Facebook IconTwitter IconLinkedIn IconFlickr IconYouTube IconRSS Feed Icon
 |  
sysnet • webmail • admin

CSEM Student Resources

CSEM graduate program coordinators
CSEM graduate program coordinators:
Clint Dawson, Stephanie Rodriguez and Todd Arbogast

CSEM Program Contacts:

Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee
Todd Arbogast
arbogast@ices.utexas.edu

Graduate Adviser
Clint Dawson
clint@ices.utexas.edu

Graduate Program Coordinator
Stephanie Rodriguez
slr@ices.utexas.edu

Helpful Links

University Academic Calendar

UT Graduate School

Course Schedule - The course schedule is published before advising and registration begin for each semester. It lists each class being offered, its time, location, instructor and unique number. The online schedule also provides registration instructions and essential information.

Registration Information Sheet (RIS) - Your RIS lists your addresses, advising info, access times, and registration bars. Check your RIS about two weeks before registration.

My Tuition Bill - Your tuition bill shows tuition and fees due by semester.  Waivers and third-party payments are displayed on your bill.  Log in to your tuition bill before the payment due date to make sure you see the message, "Your registration is complete and your courses are secured."

CSEM Student Wiki Page - Information sharing for current students about classes, prelims, candidacy process, etc.  Sign in with your ICES user ID & password.

Graduate School Deadlines and Forms - Includes Master's Graduate Guidelines and Deadlines and Doctoral Graduation Deadlines and Submissions Instructions, as well as other Graduate School forms.

Advancing to PhD Candidacy - Graduate School Guidelines and application instructions.

Resident Tuition Entitlement - Information for non-residents of Texas on resident tuition entitlement eligibility.  Graduate students who seek a resident tuition entitlement by reason of employment in a qualifying job title or by reason of the employment of a spouse or parent who holds a specified teaching or professorial position must submit the request online at https://utdirect.utexas.edu/acct/fb/waivers/index.WBX

International Student and Scholar Services

International Student Health Insurance Waiver - International students may request an insurance waiver if they are covered by an alternative insurance policy that meets the basic requirements of the UT Health Insurance Plan.
Get Adobe Reader

Taxes & Tuition Remission for GRAs

The tuition coverage that graduate research assistants (GRAs) receive by virtue of their appointment is treated as taxable income, regardless of the funding source of the sponsored project.

The University collects this money for the IRS. At approximately the middle of each semester that the GRA appointment is held, the student will receive a tax bill that is due within 10 days in order to avoid a financial bar. Interest does not accrue if the bill is not paid, but a major consequence of the bar is that the student cannot register for classes the following semester. If it is the student's graduating semester, the student may not graduate until the bill is paid.

A majority of students are taxed at 15%-17%. Using this model in a 2010-2011 long semester, based on $4,438/semester of resident tuition in the College of Engineering (CSEM students pay the Engineering rate), you should expect a bill of approximately $700 in long semesters, or approximately $250 in summers.

For your reference please review the frequently asked questions from the Office of Accounting and the Pre-Award Handbook. You may also see the Graduate School’s Tax Considerations for Graduate Students for more information.

Taxes & Tuition Assistance for Teaching Assistants

Tuition Assistance is also considered taxable income since you are performing duties for the tuition coverage. It does NOT cover 100% of tuition (it covers approximately 85%.) In 2010-2011, for a 20 hr/wk TA, the total is $3,784/long semester ($1,415 in summers) and it is paid out in two installments.

When your TA appointment is created by the department - which is normally only right before the semester begins - 75% of this amount is applied to reduce your tuition bill. 25% is withheld for 2 - 4 weeks to calculate the taxes that you owe on the Tuition Assistance. The amount not withheld for taxes is electronically deposited into your bank account. You are responsible for any balance by the 4th class day.

For more information, see the Graduate School’s TA/AI Tuition Assistance page.

Education Credits

US Citizens & Permanent Residents

Students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents are refunded most of this money by taking advantage of education tax credits (namely the Hope tax credit and Lifetime Learning tax credit) when they file their federal tax returns. The Lifetime Learning credit is 20% of the tuition amount.

Taxes that are withheld from tuition payments appear on your federal form 1098-T. You can view it online once it's been calculated and prepared by January 31st. You report this information on IRS Form 8863. Your wages are reported on your W2.

To have an idea of your tax rate, see federal withholding tax rates on UT Payroll's website.

The purchase of textbooks is also a qualified education expense.

F-1 Visa Holders (most international students)

International students must create a record on GLACIER to calculate their taxes.

These students are not entitled to education credits. Please consult the International Office for details about what you may be eligible for, for example if you have a child. However, you might be eligible for an exemption if your country has a tax treaty with the United States.