The Out-of-State Waiver (OOSW) has historically been referred to as a "Non-Resident Tuition Waiver" or an "NRTW" and are extended only under special circumstances. OOSWs are for graduate students on certain types of fellowships and for special cases such as recruitment purposes.
The OOSW brings the student’s tuition rate down to in-state levels. Therefore, if a student is already a resident of the state of Georgia, the student does not require an OOSW. Please note that the OOSW only waives the out-of-state portion of tuition at the standard graduate rate only. Students enrolled in programs that charge a differential tuition rate will still be responsible for this differential tuition rate. Please refer to the Office of the Bursar's Tuition Costs by Semester for specific tuition rates.
Further, the OOSW only applies to students who are enrolled on the Atlanta Campus and is not applicable to distance learning, online, or non-Atlanta campus students.
All discretion regarding the approval of OOSW requests rests with the vice provost for graduate and postdoctoral education. The graduate fellowships manager in the Office of Graduate Education will coordinate all approvals and will communicate with the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid to facilitate the administrative processes, including the requests, approval, entry, and documentation of approvals.
An OOSW Recipient Must:
- Be in good academic standing
- Be enrolled full-time in the term the waiver is given
- Full-time enrollment for graduate students is 12 hours, nine of which must be taken for letter grade or for pass/fail credit during fall and spring semesters, or six of which must be taken for letter grade or for pass/fail credit during summer semesters.
- If your student(s) are not required to be full-time, please identify the minimum number of pass/fail or class credit hours. You may be asked to provide written support or documentation in support of the request.
- The full-time enrollment requirement for OOSWs still applies to students who are in their graduating semester. An OOSW will not be granted to students who have received an enrollment waiver.
- Thesis students preparing for their graduating semester may be eligible for either reduced enrollment or for an enrollment waiver in their final term. Please see chapter two of the Thesis Manual (PDF).
In most cases, academic units requesting OOSWs should also submit a Fellowship Payment Request to the appropriate contacts in the Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid and the Office of the Bursar. More information can be found on the Fellowship Payment Requests page.
Do Not Request OOSWs for the Following Groups:
- NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP) fellows
- GRFP fellows automatically receive OOSWs for each semester in which they are funded on tenure.
- Students who will be awarded GRAs or GTAs
- These students will receive the GRA/GTA waiver. OOSWs are not to be requested in the same term a student receives a GRA/GTA waiver. If a change of waiver type is needed, the academic department must delete the GRA/GTA waiver so that the OOSW can take precedence. Conversely, an OOSW must be deleted to allow a GRA/GTA waiver to remain.
- Military personnel or students who are on a foreign exchange program
- For example, Fulbright or military students should be vetted through the Office of International Education (OIE) and the Registrar’s Office, respectively. Please do not enter any OOSW requests for students in either category.
- Students receiving fellowships for which the sponsoring agency/entity commits to and is invoiced by Georgia Tech for full tuition and fees
- For example, certain U.S. Department of Energy awards or fellowships awarded by major corporations fall into this category.
How to Submit an Out-of-State Waiver (OOSW) Request
All Out-of-State Waiver (OOSW) requests must be submitted in advance of the applicable academic term. The submission process varies based on the request type. Please follow the appropriate pathway below.
OOSW Request for an Approved Fellowship
Graduate Coordinators and Directors should use the OOSW Request Form to request Out-of-State Waivers (OOSWs) for eligible students on approved fellowships. Requests must be submitted prior to each academic term.
Eligibility and Restrictions
Do not submit an OOSW request if the student:
- Is already classified as an in-state student
- Holds a GRA/GTA appointment
- Is a Fulbright recipient
- Is a military-affiliated student
- Has full tuition and fee support from a sponsoring agency
Appropriate Use of This Application
Submit this form only if the student:
- Holds a pre-approved fellowship, or
- Has been pre-approved for recruitment purposes
New OOSW Consideration - Recruitment Purposes Only
Sometimes, OOSWs may be approved for recruitment. These are cases where the vice provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Education (VPGE) allocates OOSWs to the college or academic unit for recruitment purposes. Previous approval of an OOSW does not guarantee future offers. Whether or not the program is in an active growth mode, such as being new or aggressively recruiting to increase enrollments, is considered, and it is intended to assist with a short-term boost.
Step 1: Initial Request (Application Required)
Academic units must submit a New OOSW Consideration – Recruitment Purposes Only application online to initiate review. Include the following:
- For a cohort/group:
- Defined academic selection criteria (e.g., GPA thresholds, institutional background, competitiveness)
- Estimated number of students
- Recruitment strategy context
Step 2: VPGE Review
Requests will be coordinated for review and approval by the Vice Provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Education (VPGE).
Step 3: Form Submission (Post-Approval Only)
Once approved, units must submit the OOSW Request Form and select: “Previously Approved: Recruitment Purposes” (Question 4)
New Fellowship Consideration - Individual Student
Step 1: Initial Request (Application Required)
Academic units must submit a New Fellowship Consideration – Individual Student application online to initiate review. Include the following:
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Fellowship Overview |
|
| Prestige and Competitiveness |
|
| Eligibility Criteria |
|
| Requested OOSW Duration |
|
| Student Financial Support Package |
|
| Supporting Documentation |
|
Step 2: VPGE Review
Requests will be coordinated for review and approval by the Vice Provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Education (VPGE).
Step 3: Form Submission (Post-Approval Only)
Once approved, units must submit the OOSW Request Form and select the fellowship name from the list provided. (Question 4)
Important Notes
This process is for individual student cases only
- Do not submit requests for:
- Pre-approved fellowships
- Recruitment-based OOSW requests
- Group or cohort submissions
- Approval is not guaranteed and is based on:
- Fellowship merit and competitiveness
- Strength of the funding package
- Alignment with institutional priorities
OOSW Deadlines
The OOSW must be requested prior to the applicable term. If you have questions, you may email the graduate fellowships manager at fellowships@grad.gatech.edu.
| Semester | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall Semester | August 1 |
| Spring Semester | December 1 |
| Summer Semester | April 1 |