropriate academic unit. In either case, admission to interdisciplinary doctoral study requires favorable recommendation by all units involved. The doctoral degree-granting unit becomes the registration base of the student.

Go to the Graduate Website and in the upper right hand corner, underneath the "Apply Now" button, you will see the link to my N-you page. Click on the link.

No. Contact the Graduate Director in your college, who will assist you with this problem.

If the co-op is a requirement for the degree, no.

Yes.

The University has one commencement ceremony in May.

For more information, visit the Commencement Office website.

You will receive your undergraduate degree once you have completed the undergraduate portion of the program. You will receive your graduate degree when you have completed the master's portion.

Yes. The Commencement Office

The Commencement Office website will mail it to you. It may take several weeks for you to receive it. Please make certain to enter your correct post-graduation mailing address on My Commencement. Also, please note that changing your address on My Commencement does not update your information with the Office of the Registrar. Changes to your permanent address must be updated on myNEU! Please update that site also so you will receive future communications from the University.

No.

Majors will be printed for non-specified degrees.

Yes! As a degree candidate you must begin the commencement process by registering for commencement via your myNEU account. Using the Self-Service tab, you will find the Commencement link located at the bottom left corner of the screen. Choose the My Commencement option and complete the questionnaire provided. This task should take approximately 5 minutes for you to complete and is REQUIRED in order to ensure the accuracy of the information contained on your diploma.

Make sure to provide your name as you want it to be printed on your diploma and in the commencement program. Be clear. Be precise. Be accurate!

Changes made to your name after the diploma has been printed may be subject to a $50.00 fee and may not be corrected until after commencement.

Yes.

The Double Husky Scholarship program provides our current seniors and recent Northeastern alumni with a timely career-building opportunity during the economic downturn. Seniors graduating in 2009 and members of the class of 2005 or later who are admitted into any of more than 100 full-time master's degree and certificate programs will receive a 25 percent tuition reduction. And we will waive the application fee for you!

In order to be eligible for a Double Husky Scholarship, each applicant must:

• Have graduated with a Northeastern bachelor's degree in one of the following years: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009.
• Be accepted into a Northeastern master's or certificate program. Students must submit an application and all other required materials to the graduate program in which they would like to study. Acceptance is determined by each individual graduate program. PhD applicants are not eligible.
• Enroll in a graduate program between summer 2009 and fall 2010 as a full-time student.

Please Note: The following students are NOT eligible for the Double Husky Scholarship: students in BS/MS and BA/MA programs; degree-seeking students who enrolled in a master's or certificate program prior to summer 2009.

The 25% reduction is on tuition only and the student must finance the remaining costs of the degree. Huskies will receive the reduction during semesters they attend full-time as master's degree or certificate seeking candidates.

If a Husky receives other grant aid from Northeastern, then he or she will only receive one scholarship and will be given the award of higher value.

Please Note: The Double Husky Scholarship may not be deferred beyond fall semester 2010.

The type examination and number of them varies by program. Some PhD programs have both a qualifying exam and a candidacy exam. Each student must pass required examinations within the time limit set by the committee in charge of your degree program. For additional information on required examinations, you should check with your advisor or the graduate coordinator in your academic department.

Dean's Scholarships are awarded to qualified students in master's degree programs. Students not otherwise supported by graduate assistantships, Graduate Student Scholarships, or Diversity Fellowships are eligible for Dean's Scholarships, which provide tuition support subject to the following guidelines:

• This award pays 33% of the full-time graduate student's tuition to a maximum dollar amount not to exceed the tuition charged for 4 semester hours in each term of full-time registration.
• The award pays 25% of the part-time graduate student's tuition to a maximum dollar amount not to exceed the tuition charged for 2 semester hours in each term of part-time registration.
• Provisional, special, and other students are not eligible to receive a Dean's Scholarship.
• Dean's Scholarships are awarded by the student's academic department/college.

Each year a limited number of fellowships are awarded to graduate students in an effort to help the University achieve a more diverse graduate student body. A variety of factors may be used for the purpose of increasing diversity at the University including gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, disability or other protected classification consistent with the University nondiscrimination policy.

These awards are allocated by the student's academic department/college. They provide tuition support only and there is no work requirement associated with them.

The Office of the Provost offers a limited number of Dissertation Completion Fellowships for Ph.D. students who are ABD and actively working to complete the dissertation requirement. These fellowships are offered for spring and summer semesters only. The deadline will be determined for the awarding cycle each semester by the Vice Provost for Graduate Education and a notice sent out to all doctoral students in the University and each of the colleges.

Purpose: Graduate Dissertation Completion Fellowships provide Ph.D. candidates who are nearing completion of their dissertations the support that will allow them to spend their final semester writing. The duration of the award is for one semester.

Eligibility: Ph.D. students in any program at Northeastern who are nearing completion of their dissertations. These fellowships will be awarded on a competitive basis. Each student must provide the Office of the Provost with the following application materials:

• letter of application from the student;
• description of the current state of the dissertation along with a detailed timetable for completion;
• copy of an approved dissertation prospectus and evidence that a substantial amount of the writing has been completed at least in draft form – in most cases, submission of at least two draft chapters of the dissertation;
• letter of recommendation from the dissertation advisor, which must be enclosed in a sealed envelope and signed by the recommender;
• statement of expected defense date;
• curriculum vitae.

Applications will be reviewed by the Office of the Provost and an appointed committee of faculty Involved in Ph.D. graduate education according to the overall strength of the application materials submitted and with regard to the likelihood of timely completion of the dissertation. Application packages that are not complete or that are late will not be considered and it is the applicant's responsibility to provide all required materials.

The amount of the stipend is $8,000.00 for the semester. In addition, both the student's registration fee and health fees will be paid. The award must be used during the semester for which it is awarded and may not be deferred. Students are expected to complete their dissertations during the period of the award and may not pursue other employment or hold any other internal or external award during that time.

A GSS is a competitive award to eligible graduate students by the academic department/college and covers up to 8 credit hours per semester. Students who have been awarded a GSS are not required to work in order to receive the award. The GSS cannot be for a larger number of credit hours than the number for which the student has registered. Students may hold only one GSS appointment at a time.

Students with a GSS must be registered as full-time students. A GSS is not subject to either Federal or State Income Tax because it is not received in exchange for services and is therefore not considered income by the IRS; no FICA is withheld due to full-time student status.

Students awarded GSSs that do not cover all the tuition costs for a specific term are required to cover the difference between the specified amount of tuition support awarded and applied to the student's account and the total amount of tuition charged. GSSs should not be used to cover costs associated with Ph.D. Dissertation, Ph.D. Continuation, Master's Continuation or other courses bearing zero-credit hours.

The funds are deposited directly into the graduate assistant's Northeastern account.

If you are a semi-monthly paid research assistant or teaching fellow, you will receive your pay on the 15th and the last day of the month, provided the department you are working for has submitted your information before the payroll deadline.



Paychecks are issued twice each month, on or about the 15th and on the last working day of each month. The stipend is divided and paid evenly over the award period.

The amount varies by college and by program.

No. In addition to maintaining a satisfactory academic record, graduate assistants must perform assigned duties in a consistently satisfactory manner and work in accordance with the regulations stipulated by the appropriate employing unit administrator or the graduate school making the award. Reappointments are also based on other factors including, but not limited to, the availability of sufficient funds and needs of the unit making the award.

Yes. In order to retain a graduate assistantship, students must comply with all applicable University, college/department/program regulations. Each graduate assistant must maintain satisfactory academic standing as defined by the University and by his or her college, academic department, and program. Failure to satisfy the requirements described here will result in loss of the assistantship.

No. Students must pay this fee themselves if they plan to use the University Health and Counseling Services. For additional information on this office, please see the website

No. The University as part of their award provides graduate assistants full health coverage.

Yes. Graduate assistantships carry a tuition waiver of up to 12 credit hours each semester.

Doctoral students enrolled in doctoral research, practicum, or clinical internship courses are considered full-time. Master's students enrolled in thesis or clinical continuation may be considered full-time at the discretion of their academic departments.

Yes. Students must enroll full-time in order to have an assistantship; students who hold graduate assistantships will be considered full-time if they enroll for a minimum of 6 semester hours of coursework.

Yes. Any change in the type of award a student holds should be made prior to the beginning of the semester in which the award was given.

No, students may hold only one graduate assistantship at a time.

Research assistants are involved in research activities under the direct supervision of regular faculty members. Research assistants positions are funded through externally funded grants.

Graduate teaching assistants assist faculty members in teaching a course by serving as grading assistants or holding office hours, for example, or in other capacities that involve direct contact with students in supporting either undergraduate or graduate teaching. In some departments Teaching Assistants oversee lab sections and, in some instances, may be instructors of record for courses.

Teaching Assistantships (TA)
Research Assistantships (RA)
Graduate School Scholarships (GSS)
Dissertation Completion Fellowships
Diversity Fellowships
Dean's Scholarships
Double Husky Scholarships
Yellow Ribbon Scholarships