1. To attend VCU, accept your offer of admission in the online application portal and provide any pending documentation that may be listed. Then, review the following applicable resources:
   • Graduate Student Checklist
   • International Student Checklist
     • After accepting the offer of admission, contact the Global Education Office (GEO) at GEOIS@vcu.edu to obtain a Form I-20 in order to study on a visa.
   • Find Housing:
     • On-campus housing
     • Off-campus housing
     • International student housing guidance
2. Attend a virtual Graduate Admissions Event for new engineering students.
3. Add new student orientation sessions to your calendar:
   • Graduate School orientation
   • Global Education Office orientation (international students)
   • College of Engineering orientation with same-day departmental orientation
4. Review the Academic Calendar for important dates.
5. Plan to register for classes by reviewing the schedule of classes and registration dates.
6. Enroll or opt-out of the student health insurance plan (when eligible).
7. Review the university billing schedule. Billing statements include tuition, fees, and health insurance premiums, and are issued by email after registering for classes every semester.
8. Learn about life on campus.

The Office of Admissions requires final documentation, such as official copies of transcripts, degree diplomas, and/or test scores. If you need to provide final versions of materials like these, it will be noted in the online application portal. Any pending documentation must be submitted in order to finalize your admission.

Students should provide all pending documentation as soon as possible before the start of their first semester to avoid registration holds being placed on their account. When all final documentation is received, the pending documentation requirement will be cleared and the admission will be fully finalized.

Questions? Contact the Office of Admissions.

Students who are admitted with provisions to complete should consult their graduate program director for details. When all required provisions are complete, the graduate program director will be able to confirm this and notify the Office of Graduate Studies.

Bridge Program: Students admitted with a provision to complete a degree’s “Bridge Program” must complete all required courses in consultation with the graduate program director. Upon completing all required Bridge Program coursework–typically with earning a B grade or higher in each course–the student can begin taking standard degree coursework. It is important to note that Bridge Program courses are taken prior to and in addition to the standard number of courses or credits required by a degree.

Newly admitted students can sign up for classes as soon as registration opens for their term of entry. There is an opportunity to register during the College of Engineering’s graduate student orientation session, however, earlier registration is recommended.

To get started:

1. Reference the course registration guide.
2. Add important registration deadlines to your calendar.
3. View course offerings on the schedule of classes.
4. Register for classes using eServices when registration is open.
5. As needed, request a course override and seek help from your advisor.
6. After registration, monitor your student email for the semesterly billing statement.
7. Avoid potential registration holds by providing any pending documentation listed in the online application portal.

After registering for classes, tuition and fees are billed centrally by the university–not by the College of Engineering–at the start of every semester. See the billing schedule to review payment deadlines. If you have specific billing questions, contact Student Financial Services at (804) 828-2228 or stuacctg@vcu.edu.

Tuition and fees vary based on a student’s residency status with the state of Virginia. VCU determines this status (i.e., in-state or out-of-state) at the time of admission. Applicants determined to be Virginia in-state residents earn in-state tuition rates. Out-of-state and international students entering an eligible engineering master’s program automatically receive a distinct and highly competitive tuition structure by way of the Graduate Education Innovation Program. Estimate your tuition and fees with the VCU cost calculator.

Doctoral students: If you are supported on a graduate assistantship and have questions about tuition and fees, email the Office of Graduate Studies at gradengr@vcu.edu. It is important to know that, regardless of funding source, all students receive standard billing statement emails from the university.

Additionally, be aware that VCU student health insurance plan premiums are not covered by assistantships with the College of Engineering. All students enrolled in the VCU student health insurance plan must pay their plan premium fees as billed in eServices, or opt-out every fall and spring semester.

• Estimate the cost to attend using the VCU cost calculator and review the cost of living table below it to budget for additional expenses. 
• Review resources with the VCU Graduate School and Student Financial Services.
• Explore external scholarship options and apply early. The VCU National Scholarship Office is a great resource for guidance when applying for scholarships and fellowships.
• On-campus student employment can help supplement the cost to attend. Once on campus and registered for classes, search for part-time positions or use VCU’s Handshake platform. Options are available for those studying on an F-1 visa. 
• Loan providers: Many find value in taking out an educational loan to finance their studies. 
• Online master’s degree options: The College of Engineering offers select online master’s degrees with courses that cater to remote flexibility for students who live in a lower cost of living area. The online master’s programs also offer part-time and asynchronous course options to balance schoolwork with full-time job commitments. 
• Establish domicile in Virginia to earn in-state tuition rates as a Virginia resident upon admission. If already admitted as an out-of-state student, see how to reclassify as an in-state student, if eligible. Please also know that out-of-state and international students pursuing an engineering master’s degree at VCU automatically earn competitive tuition rates by way of the Graduate Education Innovation Program. 
• Accelerated pathway: VCU undergraduates in their third or fourth year may be eligible for an accelerated pathway toward earning a master’s degree at VCU. If approved for the accelerated pathway, a student can double count select 500 and 600 level courses toward both their VCU bachelor’s and master’s degrees. This can save on overall tuition and fees when pursuing a master’s at VCU immediately following the bachelor’s. 
• Employer tuition benefit: Your employer may offer educational benefits that include tuition reimbursement. If employed, ask your Human Resources representative.
• Military service benefit: VCU Military Student Services is the primary resource for utilizing educational benefits offered through U.S. military service.

The VCU student health insurance program is available to full-time Ph.D. students and international students (those on F- and J-visas). A hard waiver will apply for these student populations, meaning that they will be required to enroll in the program if they are unable to provide proof of other insurance to opt-out. This program is managed centrally by the university and not by the College of Engineering.

Each fall and spring semester, all eligible students must either enroll and pay the insurance premium fee or opt-out by providing proof of other coverage. When no action is taken to waive coverage, students are automatically enrolled and responsible for plan premium fees that appear on their account. Approved insurance waivers from opting out do not roll over from one semester to the next. 

Doctoral students: If you are supported on a graduate assistantship and are enrolled in the VCU student health insurance plan, be aware that plan premiums are not covered by assistantships with the College of Engineering. Plan premium fees are paid out-of-pocket by students and are listed as a “Health Insurance Premium” expense in eServices.

Step-by-step tutorials:

• How to enroll in the student health insurance program
• How to opt out/waive coverage

Questions? Contact the eligibility coordinators at gradhealthins@vcu.edu (full-time Ph.D. students) or intlhealthins@vcu.edu (international M.S. students).

Applicants admitted into a master’s program (M.S.) may request to defer admission by emailing the Office of Graduate Studies (gradengr@vcu.edu). New Ph.D. admits must consult with their advisor and/or graduate program director to request approval to defer their admission.

Requests to defer are considered for up to one year from the original term of entry, and there is no added fee to defer admission. If approved, the applicant will be assigned a defer request form to complete in the online application portal. Once this form is completed, the applicant will receive an updated offer of admission to accept for the new term. Deferral requests are only considered for fall or spring semesters.