Explanation of Graduate Credit Fee Calculation
🎬 Course Credit Fees Explained (Video Guide)
Credit Fee Calculation Timing
Before the semester begins, graduate students are required to pay the basic tuition and fees (tuition base). Course credit fees are calculated based on the actual number of credits enrolled at the close of the official add/drop period, regardless of when the fees are assessed or when payment is due. Students should finalize their course selections by the add/drop deadline, taking into account the applicable credit fees.
Credit Fee Standards for Master's & Ph.D. Students (Excluding In-Service Programs)
To encourage graduate students to explore diverse, cross-disciplinary courses during their studies without being deterred by credit fees, the University adopts the following credit fee policies:
🌟 【Fee Exemption Condition】
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Once your accumulated credits reach the minimum graduation credit requirement set by your department/institute, all credits earned beyond this threshold are exempt from credit fees.
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Accumulated credits include transferred credits, credits earned by passing courses at NTHU (including undergraduate courses such as physical education, general education, and language courses), and credits earned through inter-university course enrollment within the University System of Taiwan (UST). Physical education courses count as 2 credits each, except for varsity team courses.
- 💡 【Billing Rule】
Before reaching the above threshold, you must pay credit fees for all enrolled courses, regardless of course type. These include departmental courses, courses offered by other departments, undergraduate courses, physical education courses (counted as 2 credits each), Mandarin courses, general education courses, and other language courses.⚠️ 【Important Notice: AIS Credit Display】
In the Academic Information System (AIS), under "Personal Grade Inquiry," the figure displayed as "Current Earned Total Credits (excluding thesis): XX credits" may include or exclude certain special courses and therefore may differ from the actual credit count used for credit fee calculations. Do not use this figure to determine your credit fee obligations. - 📌 【Note】 Credit fee exemptions are determined solely by whether your accumulated transferred and passed credits have reached the required threshold, regardless of whether the courses count toward your graduation requirements. Graduation eligibility is reviewed separately by your department/institute and the Registrar's Division. For the minimum graduation credit requirements of individual departments/institutes, please consult the Registrar's Division website.
Differences Between Mid-term Course Withdrawal and Dropping During Add/Drop
- Dropping during the Add/Drop Period: Courses dropped on the system before the add/drop deadline will not appear on your official transcript, and no credit fees will be charged for them.
- Mid-term Course Withdrawal (After Add/Drop): If you decide not to continue a course after the official add/drop deadline, you must apply for an official Course Withdrawal during the designated withdrawal period. A decision to discontinue a course does not constitute an official withdrawal, and courses cannot be dropped after the add/drop deadline simply to avoid credit fees. Withdrawn courses will be recorded on your transcript as a "W" (Withdrawal), and the credit fees for withdrawn courses are non-refundable under university regulations.
- 🔗 For detailed regulations on withdrawal, please visit: Division of Curriculum Course Withdrawal Page
Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)
As stated above, if your previously accumulated "transferred + passed" credits have already reached your department's minimum graduation threshold, any courses taken this semester that exceed that number are automatically exempt from credit fees. Therefore, your bill may show a minimal amount or zero. This is not a system error.
If you would like to double-check, please follow these steps:
- Review the "Minimum Graduation Credit List by Department" published on the Registrar's Division website.
- Calculate your actual accumulated credits (transferred credits + passed credits).
- Log in to the Academic Information System (AIS) → Course Selection → Course Selection Status, switch the stage to "After Add/Drop (Processed)," and verify your final course list.
Credit fee exemptions are calculated strictly based on credits successfully obtained (transferred + earned and passed). If you paid for courses in previous semesters but later withdrew (dropped with a 'W'), failed, or did not receive a passing grade, those credits will not count toward your accumulated total. You must continue to pay credit fees for new courses until the minimum graduation threshold is genuinely reached.
Minimum Graduation Credits Inquiry by Department
If you are unsure of your department's exact graduation credit threshold, you can download and check the reference table directly via the Registrar's Division [Minimum Graduation Credit List].
Tuition Fees for In-Service Master's Programs
Tuition and credit fee standards for In-Service Master's Programs operate under an independent mechanism set by each respective program office, and fees vary significantly between programs. If you have any questions regarding cross-program enrollment or specific fee rates, please contact your respective program office directly or refer to the official announcements from the Division of General Academic Affairs.
Division of General Academic Affairs (Tuition & Fees Main Unit) Links
For the latest overall tuition fee standards and official FAQs, please utilize the following links:
- 🌐 Visit the Division of General Academic Affairs: Tuition & Fees Section
- 📋 Official FAQ: Tuition and Fees FAQ (Master’s and PhD Program) [PDF]
- 💼 For In-Service Programs: Tuition and Fees FAQ (In-Service Master’s Program) [PDF]