Enrollment

Reference: Thesis/Dissertation Manual (gatech.edu)

Rules for Enrollment During Last Semester

Georgia Tech policy requires that graduate students must be enrolled during the semester in which they graduate and also 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).

Waiver of Enrollment

Enrollment Waiver Form (gatech.edu)

The requirement that a graduate student be enrolled during the semester of graduation may be waived if the student is no longer using Institute or faculty time during the semester of graduation AND:

1. the student was duly registered during the previous term (usually the term in which the successful final defense took place); and
2. the final and complete electronic thesis is submitted, all thesis-related forms are received by the Graduate Education Thesis Office, and all other graduation-related requirements are satisfied before the end of the registration period the semester of graduation.

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 and therefore has nothing to register for should not be required to enroll another term just to graduate. The Enrollment Waiver is available from the "Forms" menu at the Graduate Education Thesis Office website.

The Waiver of Enrollment ("Enrollment Waiver") form signed by the student and his or her 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. Students must meet the deadline or register as required.

One-Hour Rule

A student who does not meet the enrollment waiver requirements may enroll for just one hour in the term of graduation. This exception to the normal minimum of three hours for graduate students may be used only once per degree. No special form or permission is needed, provided that you are a degree candidate.

Students who have enrolled for one hour only more than one time per degree are not eligible to take advantage of the waiver of enrollment. They must enroll for the normal minimum of three hours in the semester of graduation.

Students should address any questions or concerns regarding enrollment during the last semester to the Graduate Education Thesis Office before the end of registration; no additions changes in registration are allowed after the close of registration.

Please note that these exceptions do not alter the credit-hour load a student must take in order to meet financial aid, fellowship or assistantship eligibility, etc. 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 in the plan.