For Graduate Students Only
About Full-Time And Half-Time Equivalency
The University defines full-time course work as enrollment in a minimum of 12 credits in one semester (the two summer sessions combined are regarded as one term); this load is considered to be the equivalent of 40 hours of study per week. Half-time status is defined as enrollment in a minimum of 6 credits in one semester. Students may be certified as having full-time or half-time equivalency for an academic term under several conditions that are explained below under Eligibility for Equivalency.
Students should be aware of the limitations on the number of times equivalency may be granted, and plan their programs accordingly. They should also understand that equivalencies carry no credit value toward the degree.
Financial Aid Information
Equivalency is used to help students retain their eligibility for loans, but it does not make a student eligible for scholarships. Scholarship funding can be used ONLY to cover the actual cost of tuition generated by enrollment in courses, the actual number of credits for which a student is enrolled. Equivalency status does not grant full-time status for scholarship purposes, thus students receiving a scholarship would not be eligible to retain the scholarship based on equivalency. Please note that during the semester in which you are registered for Master's Thesis and Defense or Thesis Advisement, you will be registered for fewer than six credits and, therefore, not able to receive a Gallatin scholarship. You may still, however, be eligible for loans. Please consult the Office of Financial Aid at 212-998-4444 for more information.
Eligibility for Equivalency
Gallatin may certify full-time or half-time equivalency under any of the following circumstances:
- A student who is working full-time on the thesis and is registered for either Thesis and Defense or Thesis Advisement may be granted full-time or half-time equivalency for up to a maximum of four semesters.
- A student who is taking the last credits needed for the degree, excluding the 3 credits for Thesis and Defense, may be considered full-time even if she/he is registered for only 1 credit; she/he may not, however, be considered full-time if she/he takes fewer credits than needed to get a total of 37; this form of equivalency may be granted one time only.
- A student working as a Graduate Assistant or Research Assistant at NYU for at least 20 hours per week may be granted full-time equivalency if she/he is registered for at least 6 credits, or half-time equivalency if she/he is registered for 3 to 5 credits; a student is eligible for this equivalency for as many semesters as she/he works as a Graduate Assistant or Research Assistant.
- A student who is taking an approved graduate class at another university as concurrent registration may be eligible for full-time equivalency, if the student is enrolled for a combined total of 12 credits or more at both NYU and the other institution, or half-time equivalency, if the student is enrolled for a combined total of 6-11 credits at both NYU and the other institution. Equivalency may be required for eligibility for insurance, financial aid or visa status. Keep in mind that NYU financial aid grants and scholarships are awarded on the basis of courses taken at NYU only.
Application Procedures
Students who wish to apply for equivalency must submit this form no later than two weeks before the first day of classes in the semester for which equivalency is requested. Students must be registered before equivalency can be posted on their record. The Gallatin School will not be held liable for any loans returned to the lender as a result of late processing of the equivalency application; students are fully responsible for investigating the terms, conditions and deadlines related to their loans.
