Question 1

Admissions

Accepted Answer

1. Are Golden Gate University Worldwide Degree Programs recognized by Northeastern University?

Golden Gate University Programs are designed and delivered as per regulations set forth by WSCUC - WASC Senior College and University Commission (The official accreditation body of HEIs in California). As an officially accredited university in the United States, Northeastern University, U.S.A. will accept transfer credits from GGU for their undergraduate degree program - BS Digital Communication and Media. The same has been established and effectuated with an official agreement between the two universities.

2. Can I join this program without a TOEFL/IELTS Score and attempt TOEFL/IELTS after joining the program?

Yes, you can join this program without a TOEFL/IELTS score & upGrad will help you prepare for the English Entrance test to establish your current English proficiency to be eligible for a BS Digital Communication and Media Program in the U.S.A.

3. Can we get a TOEFL/IELTS waiver, if we study through upGrad?

To study in Northeastern University, you will have to meet university English Proficiency Requirements. Initially, we will apply on your behalf for a conditional offer letter to universities where TOEFL/IELTS score will not be required. upGrad will prepare you to meet these English proficiency requirements through specific study material.

4. I have not yet received Class 12 marks, am I eligible to apply for this program?

Yes, you can apply and block your seat for the program in case you have given exams in the 2024 academic year for class 12 and have not yet received a marksheet. You can block your seat by paying INR 25,000. The rest of the fees will be payable once you receive the mark sheet. You need to score a minimum of 3 GPA or 70% marks to be eligible for the course. In case you do not score 3 GPA, you can request for a refund of your block payment as per the refund policy.

5. What is a conditional offer letter and how is it different from a confirmed offer letter?

Conditional offer letters will be issued to you by Northeastern University based on documents submitted by upGrad. These documents will be class 10th & 12th marksheets, passport. The conditional offer letter will be converted into a confirmed offer once students meet the conditions mentioned in the conditional offer letter. These conditions will be English proficiency conditions, successful completion of the course at Golden Gate University and any other condition which the university deems fit.

Question 2

About the Bachelor’s STEM Program at Northeastern University

Accepted Answer

1. How can I apply for the program?

Applications can be submitted online via upGrad.com.
Based on the confirmation of eligibility, a provisional offer letter will be rolled out.
Student needs to pay required fees to upGrad.com
Once the tuition fee is received and documents have been verified, a confirmation of enrollment into this program shall be received.

2. What are the course options available for a Bachelor's STEM degree at Northeastern University?

At Northeastern University you will have the option to pursue either of the following courses-

BS Analytics
BS Information Technology
BS Digital Communication and Media

3. Will I be supported for TOEFL/IELTS or other English language exams during the 1st year of Bachelor's STEM degree?

Yes, upGrad will help you prepare for the English proficiency test to establish your current English proficiency to be eligible for the Bachelor’s STEM Program in the U.S.A.

4. What are the English proficiency requirements for getting admission in this program?

English Proficiency Requirements are TOEFL iBT >= 79 or IELTS score >= 6.5 or PTE >= 53 or Duolingo >= 105. To know about the latest requirements, please feel free to reach out to our counselors.

5. How will Northeastern University help in finding internships and job opportunities after I complete a course ?

Northeastern University has a career hub that assists students in all aspects that come with applying for a new job and works to prepare students for an upcoming interview. They will help students in building a resume, & cover letter; exploring their transferable skills; developing accomplishment statements and conducting mock interviews.

6.What are co-op programs? Does this course have a co-op component?

Co-op is an educational program in which Northeastern students pursue alternate semesters of academic study with semesters of part-time/full-time employment in positions related to their academic/career interests in the U.S. All Northeastern Programs are embedded with a Co-op.

7. How much commitment does a co-op program require?

While full time co-op shall require a commitment of 32-40 hours/week over 3-6 months, Part-time co-op shall require a commitment of 15-31 hours/week over 3-6 months.

Question 3

University Partners

Accepted Answer

1. Do we get a conditional offer letter at the initial stage or after completion of the 1st year with Golden Gate University?

Once you enroll in the Bachelors Accelerated Program with upGrad and provide all the required documents, upGrad will submit applications to university partners on your behalf as per the scheduled intakes application timelines. University partners will release a conditional offer letter within three months of application submission.

2. What would be the alternate option if I could not get a conditional offer letter from one of upGrad’s partner universities?

This is a highly unlikely scenario. In case you do not get a conditional offer letter from Northeastern University, you may apply to our other partner schools or continue studying online from Golden Gate University.

3. How many intakes are available at Northeastern University?

Northeastern University offers two intakes for students. The first intake of the year will be January (Spring) intake & the next would-be September (Fall) intake.

Question 4

Visa

Accepted Answer

1. Will upGrad help me in writing Academic and Visa SOP?

Yes, upGrad will help with your Academic and Visa SOP and will also organize training on how to write a good SOP.

2. Can we get a OPT visa if we study for this program in India and then for 3 years in the U.S.A. ?

U.S.A. OPT visas are available to all the students who have completed at least 1 academic year on a U.S.A. campus. As you are studying a STEM course, you will be eligible to apply for up to 3 years of OPT after completing your course.

3. How much are living expenses for a year at Northeastern University?

Living expenses for students studying at NEU is USD 20,000 per annum.

4. What will be the alternate pathway, if I could not get a visa from the U.S.A. after completion of the program?

In case you do not secure a U.S VISA, you may continue studying your Bachelor's degree online with Golden Gate University.

5. Can I do a part time job while studying in the U.S.A.?

According to the American students' visa guidelines, you are allowed to work only 20 hours a week and can work only on campus. Students can work up to 20 hours a week when classes are in session and up to 40 hours a week while the classes are not going on.

Question 5

Payment

Accepted Answer

1. What is the process of payment for this program?

Initially, you need to deposit INR 25,000 as a block amount for seat booking. 15 days before the start of course and once you have Class 12 marksheet available, you need to make a complete payment of the remaining amount. You can opt for no-cost EMI with credit facility providers if you want to pay in installments.

2. Can I pay the fee semester-wise?

The total fee has two components -
1. University fees
2. Articulation fees. The articulation fee needs to be paid together at once. You can avail of a 0% EMI option with a monthly installment and a down payment of INR 25,000 to block your seat. If you are availing of 0% credit card EMI, upGrad will not charge any processing fees or down payment for these transactions. Your bank may levy GST or other taxes on the interest component of the EMI. University fees can be paid in 2 semesters.

Question 6

Refund Policy

Accepted Answer

1. Is there any deferral or refund policy for this program?

Refund Policy:
1. Students must pay an applicable Caution Amount for the enrollment to the Program. This Caution Amount will be adjustable against the total Program fee payable by the student.
2. Once the student has made a partial or full payment of Program fee, such student can claim a refund for this amount at any time before the cohort commencement date by raising a refund request through ‘My applications’ page on our website (www.upgrad.com), stating the specific reason for the refund. The refund shall be subject to a deduction of INR. 20,000/- towards processing fee. If less than INR. 20,000/- have been paid in total, students shall not be eligible for any refund in such a case.
3. Students shall not be eligible for a refund (under any circumstances) if the refund request is raised postprogram/Batch Start Date. In such a case, the student will continue to pay the EMI of his loan (if applicable), as the loan cannot be canceled. This is also applicable to students who could not complete their payment and could not get enrolled in their opted cohort. However, the student can request a PreProgram deferral as per the policy defined below for the same.
4. Studentshall not be eligible for refund of any amount paid towards the Program in case any discrepancy is identified between your application and self-attested documents including but not limited to wrong details about your grades or any other incorrect information provided in your application.
5. In case of a valid refund request post obtaining the loan from a third party credit facility provider, we would like to clarify that the responsibility of canceling the loan will lie with the student as upGrad is not privy to such arrangements between the student and the third party credit facility provider.
6. If students do not provide documents as per the timeline mentioned in the offer letter, they will be deferred to the next batch but they will not be eligible for any refunds.

Deferral Policy: (Pre- Program Commencement)
1. If a Learner, due to unavoidable circumstances is unable to commence with the cohort and requests for a deferral before the Cohort Commencement Date, Learner will have an option to defer to another batch.
2. However, the learner will be required to pay 50% of the Total Program Fee amount (inclusive of taxes) before the deferral can be approved. Till this condition is complied with, the Learner will be assumed to be continuing in the same cohort.
3. A Learner can request for deferral only once and to either of the scheduled cohorts to start in the next 1 year from the batch start date of the initial batch the Learner enrolled for.
4. The Learner has time till the current Cohort Commencement Date to make the payment of the 50% of the Total Program Fee, post which the deferral request will expire. Once the deferral window expires and the Learner asks for a refund after the Cohort Commencement Date, the above-mentioned applicable refund policy will apply.
5. The fee applicable to the deferred Learner will be as per prevailing Total Program Fee for the batch Learner as opted to defer to (No additional deferral fee is required to be paid).

Deferral Policy: (Post Program Commencement)
1. If a learner is facing severe issues in dedicating time to the course, Learner will have an option to defer to another batch.A Learner can request for deferral only once and to either of the scheduled cohorts to start in the next 1 year from the Cohort Commencement Date of the initial batch the Learner enrolled for.
2. The Learner will be required to pay a deferral fee of 5% of the Total Program Fee (inclusive of taxes) if any along with the differential program fees between the two cohorts.
3. The deferral request will be approved once the deferral fee is paid.
4. Till this condition is complied, the Learner will be assumed to be continuing in the same cohort.
5. The Learner has 7 days (including holidays and weekends) from the date of deferral request to make the payment of the deferral fee, post which the deferral request will expire, and the learner will continue as part of the current cohort.
6. If the Learner completes the deferral payment, the Learner’s login will be disabled, The Learner will leave the deferred cohort and the Learner will start learning on the new cohort from the point of the last assignment that was graded in the deferred cohort. All grades and progress till that point will be carried forward as it is to the new cohort.
7. The deferral can only be requested during the batch for which the Learner has enrolled is ongoing. Once the batch has been completed, deferral requests shall not be entertained. For clarification, the batch completion here shall mean the “last grace deadline” as communicated by upGrad. Case Deferral fee Before Program Commencement 50% program fee (including taxes) to be paid upfront- no additional deferral fee to be paid Post Program Commencement (0-7 days after program start date) 5% of the program fee (including taxes) to be paid within 7 days as deferral fee Post Program Commencement (8 days after program start date) Will have to continue as a part of the current cohort.

Case	Deferral fee
Before Program Commencement	50% program fee (including taxes) to be paid upfront- no additional deferral fee to be paid
Post Program Commencement (0-7 days after program start date)	5% of the program fee (including taxes) to be paid within 7 days as deferral fee
Post Program Commencement (8 days after program start date)	Will have to continue as a part of the current cohort