• Table of Contents
• The Graduate School Handbook

• Graduate Education
• The Graduate School and the Administrative Board
• Graduate School Staff Directory
• Graduate Education References
• The Graduate School Calendar

• General Academic Requirements and Regulations
• Admission and Matriculation
• Eligibility
• Course Credit
• Registration
• Residence Credit
• Graduate Grading
• Assistantships and Fellowships
• Tuition and Other Charges
• Graduation
• Medical Issues
• Withdrawal from the University
• Policies and Procedures
• Students as Faculty
• Certificate Programs
• Dual Degree Programs

• Degree Requirements
• Master's Degree
• Doctor of Philosophy Degree

Medical Issues

Medical History Form

All new, transfer, and readmitted students (who have not attended UNC-Chapel Hill for the previous two years) must submit a completed immunization record and Medical History Form to Student Health Service to avoid registration cancellation.

Withdrawal from the University for Medical Reasons

A student who receives a medical withdrawal may be required to receive medical clearance before being readmitted. See Withdrawal from the University.

Parental Leave Policy

The UNC-Chapel Hill Graduate Student Parental Leave Policy is designed to assist a full-time graduate student who is the primary child-care provider immediately following the birth or adoption of a child. This policy will ensure the student's full-time, registered status and will facilitate their return to full participation in class work and, where applicable, research and teaching in a seamless manner. All matriculated, full-time graduate students are eligible to apply for this leave. A Parental Leave Application Form must be completed and submitted to The Graduate School at least eight weeks prior to the anticipated birth or adoption of the child.

Health Insurance Plans

For information on comprehensive student insurance plans visit Hill, Chesson, and Woody at http://www.hillchesson.com/

Graduate Student COBRA Health Insurance Premium Reduction Eligibility

Graduate students enrolled at UNC-Chapel Hill are offered health insurance coverage through either a TA/RA plan (offered as part of a teaching or research assistantship) or a voluntary student plan. While enrolled, a student can switch back and forth between these two options as necessary. Students on the TA/RA health insurance plan also have the option to continue health insurance coverage through COBRA for 18 months following termination from a degree program by paying the full costs of the monthly premium themselves. 

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) reduces the COBRA premium in some cases. The premium reduction is available to certain individuals who experience a qualifying event that is an involuntary termination of employment during the period beginning September 1, 2008 through December 31, 2009. If an individual qualifies for the premium reduction, he/she will need to pay only 35 percent of the COBRA premium otherwise due to the plan. This premium reduction is available for up to nine months. If the individual’s COBRA continuation coverage lasts for more than nine months, he/she will subsequently have to pay the full amount to continue COBRA coverage. The information below clarifies the conditions constituting involuntary and voluntary termination for graduate students on the TA/RA health insurance plan as it applies to eligibility for the new COBRA premium reduction.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill considers the following separations to be involuntary terminations that may allow the student to be eligible for the COBRA premium reduction:

• Completion of the award term (as agreed to in documented policies and procedures drafted by the funding program, department, or School) without renewal for a continuing term (but see information below regarding expiration of premium reduction upon eligibility for other group health plan coverage);
• Early termination of the award due to lack of satisfactory progress or performance as defined by the funding program, department, or School; and
• Early termination of the award due to loss of funding.

All other reasons (e.g., withdrawal from the University, degree completion, early termination of the award due to the student’s request, early termination of the award due to inadequate minimum enrollment requirements, leave of absence at the student’s request, dismissal from an academic program due to unsatisfactory academic performance, dismissal from an academic program due to honor court violations) will be considered voluntary and the student will not be eligible for the premium subsidy, although he/she may be eligible to continue regular COBRA coverage as provided by the plan.

The COBRA premium reduction applies to eligible students only until the first day on which the student becomes eligible for other group health plan coverage, including group health insurance available through a spouse or the voluntary student health insurance plan offered through Hill, Chesson and Woody. TAs and RAs who were on the TA/RA plan for fall and spring and will not be assigned another TA/RA award term for the following fall can immediately be bridged on the voluntary health insurance plan if they are to be an enrolled eligible student in the fall. This student is then eligible to re-enroll in the voluntary plan in August. Consequently, these particular students are not eligible for the COBRA premium reduction, despite the completion of their award term.

If the University determines that a student is not eligible for the COBRA premium reduction, the student can request an expedited review of the denial by appealing to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.