New Student Checklist

Date to Complete: April 15 or the date specified in your admission letter.

In the application portal, submit the Decision Reply form to officially accept your offer of admission. After submitting the form, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit that will be applied to the first semester's tuition and/or fees. The deposit is $300 for degree programs and $100 for certificate programs.

Date to Complete: As soon as possible.

You will first need to set up your Tufts email account by logging into your application portal with the same information you used to view your application and admission decision. Click the “Get Your Tufts Email” link to set up your account.

After you set up your email, your Tufts Username (UTLN) and password to access our student information system (SIS) will be assigned to you and you will be notified via your Tufts email account.

Date to Complete: As soon as possible.

You can upload your ID photo here. Information about ID card distribution will be provided before classes begin. Please upload your photo now so your card will be available when you arrive on campus.

Date to Complete: As soon as possible.

Scholarships, fellowships, and research or teaching assistantships are administered through the Dean’s Office or Admissions Office of your school. The Office of Graduate Financial Aid offers additional funding options like federal loans and work study which require the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), as well as other options to fund graduate study. Learn more about graduate financial aid.

Date to Complete: As soon as possible.

Review the new student checklist specific for International Students, including the International Center's Welcome Guide, and pertinent deadlines for the visa process.

Date to Complete: As soon as possible and no later than the first day of class for the semester.

Request an accommodation (if applicable) through the Student Accessibility and Academic Resources (StAAR) Center.

Students register for classes through the Student Information System (SIS). Prior to accessing SIS, you will need to set up your Tufts email account and login credentials. Some programs require you meet with your advisor to review course selection and have them release an advising hold before you register for courses, while other programs do not have the advising hold and your advisor or department will review the course selection through an open house, group advising, orientation, or one on one meeting closer to the start of the term. If you have questions about registering for courses, please reach out to your advisor or Graduate Student Services. You will find your registration appointment and advisor in SIS.

You can review step by step instructions about how to register for classes on the registrar’s website. Please contact Student Services with any questions about registration.

Due dates can be found on the Academic Calendar.

• Fall semester: Registration opens in May
• Spring semester: Registration opens in November
• Summer semester: Registration opens in April

Important Dates:

• Fall Orientation: Registration opens in June.
• Spring Orientation: Registration opens in December.

The Dean of Students Office hosts a graduate welcome week of events each fall and spring leading up to the start of each semester. In addition, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering will also hold various events and orientations for incoming graduate students. 

Learn more about the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Orientation and the School of Engineering Orientation.

Important Dates:

• Fall Enrollment: Available June 1; Deadline: July 1
• Spring Enrollment: Available November 1; Deadline: January 1
• Summer Enrollment: Available April 1; Deadline: May 9

All students must complete the following:

1. Pre-Entrance Medical History Form
2. TB Risk Assessment Form
3. Immunization Records

More information can be found on Tufts Health Service’s website.

Important Dates:

• Fall Enrollment: Available June 1; Deadline: July 31
• Spring Enrollment: Available November 1; Deadline: December 15
• Summer Enrollment: Available April 1; Deadline: May 9

All undergraduate, international, admitted full-time graduate students, and admitted part-time graduate students enrolled in seven (7) credits or more of the coursework in a fall or spring semester in Massachusetts are required by law to have health insurance. On the dates outlined on Health Services’ website, all undergraduate, international, and admitted full-time graduate students will be automatically enrolled in the University’s student health insurance plan through UnitedHealthcare Student Resources (UHCSR); part-time graduate students, will be enrolled in the plan whenever registration reaches seven (7) credits or more of the coursework in a fall or spring semester.

Find more information on the student health insurance.

Date to Complete: As soon as your final grades/degree(s) are posted and no later than the first day of classes of your first semester.

Admitted applicants are required to submit final official transcripts and academic records to the Office of Graduate Admissions in order to enroll. Please note that these transcripts must be sent directly to Tufts University by the granting institution. Digital transcripts may be sent to gradadmissions@tufts.edu. Mailed transcripts may be sent by your institution to the following address:

Office of Graduate Admissions 
2 The Green, Bendetson Hall 
Tufts University 
Medford, MA 02155

You can access your eBill by logging into SIS clicking the “Bills & Balances” tab, and then the link for eBill. Tuition and fees for graduate programs are available here. You can review payment options on the Bursar’s website.

Please see your eBill for payment deadline:

• Fall Bill: Issued in early July
• Spring Bill: Issued in early November
• Summer Bill: Issued in early March

Contact gradserve@tufts.edu for questions about your bill.

Tufts offers several payment options. Enrollment for fall payment plans is July 1 through August 31 with the first payment due July 1. Enrollment for spring payment plans is November 1 – January 15 with the first payment due December 1. Please note that if you sign up after the first payment is due, you will be asked to catch up on prior payments. Learn more and sign up.

Fall Payment Plans

• First Payment Due: July 1
• Deadline to Sign Up: August 31

Spring Payment Plans

• First Payment Due: December 1
• Deadline to Sign Up: January 15

Students who applied for federal financial aid and wish to accept the Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan that was offered must complete the Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling.  Both requirements can be completed at www.studentaid.gov using your FSA login. You can find links and additional information on your SIS home page → Financial Aid → Awards and Documents. If you do not wish to borrow the loans you were offered, please email us at studentservices@tufts.edu.

Important dates:

• Passes are available to purchase for the Fall semester July 9 - August 8 and will be valid September - December
• Passes are available to purchase for the Spring semester December 9 - January 8 and will be valid February - May.

Discounted Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) passes are available for graduate students for the fall and spring semesters. The MBTA order is available via your SIS portal. 

• Log into SIS.
• Navigate to the Bills & Balances tab.
• Click Purchase MBTA Pass.

While there is no discounted pass program for the Summer months, students may still purchase regular monthly passes directly from the MBTA for these months (June - August). Please the Financial Services website for more information about MBTA passes.

Date to complete: By the first week of classes or within 90 days of your hire date as a student employee.
 

Mandatory for Incoming Graduate Students
Tufts Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) provides a 5-module asynchronous training about the University’s Non-Discrimination Policy, Sexual Misconduct Policy, affirmative consent, legal and policy obligations for reporting and how to access resources and support for all students. Students who do not complete this mandatory training in full will have a hold placed on their record in SIS which will prevent course registrations (adds and drops). 

A Canvas course invitation will be sent to your Tufts email. Log in to the Canvas Learning system. Your Enrolling Checklist will be updated 1-2 days after completing the Canvas course. Questions should be directed to OEOtraining@tufts.edu.
 

Mandatory for Employees and Student Employees
Tufts’ Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) provides mandatory employee training regarding discrimination and harassment prevention which is mandatory for all staff, faculty (full-time, part-time, temporary), and student employees who are new to Tufts or who have not already attended. Attendance must take place within 90 days of your hire date. Please visit our website for dates of all employee OEO training sessions.
 

Complete AIT Academic Integrity Training
All graduate students are required to complete the training before matriculating into their program. A link to the training will be sent to your Tufts email.

Date to Complete: 

• Fall semester: First day of class
• Spring semester: First day of class

Tufts University requires all students to have an emergency contact and a residential address listed as a “Current” address in SIS. Login to SIS and add this information. Your residential address may already be listed as your home or mailing address but you will need to create a “Current” address type and enter your address there. This requirement applies to all students.