Academics Courses at Wesleyan University

Graduate student spouses and qualified domestic partners holding a BA degree or equivalent are eligible to register for two undergraduate, graduate, or graduate liberal studies (GLS) courses in the fall or spring semesters (or two GLS courses in the summer) at Wesleyan as non-degree students without payment of tuition.  Students may not exceed four courses per calendar year.  Courses are subject to the terms and conditions of course enrollment. 

Students interested in graduate courses as a non-degree student should visit the Graduate Liberal Studies website: https://www.wesleyan.edu/masters/admission/apply_nondegree.html

Students interested in undergraduate courses as a non-degree student should visit the Community Scholar website: https://www.wesleyan.edu/nondegree/

Tax implications of the tuition benefit:

• Tuition benefits for graduate student spouses for undergraduate, graduate, and GLS courses are taxable for amounts valued over $5,250 annually. Effective January 1, 2019, if the annual value of educational assistance exceeds $5,250 for a graduate student's spouse, the excess will be included in the graduate student's federal and state taxable wages according to the following schedule. The value of the benefit will be incurred consistent with the GLS withdrawal policy as stated on the GLS website for Graduate Liberal Studies courses, the BLS website for BLS students, and the Student Accounts site for Undergraduate/Graduate courses.

        Semester     Months of Taxation

        Spring           February through May

        Summer       July and August

        Fall              October through December

• Tuition benefits for domestic partners are fully taxable. Effective January 1, 2007, the full value of the benefit, when incurred, will be included in the employee's federal and state taxable wages for the remainder of the year. The value of the benefit will be incurred consistent with the GLSP withdrawal policy as stated on the GLS site for Graduate Liberal Studies courses, the BLS website for BLS students, and the Student Accounts site for Undergraduate/Graduate courses.

Dependency Allowance

Financial support is available for graduate students whose sole income is a graduate stipend and whose dependents reside full time with the graduate student.  Interested graduate students must submit an application to be considered for this support.  Financial assistance in the form of $189 per dependent per month will be approved for graduate students who meet the criteria listed below.  The amount paid per dependent may be less than $189 per dependent in years when many students apply and the total amount exceeds the available funds.   A new application is required each year. 

 Criteria for Eligibility

1. Applicants must receive a graduate stipend
2. The graduate stipend must be the sole source of income in the household
3. Dependents covered by the dependency allowance must reside full-time in the household

Application/Deadlines

Dependency Allowance Application

Applications must be submitted to the Director of Graduate Student Services

Deadline for continuing graduate students: May 20

Deadline for new incoming graduate students:  Sep 15

Policy and Membership for Freeman Althletic Center

Adult Fitness Classes

Degree-seeking graduate students in the PhD or MA program are eligible for Wesleyan Scholarships for their dependent children to attend the Neighborhood Preschool. Information on tuition and scholarships at Neighborhood Preschool can be found here.