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Fellowships and Benefits

Graduate Tuition Benefit Program Guidelines

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who qualifies for the University of Utah Graduate Tuition Benefit Program (TBP)?
• A matriculated graduate teaching assistant (TA), a graduate research assistant (RA), a graduate assistant (GA), or a graduate fellow (GF) who satisfies all eligibility requirements, e.g., registration hours, financial support, service guidelines, etc. as set out in the TBP Guidelines.
• How can I participate in the TBP program?
• Check with your departmental tuition benefit coordinator or director of graduate studies to verify your eligibility and to see whether you were added to the department's TBP Web list. The departmental TBP coordinator submits this list at the beginning of fall and spring semesters. If your name is not on this list for the semester(s) in question, you cannot participate in the TBP for that term(s).
• How do I know if I am eligible for the TBP?
• You may be eligible to participate in the TBP during the -1 academic year if each semester you (a) receive from University funding a minimum of $ for a 100% benefit, $ for a 75% benefit, or $ for a 50% benefit; (b) are a matriculated graduate student registered for at least 9 credit hours (but no more than 16; TBP covers up to 12 graduate hrs); (c) are a student in good standing, e.g., cumulative GPA of 3.0 (Law School, 2.0); and (d) have an eligible TBP work assignment not greater than 20 hours weekly (0.5 FTE). To maintain TBP eligibility, all domestic nonresident students must apply for Utah residency upon fulfilling Section 4.1.2 of Utah Code R512, Determination of Resident Status.
• Who pays tuition for undergraduate courses (below 5000 level) graduate students may take to make up deficiencies in or directly as a part of the graduate program?
• Undergraduate courses count toward the minimum registration of 9 credit hours but do not qualify for a TBP credit. Graduate students taking graduate courses who (a) satisfy a supported TBP graduate student eligible category/s; (b) register for 9 credits but not more than 16; and (c) comply with the TBP service requirements will have general graduate tuition and mandatory fees paid at the qualifying TBP percentage for graduate courses. Students are responsible for payment of tuition for (1) hours over 12 graduate credit hours, (2) undergraduate hours, (3) audit, contract, activity, or CR/NC courses, (3) special fees, and/or (4) differential tuition. Nonresident students will be charged the in-state resident tuition rate.
• Are special fees such as lab and field trip fees included in the benefit?
• No. The TBP covers general graduate tuition and mandatory (building, activity, computer, etc.) fees for the maximum 12 credit hours.
• How will I know that my tuition has been paid?
• Check your student account on the Internet. Eligible students will receive a conditional tuition credit within 6 or 7 days after the semester begins. Conditional tuition credit is determined using the appropriate percentage calculated from the anticipated dollar amount to be received during the semester. This amount is entered on the TBP Web page by your home department. Students must pay tuition and fees that do not qualify for the TBP; i.e., graduate credits above the 12 TBP eligible hours, undergraduate, contract, audited, or activity courses, differential tuition beyond the general graduate tuition, etc.
• If I qualify for the TBP but learn that my account has not received TBP credit, whom do I contact?
• Contact the tuition benefit coordinator in your home department.
• Who is responsible for satisfying the continuous registration requirement of 9 semester credit hours?
• The student is responsible to register and to be continuously registered for at least 9 credit hours throughout the semester.
• When must students be registered for the minimum 9 semester credit hours in order to participate in the TBP?
• To be eligible to participate in the TBP, students must be registered for 9 credit hours before the semester's 15th day of classes. After the 15th class day, students not registered for the minimum 9 credit hours cannot participate in the TBP for that semester. Students adding and/or dropping credit hours after the last official day to add/drop classes are responsible for paying their tuition.
• What happens when an international student is accepted into a graduate program and is not registered by the 15th day of the semester; can that student still participate in the TBP?
• A student must be registered by the 15th day of the term or eligibility for that semester is foregone. Each student is assigned a Student ID number by Graduate Admissions when accepted for graduate study at the University of Utah. By using this ID, a student can register for classes via the Internet from anywhere in the world. Therefore, a student should be able to be registered prior to the 15th day of the semester. A student must also satisfy all other eligibility criteria for TBP participation as well.
• If I will receive my graduate degree from one department (my home department) but will receive financial support from another, which department TBP Web page should I be listed on in order to receive my tuition benefit?
• You must be entered on your home department's TBP Web list, e.g., the department that accepted you for graduate study as a degree-seeking student.
• If I am a domestic, out-of-state graduate student, am I expected to apply for Utah residency?
• Yes. Domestic, out-of-state students must apply for Utah residency upon fulfilling the equivalent 60 credit hours (courses 6000 level or higher are weighted at 1.5 for each credit hour, e.g. 40 hours qualifies a graduate student to apply for residence. See Section 4.1.2 of Utah Code R512, Determination of Resident Status). State residency application forms are available from Graduate Admissions, 250 Student Services Building.
• If I am receiving a partial tuition benefit, do I still need to carry the minimum 9 semester credit hours?
• Yes. At least 9 credit hours must be maintained throughout the semester to preserve TBP eligibility.
• If I receive a 50% tuition benefit fall semester and a 50% tuition benefit spring semester, have I used only one semester of eligibility since 50 plus 50 adds up to 100?
• No. Whether a student receives a 100%, a 75%, or a 50% tuition benefit during a semester, it counts as using one semester of eligibility. Example: If a Master's candidate receives a 50% benefit during both fall and spring, two semesters of eligibility were used with two semesters of eligibility remaining.
• If I receive a Master's degree in, say Chemistry, then apply for and am accepted into Biology for a second Master's degree, am I now eligible for two additional years of TBP support, since this is a new degree?
• No. A University of Utah graduate student is eligible for a one-time tuition benefit. At the Master's level, this is 4 semesters with 6 additional semesters of TBP support if accepted as a doctoral candidate. The maximum number of semesters a Ph.D. student entering with a bachelor's degree may participate in the TBP is 10 semesters or five years. Exceptions to this rule are: (1) A student with a Master's degree from another institution is accepted to a U of U doctoral program, the student can receive up to 8 instead of 6 semesters. (2) Certain categories of doctoral students can receive a 2-semester extension for having taught full-time (0.5 FTE) as a TA for four semesters.
• When did the Graduate Student Tuition Benefit Program (TBP) go into effect?
• Autumn Quarter 1994.