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Site Index & FAQ

A list of pages located on this site are below.  You can also use the "search site form" (powered by Google), located in the upper right hand corner of this page, to search our site. If there is something you are having trouble finding please email us so we can help you locate it.

 

  • Admissions FAQ (Requesting Material, Applications, Admissions, etc.)
  1. Where can I request a catalog and/or application?
    1. Both our application and catalog are only available online, however the catalog is available as a PDF file.  If you are unable to apply online please contact our office directly to request a PDF version of the application.
  2. If the program I'm interested in is not in the area in which my degree was received, can I still apply?
    1. Yes. Provisional admission may be offered to applicants whose academic records and supporting documents indicate they are qualified to undertake graduate level coursework, but whose undergraduate preparation was not in the intended area of graduate study.  Applicants offered provisional admission must meet the specific criteria-usually undergraduate prerequisite coursework specified at the time of their admission- as part of their graduate degree program. 
  3. Can I take graduate classes without being admitted to a degree program?
    1. Yes, but as a non-matriculated, non-degree student.  Be aware that if you take graduate level course work as a non-degree student this course work does not automatically get transferred towards a graduate degree should you ever apply to become a graduate student. 
    2. If you are taking courses through UNH Continuing Education and plan on later applying it towards a graduate degree at UNH please check with your department of interest for recommended course work and keep in mind that only 12 credits can be transferred in towards your degree.
    3. If you are taking courses through another university and plan on later applying it towards a graduate degree at UNH please check with your department of interest for recommended course work.  It will be extremely helpful to the department if you can provide them with a course description so they may determine if this course has an equivalent here at UNH.  Be aware that only 8 credits can be transferred in towards your degree from an non-UNH institution and there is no guarantee that the department that you apply to will accept these credits.
  4. How many credits can I transfer into a degree program?
    1. A maximum of 8 credits can be transferred into a degree program from institutions other than UNH.
    2. A maximum of 12 UNH Continuing Education credits can be transferred into a degree program.
    3. Transferal of 8 credits from an institution other than UNH AND 12 UNH Continuing Education credits  is not permitted.
  5. Where can I find the online application on your website?
    1. The Graduate School online application can be found on our application instructions page. Note that if you wish to apply to one of our Certificate programs you can not do it online - further details are available at our Certificate Application Instructions page.
  6. Where do I bring or send my application?
    1. All application material must be sent or delivered directly to the Graduate School.  The full address that all materials should be sent to can be found at the bottom of every web page.
  7. What is the difference between your office and the departments?
    1. The Graduate School processes all applications for admission to graduate programs.  Applications submitted to the Graduate School are entered into the University's database, reviewed for completeness, and forwarded to the appropriate department for review and a decision.  Contact the Graduate School for general questions about the Graduate School, your application, or questions that are not department specific.  Contact the department to which you are applying for specific questions, such as required coursework, certification requirements, available concentrations, etc.  If you are not sure who to call, please call the Graduate School and we will make every effort to assist you in obtaining the correct information.
  8. Should I wait until I have everything I need for my application (three recommendations, transcripts, etc.) before I submit it?
    1. YES, submitting a complete application expedites the review process and reduces the possibility of materials being misplaced.
    2. If the deadline is nearing and you still do not have all of your materials collected you can submit what you do have and provide the remaining items when they are available. 
  9. I am applying but not sure I can meet the deadline, should I apply anyway?
    1. Check with your department first and see if they would be willing to accept your application.  If they approve then you can submit your completed application to the Graduate School.  If your department is willing to review your application without all the required documents then please include a letter to this effect in your application.
  10. Can my application be processed without an application fee?
    1. In general, no.  We will begin processing the application, but no final decision can occur until the application fee is received.
  11. If I apply online can I pay my fee online as well?  
    1. YES. After you have finished and submitted your online application you will be brought to the online payment form in order to pay your application fee.  At this time we only accept credit card payments online (not over the phone or in person.)  Paying the fee immediately after submitting your application will greatly speed up the processing of your application.   If you do not pay the fee at this time your online application will be held up until we receive your fee. 
    2. If you failed to pay online when you submitted your application you can pay via credit card though our special online payment form at a later date. You can also pay by mailing in a check or money order, or by paying cash in person.  If you are international and do not pay the fee online with your application or with the online payment form  then you must submit a money order (or a bank check but only if the bank check is drawn from a US bank).
  12. If I don't pay online when I submit my application can I go back and do it later?  
    1. Yes, we have a special online payment form that people can use if they submitted a paper application or neglected to pay online at the time they submitted an online application.  To pay using the online payment form  select the "Graduate Studies" application type and complete the form.    Its very important you submit the EXACT SAME information that was used on your application.  The data you provide will be used to match up against your actual application when it is processed and therefore the information needs to match (if a match doesn't occur we will have to manually match your information which can slow down the processing of your payment). Note that we only accept credit card payments online at this time.
  13. If work on a degree is in progress when a transcript is submitted with an application, does another transcript need to be submitted once the work is complete?
    1. YES. If you have not yet completed your coursework when you have your transcripts sent to the graduate school you will be required to submit final transcripts when the coursework in progress is completed.
  14. What constitutes full-time versus part-time status for a graduate student?
    1. This can vary a great deal depending on circumstances.  The basic determinant is how many credits you are enrolled in.  Less than 9 credits is considered part-time and 9 credits or more is considered full-time.  Some exceptions would be if you are on an assistantship, in which case you only need to take 6 or more credits to be considered full-time, as the assistantship will help contribute to full-time status.  If you are enrolled in Doctoral Research (999) or Masters Continuing Research (Grad 900) then you will be considered full-time and responsible for full-time fees.
  15. What is early admission?
    1. Early admission is a special program available for UNH Seniors only.  In this program they are able to work on their undergraduate and graduate degrees at the same time.  It does not mean that you will get your decision earlier than everyone else.
    2. I will graduate in the Spring with my Bachelor’s degree, to which semester should I apply under the Early Admission program?
      1. You should apply to the LAST semester of your senior year, in this case you would apply for the Spring.  If you intend to graduate in December with your bachelor's degree, you would apply for the Fall semester. For further questions or clarification, contact Dovev Levine at: dovev.levine@unh.edu or 862-2234.
  16. What certificate programs are available?
    1. For a list of our certificate programs, please review our list of programs.
  17. What graduate programs are available at the UNH Center for Graduate and Professional Studies (CGPS) in Manchester?
    1. We offer a variety of programs through the UNH CGPS.  A list of them is available at the UNH CGPS Website:  http://www.unhmgrad.unh.edu/
  18. How do I prove NH residency?
    1. A form is provided with the application (and is also available for download separately at the forms section of this website).  You must select one of the three options on the form.
    2. Select the first option on the form if you are currently an active (or have been active within the last  year), matriculated undergraduate degree student with in-state status.
    3. The second option is if you have been on your town's voter checklist for the last 12 months as an in-state resident.  You will need to fill out that section of the form and have it notarized by the town clerk where you are registered.
    4. The last option is to provide us with a letter stating your reasons for claiming in-state residency and provide proof to back up your claim.  The written statement is mandatory, as is a copy of your vehicle registration and license.  Any other proof you can send would also be helpful.  This is often in the form of copies of your mortgage or lease, copies of bills, etc.  The more proof you provide easier it will be for our office to determine your residency.  For full details on our policies concerning residency please check out our academic rules and regulations on residency.
  19. Can I have copies of my letters of recommendation, transcripts and test scores?
    1. NO.  When you submit your application and materials, the application and any related materials becomes the property of the UNH Graduate School.  We are not allowed to provide any copies or the originals to the applicant/student or any outside agencies, even at the request of the applicant/student.
  20. How can I check on the status of my application?
    1. The easiest way is to check your status online through your MyUNH/Blackboard account.   For more information on this please visit the MyUNH instructions page.
  21. How long will it take before I hear whether or not I will be offered admission?
    1. Typically, after your application is complete you can expect a decision in approximately 6-8 weeks.  However, some departments may take longer.
  22. Is there a deadline for responding to my offer of admission?
    1. NO. There is no time limit for responding to the Graduate School's offer of admission, however, you should respond as soon as you possibly can.  Please note that you will not be considered a student and will not be able to register until you respond to our offer.  Departments/programs may have their own deadlines for decisions on awarding financial assistance to accepting applicants.  If you are not accepting the offer of admission, a prompt response would be appreciated so an offer could be made to another applicant.
  23. Can I defer my admission?
    1. In most cases yes, although there is a one year limit (i.e. you can only defer up to one year, or two semesters).  If you wish to defer you need to notify our office in writing with your name, program, semester applied to and the semester you wish to defer to.  Your request will then go back to the department for review.  Be aware that should you defer you will not allowed to take any graduate level course work during the time you are in deferred status (if you applied for fall and deferred to the spring of the following year you could not take any grad level courses during the fall as a non-degree student).
  24. If I apply to the Manchester program can I switch over to the UNH program and vice-versa?
    1. You will need to complete and send a change of degree request to the UNH graduate School if you wish to change your degree program.  If the change is approved then your degree program will be transferred to your desired campus, as long as that program is offered at that campus.
  25. If I get rejected, can I reapply?
    1. Yes, you may appeal the decision.  You must submit a letter to our office stating your desire to be reconsidered along with any additional information that may help the department in reconsidering your application (new test scores, new letters of recommendation, grades for course work taken).  Your application would be reviewed you would be notified if more information were needed.  The application would then go the Dean for a final decision.
  26. How does readmission work?
    1. If you had withdrawn form the University BEFORE you actually became a student and took classes you just need to submit a letter to our office with your current information (name, address, program, term, reasons for reapplying). We would review this and notify you of the next step.  We normally only keep inactive applications in our files for one year from the semester of application.  After that point, the files are destroyed and in that case you would need to resubmit a full application.  Please call our office if you wish to reapply and it has been more than one year since you filed your initial application.  
    2. If you were a matriculated student and had later withdrawn from the university you can still reapply.  Inactive student files are kept for 5 years.  Again, you would need to submit a letter to our office stating that you wish to be readmitted and why.  Your application would be pulled and submitted to the department for review and you would then be notified if any additional information was required.  Also, any continuing enrollment fees for past semesters would also be assessed by the Dean upon approval of your re-admittance.
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  • Student FAQ (Registration, Petitions, Tuition and Bills, Financial Aid, Academics, etc.)
  1. Can I change from one graduate program to another?
    1. Yes, this is called a "Change of Degree".  If you are changing your degree within the same department you are currently in, you need to fill out a "Change of Degree" form (available on our forms section of this website) and submit it to our office.  If you are changing from a masters to a PhD you will also need two new letters of recommendation.  If you wish to change to a completely new department  you will need to fill out a new application and submit it for review.
  2. If I am in a UNH degree program can I take courses over in Manchester?  If I am a Manchester student can I take courses at UNH?
    1. This can depend on the program you are in as your department may have certain restrictions.  In general you can take courses at either campus but it may require permission to do so.  Please check with your department and feel free to call us directly as each situation is different.
  3. How do I obtain an email account?
    1. All graduate students are allowed a free email account from UNH which can be obtained from the Help Desk Walk-In station at the Memorial Union Building on campus. Once you are an admitted student you can contact them to set up your email address (which you can use directly or set it to forward to another email address).
  4. Since I am in a degree program at the UNH Center for Graduate and Professional Studies do I still need to register every semester?
    1. YES. You must be enrolled in either course credits or a continuing enrollment course every fall and spring.  The exception is if you are in a summer only MST degree program.  Then you must be registered every summer.
  5. What is the current graduate student tuition rate?
    1. The current tuition and fees are posted on the graduate tuition rates chart online via the Business Services Office.
  6. Do I pay tuition rates for UNH or Manchester?
    1. You pay the rates of the campus that you are taking the courses at.  If you take courses at both campuses then your rates will be a mix of both campuses.
  7. Does the Graduate School have financial aid forms?
    1. If you are looking for government financial aid, such as a loan, you need to fill out and submit a form through the UNH Financial Aid office - all of those forms are available from their office. If you are applying for aid from a department (such as a grant, assistantship or fellowship) then you need to contact the department you are applying to for the correct forms. Our office also has a few types of aid. For information on those forms and dates please contact the Dean's Office at 603-862-3005.
  8. What are the deadlines for applying for financial aid?
    1. If applying for departmental or graduate school based aid (as in the form of grants, assistantships, scholarships, etc.,) the dates vary from program to program. The most common ones range from February 1st to March 15th. Contact the department directly or check our programs listing page for the dates.

      If you are interested in applying for loan based aid through the UNH Financial Aid office then the absolute deadline is March 1st for the following aid year. Applications received after that date will only be reviewed for Stafford Loans. For further details please contact their office directly at 603-862-3600.
  9. How can I pursue information about obtaining financial aid?
    1. Start by checking with your department to see what types of aid they may have available (scholarships, fellowships, assistantships, etc.) of their own and what areas they recommend for you to pursue.  You can also check with the Dean's Office for information about some grants and awards that we offer on a general basis.  Check with the Financial Aid Office if you are interested in applying for student loans.  Check out the SPIN database.  SPIN is an agency that maintains a database of grants, fellowships, and awards available from all over the world.  UNH subscribes to SPIN services which can be accessed anywhere on campus with Internet access.  Further details on financial aid services are available on our financial aid page.
    2. If you are taking classes at UNH in Manchester, all aid is still processed through the main UNH Durham campus and all forms and questions need to be directed to the UNH Financial Aid Office.
  10. What is the difference between aid offered by department and the graduate school versus aid through the financial aid office at UNH?
    1. Financial aid offered by departments is usually in the form of grants, assistantships, fellowships and scholarships - for a complete listing please see our financial aid page.  The Graduate School also offers limited aid in the form of part-time tuition scholarships and dissertation fellowships.  Again, more details on financial aid awards are available on our financial aid page.
    2. Aid offered to Graduate Students through the UNH Financial Aid Office covers work-study aid and self help aid (such as Stafford Loans) and all Graduate Students are considered independent when applying for this type of aid.  The Financial Aid Office keeps information on non-UNH based student aid on their website at: http://www.unh.edu/financial-aid or they may be reached at (603) 862-3600.  You can also make an appointment to meet with a graduate counselor.  Students are advised to call in advance to make an appointment as they do not take walk-ins, except on Thursdays between 3-4. 
  11. What is a Graduate School travel grant and what are the criteria for receiving one?
    1. Travel grants are available to graduate students traveling in order to present papers or research at conferences.  You must be presenting at the conference in order to be eligible for an award. The award amount is $200.  Travel Grants can now be submitted online!
  12. What is a part-time tuition scholarship?
    1. Part-time students are eligible to apply for part-time tuition scholarships. This award is in the form of a partial waiver of tuition charges.  These scholarships are awarded each semester of the academic year.  Part-time tuition scholarship applications are available at the Graduate School each semester.  Please see the graduate school calendar for official application release and due dates.  University employees or family members who are eligible for staff benefits are not eligible to receive scholarships for part-time students.
  13. What is a full-time tuition scholarship?
    1. Full-time students are eligible to apply for full-time tuition scholarships, awards that are in the form of full or partial waiver of tuition charges.  These scholarships are awarded each semester of the academic year and are subject to the maintenance of a high scholastic record in the Graduate School.  Application  for these scholarships are made to the student's department or program.
  14. Where can I go to get more information on Financial Aid?
    1. Our website covers a lot of various questions concerning different types of financial aid. If a student is interested in government aid, then they should contact the UNH Financial Aid Office via their website or via phone at (603) 862-3600.  If you have questions on aid awarded by the Graduate School Deans Office, please contact that office at (603) 862-3005.  Any questions concerning aid sponsored by your department should be directed to that specific department.
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  • Graduation FAQ (Intent to graduate, commencement, transcripts, etc.)
  1. When and How do I need to file an Intent to Graduate Form?  How do I change my name or other information?
    1. You should file your intent to graduate at the beginning of the semester you expect to graduate in.  You can file online at MyUNH.  Login to your Blackboard/MyUNH account, and go to the Webcat/Student Services tab, then click the "continue" button to get into Webcat.  Click on the "Student Services & Financial Aid" link.  On the page that loads select the "Graduation Application Menu" and that will let you submit your intent and update your diploma mailing address. Deadlines are posted on our calendar and usually comes by mid-semester as the cut-off date.  If you are not sure if you will be able to graduate it's still recommended you file.  Should you need to take another semester, you must submit another intent for each semester you think you will graduate in.  Intents filed after the recommended deadline will be charged a $25 late fee but can still be done online.  If any of the intent information displayed is incorrect please let our office know so we can make corrections.  If your name is not displayed the way you would like to have it appear on your diploma then email the registrar's office.  Include in the email your complete name, last 4 digits of your student ID, the semester you plan on graduating, the name of your program, and how you would like your name to appear.  Also be sure to indicate why you are emailing them - its good to put in the subject line "Change of name for Diploma printing".  For more information on graduation check out our graduation help page.
  2. Where can I get an Intent to Graduate Form?
    1. The form is now online through the MyUNH/Blackboard site.  If you are unable to file online please contact our office (862-3000).
  3. I don't plan on graduating in time for the walking ceremony, can I still participate?
    1. If you only wish to walk in the ceremony, but do not plan on graduating, then you do not need to submit an intent to graduate card for the walking ceremony although you must contact the Commencement Office to make sure they are aware of your desire to walk in the graduation.
  4. How do I get information about Commencement?
    1. You can visit the Commencement Office website, or call their office at 603-862-4702
  5. I am a graduating student at the UNH Center for Graduate and Professional Studies (CGPS) this semester - which ceremony can I participate in?
    1. As a student in a CGPS program you have the option of either participating in the Manchester or the UNH campus ceremony.  Just be sure to indicate which ceremony you wish to participate in.  You can do this by contacting our office directly.  Be sure to also submit your intent to graduate online.
  6. I am a student at the UNH Center for Graduate and Professional Studies (CGPS).  What rules and regulations do I fall under for degree and graduation requirements?
    1. Even though you are taking your course work at Manchester the academic requirements are those of the UNH graduate school.  Of course you are also responsible for any local rules and regulations at Manchester, but academic policy is that of our main office in Durham.
  7. When does the online form need to be submitted?
    1. By the deadlines specified by the UNH graduate school calendar.
  8. When Will I get my Diploma?
    1. The average time frame is to have the diploma's mailed out by the Registrar's office within 4-6 weeks from the day of graduation.
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  • General FAQ (International questions, Housing, ID's and everything else)
  1. How do I get my Student ID and how are the IDs assigned?
    1. Most student ID's are the student's social security number. International students are provided with a GENERATED student ID until they receive their US social security number. Also, students can be provided with a generated ID at their request.  An accepted applicant or a student (new or current) can get a new student ID from the ID Office once they have been marked in the UNH System as being a valid graduate student. The ID Office is located in Holloway Commons in room 101. The ID Office telephone number is 603-862-2273
  2. Where can I get information on housing?
    1. The best place to get information on student housing is from the housing website or by checking the off-campus housing list offered through the Memorial Union Building.  UNH offers graduate student housing through the Babcock Residence Hall as well as some apartments available through the Forest Park Apartment Complex.
  3. Who do I talk to about Visas and work permits?
    1. For any questions regarding work permits and Visas please contact the Office of International Students and Scholars at 603-862-1508, email at oiss@unh.edu or their website at http://www.unh.edu/oiss/ 
  4. What do I indicate on my financial statement if I am expecting to receive financial support from the university?
    1. Any student who is expecting to receive funding from the university should indicate that expectation on the second page of the financial statement.  The expected amount of funding should be entered in the box labeled "UNH Support", which can be found under the "Source of Funds" heading.
  5. How can I pay my application fee?
    1. IF you apply online you can pay your fee, by credit card, at the exact same time you submit your application.  However, if you do not pay the fee when you submit your online application you can pay via credit card by using our online payment form. You can also pay via post by sending a money order or check that is from a United States bank and drawn on US funds.  At this time we can NOT accept money sent through Western Union.

 

Our FAQ sections are a work in progress.  If you think of any questions that you think should be included please let us know - the best way for us to create a useful FAQ is by adding those common questions that people have trouble finding answers to.

 

Quick Tips for Finding Things

Are you looking ...

  • For a form?  Check out our online forms page.
  • Use our search field at the top of the page, using one or two key words.
  • Try searching the UNH Website for what you need.
  • Don't get frustrated!  Feel free to call (603-862-3000) or email us (grad.school@unh.edu) for help finding something or questions you may have.

 

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