Returning Graduate Student Admission

Best for:

• Degree- and certificate-seeking graduate students who have been away less than one academic year (three semesters, including summer) and have maintained good standing
• Not available to non-degree-seeking graduate students. New application for non-degree-seeking admission is required each term.

Important details:

• $0 cost
• No advisor or Graduate School review/approval needed
• Please consult with your advisor to remove any enrollment holds in place.

Get started: register for coursework via MyNIU

Best for: students who have been away more than one academic year (three semesters, including summer), but less than three years (nine semesters, including summer)

Important details:

• $0 cost
• Students who have been involuntarily discontinued (ex: failed comprehensive exam) are not eligible for reentry
• Advisor approval required during review of application for reentry

Get started: complete the Application for Reentry

Best for: students who submitted an approved Leave of Absence Request Form prior to stepping away from NIU.

Important details:

• $0 cost
• Students must return to both the approved term and original program.
• If returning to a different term or program, students must apply for reentry or new admission, depending on the term of last enrollment.

Get started: submit the Return from Leave of Absence form

Best for:

• Graduate students who have been academically dismissed from NIU and want to return to NIU in either the same graduate program or a new graduate program.
• Graduate students who have been involuntarily discontinued from their academic program and want to return to NIU in the same graduate program.

Important details:

• $0 cost
• Appeals for reinstatement are reviewed and approved by the Graduate Council Appeals Committee. Approvals are not guaranteed.
• Following reinstatement, returning graduate students are required to apply for reentry or new admission (see below), depending on term of last enrollment.
• Graduate students on academic probation are not required to appeal for reinstatement.

Get started: begin the process to appeal for reinstatement by emailing gradrecords@niu.edu.