GSSP Eligibility
Graduate Students must meet the following three eligibility requirements to receive GSSP Benefits - health insurance and standard tuition support (for a limited number of semesters).
Supported on Qualifying Graduate Assistantship or Primary Fellowship:
| Assistantship/ Fellowship Type | Degree | Minimum Stipend | Appt. Duration (To Receive Benefits) | Appt. Duration (To Receive Full Benefits) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teaching Assistantship Research Assistantship Teaching/Research Assistantship | Master’s Doctoral | Annual – $15,000 Annual – $20,000 | – Appt. must begin on or before the Census Date* – Appt. must extend beyond 30 days from the first day of Classes | – Appt. must last till November 30 (for Fall) and April 30 (for Spring) in order to receive full tuition benefit. – If appt. is terminated prior to those dates, the tuition support will be prorated according to that early GA appt. end date |
| Primary Fellowship | Master’s Doctoral | Annual – $15,000 Semester – $5,525 Annual – $20,000 Semester – $7,500 | – Fellowship begins on or before the Census date* – Expected to last the duration of the semester. – Not applicable to fellowships external to the university | |
Enrolled Full Time:
Typically Graduate Students must be enrolled for a minimum of 9 credit hours during a semester to be considered a full-time student. However, once the student has completed the required minimum credits for the degree program, students can register for fewer hours to be considered full-time. Refer to Graduate Student Handbook Section 3.14 B for requirements for Full Time Registration. The following table provides additional details regarding minimum credit hours for full-time status:
| Degree | Minimum Required Credits for Degree | Minimum Hours Completed | Required Hours per semester for Full-Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thesis Master’s | 30 hours | No | 9 hours |
| Thesis Master’s | 30 hours | Yes | 3 – 8 hours |
| Non- Thesis Master’s | 30 hours | 9 hours | |
| Thesis Doctoral | 72 hours | No | 9 hours |
| Thesis Doctoral | 72 hours | Yes | 3 – 8 hours |
Enrolled in On-Campus Master’s or Doctoral Program:
Graduate Students must be enrolled in an on-campus Master’s or Doctoral program only. Distance Education and Graduate Certificate Programs do not qualify for the GSSP Benefits. Students should refer to their Admissions letter or the MyPack Portal to confirm if their degree program is designated as “Distance Education”.
For general questions related to the Graduate Student Support Plan, please contact the NC State Graduate School at gradschool-gssp@ncsu.edu.
Checking your GSSP eligibility and utilization
Students can check their GSSP status and if GSSP benefits are applied to their account in MyPack portal after initial billing for the semester. Check your GSSP status.