Reference: Online Application for Graduation
GT logistics graduation checklist (changes each term): https://grad.gatech.edu/theses-dissertations/deadlines
Final submission checklist for PhD forms: https://grad.gatech.edu/sites/default/files/documents/MS-PHD-Checklist-June23.pdf
Contact for thesis: [email protected]
Set a virtual appointment via the Slate Appointment Manager.
Students must register for graduation for the semester in which they plan to graduate.
If a student is uncertain whether they will be ready to graduate in a particular semester, the GT Degree Certification office advises that it is "always better to apply first, because it's hard to do so after the [registration] deadline. [The office] can easily withdraw [a registration for graduation] for [a student] if [the student's] defense date doesn't work out."
There are certain requirements students must meet in order to walk early. The GT Registrar/Degree Certification office is the ultimate decision maker.
Commencement Website: Welcome | Commencement
Early Walk Sign-Up: https://commencement.gatech.edu/form/early-walk-request
Georgia Tech policy requires that graduate students be enrolled during the semester in which they graduate and that the minimum credit hour load for graduate students is three credit hours (except as described in the Policy on Hour Loads for Graduate Students).
Students completing their Ph.D. may find that the timing of their defense, graduation, and start of subsequent employment leads to uncertainty in how to register for the final semester. There are three options.
Register as full-time (9000 doctoral thesis hours). This works best if the final version of the thesis is submitted in time for graduation in the last semester (see the deadlines) and there are no funding limitations.
Students in their graduating semester may register for only 1 hour of doctoral thesis hours. Such students are not full-time and will therefore not receive a tuition waiver or be paid as a GTA or GRA. These students must pay the 1-hour of tuition and fees. Students may be hired as a Graduate Assistant (GA) by their advisor and paid hourly, pending advisor and department approval. Hourly positions do not include a tuition waiver.
Note: Students who are US citizens are ineligible for student health insurance if they are registered for less than 4 credit hours. Such students should contact STAMPS Health Services and consider their options before registering for 1 credit hour.
This exception to the normal minimum of three hours may be used only once per degree. No special form or permission is needed, provided the student is a degree candidate. Students who have enrolled for one hour more than once per degree are not eligible and must enroll for the normal minimum of three hours.
Students should address any questions or concerns about enrollment during the last semester to the Graduate Education Thesis Office before the end of registration; no additions or changes in registration are allowed after the close of registration.
Reference: Enrollment Waiver / Enrollment Waiver Form
The Enrollment Waiver is for students who missed the final dissertation submission deadline for their target graduating semester, but have successfully defended, submitted their thesis, and are ready to start their job. It allows a student to stay "on the books" and not register for any hours or pay any fees. Students can use the enrollment waiver only once while at Georgia Tech.
The requirement to be enrolled during the semester of graduation may be waived if the student is no longer using Institute or faculty time AND:
The intent is that a student who has been properly registered during the period of thesis completion and who has completed all work at Georgia Tech should not be required to enroll another term just to graduate.
The Enrollment Waiver form signed by the student and department should be turned in to the Graduate Education Thesis Office at the same time as the Certificate of Thesis Approval Form.
The waiver of enrollment does not waive the requirement that the student file or reactivate a degree petition (Online Application for Graduation) by the deadline for the term in which the degree is to be awarded. There are no exceptions to the enrollment waiver deadline for thesis students.
Note: International students should contact OIE via iStart if registering for less than full-time to request an academic reduced course load.
If none of these options fit, students should discuss their case with the Registrar's Office.
These exceptions do not alter the credit-hour load a student must carry in order to meet financial aid, fellowship, or assistantship eligibility. Students on F-1 visas should speak with the Office of International Education before carrying a reduced course load or not enrolling. Students intending to enroll in the Student Health Insurance Plan must be enrolled in a minimum of four credit hours to participate.
The information below was provided by OIE during the SP25 semester. Please confirm these details remain the same in future semesters.
As an F-1 student, you may be eligible to apply for pre-completion OPT after you have been enrolled in school for one full academic year (Fall and Spring semester). If applying to do pre-completion OPT while completing coursework, you can only apply for part-time (20 hours per week or less).
When school is in session, you may apply for part-time pre-completion OPT.
Thesis students who are done with coursework may apply for full-time pre-completion OPT in their final term, but must stop any GRA/GTA work prior to beginning pre-completion OPT work authorization.
The academic department must also support the pre-completion OPT request. It is recommended that students in this situation enroll part-time only in thesis credits; however, full-time enrollment may be permitted if the academic department can verify that no required coursework will be taken.
Note: OIE does not guarantee full-time pre-completion OPT eligibility to students during a required term and will review eligibility on a case-by-case basis upon receiving a complete pre-completion OPT request in iStart.
Any pre-completion OPT used deducts from your post-completion OPT. Part-time pre-completion OPT is deducted at a half-time rate.
Example: if you use 4 months of part-time pre-completion OPT, only 2 months will be deducted from the 12 months of post-completion OPT available.
Full-time pre-completion OPT deducts at a full-time rate. Example: if you use 4 months of full-time pre-completion OPT, then 4 months will be deducted from the 12 months of post-completion OPT available.
You do not accumulate unemployment on pre-completion OPT. The time for which you are authorized will be deducted from your 12-month allowance, whether you work or not.
The earliest you can submit the pre-completion OPT application in iStart is 95 days prior to the requested start date.
The earliest you can apply for pre-completion OPT is 90 days prior to the requested start date.
Employment must be directly related to the major field of study.
If applying for pre-completion OPT in your final term, it cannot be authorized beyond the final day of the semester. Your on-campus work authorization would also end on the final date of the semester.
If you plan to apply for post-completion OPT after pre-completion OPT, you must apply separately. The earliest you can apply for post-completion OPT is 90 days before your program end date. There may be a gap between the end of pre-OPT and the start of post-OPT.
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