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New Graduate Students

Welcome to Oakland University! We’re so pleased you decided to pursue your graduate education at OU. You will find the graduate community rich with opportunities for advanced research, academic collaboration and other scholarly pursuits. You’ll also find OU brimming with student resources and services to make sure you achieve all your professional and personal goals.

Getting started

Step 1: Determine your admission

After submitting all your application materials, and upon university review, you will receive and download your letter admitting you to a graduate program at OU. You will then:

  • Accept, Decline or Defer your admission offer. The form will be available in your application status page as soon as a decision is posted. 

Please note: students who applied through NursingCas or PTCas do not have to fill out our form and should move on to Step 2 below.  


Step 2: Activate your OU accounts

Prior to registering for classes, you must activate and verify login for your Grizzly ID and PIN and NET ID accounts. Learn how to activate your accounts, and watch tutorials on how to activate your NetID.


Step 3: Register for classes

Web registration is staggered by class standing and earned credit hours. Register for your classes today. Specific registration dates are posted on OU’s web registration page.


Step 4: Pay your bill

Oakland University offers four ways for you to pay your tuition:

  • Online
  • By mail
  • In person
  • Via Flywire (for international payments)

Please view OU’s how to pay page for complete details. Contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships if you need help financing your education.


Step 5: Get your GrizzCard

A GrizzCard, the official picture identification card of Oakland University, is required to

  • Access residence hall meal plans
  • Check out library materials
  • Access the Recreation Center
  • Enter Vandenberg and Hamlin halls from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
  • Print at any open lab on campus
  • Make copies in the Oakland Center or Kresge Library
  • Receive discounts to select campus activities and services

Get your GrizzCard before the start of your first semester to take advantage of all these resources.


Step 6: Find scholarships and assistantships

Support your best investment with financial assistance from Oakland University. More than half of all OU students receive financial assistance totaling more than $175 million annually. You can benefit from those funds, too — you just have to apply.


Step 7: Confirm your enrollment

When you confirm your enrollment, OU is able to accurately schedule and offer classes for all students.

Step 8: Review the Graduate School welcome guide

The Graduate School is happy to provide and present a welcome guide to help all new graduate students get started on their OU journey.

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