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PROV-012: Financial Aid to Non-Degree-Seeking Students

Date: 05/12/2010 Status: Final
Last Revised:
Policy Type: Executive Vice President & Provost
Oversight Executive: Executive Vice President and Provost
Applies To:

Academic Division.

Table of Contents:
Reason for Policy:

Defines criteria under which non-degree-seeking students may qualify to receive financial aid (including fellowships, scholarships, assistantships, or loans) through the University.

Definition of Terms in Statement:
  • Certificate–Seeking Student:A student who is enrolled in a credit or non-credit certificate program at the University.
  • Degree–Seeking Student:A student enrolled in any undergraduate or graduate degree-granting program at the University. Graduate degree-seeking students include those students enrolled in one of the University’s two professional schools (Law, Medicine).
  • Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs):Graduate students who have instructional assignments in classrooms or laboratories.
  • Non–Degree–Seeking Student:A student who has received permission to enroll and is registered for coursework at the University but is not enrolled in one of the University’s degree-granting programs.
  • Student(s):An individual who either has been admitted to a degree or certificate program at the University or has received permission to enroll and is registered for coursework (including credit or non-credit) at the University during any given academic session (including fall or spring semesters, Summer Session, or January Term).
  • Visiting Student:A non-degree-seeking student who is enrolled in a degree-granting program at another institution.
Policy Statement:

Non-degree-seeking students at the University of Virginia may qualify for financial aid (including fellowships, scholarships, assistantships, or loans) if they have been accepted into a University program that seeks to advance the University’s mission (see the University’s Statement of Purpose and Goals). Such programs may include recruiting programs or programs designed to strengthen the University’s research and educational activities, including programs designed to increase the diversity of students pursuing graduate and undergraduate education. Program participants must receive permission to enroll from the respective school, register for courses (including either research-only courses or non-credit courses) and pay the required applicable fees to be recognized as students.

Students enrolled in non-credit certificate programs are not eligible for financial aid.

The type of aid available to non-degree-seeking students will vary by program and school. Non-degree-seeking students are not eligible for Commonwealth Awards or other financial aid appropriated from state general funds.

Non-degree-seeking students (including visiting undergraduate students) are not eligible for aid through the University’s Access UVA program.

In certain restricted circumstances, visiting graduate students who are enrolled in a degree-granting program at another university may be allowed to serve as Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) at the University of Virginia. Such exceptions, whether on an ongoing or one-time basis, require the approval of the dean or his/her designee.

Major Category:
Executive Vice President & Provost Policies
Next Scheduled Review:
05/12/2013
Approved By, Date:
Executive Vice President and Provost, 05/12/2010
Revision History:
This is the first version of this policy.