Tuition Charges & Registration

A Thayer student enrolled in two or more courses, or in the graduate research course ENGG 298 (Graduate Research), is considered a full-time student. A full-time student who is in good academic standing is considered to be making satisfactory progress unless the Undergraduate Program Committee (for BE students) or Graduate Program Committee (for graduate students) has placed the student in unsatisfactory academic standing or taken action to separate the student.

Most Thayer degree candidates are full-time students, however the MEng, MS, or PhD can be completed on a part-time basis.

• Part-time MS or PhD degree candidacy requires approval from the MS and PhD Director.
• Tuition will be based on the number of courses for which the candidate is enrolled. Part-time students are not eligible for financial aid.
• Residency requirements are satisfied at the rate of one-third term per enrolled course.
• For part-time MS or PhD candidates, when all degree requirements, other than the thesis, are completed, part-time candidates are required to be registered for thesis research in each subsequent term until the residency requirement has been fulfilled. Part-time candidates may elect to complete their thesis in absentia with approval of their thesis committee and the Dean or Director.

With approval of the Program Director, the Master's thesis, and the Doctoral dissertation may be completed in absentia (ie. no use of Thayer facilities). Residency, course work, and all other non-project/ thesis/ dissertation degree requirements must be completed in order to request in absentia candidacy. Before going in absentia, it is important for you and your advisor to work out who will be paying the tuition fee. In all cases, the student is responsible to pay this fee in order to graduate with their degree. Students who have not completed their thesis and do not maintain in absentia status will be assumed to have withdrawn.

Candidates approved for completion of their degree requirements in absentia will be charged a fee of $500 for each term of in absentia candidacy. The in absentia status requires payment of this tuition in order for you to stay registered with Thayer. This status does not allow you to work at Dartmouth, remain on campus or use the facilities. If you do not communicate your intention to Thayer, and if your account is not kept current, we will assume that you intend to not finish your degree program.

Degree requirements must be satisfied no later than the end of the Spring Term of the third academic year following the last term of residency.

In absentia degree candidates will be responsible for payment of their health insurance. If it is no longer needed, you will need to complete a waiver form through Health Services where you will need to show proof of insurance as well as completing an Insurance Exit Form (available from the Thayer Registrar).

Special Students are individuals enrolled in one or more Thayer courses who are not enrolled in a Dartmouth degree program.

Students are admitted to Thayer as Special students under one of four categories:

1. Students whose prior preparation does not fully satisfy prerequisites for a Thayer post-AB/ BA/ BS degree program to which they have applied. Special student status is normally reflective of a deficiency of more than three courses in meeting entrance requirements to Thayer. Students may also be admitted as Special students on a trial basis, if their ability to succeed in a graduate program is questioned.
2. Members of the Dartmouth community interested in enrolling in one or more Thayer courses without pursuing a degree. Appropriate examples might include residents of the Upper Valley interested in engineering or Thayer alumni interested in additional coursework after completing their degree requirements. Individuals in this category would need a Thayer faculty member willing to recommend them for admission as a special student.
3. Dartmouth employees utilizing Dartmouth's Educational Assistance Benefits.
4. Students enrolled in an advanced degree program at another institution who are visiting Thayer for a limited amount of time and will receive academic credit from Thayer, such as a PhD student on exchange conducting research with Thayer faculty.  Students in this category must have a Thayer faculty member willing to host them, which involves supervising the student’s research and could include providing funding and/ or research space, depending on the specific situation.

Students admitted as Special students in lieu of admission as a degree-seeking student must apply for admission as formal degree candidates in the term during which they will have satisfied all course requirements prerequisite to admission to that degree program, or in their third term, whichever comes first. Extension of the Special student status beyond three terms can only be granted under exceptional circumstances and may only be granted by the Dean of the Thayer School of Engineering.

No more than three courses taken as a Special student can count toward a Thayer degree requirement. In extenuating circumstances, students may petition the relevant program director to allow them to count more than three courses taken as a special student toward a Thayer degree.  If the relevant program director supports the petition, it will be forwarded to the Dean of the Thayer School of Engineering for final review and approval.

Special students must be at least 18 years of age.

Course Enrollment

Special students must be enrolled in one or more academic credits in order to maintain active student status.

Special students may not enroll in Thayer courses numbered 400 and above.

Special students will not receive priority enrollment over degree-seeking students from Thayer or other Dartmouth programs, and are only able to enroll on a space available basis.

Special students must seek permission from the instructor prior to course enrollment, to ensure they meet the necessary preparation for the course.

Special students are subject to the same course enrollment policies and timelines as all other Thayer students.

Special students will receive final grades on the A, B, C, etc. scale.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition charges for Special students are based upon the number of courses for which they enroll. Students enrolled in two or more courses are charged full tuition for the term. Students enrolled in one course are charged 40% tuition for the term.  

Students enrolled as Special students are ineligible for financial aid. They may be considered for hourly employment as their background permits.

Special students will be charged for health insurance and fees. If they have other insurance, they will need to submit a waiver request to Dartmouth College Health Services. All J-1 Exchange Visitor students are required by Dartmouth College to purchase the Dartmouth Student Group Health insurance plan. For questions about the cost of that plan, email Dartmouth.Student.Health.Plan@dartmouth.edu.

For information on tuition billing deadlines, refund schedules, and other key dates, please refer to the Thayer School of Engineering's Billing Schedule.

How to Apply

The application process begins slightly differently for each category of special student defined above:

• Individuals in category 1 would be recommended for special student status after a review of their application to a regular Thayer degree program.
• For individuals in category 2, the faculty member recommending them for special student status should contact the Thayer Registrar's Office to request this enrollment. The Registrar’s Office will provide the individual with an enrollment form.
• For individuals in category 3, Dartmouth employees requesting enrollment in Thayer courses should follow the procedure outlined for utilizing Dartmouth's Educational Assistance Benefits.
• For individuals in category 4, students enrolled in a degree program at another institution and visiting Dartmouth, the sponsoring faculty member contacts the Thayer Registrar's Office to complete the necessary steps.
   

In all cases, once approved for special student status, the student completes the Special Student Information Form and submits it via email to engineering.admissions@dartmouth.edu.

Other affiliated statuses

The Special Student status is only appropriate for individuals who will be enrolled in Thayer courses and receive academic credit from Dartmouth.  For affiliates who do not intend to enroll in courses for academic credit but need Dartmouth credentials, other statuses such as a sponsored account or an appointment via Thayer HR may be more appropriate, depending on the needs of the situation.

Degree candidates enrolled in two or more courses will be charged full tuition.

Degree candidates enrolled in one course will be charged the one course fee (40% of full tuition).

For MEM degree candidates who also pursued, or are pursuing, the Dartmouth BE, after six terms in residence:

• students enrolled in two or more courses will be charged full tuition
• students enrolled in one course will be charged the one course fee (40% of full tuition)

For all other MEM degree candidates, after four terms in residence:

• students enrolled in two or more courses will be charged full tuition
• students enrolled in one course will be charged the one course fee (40% of full tuition)

Degree candidates enrolled in two or more courses will be charged full tuition for each term of residency.

Degree candidates taking one course per term toward degree requirements will be charged a one course fee, 40% of the tuition.

Tuition is based on the number of courses for which Online MEng candidates register.

Degree candidates enrolled in two or more courses (or ENGG 298, Graduate Research) will be charged full tuition for each of their first five terms of residency.

Except for candidates registered in absentia, all MS candidates are regarded as "full-time students paying full tuition" and thus entitled to Dick’s House Health Care Service. MS degree candidates receiving a graduate research assistantship, funded by your faculty advisor, will receive a credit toward medical insurance if purchased through the College.

Degree candidates enrolled in two or more courses (or ENGG 298 Graduate Research) will be charged full tuition for each term of residency.

Except for candidates registered in absentia, all Doctoral candidates are regarded as "full-time students paying full tuition" and thus entitled to Dick’s House Health Care Service. PhD degree candidates receiving a graduate research assistantship, funded by your faculty advisor, will receive a credit toward medical insurance if purchased through the College.