Graduate Student Orientation

Tours of Tisch Library
Dates to be announced 

Join Tisch Library staff for an introduction to their spaces and services and ask staff any questions you have about the library. Tours will leave from the Tisch Library lobby. Returning graduate students are also encouraged to join us for a tour.

Resource Fair and Welcome Picnic
Thursday, September 10, 2026 | 4 - 6 pm | Location: Aidekman Arts Center

Graduate students in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, SMFA, and School of Engineering are invited to a Resource Fair and Welcome Picnic on the Medford Campus. At this event, students will have the opportunity to engage with the many departments and offices across Tufts. Join us for swag, food, and so much more. No RSVP required.

Past Sessions

New Student Checklist Panel
Join the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences for our New Student Checklist Panel, where we'll be reviewing the next steps to prepare for graduate school this fall. Learn more about registering for courses, the visa process, and more.

View Slides

Graduate Student Housing Webinar
Join Residential Life and Learning, Off Campus Engagement in learning more about the rental process in the Greater Boston Area. Hear about tips and tricks to finding roommates, working with real estate agents, managing expectations, and more. 

View Webinar Recording

Financial Aid 101 (Virtual)
The Financial Aid Office is hosted three Financial Aid 101 sessions to provide an overview of loan options and billing at Tufts. These webinars were open to international and domestic Master's, PhD, and Post-Baccalaureate incoming GSAS students. The session covered Federal Unsubsidized loans, Federal Grad PLUS loans, and private loans. They also discussed how your financial aid is applied to your Tufts bill and the payment options available.

View Slides

Additional Resources

• If you haven’t done so already, review the New Graduate Student Checklist for GSAS students and explore the Admitted Students section of our website.
• Students are invited to our Canvas Page. You may access this page by using your Tufts UTLN to log in. This page includes the links to the previous orientations, resources, discussion boards, and more
• If you have additional questions, please reach out to gsas@tufts.edu. 

GSAS Teaching Assistant (TA) Orientation
Friday, August 21, 2026 | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm | In-Person | Register | A light lunch will be provided

The GSAS TA Orientation will take place on Friday, August 21st and will be held in-person. This session will include important information and resources for teaching assistants. All incoming students who are holding a Teaching Assistantship, as well as returning students who are holding their first Teaching Assistantship and have not attended TA orientation in the past should attend. 

GSAS PhD Students Only
TBD

These sessions are specifically for GSAS PhD students who are holding a TA or RA appointment during the 2026-2027 Academic Year and will provide an opportunity for you to learn more about your SEIU Graduate Student Union. Union stewards will be available to answer any questions you have about your role as a graduate assistant. This meeting will be held on Zoom, no registration necessary.

GSAS Research Assistant (RA) Orientation (Virtual)
Monday, August 24, 2026 | 10 - 11:30 am (Eastern) | Register | Zoom link will be shared with registrants

This orientation will include important information and resources for research assistants. All incoming students who are holding a Research Assistantship, as well as returning students who are holding their first Research Assistantship and have not attended RA orientation in the past should attend. 

Date and location will be announced soon.

International Graduate Student Orientation introduces incoming international students to the Tufts International Center staff. Students meet other incoming international graduate students, learn about their student visa requirements and maintaining immigration status, and explore campus resources. There will be lunch following the orientation session.

In addition to the GSAS orientation programs, each academic department will host its own orientation for new students. These department orientations provide important program-specific information and are a key part of your transition to graduate study, so we strongly encourage you to attend. Please watch your Tufts email for details from your department, including the date, time, and location. If you have any questions about your department's orientation, please contact your department administrator directly.

All graduate students in the School of Engineering, School of Arts & Sciences, and the SMFA at Tufts are invited! Whether you have a long history at Tufts or this is your first experience with us, being part of the vibrant life of the university outside the classroom and lab is a useful part of your next chapter. Participate in Tufts traditions and join Student Life for a series of upbeat opportunities to meet people outside your department and check out everything the university has to offer.

Learn About Welcome Week

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.

Tufts University is committed to providing a safe and positive workplace for all students, staff and faculty. To help achieve this goal and to comply with university, state and federal policies and regulations, OEO requires training for all students, faculty and staff.

Mandatory for Incoming and Transfer 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 are required to complete all five modules by August 19, 2026. 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 beginning July 8, 2026. 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.