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The Graduate School

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    An MSU graduate education provides the motivation and inspiration for you to move your career forward.

    View a list of graduate programs.
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  • Academics
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    At MSU, there are many ways to combine areas of study into one or two degrees.

    Learn about interdisciplinary study
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  • Funding
    • Overview
    • Emergency Fellowship Funding
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    • Funding Resources

    Find the financial support you need to pursue your graduate studies.

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  • Professional Development
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    • Graduate Career Services
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    The Graduate School provides and curates programs to help students grow as educators.

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    While inclusion guides all of our activities, the Graduate School provides a range of innovative programs and initiatives that focus specifically on inclusivity and community.

    See our community programs
The Graduate School
  • About
  • Admissions
  • Academics
  • Funding
  • Professional Development
  • News & Events
  • Diversity & Community

< About

  • Background & History
  • Governance
  • Contact Us
  • Directory

MSU's plan to keep Spartans safe

Learn More

< Admissions

  • Overview
  • Apply
  • International Applicants

An MSU graduate education provides the motivation and inspiration for you to move your career forward.

View a list of graduate programs.

< Academics

  • Overview
  • Program List
  • Research Integrity
  • Theses & Dissertations
  • Policies & Procedures
  • Traveling Scholars
  • GradPlan

At MSU, there are many ways to combine areas of study into one or two degrees.

Learn about interdisciplinary study

< Funding

  • Overview
  • Emergency Fellowship Funding
  • Fellowships
  • Research Enhancement Award
  • Travel Funding
  • Assistantship Resources
  • Funding Resources

Find the financial support you need to pursue your graduate studies.

View Funding Opportunities

< Professional Development

  • Overview
  • Graduate Career Services
  • Teaching Development
  • Advising
  • Mentoring

The Graduate School provides and curates programs to help students grow as educators.

View Teaching Communities & Fellowships

< News & Events

  • News
  • Events

View upcoming workshops for graduate students.

Learn More

< Diversity & Community

  • Overview
  • Office of Well-Being
  • Student Organizations
  • Michigan Housing & Living
  • Spouse & Family Resources
  • Safety & Security

While inclusion guides all of our activities, the Graduate School provides a range of innovative programs and initiatives that focus specifically on inclusivity and community.

See our community programs
  • Current Students
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Research Integrity
  • Forms
  • Give

GPD & GPA Resources

The Graduate School > Faculty & Staff Resources >

GPD & GPA Resources

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Email

gradschool@grd.msu.edu

Phone

517-353-3220

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The Graduate School 466 W. Circle Drive East Lansing, MI 48824

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SPARTANS WILL|© Michigan State University|

We encourage graduate program directors (GPDs) and graduate program assistants (GPAs) to always use the most recent version of each form. The Graduate School makes regular updates to these forms to continuously improve clarity and usability. Major changes are announced to campus.

Admissions
  • Unofficial & Official International Academic Records - 2025
  • Major Code Changes at the Graduate Level
  • Slate CRM
Cost of Attendance Adjustment

Students with federal financial aid may experience an adjustment in their aid package as a result of new funding (i.e. fellowship) which was not assessed in their initial semester aid package.

When the student incurs an additional educational expense (housing, books, tuition, research, travel, etc.) and receives a fellowship to cover the expense, the department can request that the Office of Financial Aid (OFA) review the student’s budget and possibly increase their Cost of Attendance to offset any possible reduction in aid. There is no guarantee that the student’s Cost of Attendance will be increased. 

Please be very detailed about the nature of the expenses. Please complete the form below and send it to the Office of Financial Aid at finaid@msu.edu.

Please note: OFA will only consider a Cost of Attendance adjustment request when the student experiences additional educational expenses.

International Admissions

Deadline: The deadline for Fall 2026 international graduate admissions (including applications and accompanying materials) is Monday, June 15.

  • International Graduate Admissions Training (Online)
  • English Language Competency Information
  • Sample Bachelor’s Degree from China 2008-2015 (PDF)
  • Checklist of Required Documentation for International Applicants
  • Policy guidance affecting provisional admission of students and the issuing of I-20s
  • Proof of Degree Letter (PDF) – This can be given to applicants to provide to their universities in order to request official copies of their final diplomas.
Advisor Assignment

All graduate students must have an advisor assigned to their record in SIS.  The following job aids provide information on how to complete this task.  For any advisor assignment questions not addressed by the job aids, please reach out to gradsis@grd.msu.edu.

  • Job Aid: Advisor Assignment – Grad (coming soon)
  • Job Aid: Bulk Advisor Assignment (coming soon)
Strategic Program Assessment

Strategic Program Assessment (SPA) is MSU’s process for reviewing graduate programs, including graduate certificates.

Templates

Graduate Handbook Template

Each graduate program is expected to have a Graduate Handbook to inform students on:

  • course and program requirements
  • the timetable for the selection of a faculty advisor and the formation of a guidance committee
  • examinations and graduation requirements
  • policy for dismissal as required by the Graduate Students Rights and Responsibilities document.

Departmental and Program perspectives concerning academic integrity and how this is to be communicated to students should be incorporated in each handbook.

Waiver Requests
  • Graduate Time Limit Extension Request
  • Graduate School Approved Committee Member Requests
  • English Language Competency Waiver
  • Four-Year Degree Requirement
GradPlan

GradPlan helps master's and doctoral students create and store their degree plans and subsequent graduate program activities.

It is where students form their guidance committee (if required), create and update a course list, complete an annual research activity guide, and upload documentation of their annual review with their advisor.

Administrative and support staff will access GradPlan to view/approve course lists and committee information, view activity guides, and upload students’ annual reviews.

Forms

Graduate program directors and assistants are responsible for completing a variety of forms relevant to students. A list of these forms can be found below.

Recruitment Funding
  • Out-of-State Tuition Waiver for External Fellowships
eGradFel

eGradFel is a platform that allows MSU staff and faculty to initiate and manage fellowships. GAADs, Graduate Program Directors, and Graduate Program Assistants can read the manual to learn how to receive access and begin to use this platform.

RECR

RECR requirement information for students and staff may be found on the Graduate School's RECR webpage. Training materials related to RECR in SIS are below.

Updated links coming soon.

  • Quick Guide: Advisor approval of RECR one-on-one discussions
  • Job Aid: RECR – Staff
  • Job Aid: Adding a New RECR page for a new graduate degree
Submit a Request
Learn More
Download the Template

Annual Evaluation Forms

These are templates for graduate students and faculty to use in the required written annual evaluation process. Please check with your own graduate program for the specific form for you to use.

For more information about the required written annual evaluation of each graduate student, please see Graduate Student Rights and Responsibilities: 2.4.8.
 

Doctoral StudentsMaster's Plan AMaster's Plan B

GA Offer Letter Templates

  • Teaching Assistant Offer Letter (docx)
  • Research Assistant Offer Letter (docx)
  • Teaching Exclusion Offer Letter (docx)
  • Summer Non-Fringe Research Assistant Offer Letter (docx)
    • View more details regarding this appointment here.
  • Non-Reappointment Letter for Graduate Assistants (doc)

See also: Critical Dates for Appointments

Access GradPlan

For GradPlan questions not addressed by the quick guides or job aids, please reach out to gradsis@grd.msu.edu.

Updated links coming soon.

  • Quick Guide: Worklist Summary/GradPlan Request Status Query
  • Quick Guide: How to upload an annual review document – Staff
  • Job Aid: GradPlan Overview – Staff
  • Job Aid: GradPlan (Lockstep Programs) Overview – Staff
  • Job Aid: GradPlan and RECR Overview: Faculty/Committee Member
  • Job Aid: Course Plan for Doctoral Students who only need 999s
  • Job Aid: GradPlan Workflow
  • Job Aid: GradPlan Student Data – Staff
  • Job Aid: Graduate Reporting Center
View Forms
Read the Manual