Meet virtually with Graduate School and other UA representatives to answer any questions you may have about your next steps. Register at this link and submit your questions ahead of time.
If you did not submit official transcripts (transcripts directly from your other institutions) during the application process, please ensure that these have been submitted.
Electronic transcripts from each higher education institution you attended for 15 or more hours should be sent to grad.transcripts@ua.edu. If your institutions cannot send electronics transcripts, please request that they send paper transcripts to one of the following addresses:
Regular mail:
Graduate School, The University of Alabama
Box 870118
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0118
Express Mail or Courier:
Graduate School, The University of Alabama
Suite 100 Rose Administration Building, 801 University Boulevard
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
If you are an international student, review our Pre-arrival and Arrival Checklist for immunization and travel requirements.
Your CWID is your official UA identification; you will use it for a variety of purposes. We recommend you memorize it.
Your CWID was emailed to your personal email on file and is also listed on your application portal. Once you have access to myBama, you may also find your CWID in myBama:
myBama is your hub for information at The University of Alabama. It is the interactive website for UA faculty, staff and students and where you will find Crimson email, course information and campus news.
DUO two-factor authentication adds a second layer of security to your myBama account. It requires two factors to verify identity. These factors include something you know (your username and password) and something you have (a phone or passcode) to authenticate and gain access to an account.
DUO is required for all current UA students. It is required to access your myBama and digital ACT Card accounts. Visit OIT to get started.
Your UA Action Card (or ACT Card) is your official student ID. Use it for Bama Cash, Dining Dollars, building access and more.
Note: If you intend to upload identifying documents (e.g. a driver’s license or ACT Card photo), you must register for DUO two-factor identification. Visit OIT for more information.
To enroll in classes, you must do the following:
For in-depth resources, please consult the Registration Help page. It contains a complete set of instructions and a tutorial video.
If you need assistance selecting classes, please contact the Graduate Program Director in your department/college.
UA Housing and Residential Communities has graduate student housing available at Bryce Lawn, located between Campus Drive and University Boulevard.
There are also several student-friendly apartment complexes in Tuscaloosa, many of which are walking distance to campus or located along Crimson Ride off-campus routes.
Learn more about off-campus housing on our UA Off-Campus Resources page.
Hotels & Rentals
Furnished Apartments with No Lease (extended stay hotels)
A city of 100,000 people, Tuscaloosa is situated along the Black Warrior River in west-central Alabama. Its close proximity to the river offers unlimited opportunities for boating, fishing and water sports. From UA’s park at Manderson Landing, students can enjoy a picnic or run along the river banks. As a college city, Tuscaloosa is known for its energy with hundreds of shops, restaurants, historical sites, museums and parks. The Tuscaloosa Amphitheater draws some of the biggest names in music each year. Find out more about what Tuscaloosa has to offer on Tuscaloosa website.
Notable Drive Times:
The nearest international airport to Tuscaloosa is Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, located approximately 60 miles from campus. The best way to travel between Tuscaloosa and the airport is by personal vehicle, shuttle, rental car or taxi. UA’s international students’ website provides a list of transport providers and options. Learn More
Currently, shuttle services that provide transportation to and from Tuscaloosa include Groome. Check their websites for COVID-19 service updates.
The University of Alabama Crimson Ride offers a shuttle service to and from Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport for extended academic breaks.
For more information, visit crimsonride.ua.edu.
Tuscaloosa and The University of Alabama offer many commuting solutions. Students can travel around campus and to select apartment complexes using Crimson Ride.
The Tuscaloosa Trolley, currently running seven routes, provides access to much of Tuscaloosa. Additionally, the city also has a large network of Uber and Lyft drivers. For those who prefer bicycling, the University promotes a safe and convenient environment on campus through established bike lanes and strategically located bike racks.
Learn more about campus transportation below.
To prepare for your UA experience, register and attend UA’s Graduate Orientation and Welcome (GROW) event. The program complements your department orientation with a fuller view of the University as a whole.
If you receive a scholarship awarded by an agency outside The University of Alabama, the organization needs to contact Student Financial Aid and forward appropriate documentation as directed.
If applicable, you may set up direct deposit for surplus fellowships and scholarships processed through your student account (not payroll) using the following steps:
For more detailed instructions, consult the how-to video at https://studentaccounts.ua.edu/how-to-videos/.
If you have an assistantship, make sure your department provides you a Memorandum of Appointment listing your entitlements and obligations. If you have not received a memorandum, be sure to request one from your hiring department.
Also, be sure to complete your I-9 form. You may find it, and other required student worker payment forms, on the Forms & Paperwork section of the Student Jobs website. For more information, including a complete list of payroll guides and forms, visit the UA Payroll Services page.
Whether you plan to drive a vehicle or ride a bike on campus, you must purchase a parking or bicycle permit online or complete the form at the Transit Hub, located at 451 Campus Drive East.
You can also find the parking and bicycle permit portal on myBama in the ‘Student’ section under ‘Campus Services.’
First-semester graduate students may request a waiver in-person at the Transportation Services Office if their desired zone is no longer available online.
If you do not own a bicycle and wish to ride one around campus, then you may rent one from Outdoor Recreation. For quick transportation, Gotcha bikes are available around campus.
For more information about transportation, including Crimson Ride and Fleet Services, visit Transportation Services.
The Student Health Center requires proof of your immunization record against diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) and TB; this information is required for all students before the beginning of classes. If you do not have these records verified, you will be dropped from your classes.
Visit the Student Health Center immunizations page for more information.
Students who wish to purchase the UA student health insurance plan and/or add spouse or family coverage must register and pay the associated premiums through the United Healthcare/UA website.
Domestic students with a graduate assistantship: For most students supported on an assistantship or fellowship the University will pay for the single-coverage premium for the university-sponsored student health insurance plan unless you have alternative insurance and decline the University’s plan. The payment amount is based on the FTE of your assistantship: 0.50 FTE will receive full benefit; 0.25 FTE will receive half. Those students with 0.25 FTE will be required to pay the balance of the premium cost through the Student Health Center; otherwise the benefit will be forgone. You must formally accept or decline the coverage through the Student Health Center.
International students: International students with a graduate assistantship or fellowship will be automatically enrolled in the UA student health insurance plan and have a grant applied to their student account to offset the cost of the single coverage premium. You can be exempted from automatic enrollment in the UA health insurance plan (and provision of the associated grant) if you provide timely proof of adequate student health insurance that is approved by the University before the start of classes each semester. Contact the Health Insurance Specialist at the Student Health Center (205-348-4086) with questions.
Note: Forms must be completed before the registration enrollment period expiration date. Enrollment dates may be found on the Student Health Center website.
Attend your department’s orientation and International Student Orientation, if applicable. Contact your program for specific dates and times.
If you are scheduled to begin working as a teaching assistant in the fall semester, we recommend you attend the August Workshop for New Graduate Teaching Assistants. Your Graduate Program Director should have already signed you up.
Attend one of the thesis/dissertation seminars presented each semester by the Graduate School dean’s office and visit The UA Writing Center to take advantage of their many resources, including:
Take advantage of UA’s world-class resources. Visit University Libraries in-person or online for help with:
UA’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) offers training classes for investigators whose research involves human participants and requires IRB certification to conduct research.
PIVOT is a valuable online tool, free to UA students, that helps find funding opportunities, grants, scholarships, fellowships and research collaborators. Set up your account to receive weekly updates on funding opportunities that meet your search criteria.
For a complete overview on PIVOT, check out the PIVOT Training Guide on the Research & Economic Development site.
Need help with your public speaking skills? Schedule an appointment with The Speaking Studio – a free service, staffed with public speaking consultants who facilitate the recording and immediate feedback of individual or group presentations. Schedule a coaching session with one of their experts to hone your stage presence or overcome your public speaking anxiety.
Want a jump-start on your new career? Contact the UA Career Center to learn about:
If applicable, contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS) for information regarding services for students with disabilities.
If you are a student who has a child, sign up for the Graduate Parent Support (GPS) program to learn more about family resources, and family events.
The International Spouse Group is designed to bring together the spouses of international students, faculty, staff and scholars for activities and interaction. Their goal is to offer an opportunity for spouses who have come to Tuscaloosa with an international student, faculty, staff or scholar to connect with others, learn from each other and share unique knowledge and experiences.
This group is open for the wives or husbands of international students, faculty and staff, as well as American spouses who are interested in making international friendships.
The Tide Together Mentoring Program helps traditionally underrepresented students in graduate programs reach personal and professional success as they navigate the higher education journey. This program is unique in that they primarily serve first-generation students, women in STEM fields and racial and ethnic minorities.
