Important Next Steps - Please Read the Entire Page!

If you have not accepted your offer to MSU, please do this now through the admissions portal. 

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 Priority Mail. It includes the I-20 and information about International Student Orientation, health insurance, and more.

HOUSING
You should apply for housing at the same time you are applying to MSU, or as soon as you receive your offer. University campus housing cannot guarantee placement; however, it is the most affordable in the area. 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 an 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 your questions to the Student Health Service. The Graduate School cannot assist with any Student Health Services holds. 
  • Review your offer letter to see if you were offered admission with a condition; it should indicate if you are missing documents and where you should have them sent.

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 MSU registration a simple process. Step-by-step instructions for our online registration system are available on the Office of the Registrar's Registration Instructions page. You should work through the step-by-step instructions, not skipping any steps.  Please know that you CANNOT obtain your student email OR access Canvas until you have registered. 

As a New Graduate Student, your first-term Advisor Pin/Alternate Pin will be 423185 (This should not be confused with the number you used when you logged into MyMSU). This Advisor Pin is used when you register for the first time; after the first term, you will meet with your program advisor for future advising/registration pins.

After registering for courses, please REMEMBER to sign up for Orientation!

 

4. NetID & Email Address:

Please follow the 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 with 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 log in to 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 the 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 Canvas (previously D2L/Brightspace) about 2 weeks before the start of term. This training covers topics such as: FERPA, Residency, Title IX, Office of Research Compliance & Ethical Conduct, Disability Services, Veteran Services, and other important information necessary for all new graduate students. There are two parts to the training: a general section and a section geared towards new Graduate Assistants.

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: Thriving Together 

As part of our comprehensive prevention program for new students, Montana State University requires all incoming students to complete the Thriving Together program. This online training, available in CANVAS, is designed to foster a campus culture of safety and well-being, enabling you and your peers to thrive in your new campus community. You will also receive an email with instructions. Please ensure your preferred email address is listed in MyMSU. If you have any questions, please get in touch with the Thriving Together Team at thrivingtogether@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, and access the Fitness Center (when applicable), and other areas on campus.  As a new graduate student, you were automatically charged a $20.00 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 may not allow newly admitted students to defer their starting term.

 INFORMATION YOU SHOULD KNOW:

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

Link to MSU's Graduate School Policy and Procedures.