GRADUATE COURSE LOADS
Minimum Course Load for Financial Aid Eligibility
To be eligible for Federal Student Aid (FSA), a student must be enrolled at least half time. To be enrolled half time, a student must be taking at least half of the course load of a full-time student. The UWG Office of Financial Aid defines full-time enrollment for a graduate student as 9 credit hours, or the equivalent, each term. Half-time enrollment is defined as 5 credit hours, or the equivalent, each term.
Students must register for and attend 5 credit hours, or the equivalent, to be eligible for Financial Aid each term.
|
Fall |
Spring |
Summer |
Full-Time |
9 |
9 |
9 |
Half Time |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Minimum Course Load for Graduate Assistantship Eligibility
Graduate Assistantships are classified by function or purpose and include Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs), Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs), and Graduate Assistantships (GAs). GTAs, GRAs, and GAs must register for and earn 9 credit hours, or the equivalent, to be eligible for a Graduate Assistantship each term.
Maximum Course Load for All Graduate Students
Graduate students who do not hold one of the three types of assistantships may register for 12 credit hours without permission. Graduate students who want to take an overload, defined as more than 12 credit hours, must obtain permission from the Director of their graduate program and from the Director of Graduate Studies for their college or school. Some programs may require additional levels of approval.
Expectations for the maximum course load apply to graduate students who take a mix of graduate and undergraduate courses in one semester, as well. Although some graduate degree and non-degree programs require graduate students to take undergraduate courses, students are considered graduate students.
