Academic Resources

Graduate students must be registered every fall and spring semester, including the term of graduation. You cannot skip a term without official action.

What Counts as "Registered"

Students meet this requirement by being enrolled in one of three ways:

1. Coursework
2. Sustaining status
3. An approved leave of absence

What Happens If You Don't Register

If a student doesn't register in one of these ways by the end of the free drop/add period (per the academic calendar), the University will discontinue their student record. 

Summer registration for funded grad students

Graduate students who are paid by the University as research assistants, teaching assistants or graduate assistants must register for one of three options each summer:

1. 887-Summer Research: 0-credit course, graded pass/fail
2. A required graduate course: if it's needed for their degree progress
3. Sustaining Status: required instead of Option 1 if the student plans to graduate that summer

A few extra rules:

• Research work done under 887-Summer Research must connect to the student's degree program.

• The summer stipend must meet the required monthly minimum.

This policy refers to degree credit hours, not geographical residence in the state of Delaware.

Master's degrees

• Minimum requirement: 30 credit hours
• If your program requires a thesis, 6 of those 30 hours must be thesis credits (course 869)
• At least 18 of your credits must be earned as a matriculated grad student at UD, with the graduate degree as your primary progamm
• If you've taken courses elsewhere (or want to transfer UD undergrad credit), check the Graduate College's residency policy, as it may affect how those credits count

Doctoral degrees

• You must complete one full academic year of full-time study (9 credits/semester) in your major field, in residence at UD.

• This must happen during fall and spring — Summer Session and Winter Session don't count toward this requirement.

• If you earned a master's at UD in the same field you're pursuing your Ph.D. in, those course credits can typically be applied toward the doctorate.

Starting from when you first enroll, here's how long you have:

• Master's students: Five years

• Master's → Ph.D. students (approved to continue on to a doctorate): Five more years after the master's

• Ph.D. students entering with a master's: Five years

• Ph.D. students entering without a master's: Seven years

• Students who switch degree programs: 10 consecutive semesters, counted from the start of the first year in their new program

If you need more time to finish your degree, here's the process:

1. Write a formal request.
2. Get approval from two parties: your advisory committee and the chair of your department's graduate committee.
3. Your department forwards the approved request to the Graduate College.
4. The Graduate College reviews it and decides whether you're eligible.
5. You'll be notified in writing of their final decision.

When course credits expire

Graduate course credits are only valid for five years after the term you completed them. This expiration applies when:

• You stop maintaining continuous enrollment and are discontinued.

• You withdraw from the University.

• You don't finish your degree within that window.

Exceptions: It is possible to get an exception to this rule, but it must be approved by both your academic department and the Graduate College.

Full-time students not on a contract:

• Must take at least 9 credit hours (or be in Sustaining Status) in fall/spring

• Max load: 12 credits in fall/spring, 7 credits in summer/winter

• Need more than the max? Your department can approve additional credits.

Full-time students on a contract:

• Research/Graduate/Teaching Assistants: at least 6 credit hours (or Sustaining Status) in fall/spring. Your program may require more.

• Fellowship holders: at least 9 credit hours (or Sustaining Status) in fall/spring

• If you have a 12-month contract, you must also register for the summer term.

• You can add extra listener or undergrad-level courses beyond your required minimum, but those extra courses won't count toward your degree.

Note: Some programs have different full-time thresholds because they run on shorter/accelerated schedules.

Part-time students:

• Anyone taking 8 credits or fewer in fall/spring is considered part time.

Please refer to the Registrar’s Office for full and complete information on transfer of credit.

Transferring UD Courses Internally

GCND (Graduate Credit Non-Degree) credits:

• These are already on your UD graduate record; no transfer process is needed.

CEND (Continuing Education Non-Degree) credits:

• You can apply up to 9 credits toward your graduate degree, but they must meet all these conditions:

  • The credits, grades and quality points get added to your official record and GPA.

  • Courses must be 600–800 level.

  • You need a grade of "B" or higher.

  • Courses must have been taken within 5 years before you started your graduate program.

  • The course(s) must count toward a requirement in your graduate degree.

• To start the transfer process, visit the UD Registrar's Office website. 

Transferring Credit from Other Schools

U.S. institutions:

• UD accepts credits from regionally accredited, degree-granting schools (you can verify accreditation through the Council for Higher Education Accreditation website).

• Schools with other types of accreditation may still qualify.

International institutions:

• Generally, credits from outside the U.S. don't transfer.

• Exceptions may be considered on special request — you may need to pay for an international credential evaluation yourself.

• The foreign institution must be approved by its country's Ministry of Education to grant graduate degrees

• Contact the Registrar's Office (transfercredit@udel.edu) to check eligibility.

Credit conversion:

• UD converts credits (e.g., quarter/trimester hours) using its own rules. Even if the other school suggests a different conversion, UD's method wins.

General transfer rules (max 9 credits):

To be eligible, a course must:

• Appear on an official transcript from the school's registrar/grading office

• Be graduate-level

• Count toward a degree requirement at the original school (not a non-degree-only course)

• Have a standard letter grade (Pass/Fail or "CR" grades don't qualify, even if UD's equivalent course is Pass/Fail)

• Have been taken within 5 years before starting your UD program

• Not already count toward another degree

• Have earned a "B" or better

Note: Transferred grades/credits don't factor into your UD GPA.

4+1 Programs (Dual-Counted Courses)

A "dual-counted" course is one that counts toward both your undergraduate degree and your graduate degree at the same time.

Key points:

• These courses are not subject to the usual transfer credit rules or limits (unlike external or CEND transfers).

• Each 4+1 program sets its own limit on how many undergraduate credits can be dual-counted — check the academic catalog for the year you were admitted to the program (make sure to select the correct year from the dropdown).

• The minimum grade required varies by program — check your specific program's policy documents for details, since some may require higher grades than others.
   

Non-Dual-Counted Coursework

If you took graduate-level courses as a UD undergrad but they weren't dual-counted, you can still transfer up to 9 credits toward your graduate degree; they must meet these conditions:

• Grade of B- or higher (some programs may require higher — check the catalog)

• Taken within 5 years before starting your graduate program

• Course level was 600 or above, and you performed at graduate-level quality

• The course wasn't used to fulfill any part of your undergraduate degree (major, minor, breadth requirements or overall credit count).

Note: Unlike some other transfer types, these credits, grades and quality points do count toward your graduate GPA.

Complete the 4+1 Approval Form as part of your application process to the graduate 4+1 program. 

Assistantships (teaching, research or graduate admin roles) are treated as student positions, not regular jobs. They give grad students hands-on experience while supporting their degree progress. Appointments are usually described as "50%" (about 20 hrs/week) or "25%" (about 10 hrs/week), and students in these roles don't earn traditional vacation or sick leave as staff employees do.

Time off around holidays

Generally, assistants aren't expected to work on University holidays or official closures. If someone is required to work on one of those days (e.g., to keep a research project running), they should get a different day off in exchange.

Rules differ depending on the type of assistantship:

• Teaching Assistants (TAs): Help with grading, labs and instruction. Pay usually runs through the academic year. They generally don't get extra time off beyond official closures — including during academic breaks (other than holidays, University offices remain open when classes are not in session). If a TA has to work during Winter Session without compensation, they can earn 20 hours of vacation time instead.

• Research Assistants (RAs): Get at least two weeks (40 hours) of paid vacation per year, on top of official closures. Note: Semester break counts as active research time, not vacation. If the RAs work is funded by an outside agency, that funder's rules take priority over the University's.

• Graduate Assistants (GAs): Handle administrative/program support tasks. They're expected to work whenever the University is open. Any time off must be made up later; otherwise, it counts as vacation.

Sick leave

All three types can take up to 40 hours of paid sick leave per year. If someone is out sick for more than four days in a row, they need a doctor's note confirming they're cleared to return and how long they needed off. This note goes to the Graduate College, which lets the supervisor know it's approved.

A graduate student's contract stipend is meant to be a full living wage on its own, but students may still take on additional work beyond their contract.

When you need approval

• Under 29.5 hours/week total (contract + any extra work, on or off campus): no approval needed. However, we advise students to talk with their advisor so extra work doesn't get in the way of their studies.

• Over 29.5 hours/week total: You do need approval, based on recommendations from your advisor and graduate program director, with final signoff from the Graduate College.

Hard caps

• U.S. citizens: Can never work more than 29.5 hours/week for the University of Delaware, no matter what. Students who want to work additional hours for another employer must complete the Graduate Additional Work Approval form before work begins.

• Non-U.S. citizens (visa holders): Immigration rules cap work at 20 hours/week during fall and spring semesters.That cap lifts during Winter and Summer sessions when they can work more hours on campus. A Graduate Additional Work Approval form must be approved in advance for international students who want to work more than 29.5 hours per week in summer and winter.

Income tax

The federal government requires the University to withhold state and federal income tax from grad students' stipends. The one exception is fellowships; stipend money from a fellowship isn't taxed this way.

FICA/Medicare tax

These payroll taxes are not withheld as long as the student is enrolled at least half time during the semester they're being paid:

• Fall/Spring: half time = at least 5 graduate credits
• Summer: half time = at least 3 graduate credits

Tuition scholarships

No payroll taxes are ever withheld on the value of a tuition scholarship.

When taxes do apply

If a student is enrolled less than half time, or is being paid during a period when they're not attending classes at all, then all payroll taxes, including FICA and Medicare, are withheld.

For specific questions about your situation, please contact the Payroll Office directly.

The University awards graduate degrees four times a year: fall, winter, spring and summer. Check the academic calendar for each session's specific submission deadlines.

If you need a reduced credit load

Submit that form before the semester's drop/add period ends.

Applying for your degree — steps:

1. Get the necessary signatures on your Application for Advanced Degree form.

2. Pay the degree application fee online at commerce.cashnet.com/UD-GPE using an ACH online check payment.

   • Master's degree: $50

   • Doctoral degree: $95

3. Submit your signed application and payment receipt to your program coordinator as an attachment.

What sustaining status is

Once a grad student has finished all required degree credits, they can switch to "sustaining status" (course code 999) instead of continuing to take regular coursework.

Eligibility

• You must complete all required degree credits.

• Doctoral students must also have reached candidacy and have submitted the Recommendation for Candidacy form before they can enroll in sustaining status.

What it means practically

• It counts as full-time enrollment.

• It satisfies the University's continuous enrollment requirement (so students stay officially enrolled while finishing up, e.g., writing a dissertation).

• Students can stay in sustaining status until they graduate.

• If a student wants to take extra courses beyond their degree requirements while in sustaining status, they may do so, but those extra credits come with additional tuition charges.

• Certificate Application for Grads
• Certificate Application for Undergrads
• Course Substitution
• UD / TJU Reciprocal Reg

• Student Advocacy & Support
• Student Guide to University Policies
• Payroll Deduction