UC Davis has Nonresident Supplemental Tuition (NRST) fellowship programs developed to offset the cost of NRST for continuing international academic graduate students: The Supplemental International PhD NRST Allocation Program, the UCOP NRST Waiver Program, and the UC Davis NRST Fellowship Program.
Which Students Are Charged NRST?
| Student Type | Charged NRST? | Conditions |
| US Citizen or Permanent Resident w/ CA Residency | Never | None |
| AB540 | Never | None |
US Citizen or Permanent Resident but not initially a CA Resident Masters or PhD | First Year | Must establish CA Residency during first year |
| Non-US Citizen Master’s | Every quarter of enrollment | None |
| Non-US Citizen PhD | Until advancement and then again starting on the 10th quarter after advancement. | Starting on the 10th quarter after advancement, UCD Post-Candidacy fellowship will pay the NRST for 6 quarters. |
Supplemental International PhD NRST Allocation Program
Began in 2014-2015 with a goal to level the NRST cost between US and international PhD/MFA students.
Eligible Students: Based on the enrollment numbers of students who are not US Citizens, have a Degree Objective = PhD or MFA, and are Pre-candidacy in their second or third year (4th – 9th quarters)
The Supplemental Grad Program NRST Allocation equals the Total Amt of NRST Assessed in a 3 Quarter Calendar Year Period for Eligible Students minus the total GSR NRST Remission over the same 3 Quarter Calendar Year Period for the same Eligible Students. For example:
$50,034 (ten quarters of eligible NRST in winter, spring, fall quarters of calendar year 2024)
-$10,068 (two quarters of GSR NRST Remission in winter, spring, fall quarters of calendar year 2024)
=$40,272 Supplemental Int'l PhD Allocation (added to Banner for the 2025-26 academic year)
Each Graduate Program's individual allocation is activated in Banner and may be used for Graduate Fellowships: Stipend, Tuition & Fees, and/or NRST.
UCOP NRST Waiver Program
Per the authority and practices of the University of California, Office of the President (UCOP), NRST is automatically waived for international doctoral students for the first three calendar years (nine academic quarters) post-candidacy. Information regarding the UCOP Waiver of Nonresident Supplemental Tuition for doctoral students for the first three years post-candidacy can be found in the November 16, 2005 Minutes of the Committee on Finance, The Regents of the University of California (see pages 2 and 15) and in the UCOP Budget Analysis and Planning document.
UC Davis Post-Candidacy NRST Fellowship Program
After the UCOP NRST Waiver period, international doctoral students are again charged NRST until they complete their degrees. To offset the NRST charge during this time frame, UC Davis offers a non-competitive fellowship program—the Post-candidacy Nonresident Supplemental Tuition Fellowship Program—intended to mitigate the NRST challenge during the fourth and fifth years after advancement to candidacy. Eligible students may receive a non-competitive fellowship to offset the cost of NRST so that they are able to complete their degrees in a timely manner without the added pressure of the NRST expense. Information about this program is provided annually directly to eligible students.
GSR Buy-Down Program
As part of our continuing effort to improve graduate student support at UC Davis, the Provost allocates funds to partially buy-down Tuition & Fees and Nonresident Supplemental Tuition (NRST) for GSRs supported on extramural sources. Under the GSR Buy-Down Program, the campus pays 25% of the Tuition & Fees and NRST for a GSR appointment paid by certain extramural funds; the balance is charged to the extramural contract or grant. For details on the buy-down process, including which extramural award types are included in the program, visit Accounting and Financial Services. (Please note: the Finance & Business website has not been updated for Aggie Enterprise.)
Effective fall 2014, the Buy-Down Program was expanded: 100% of the NRST for pre-candidacy, 2nd & 3rd year, international, PhD and MFA students who are supported by a qualifying extramural GSR appointment is rebated by central funds. NRST remission for students who qualify for the expanded buydown program is charged to account 508132 (2nd 3rd Yr NRST Remission) and the 100% rebate posts to account 508139 (Grad Student Campus Rebate). To determine which quarters a student is eligible for the expanded NRST buydown, see the "2/3 yr Intl Phd:" indicator on their ZGASTDN banner screen.
NRST Cost for an International PhD Student
For the example below, the student has Advanced to Candidacy in their ninth quarter of enrollment which activates the UCOP NRST Waiver Program for three calendar years.
