Reduced Tuition Statuses: In Absentia, Part Time, LOA

To view a breakdown of graduate student fees, please visit https://registrar.ucsc.edu/fees/registration/graduate-student-fees.html 

Establishing California Residency 

Domestic students are strongly encouraged to establish California residency as soon as possible to avoid incurring higher fees from non-resident tuition. (California residents’ tuition is $7,223.70 for Fall quarter 2024, as opposed to $12,257.70 for non-residents.)  The Department cannot cover students' non-resident tuition after their first year. 

Please consult the Office of the Registrar for definitive and current requirements, processes, and deadlines related to residency for purposes of tuition.  

Students who do not qualify as California residents must pay a Nonresident Tuition Fee in addition to all other fees. 

Enrollment 

The Division of Graduate Studies bases block allocation funds on quarterly enrollments. 

Students who have not yet Advanced to Candidacy are required to be enrolled in at least 10 units per quarter. The Anthropology Department requires all students who have Advanced to Candidacy to register for at least 5 units per quarter to remain enrolled. Students who have Advanced to Candidacy are not required to be physically in residence.

Part-Time Enrollment 

A part-time graduate student is one who has approval to enroll in less than the typical load of 10 units, from 2 units to 8 units. 

Part-time students pay the full Registration Fee and one-half of the Education fee paid by full time students. 

To apply for part-time enrollment, a student must fill out a Request for Part-Time Status form. The student’s faculty advisor, the Department Program Coordinator, and the Dean of Graduate Studies must sign this form.

Students must submit the completed form by the following dates for academic year 2024-25:

Fall - October 10

Winter - January 16

Spring - April 10

In-Absentia Enrollment 

Students who have Advanced to Candidacy and whose research or study requires that they remain outside the State of California for an entire quarter may qualify for a reduction of the University Registration Fee and exemption from all local campus fees. 

In-absentia students pay 15% of the Registration Fee (Student Services fee) and the Education Fee (tuition) combined (unless approved for Part-Time Enrollment). Health insurance is not included in the fee reduction, but students in absentia are still eligible to enroll in student health insurance. 

To apply for In-Absentia status, students must complete the Application for In-Absentia Status form. 

Students must submit the completed form by the following dates for academic year 2024-25:

Fall - October 10

Winter - January 16

Spring - April 10

Completion of this form requires the student to outline their plan of study for the quarter(s) in which they will be out of the State of California. By signing the form the student certifies that they will engage in scholarly activities outside the State of California for the entire quarter and will not use campus facilities. The completed form is reviewed and signed by the student’s faculty advisor and the Graduate Program Coordinator, and is then forwarded to the Graduate Dean for approval.

International Student Tuition Reduction 

International students are eligible to receive a 100% reduction in non-resident tuition for up to 9 quarters (including quarters in which the student is not enrolled) starting the quarter in which they become Advanced to Candidacy. 

Students should contact the Division of Graduate Studies to receive the tuition reduction. 

If a student has a valid reason for not completing their Ph.D. within 9 quarters after advancing to candidacy (such as illness), the department may petition the Dean of Graduate Studies for an extension of reduced tuition on the student’s behalf.

Leave of Absence (LOA) 

A student wishing to apply for a LOA (to take effect at the beginning of the next academic quarter) must complete the Leave of Absence form.  The signatures of the student’s faculty advisor and the Department Chair are required. Students must submit the completed form by the following dates for academic year 2024-25:

Fall - August 8

Winter - November 6

Spring - February 11

Leaves of Absence are granted for sound educational purposes, health reasons, financial problems, and family responsibilities. Students who have not Advanced to Candidacy are not permitted Leaves of Absence except under exceptional circumstances, which must be explained in detail and receive the approval of the Graduate Director and Chair. 

There is no fee paid while on LOA; however, student loans may come due if not enrolled. Check with lender(s). All financial aid, including TAships, GSRs, and fellowships terminates when the student is on a Leave of Absence. 

The maximum term for an approved Leave of Absence is three academic quarters. Students on leave are required to report their plans to the Graduate Division at least once a year. 

Students who are on leave for more than one quarter must submit a Statement of Legal Residence at the time of re-enrollment. The Department strongly encourages students to maintain California residency while on a Leave of Absence. Failure to do so, and failure to reestablish California residency prior to re-enrollment, will result in non-resident tuition. Students are responsible for covering any non-resident tuition. 

A request to renew a Leave of Absence must be submitted in advance to the Graduate Dean; substantial justifications and Department approval will be required to obtain renewal. 

While on a Leave of Absence, a student is not permitted the use of University facilities. Students may opt into the university’s health insurance program for two quarters while on a Leave of Absence. Students are responsible for covering the cost of health insurance. Students are expected to promptly enroll at the end of the Leave of Absence. When the student does not return from approved Leave of Absence, they are automatically withdrawn from the university.

Administrative Withdrawal 

Students who wish to leave the university for an indefinite period of time may elect to withdraw from the university in consultation with their faculty advisor. 

To withdraw from the university, students should send an email to the Graduate Division (gssgroup@ucsc.edu) stating their desire to withdraw, copying in the Graduate Program Coordinator. 

Students withdrawing from the university will forfeit student privileges and resources.

Readmission 

Students who wish to return to the program after having withdrawn from the university must submit an Application for Readmission (upon approval of the anthropology faculty). A Statement of Legal Residence form must also be submitted to the Office of the Registrar; default residency status is out-of-state. 

Students seeking readmission who have exceeded one or more of the time-to-degree requirements must formulate a plan and detailed timetable for completion of the relevant degree requirements. 

Students who seek readmission after a break in attendance of more than two years (six regular quarters) must adhere to the graduation requirements in effect at the time of readmission or to those subsequently established for all portions of the degree requirements not already fulfilled.

Filing Fee Status 

A candidate in good standing need not be a registered student in the quarter in which they file the dissertation if they qualify for filing fee status. 

International students on J-1 status are eligible for filing fee status. International students on an F-1 visa are not, as they must maintain enrollment. 

Prior to the beginning of that quarter, the candidate must meet all of the other requirements for the degree and be in good standing. Instead of paying the University Registration Fee, the student may pay the Filing Fee, currently $188. 

A student using the Filing Fee should submit the application for Filing Fee, signed by all members of the Dissertation Reading Committee by the second week of the quarter. 

The filing fee deadlines are the same as those for applying for the PhD. For academic year 2024-25, they are:

Fall Quarter - October 3

Winter Quarter - January 16

Spring Quarter - April 10

Summer - July 7

The Application for Filing Fee Status is available at: https://graduate.ucsc.edu/files/2024/09/filestat.pdf. 

The Graduate Program Coordinator will submit the student’s Application for Degree and Application for Filing Fee by the end of the second week of the quarter. The filing fee of $188 will be billed to your student account. 

A student on Filing Fee Status is not considered a registered student, and will have limited access to campus resources. A candidate on Filing Fee is not eligible to use University facilities (library, laboratory facilities or faculty time except for reading of the dissertation), nor is the student eligible for financial support (GSR, TA, Fellowships, Block Allocation grants or need based financial aid). Any outstanding loans may become due while on filing fee.

Filing Fee status can be used only once. If a student fails to complete the requirements for the degree, the student must enroll for the quarter during which he or she is expected to finish their degree. If the student finishes the degree during the summer, enrollment is not required.