Frequently Asked Questions About Finances

Tuition and Fees

What is included in the comprehensive fee charge?
For a listing and description of fees included in the comprehensive fee charge, please see the Bursar's Web Page.

How many hours do I need to register for over the summer?
Full-time registration during the summer is 3 credit hours per term. Students should check with the financial aid office to determine the minimum registration requirement for loan deferrals. The university does not require summer registration; however, it may be required by your financial sponsor or other agencies with whom you have a contractual agreement.

Why was my registration purged?
If your tuition and fees are not paid by the deadline set by the Bursar's Office, your registration will be deleted. Students who are dropped from classes for non-payment and wish to have their classes reinstated will be assessed a late fee of $50 and a reinstatement fee of $75.

Assistantships and Financial Aid:

Where is the assistantship application form? It was not in my application packet.
The assistantship application is a supplimentary form that your department collects which will indicate that you are interested in assistantships, scholarships, or fellowships.

How can I find out about financial aid?
Information about student loans and work-study positions is available from the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid in Room 200, Student Services Building. You also may want to look at the Virginia Tech Financial Aid Office webpage. General links to Graduate scholarship, fellowship, and funding information is found on our Current Funding Opportunities page.

How can I find out about getting an assistantship?
Individual departments award most teaching and graduate assistantships; however, some administrative units also have a few GA positions. Research assistantships are different because they are awarded based on grants and contracts received by faculty who are principal investigators. Students should contact their departments or advisors to learn what is available.

What is an assistantship stipend?
An assistantship stipend is the pre-professional salary paid to a graduate student for work performed according to a contract signed by the student and the department or unit that is employing the student. Stipend levels range from Step 1 to Step 40. Stipends can be found in the current Stipend Table.

Are assistantship stipends taxable?
Yes. Federal and state withholding taxes will be taken out of each paycheck. International students are subject to different rate schedules and filing procedures unless specifically exempted by a tax treaty. The Virginia Tech Payroll Office is familiar with requirements for different countries.

Are fellowships taxable?
Yes, however, the university does not withhold taxes on fellowships. The student is responsible for declaring income from a fellowship. For more information see IRS Publication 970 "Tax Benefits for Education".

Where do students pick up assistantship checks?
All paychecks are direct deposited to your bank. You should make arrangements for deposit at the payroll office in the Student Services Building or download the Payroll Direct Deposit form from the Bursar's website: All paychecks are directly deposited to your bank. You should make arrangements for direct deposit at the Payroll Office (201 Southgate Center) or download the Payroll Direct Deposit form from the Bursar's website: http://www.bursar.vt.edu/fs/forms.shtml.

How do I claim the Graduate Assistant health insurance benefit?
Graduate Students who hold a GRA, GTA, or GA and maintain at least a half-time assistantship (10 hours per week) may be eligible to claim a health insurance benefit if they purchase the university-sponsored health care plan. Visit the health insurance benefits page for more information.

How can I become a graduate co-op student?
Students are eligible to complete a co-op during their academic programs, but not at the very end of the programs. You may pick up the application and materials for approval in Room 112 Graduate Life Center. Visit the Graduate School's Cooperative Education page for more information or to download an application.