Graduate Student
New Graduate Student Checklist
Congratulations on being accepted to the South Dakota Mines Graduate Program. Here are the next steps to help you get started on your graduate degree.
All Graduate Students
1. Confirm attendance
Email the Graduate Office to Confirm Attendance
2. Set up your SDM account
Your Mines email is needed to start the I-20 and registration process. It is available approximately 5 days after your acceptance. This is the only email account we will use to contact you once the semester has begun. Be sure to check it regularly.
Email ITS Help Desk with questions
3. Complete the visa process (international students)
Click here to review the international student checklist
Email Ivanhoe International Center with any questions*
*Contact your advisor listed in your acceptance letter for questions regarding assistantships. Nonthesis students are not considered for assistantship funding.
DEADLINES: Students must submit the required documents or request to defer enrollment by these dates or your application will no longer be active.
Fall enrollment deadlines:
Submit bank statement and I-20 admission deposit: June 15
Confirm visa interview: July 15
Hold visa interview and submit enrollment deposit: August 1
Last date to defer enrollment: August 1
Submit final official documents: August 15
Last date to arrive: 1 week before the term begins
Spring enrollment deadlines:
Submit bank statement and I-20 admission deposit:: November 1
Confirm visa interview: November 15
Hold visa interview and submit enrollment deposit: December 1
Last date to defer enrollment: December 1
Submit final official documents: December 15
Last date to arrive: 1 week before the term begins
4. Contact your advisor
Look up your advisor in your acceptance letter. Contact them via email to let them know you are planning to attend. Discuss what courses to take and ask any questions you may have about assistantships.
Search the Campus Directory for your advisor
5. Register for classes
Submit Permission of Instructor Form, if needed
Email Registrar's Office with any questions
6. Apply for financial aid (U.S. citizens and permanent residents only)
Visit tuition and fee rates webpage
Email Financial Aid Office with questions
7. Submit immunization form (campus students only)
Email Dean of Students with any questions
International Students: email Ivanhoe International Center with any questions
8. Establish housing (campus students only)
Download housing options document
Contact Residence Life Office with questions
9. Register for required orientation(s)
New graduate student orientation can be completed online at your convenience. You will receive an email with login information a few weeks before the term begins.
Email Graduate Office with questions
International Students: email Ivanhoe International Center for additional orientation info
10. Send your official academic documents
If you previously provided official documentation (sent directly from the issuing institution or evaluating agency) that includes confirmation of the bachelor’s degree awarded, no further action is required. Review your acceptance letter for further details.
- MS Thesis and PhD students: Official transcripts (including evidence of the bachelor’s degree) must be sent directly from the issuing institution via email or postal mail. Documents may also be sent by the student in an envelope stamped and sealed by the institution. A third-party transcript evaluation from WES, ECE, or Spantran is also acceptable.
- Non-Thesis students: A third-party transcript evaluation (listing all course marks and the degree awarded) is required for all international transcripts. Please visit wes.org, ece.org, or SpanTran. Documents must be sent to us by the evaluating institution.
Documents should be sent to:
South Dakota Mines Graduate Education
501 E. St. Joseph St.
Rapid City SD 57701
graduate.admissions@sdsmt.edu
Fall submission deadline: August 15
Spring submission deadline: December 15
11. Pay your tuition and fees by the due date
Email Cashier's Office with any questions
12. Order your books
available 30 days prior to the semester start date Visit South Dakota Mines Rocker Shop Bookstore website.
Email Bookstore with any questions
13. Access D2L
used to distribute course materials in some courses
Email ITS Help Desk with questions
14. Review the academic calendar
Email Registrar's Office with any questions
15. Complete assistantship hiring form
for students with a confirmed assistantship offer
Search the Campus Directory for your department secretary
16. Obtain your student ID card
Upload a photo of yourself to this link. Log in with your network user name and password. Then download your digital ID on your mobile device (available after August 1 for fall):
17. Obtain your parking permit
Email Facilities Office with questions