This Page Provides Important Next Steps - Please Read the Entire Page!

If you have not accepted your offer to MSU, please do this now through the admissions portal. 

NOTE: The NetID is DIFFERENT than your MSU Student ID.
The NetID allows you to log into many areas on campus services, including student email, Microsoft Office, the Library(Example: p12x345) Your MSU Student ID is found on the bottom of your acceptance letter and begins with a dash (Example: -01234567). Be sure to include the dash when you use it. 

1. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REGISTER for classes UNTIL you clear all holds:

  • ALL STUDENTS will have an Immunization & Tuberculosis Hold  which will prevent registration. If you are in a 100% online program or taking only online courses and not physically coming to campus, this hold can be moved by contacting Student Health Services at (406) 994-2311 or email at: immune@montana.edu.

  • Review your offer letter to see if you were offered admission with a condition; it should indicate if you are missing documents and where you should have them sent.

2. Before you get started on Registering, take a look at the following links:

  • Please check with your department to verify if they would like you to register yourself, as some will work with you in selecting your courses and may even register you for your first term (or more).
  • If you know you can register for courses yourself, check the Registration Timetable link for dates towhen graduate students can register (Typically, late October for Spring registration and late March for Summer and Fall).

NOTE: If you experience a permission or prerequisite request, please contact the department offering the course; they can assist with your registration. 

3. Steps to Registering as a Graduate Student:

We want to make MSU registration a simple process. Step-by-step instructions for our online registration system are available on the Office of the Registrar's Registration Instructions page. You should work through the step-by-step instructions and not skip any steps.  Please know that you CANNOT obtain your student email OR access Canvas until you have registered. 

As a New Graduate Student, your first-term Advisor Pin/Alternate Pin will be 423185 (This should not be confused with the number you used when you logged into MyMSU). This Advisor Pin is used when you register for the first time; after the first term, you will meet with your program advisor for future advising/registration pins.

After registering for courses, please REMEMBER to sign up for Orientation!

 

4. Need assistance with your online registration, bill, and more?  Please go to: Montana State University- Online.

Below are some direct links to the top asked online questions:

5. Training & Orientation: 

As a new graduate student at MSU, you will need to register for the new graduate student training and orientation. Once you register, you will have access to the training and orientation in Canvas (previously D2L/Brightspace) about 2 weeks before the start of the term. This training covers topics such as FERPA, Residency, Title IX, Office of Research Compliance & Ethical Conduct, Disability Services, Veteran Services, and other important information necessary for all new graduate students. There are two parts to the training: a general section and a section geared towards new Graduate Assistants.

6. Required Prevention Education Courses

Online Education- Thriving Together 

As part of our comprehensive prevention program for new students, Montana State University requires all incoming students to complete Thriving Together. This online training is designed to help build a campus culture of safety and well-being and to help you and your peers thrive in your new campus community. This training addresses campus safety topics such as sexual assault prevention, substance use prevention, hazing, and mental health issues, including strategies to address these issues in healthy ways. This training does not include explicit descriptions and has been designed with an intentionally trauma-informed approach. You can access the training through our new learning platform, Canvas. You will also receive an email with instructions. Please ensure your preferred email address is listed in MyMSU. If you have any questions, please contact the Thriving Together Team, at thrivingtogether@montana.edu.

7. NetID & Email Address:

Please follow the link where you can acquire your MSU Net ID (if you haven't already). Your MSU email address will be generated AFTER you register for courses. If you were faculty/staff before applying to Montana State, you may want to update your personal/preferred email address.  You can review your emails in MyMSU under the Personal Information tab.

8. Do you want to defer your start term?

This request must be made in writing to gradschool@montana.edu. If approved, a deferral can be for up to one (1) year or two (2) terms, not including the summer term.

Note: Some departments will not allow a newly admitted student to defer their starting term.

 INFORMATION YOU SHOULD KNOW:

If you are in a certificate, master's, or doctoral online program, please look at this link to learn more about the steps to completing a degree.

Link to MSU's Graduate School Policy and Procedures