This Page Provides Important Next Steps - Please Read the Entire Page!

 
In a few days, you will be contacted by the Office of International Programs (OIP) who will prepare the Certificate of Visa Eligibility (I-20 form) and will send this packet by Global Priory Mail. It includes the I-20 and information about International Student Orientation, health insurance, and more.

Before you can register, you will need to accept the offerthrough the admissions portal. If you have already accepted your offer, the Graduate School will process your request within to 5 days, then email you a link back to this page.

HOUSING
You should apply for housing at the same time you are applying to MSU, or as soon as you receive your offer. Campus housing is the most affordable in the area: University Student Apartments. If you are interested in living off campus, please review the link to the Off-Campus Marketplace (You will need to be offered admission to use this agency, as you will need to secure a MSU Net ID).

NOTE: The NetID is DIFFERENT than your MSU Student ID.
The NetID allows you to log into many areas on campus services, including student email, Microsoft Office, the Library(Example: p12x345) Your MSU Student ID is found on the bottom of your acceptance letter and begins with a dash (Example: -01234567). Be sure to include the dash when you use it. 

1. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REGISTER for classes UNTIL you clear all holds:

  • ALL STUDENTS will have an Immunization & Tuberculosis Hold  which will prevent registration. Use the following link to download the forms you will need to submit to Student Health Service. If you have any questions, be sure to direct them to: Student Health Service., The Graduate School cannot assist with any Student Health Services holds. 
  • If you received a Conditional Admission (as noted on your decision letter). If so, it may mean that you are missing certain official documents that may inhibit your ability to register, such as:

Transcripts: An official transcript(s) is required by The Graduate School; a hold will be put in place preventing the student’s ability to register. If official transcripts were sent prior to completing your bachelors degree you will be required to submit an additional, official transcript showing the degree conferred with final grades posted. Applicants who are alumni of MSU do not need to submit official transcripts. 

Examination scores: If a student has not submitted an official score report (if required), e.g., Graduate Records Exam (GRE), English proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS) if an international student, The Graduate School will place a hold preventing the student’s ability to register.

2. Before you get started on Registering for your courses/classes, take a look at the following links:

NOTE: If you are not allowed to register for a course due to prerequisites, please contact the department offering the course. The department will need to determine if you met the prerequisites and then can assist with your registration. 

3. Steps to Registering for Courses as a Graduate Student:

We want to make course registration at MSU a simple process. Step-by-step instructions for our online registration system are provided below; please read and follow each step. Please check this linkfor when graduate students can register. If you are unsure the courses you should take, please consult with your department or your advisor.

  1. Go to the MSU home page and click on “My Info.” If you do not see "MyInfo" along the top bar- to the right of the MSU logo, select the "students" option in the upper left side of your screen.
  2. Click on “Log into MyInfo.”
  3. FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS at the top of the MyInfo page!
  4. Once logged in, select the "Student Services Tab"
    1. Click on “Registration.”
    2. Click on "Select Term" and verify that your term of admission is selected; then click "Submit."
    3. Click on “Add/Drop Classes.”
    4. Click on “Select Term” and select appropriate term.
    5. Use this pin: 423185 (this is your Alternate Pin Number for the first term). Do not be confused with the number you used when you logged into MyInfo. This number is used for the first time you register. For future terms, you will meet with your program adivsor for future advising/registration pins.
    6. Find your course(s) by clicking on “Class Search” and add the course(s) to your class schedule by entering the 5-digit Course Registration Number (CRN). REMEMBER to sign up for Orientation!
    7. Recheck your registration for accuracy by clicking on “Student Detail Schedule.”

4. NetID & Email Address:

Please follow the following link where you can acquire your MSU Net ID (if you haven't already). Your MSU email address will be generated AFTER you register for courses.  

Are you a NEW Graduate Teaching or Research Assistant? Then read this:

  • Graduate TA's automatically get another email address that is intended to be used in relation to their TA work. The format for this new email address is  firstlast@montana.edu. In order to set the password for this new email address you will reset your NetID password. Since the netID controls access to other accounts, this change will also change the password for all accounts/services associated to the netID. Please see this page for details: https://www.montana.edu/uit/facultystaff/neo.html
  • Once the netID password has been reset, grad students will need to login into M365 using the new email address and whatever they changed the netID password to
  • Remember, anytime a netID password is updated, be sure to update password on any connected device e.g., cell phones, tablets etc.

5. Training & Orientation: 

As a new graduate student to MSU, you will need to register for the new graduate student training and orientation. Once you register, you will have access to the training and orientation in Brightspace about 1 month before the start of term. This training covers topics such as: FERPA, Title IX, Office of Research Compliance & Ethical Conduct, Disability Services, Veteran Services, and other important information necessary for all new graduate students.

There are three parts to the training, a welcome from our dean, the above section, and a third directed to new Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA). We encourage all new GTA's to review the material, as it covers topics such as Teaching on D2L, Using Technology in the Classroom, Effective Teaching Styles, The Do’s and Don’ts of Being a GTA.

As an international student, please check with the Office of International Programs on specific days/times for the International Student Orientation.

6. Required Prevention Education Courses:

The Commissioner of Higher Education has mandated all new, incoming students to Montana State University (regardless of age) are required to complete an authorized program in alcohol education, sexual assault awareness and prevention, and financial literacy. You will receive an email prompting you to log in and complete this requirement when the courses are open to you.  Participation in this program is not an elective; if the modules are not completed in the time allotted, a hold will be placed on your ability to register for the following term. Please see this link for information on how you complete this module, dates and deadlines.  If you have any questions on the programming that we offer, please feel free to contact the MSU Prevention Staff at: preventionedu@montana.edu.

7. Cat Card:

The CatCard is your identification card for Montana State University-Bozeman. You can use the CatCard to enter buildings, such as the Renne Library, access Rec. Sports & Fitness Center (when applicable), and other areas on campus.  As a new graduate student, you were automatically charged a $15.00 fee. Please take a valid government-issued photo ID with you to the CatCard office. A CatCard cannot be issued without photo verification.

8. Cost of Courses and Paying your Bill

Please see the following links for information on:

9. Cannot attend the term you were admitted? Request a deferral: 

This request must be made in writing to both The Graduate School and the admitting department (email is acceptable). If approved, a deferral can be for up to one (1) year (two (2) terms, not including summer term.

Note: Some departments will not allow a newly admitted student to defer their starting term.

 INFORMATION YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Please look at this link to learn more on steps to completing a master's or doctoral degree.

Link to MSU's Graduate School Policy and Procedures.

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