Graduate Student Orientation
2025 GSAS Orientation Schedule
The schedule below is for incoming Graduate School of Arts and Sciences students. If you are an incoming School of Engineering graduate student, please visit the SOE Orientation webpage.
If you have any questions, please reach out to us at gsas@tufts.edu.
Student ID Cards
Tufts University Identification Cards will be available for pick-up by appointment. If you haven’t already done so, log into the Tufts ID card photo upload site and submit your photo. Your appointment will be cancelled if your photo has not been submitted and approved in advance (within 24 hours). Please bring a government issued ID to your appointment. Pick-up will be in Suite 101D at 574 Boston Avenue.
Schedule a Tufts ID appointment
New Student Checklist Panel (Virtual)
The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences hosted a New Student Checklist Panel in April. At this session, the panelists presented and answered questions to prepare incoming students for graduate school this fall. If you missed the session, the meeting was recorded and the recording and slides are available in Box. (You will need to login with your Tufts username and password.) Questions? Email gsas@tufts.edu.
Health Insurance for Graduate Students
Students attending universities in Massachusetts must have health insurance that meet MA State requirements. All full-time students are automatically enrolled in the student health insurance with United Healthcare Student Resources unless proof of comparable coverage is furnished.
Have questions about the health insurance policy for graduate students? Email studenthealthinsurance@tufts.edu.
View Slides View Recording of Session on Health Insurance
Financial Aid 101
The Financial Aid Office is hosted 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.
The slides from the session are available here.
You will be able to schedule a follow-up meeting with our Graduate Financial Aid Counselor afterward to discuss your specific situation.
Beginning Your Partnership with Career Services
Career Services holds 1:1 advising for master’s and PhD students and offers programming and workshops to all students within GSAS. In this session, you will learn how you can utilize Career Services and build a partnership with them throughout your time at Tufts. The recording and slides are available here.
GSAS Incoming Student Orientation (Virtual)
This orientation was held on August 20, 2025 and was an opportunity to hear from campus partners to help position yourself for the best start to your graduate career. The recording, slides, and agenda with helpful web links can be accessed via this Box folder.
Access recording, slides, and agenda with helpful web links
GSAS Teaching Assistant (TA) Orientation (Virtual)
The GSAS TA Orientation sessions was held on Friday, August 22nd and Monday, August 25th. These were two different sessions with 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 have attended.
GSAS Research Assistant (RA) Orientation (Virtual)
The GSAS RA Orientation was held on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. 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 have attended.
Introduction to the GSAS Grad Worker Union - PhD Students Only
These sessions were held on Monday, August 25, 2025 and Wednesday, August 27, 2025. They were specifically for GSAS PhD students who are holding a TA or RA appointment during the 2025-2026 Academic Year and provided an opportunity for you to learn more about your SEIU Graduate Student Union. Union stewards were available to answer any questions you have about your role as a graduate assistant.
International Graduate Student Orientation
The International Graduate Student Orientation was held on Thursday, August 28, 2025. This was an opportunity to be introduced to Tufts International Center staff, learn about your student visa and how to maintain your immigration status while studying at Tufts, and explore campus resources. If you missed this orientation or need to reach the Tufts International Center, please email internationalcenter@tufts.edu.
SMFA New Student Required Orientation
The SMFA New Student Orientation was held on Friday, August 29, 2025. This orientation was for newly enrolling MFA and Post-Baccalaureate students.
What grad students wish they knew about the library sooner: a Tisch Library Information Session
Held on Friday, August 29, 2025, this session was an introduction to library services and how you can work together with staff at the Tisch Library during your time at Tufts. The recording can be accessed here.
Resource Fair & Welcome Picnic
Thursday, September 11, 2025 | 4 - 6 pm | In person | Location: Aidekman Arts Center, Medford campus
A welcome picnic and resource fair took place on Thursday, September 11, 2025. If you were unable to attend or would like to learn more about campus resources, please explore the many supports available on this page.
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.
Tufts Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) Mandatory Training
Complete by Monday, August 18, 2025
MANDATORY - Tufts Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) provides a 5-module asynchronous training about the University’s Non-Discrimination Policy, Sexual Misconduct Policy, affirmative consent, affirmative consent, reporting, and resources & support for all students. Students are required to complete all 5 modules by Monday, August 18, 2025. Students who do not complete this mandatory training in full will have a hold on their record in SIS which will prevent course registration (adds and drops).
A Canvas course invitation was sent to your Tufts email beginning July 7th. You may log into the Canvas Learning system here. Your Enrolling Checklist will be updated 1-2 days after completing the Canvas course. Questions should be directed to OEOtraining@tufts.edu.