Continuous Enrollment Policy

The Rackham Graduate School and the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) require all Ph.D. students to register for each fall and winter semester until they complete their degree, unless they are on an approved leave of absence.

Spring/Summer registration is only required for students who are taking/auditing courses or completing program requirements, such as preliminary examinations, defending and/or filing their dissertation.

LSA Tuition-Only Fellowship Program

The College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) provides a limited number of tuition-only fellowships (TOFs) during the Fall and Winter semesters.

Starting in Fall 2026, all LSA graduate programs must request TOFs from the college by following the application process described below.  LSA Graduate Education will review each request for alignment with LSA policies. If a TOF is used without prior approval, departments will be required to transfer the tuition charge to a different departmental account.

A TOF is intended for graduate students whose dissertation research requires them to work off campus for a full semester when they would usually be supported by a GSI or other type of position requiring them to work on campus. It should not be used when fellowship or GSI/GSRA (assuming the work off campus relates to the GSRA funding source) is available. 

TOFs cover only tuition and GradCare/Option 1 Dental insurance; they cannot be used to cover student fees. Living expenses must be covered by external funding sources; graduate programs may not combine a TOF with a stipend from any U-M funding source, including general, discretionary, or research funds.

TOFs cannot be used in the semester in which a student defends and/or files their dissertation.

Graduate programs and students are strongly encouraged to exhaust all employment and fellowship opportunities that provide tuition coverage, stipend, and benefits before requesting a TOF.

Please make sure to review the additional guidance below.

TOF Request Process

Fall Term Deadline: August 1

Winter Term Deadline: December 1

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and can be submitted before each deadline. 

Graduate programs can apply for a TOF using the Tuition-Only Fellowship - Request Form. 

If you will be submitting more than five (5) requests for your department, you can instead complete the LSA Tuition-Only Fellowship - Request Form Spreadsheet (you will be asked to make a copy) and send it to lsa-grad-ed@umich.edu.

As part of the request, you will be asked to provide information explaining why the student needs a Tuition-Only Fellowship. Questions that should be answered include:

(a) What work will the student be doing off campus during the term supported by a TOF? 

(b) Why can’t this work be completed on campus?

(c) How will the student support their living expenses while working off campus?

(d) Why can’t a fellowship (Department, Rackham, other) or GSI/GSRA position be used to support the student during this time?

(e) Is this student considered to be "in good standing"?

(f) Has this studnet previously received a TOF? If so, how many?

Additional information will be requested for students entering their 7th year or later.  

Unapproved TOF Usage

Each term, the LSA Business Office conducts an audit of departmental TOF usage. This audit ensures that not only are TOFs used properly (i.e. to only cover candidacy tuition) but also ensures all processed TOFs were pre-approved. If a TOF is processed or used incorrectly, departments will be required to make adjustments or transfer tuition to a different departmental account.

If you have any further questions please submit them to lsa-grad-ed@umich.edu.

Policy Updated: March 2026