FAQs for Newly Admitted and Current Students

Below are frequently asked questions of newly admitted and current students. Prospective students can find answers to admissions and application questions at our Graduate Student Support Center. Refer to our Graduate Student Services Quick Information for links to important pages.

  1. What do I do if I encounter a technical course registration error such as Prerequisite and Test Score error, Student Attribute error, Program, or Field of Study Restriction etc.?
    Please fill out an Override Request Form (follow all the instructions listed on page 2 of this form and obtain all required signatures prior to submitting to the Graduate School).  If the course is outside the approved curriculum for your degree program, your Faculty Advisor must also sign the form at the bottom to indicate if the course is approved to count toward your degree requirements.
    *If your program is part of the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, please fill of the form found under the MIE Course Registration Forms section on the above forms website.
  2. Can I take a course that is not on my approved curriculum?
    First, check the program requirements listed in your catalog year.
    If the course you are interested in is NOT on the list, then you need a Standard Petition form to count it towards your program.

    • Check “elective outside of approved curriculum”
    • Explain why you feel this course is relevant to your field of study.
    • Obtain the necessary signatures stated in the instructions on the form.

    *If your program is part of the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, please fill of the form found under the MIE Course Registration Forms section on the above forms website.

  3. I want to register for a course in the Khoury College of Computer Sciences or the D’Amore McKim School of Business. How can I do that?
    Please see instructions and read them carefully. Please note, if the course is NOT on your approved curriculum, you also need to file a Standard Petition form to count it towards your program by following the instructions in the above question.
  4. What do I do if I need to register for an individual instruction course (such as Independent Study, MS Project, Thesis, Thesis Continuation, Dissertation, Dissertation Continuation, Exam Preparation – Doctoral) that is not on the class schedule under the instructor I need?
    Please complete the Registrar’s Individual Instruction e-form, which can be found in your myNortheastern portal under “Registrar Forms”.
  5. How do I register for a course offered in videostreaming format (V35 section)?
    Videostreaming (V35) course sections are restricted to part-time students, full-time students on co-op, an on-ground section of the course is not offered, or a full-time students with an extenuating circumstance that would prevent graduation.  If you believe you fit this criteria, and you encounter a Student Attribute registration error while registering for a V35 section course, please use the Override Request Form (follow all the instructions listed on page 2 of this form).  Include an explanation of why you need to enroll in the V35 section.  Submit the form directly to the Graduate School of Engineering.  Your request will be reviewed by the Graduate School and you will be notified of the decision. Registration in a V35 section is not guaranteed.
  6. What does closed-waitlist mean?
    When you are trying to add yourself to a waitlist for a course and receive the error of “Closed-waitlist”, this means that the waitlist is at capacity and no additional names can be added to the list at that time.
  7. Does ENCP 6000/6100 count toward my program requirements for graduation?
    No, ENCP 6000/6100 is an optional course that can be taken but it does not count toward a student’s program requirement for graduation. Please always refer to your program’s requirements in the catalog year you were admitted.
  8. Do I need to be registered in the semester I am graduating? 
    Yes, if you are completing your program requirements and planning to graduate in any term, including the summer, you must be registered either for your last course(s) OR for Thesis Continuation/ Dissertation Continuation (if you are working on Thesis or Dissertation).
  1. I need proof that I am enrolled at Northeastern. What do I do? 
    Students needing verification of enrollment on Northeastern University letterhead may obtain this by submitting a request from the Registrar’s Office.
  2. I am a graduate of Northeastern and my employer needs verification of my degree. How can I get this?
    You or your employer can request a degree verification from the Registrar’s Office.
  1. What do I do if I receive an error message when I click on the Apply to Graduate link on myNortheastern? 
    This is most likely because your expected graduation date is not listed for the current year you are applying or you are applying after the deadline. Please contact your academic advisor in the Graduate School of Engineering to update your Expected Graduation Date or submit a late graduation application.
  2. What if I have other graduation questions?
    Any questions you may have regarding applying to graduate, your diploma, ceremony information, deadlines, parking, accessible seating, tickets, and regalia can be found on the official Northeastern Commencement website FAQ page.
  1. What are the on-campus job opportunities? 
    Once you are registered as a student at Northeastern, you can access hourly on-campus job postings through Northeastern’s Student Employment, Graduate Assistantships, and Fellowships (SEGAF) Office web service. The SEGAF Office manages all student employment on campus. Students interested in applying for an on-campus job must log into the SEGAF web service through the “Self-Service” tab in their myNortheastern portal.
  2. Are international students allowed to work off-campus while studying? 
    F-1 students can work off-campus in their area of study only as part of an approved graduate co-op. Review information on the legalities regarding Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for international students.
  3. What are the job prospects after graduation? 
    The Employer Engagement and Career Design Office at Northeastern holds career fairs in both Fall and Spring semesters. Many companies also carry out on-campus recruitment.
  1. I have been appointed as an SGA. How do I get paid?
    Step 1: If you are an international student and you do not have a Social Security Number, please complete the “SGA Social Security Number Letter Request” form found on the Office of Global Services (OGS) website under the “On-Campus Employment” section of “Forms and Guides”. Step 2: All students: Set up Direct Deposit to receive your stipend payments. To enroll in this service, you must login in to your myNortheastern portal and complete the Direct Deposit form, located under “Services & Links”. To be eligible to enroll, you must have a U.S. checking or savings account.   For more information on Direct Deposits, please visit the Student Financial Services website FAQs page. Visit the Student Employment, Graduate Assistantships, and Fellowships (SEGAF) Office at 271 Huntington Avenue, Suite 276 to submit your Form W-4 for tax purposes.Step 3: All students: Once you are enrolled in Direct Deposit, your stipend will be paid directly into your bank account on or about the 15th and the 30th of each month during which you hold your assistantship. If your Direct Deposit has not yet been set up, you will collect your paper paycheck at the Human Resources office at 716 Columbus Avenue.
  2. I have been appointed an SGA. When can I expect to see my tuition credited to my student account? 
    While your tuition waiver will usually be credited to your student account within the first 5 weeks of the semester, it can sometimes take up to 8 weeks. If you are concerned about your tuition waiver, please contact the Student Financial Services office in 354 Richards Hall, 617-373-2270, studentaccounts@neu.edu . If you register for a course late (after the course add deadline), you will need to notify Student Financial Services of the late registration so that your account can be reviewed for a tuition waiver.