See the GBS Academic Calendar for course and rotation dates, which do not always align with the UAB Academic Calendar.
Time off is a matter of individual negotiation between the student and the student’s research mentor and course directors. For example, time off around Thanksgiving is dependent on the course schedule and your lab; it may not follow the UAB Academic Calendar.
UAB International Student and Scholar Services
The central point for services, programs, and activities for international students at UAB is International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS). This office can assist with the Affidavit of Financial Support, Form I-20, visas, and more. Check out their page for newly admitted international students for a wealth of information on transitioning to Birmingham and UAB.
Proof of Financial Support
International students will be contacted by ISSS about submitting an Affidavit of Financial Support. You can provide your GBS appointment letter as proof of financial support, which is emailed to you after you accept the offer of admission.
Mentor Program
All incoming international GBS students are paired with a mentor. The goal of the program is to make the transition to UAB and Alabama as smooth as possible. The mentor is a current GBS student and can serve as a resource to discuss issues new students might be facing regarding coursework, lab rotations, accommodation, driver's license etc.
English Language Support
GBS International Student Webinar
GBSO organizes a webinar hosted by current GBS students, International Student and Scholar Services representative, and GBS office representative to address questions or concerns for international students transitioning to UAB and Birmingham. Details will be sent out about the webinar when the event is scheduled. For the 2019 International Student Webinar presentation slides, see here.
If you are requesting student loan deferment while in graduate school and need forms filled out by a UAB official, the One Stop office can assist with completing the form.
Your admission may have been contingent on items such as submission of official transcripts or English proficiency scores (see your decision letter for details). Official transcripts can be sent to the addresses below. TOEFL scores can submitted to institution code 1856. IELTS and PTEA scores can be issued electronically or sent to the addresses below.
Most contingency items will not affect your ability to enroll in your first term; you must fulfill contingencies by the start of registration for your second term of enrollment. You will not be allowed to register for your second semester of classes until all contingencies are cleared, so look for messages from the Graduate School on your student account in BlazerNet. Not clearing these will result in a hold that will prevent you from progressing in graduate school.
If you have questions about a contingency, contact
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Students enter with a given theme affiliation but have the flexibility to rotate with any faculty with active GBS status and may change theme affiliation if their research training interests change. Alternatively, faculty outside of a given theme may elect to join additional themes, if consistent with theme interests, wherein the student could retain his/her original theme affiliation. Additionally, first year theme-specific courses that may be required upon theme transfer can be completed in year two in fulfillment of advanced course requirements. Communication among the student, selected mentor, and both the original and the new theme directors will be necessary to facilitate transfer among themes. All students should confirm their theme affiliation at the time of selecting the dissertation mentor.