Summer Tuition Assistance Program
The Fox Graduate School provides tuition support through the Summer Tuition Assistance Program (STAP) for a maximum of 9 credits during the summer sessions for students who meet the eligibility and registration requirements listed below.
Eligibility
Graduate students must meet at least one of the following:
- Appointed through the University on a graduate teaching, research, or administrative assistantship during both the previous fall and spring semesters
- Appointed through the University by their program on a graduate fellowship or traineeship during both the previous fall and spring semesters
Credit Limit
Students on full-time assistantships can apply for a maximum tuition award of 9 credits during the summer semester. Students on three-quarters summer graduate assistantship appointments can apply for up to 8 credits of STAP.
Deadlines
All summer STAP applications must be approved by your college or campus by 11:59 p.m. on June 1. We recommend that you submit your application prior to summer billing in May, if possible, to avoid any late fees on your account. Please check with your program for any college-specific deadlines.
Students who submit or have their STAP application approved after Penn State's summer billing date (May) may be assessed a late fee. It is the student's responsibility to pay late fees, as these are not covered by STAP. We recommend that students apply and have their applications approved prior to summer billing.
Course Requirements
Students must register for appropriate degree-related course work or research credits. In all cases, courses must be required and approved by the student's graduate program; this includes additional coursework required by a student’s dissertation committee.
Consult with your adviser to determine the appropriate course work for the summer.
STAP is intended to cover resident and World Campus course work.
Courses eligible for STAP include:
-
Courses that apply toward toward a graduate degree (400-level or above)
-
English as a Second Language (ESL) skills courses required for international graduate students
-
Foreign language skills courses required by the student's program (resident instruction only)
Courses not eligible for STAP include:
-
Courses or course audits that do not satisfy degree requirements
-
Continuing education courses
Application Process
Schedule your courses in LionPATH.
Wait at least one business day after enrolling, then complete and submit the online STAP application.
Wait to receive a confirmation email from your program or college after they review your application. Please reach out to them if you do not hear back.
Applications Reviewed on Rolling Basis
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis as funds remain available and will be considered in the order in which they are received. Errors on your application can delay the processing of your application and may result in your STAP request not being approved, so please double check to ensure the accuracy of information you submit.
International Student Guidelines
International students enrolled in more than 3 credits of hybrid-remove/online courses will have a hold placed on their STAP application until getting approval for an exception from the International Student and Scholar Advising (ISSA).
- Students whose last semester is summer, or students returning in the fall semester who believe more than three credits need to be online, should submit a question through iStart to request approval from ISSA. When submitting your question through iStart, state “I am requesting approval to take more than 3 online credits for the summer."
- Forward ISSA’s approval to the Fox Graduate School's Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards Administration at gsfellowships@psu.edu, copy your program contact, to request that the STAP hold be lifted. You will receive a confirmation email from OGFAA that the hold has been lifted and you may proceed with your STAP application.
Summer is normally a vacation period for an international student, so enrollment is not required nor limited. However, summer is not a vacation period if the international student does not plan to enroll in fall. Violations may affect legal status and employment such as OPT, so please check with ISSA if you have questions.
Partial Tuition Waivers
Students receiving STAP need to have STAP cover 100 percent of the summer tuition as approved by their college (up to the appropriate number of credits). If you receive a tuition waiver (e.g., for study abroad) and your program/college has approved your STAP application, email gsfellowships@psu.edu and feeassessor@psu.edu and the waiver will be removed. The partial tuition waiver will not cover any additional credits that the student takes above the credits covered by STAP. If this should change, a notification will be sent.
Spousal tuition discount
If a student is on their spouse's benefits, the tuition discount will be automatically applied in LionPATH and is a taxable benefit to the spouse. Please note that students receiving STAP need to have STAP cover 100 percent of the summer tuition (up to the appropriate number of credits). If you receive this benefit, and your program/college has approved your STAP application, please email gsfellowships@psu.edu and feeassessor@psu.edu so that the discount may be removed and STAP aid will cover the summer tuition as approved by your college.
The Bursar's Office will notify payroll that the tuition discount has been removed. At this point-in-time, the spousal discount will not cover any additional credits that the student takes above the credits covered by STAP. If this should change, a notification will be sent.
Students active in two graduate degree programs
If a student is active in two separate graduate degree programs and their approved STAP does not match the tuition in LionPATH, please email gsfellowships@psu.edu so that a correction may be made.