Free Course

Students in their last semester of study (the semester in which they reach their 60th credit of study) may take up to 3 extra credits, free of charge, beyond the 60 credits required to complete the MBA program. 

Students register for this extra class at the end of the drop/add period.  The date is at the end of this period in order to ensure that all students have had a fair chance to register for courses that they may need for their MBA Program requirements and that students taking a free extra course are not closing them out of their needed courses.
 

Procedure

Full-Time Program Students: If students are exceeding the 15 credit maximum for their last semester in order to take the "Free Course", they must download the “credit overload form”, complete and submit it to the MBA Academic Affairs Office (KMC 6-120). Once the overload has been processed, the student may add the course on their own.
Dual Degree Students: Dual Degree students who finish their Stern credits while in residence at their partner school are not eligible to take the Free Course.  In order to be eligible for the Free Course, Dual Degree students must be in residence at Stern at the time when they finish their outstanding Stern credits (60 credits, including the joint degree credit reduction).  It is during that semester that a Dual Degree student may take advantage of the Free Course.  Otherwise, if a student attempts to take a Free Course while in residence at his or her partner school, that student will be required to pay for the course.
Part-Time Program Students: Students must add the additional credits on their own.  After adding, they download the “free credit form”, complete and submit it to the MBA Academic Affairs Office (KMC 6-120). If the form is approved, it will be sent to the Bursar to remove the charges for the extra credits on the student's bill at the end of the semester.

Grades

• Classes are taken for a letter grade and will figure into their GPA.
• Auditing is not permitted.
• All grading policies and deadlines apply including drop and withdrawal.

Last Semester

• The free course is only applicable in the last semester of study for up to three credits above the 60 required for the MBA.
• Overloads taken in previous semesters do not apply.

Credit Load

• Full-Time Program:  Students must satisfy all conditions required for a Credit Overload.
• Part-Time Program:  Accelerations are not granted for the free extra course.  Students register for a maximum of 9 credits each semester, including the semester with the free course. Students may not exceed the 9 credit maximum per semester in order to take the free course. 

Courses

Stern courses, Study Abroad credits, and Pre-Approved Non-Stern (other NYU Division) courses may be used for the free credit offering. All program requirements must be met without using the free extra credits (e.g., the free credit course may not be used to fulfill a Core requirement).

Bursar

The Free Course offering applies to tuition only.

• Full-time students pay a flat fee for tuition and the extra credits are included within this flat fee.
• Part-time students will register for the course and have the tuition for those credits on their record until the end of the semester when the Bursar will cancel the tuition.

Financial Aid

"Free", extra credits do not advance credit standing necessary for financial aid.  Free extra credits are not required to satisfy the program requirements and, therefore, do not apply to the amount of credits needed per semester to qualify for financial aid.  Please check with the Office of Financial Aid with any questions on qualifying for financial aid in any given semester.