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Applicants are urged to sign up early for standardized testing and to arrange for timely submission of transcripts and letters of recommendation so that all documents will be received on or before the deadline.

Fall 2025 applications  are now open. The application deadline is December 1, 2024 at 5:00 PM PST.

Admission Timetable

The admission season begins with the distribution of application materials in the late summer and concludes with the notification of admission decisions in mid-March. Applications are accepted as early as September. We guarantee the review of only those applications that are complete as of the application deadline.

Decision Notification

Decisions are based on a comprehensive evaluation of the applicant’s file. Admission decisions are typically available by mid-March. All applicants will be notified via email of admissions decisions.

Application Feedback

We recognize that you devote a great deal of time and effort to your application and may wish to discuss it with a member of our admissions committee or a faculty member. Regrettably, we are unable to provide individual feedback to any applicant.

Deferral Policy

Admitted students are expected to enroll in the program in September of the year they are admitted. As a matter of policy, we do not allow applicants to defer admission to a later year. Instead, we ask them to reapply, as noted in instructions for reapplicants . Only under rare and extraordinary circumstances (e.g., compulsory military service) will we consider exceptions to this policy.

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Application Deadlines

For all dates listed, the deadline is 11:59:59 p.m., Eastern Standard Time.

If there is a discrepancy between the deadline information on this page and other materials you may have received, you should adhere to the deadlines on this page.

Some programs will continue to accept applications after the deadline, if spaces are available. If you are interested in applying after the deadline, contact your department or program of interest to determine their policy on accepting late applications. 

Fall Semester

These are the application deadlines for applicants who wish to begin their graduate studies in fall 2025. For all dates listed, the deadline is 11:59:59 p.m., Eastern Standard Time. If there is a discrepancy between the deadline information on this page and other materials you may have received, you should adhere to the deadlines on this page.

1   Electrical and Computer Engineering Ph.D. applicants : Applications submitted by 12/02/2024 are guaranteed review. Applications submitted after 12/02/2024 but before the closing date of 02/27/2025 will be reviewed based upon availability of space and funding.

2   Romance Studies Ph.D. applicants : Applications submitted by 12/26/2024 are guaranteed review. Applications submitted after 12/26/2024 but before the closing date of 03/06/2025 will be reviewed based upon availability of space and funding.

1 Bioethics and Science Policy applicants : All applications received by January 09, 2025 will receive a final decision by February 2025.  Applications received by March 20, 2025 are guaranteed review. After March 20, 2025, applications will be accepted on a space-available basis through May 29, 2025.

2   Dance MFA applicants : Late applications will be considered under special circumstances. Applicants are advised to contact Prof. Sarah Wilbur ( [email protected] ) before starting an application.

3   East Asian Studies  applicants : All applications received by January 31, 2025 are guaranteed review and will be considered for departmental funding.  Applications received after the priority deadline will be accepted for review on a space-available basis through April 24, 2025.

4   Electrical and Computer Engineering master's applicants : Applications submitted by January 16, 2025 are guaranteed review.  Applications submitted after the January 16, 2025 deadline will be reviewed on a space-available basis through February 27, 2025.

5   Global Health applicants : The priority deadline is January 09, 2025, though all applications received by February 27, 2025 are guaranteed review.  Applications received after February 27, 2025 will be reviewed on a space-available basis through May 31, 2025.

6   Graduate Liberal Studies applicants : All applications submitted by June 02, 2025 are guaranteed review; however, applicants submitting materials by February 15, 2025 will receive an admissions decision by March 15, 2025 and will have priority consideration for financial aid.

7   Master of Arts in Teaching applicants:  The priority deadline is January 30, 2025, though all applications received by February 20, 2025 are guaranteed review. Applications received after February 20, 2025 will be reviewed on a space-available basis through May 01, 2025.

8   Materials Science and Engineering applicants : The priority deadline is January 31, 2025. All applications received by March 13, 2025 are guaranteed review.

9   Medical Physics  applicants : The priority deadline is January 08, 2025, though all applications received by January 31, 2025 are guaranteed review. Applications received after February 01, 2025 will be reviewed on a space-available basis through May 29, 2025.

10   Population Health Sciences applicants : The early application deadline is November 25, 2024. All applications received by November 25 will receive an admissions decision by January 2025. The priority deadline is January 15, 2025, though all applications received by February 27, 2025 are guaranteed review. Applications received after February 27, 2025 will be reviewed on a space-available basis through May 31, 2025.

Spring Semester

October 1:  Deadline to submit all Ph.D. and master’s applications (except Graduate Liberal Studies) for the spring semester, space permitting.

October 31:  Deadline to submit Graduate Liberal Studies master's applications for the spring semester.

Note:  Very few departments accept new students for the spring term:

Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering Electrical & Computer Engineering Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science

Master's Bioethics and Science Policy Biomedical Engineering Graduate Liberal Studies Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science Political Science

Summer session

Very few departments accept new students for the summer session. With the exception of applicants to the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program (which begins in the summer), applicants who wish to apply for summer admission must obtain special permission from the department of interest and The Graduate School. Summer session applicants should adhere to the fall application deadlines.

If you missed the deadline

Once a program's deadline has passed, that program will no longer appear as an option on the application. Most programs will not consider any applications submitted after the deadline. Please contact the department directly to inquire about a late application submission. If the department agrees to review your application, they will notify The Graduate School to assist you further.

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Graduate School Application Timeline

If you're planning to apply to graduate school, it's best to start early—it will increase your odds of being admitted. Many graduate programs have rolling admissions, which means applications are evaluated as they arrive (rather than all at once after the final deadline).

Here's a sample schedule for a student hoping to enter grad school in the fall. This is a best-case scenario which leaves time to craft a great application, resolve unforeseen problems (a lost transcript, a delinquent recommender) and submit with time to spare.

Your GRE Application Timeline

Begin researching grad schools . Take a GRE practice test . Your GRE score will help you determine how much preparation you'll need for the real deal.

Sign up for a GRE test prep course (we recommend the in-person or online options). Register for the GRE general test if necessary.

Request information from schools that interest you. Consider paying a visit to your alma mater to meet up with a few former professors. They can recommend good programs and may even help you make some connections.

Register to take a GRE Subject test (if necessary) during one of their Fall windows. In the 2023-24 application cycle, ETS offered three date ranges to take a subject test: late September/early October, late October/early November, or mid to late April. Take the GRE general test. If you're not happy with your scores, sign up to take it again. Begin drafting your statement of purpose .

Finalize your list of prospective schools , and familiarize yourself with the professors who share your research interests at each school. Contact your recommenders. Keep polishing your statement of purpose.

Request official transcripts from your undergraduate institution. Send your recommenders supplemental materials (like your resume, personal statement, etc.) that they can use as a reference. Make contact with students and professors at your prospective schools. Arrange a campus visit if you can.

Have someone in the field and a few smart (and honest) friends read over your personal statement. Take the GRE subject test; make sure that your scores will be sent directly to schools.

Complete and submit all grad applications , keeping copies of every section for your records. Verify that your recommendations have been sent.

Read More: What's a Good GRE Score?

How will you score?

Take a GRE practice test with us under the same conditions as the real thing. You'll get a personalized score report highlighting your strengths and areas of improvement.

Start a Free Practice Test

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Application Deadlines

Each department may have an application deadline earlier than the final Graduate School application deadline for each semester. You should check with the department to assure that your application is submitted and all materials are received by the department application deadline.

We encourage applicants to submit their complete applications, including supplemental materials, early to allow sufficient time for application processing. International applicants must be accepted by the Graduate School no later than May 15 for fall and October 15 for spring to allow sufficient time for immigration processes and travel.

Prospective students seeking scholarships and loans should contact the Virginia Tech Office of University Scholarships and Financial Aid for financial aid deadlines.

Graduate School Application and Department Decision Deadlines

The following application and decision deadlines have been established by the Graduate School for the upcoming entry terms as the last date to apply if the department to which you are applying does not have an earlier established deadline :

Note : Application and Decision deadlines are suggested by the Graduate School and may not be the final time frame in which academic departments are able to consider applications or complete their recommendations for admission.

* Students seeking assistantships for funding should submit all required admissions materials by January 15 for full consideration.

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about applying.

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Application Timeline & Process

The timetable outlined below is a guide to assist students who plan to apply for academic Master’s degree and Ph.D programs. Because of the range of programs and requirements, the information below is a general framework. The process typically begins in the first semester of junior year, or two years prior to application. Students should plan on submitting application materials by the end of first semester senior year, or approximately eight months prior to matriculation.

The graduate school application process, also outlined below, is similar to the process you used when applying to undergraduate colleges; there are materials to gather and deadlines to meet. Many students find it helpful to compile a spreadsheet to help them stay organized and avoid missing important deadlines. Early decisions and rolling admissions policies are common, even if not explicitly stated. There are additional featured articles at the bottom of this page that can help you with some of these components.

Application Timeline

Junior year or one year prior to matriculating, september – december.

• Schedule an appointment with a Office of Career Strategy advisor.
• Meet with faculty and your Director of Undergraduate Studies to discuss potential programs and letters of recommendation.
• Begin to prepare for the GRE.
• Research and develop list of target programs.

January – May

• Refine list of target programs.
• Register and sit for the GRE .
• Ask for letters of recommendation.

June – August

• Draft personal statements.
• Finalize list of target programs, noting application deadlines (most will begin in November).

Senior Year or One Year Prior to Matriculating

• Request letters of recommendation from faculty.
• Finalize your personal statements and have them edited by a writing tutor and other readers.
• Contact the Office of the Registrar to request transcripts be sent to target programs.
• Begin submitting applications. Confirm with programs that your application file is complete, including letters of recommendation.
• Begin exploring sources of financial aid (federal, institutional and private) and obtain and file applications as soon as possible.
• Obtain a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and file well before the deadline.
• Have your fall semester transcripts sent to target programs.

February – April

• Evaluate Letters of acceptance and offers of financial aid.

Application Process

Standardized tests.

Standardized tests are used in combination with your other application materials to gauge your preparation for graduate-level work. Tests may be general or subject specific depending on the subject and program requirements. Determine which, if any, standardized tests you need to take and gather information on how often the test is offered, testing locations, and cost. For GRE details and registration information, please visit the Educational Testing Service (ETS) website .

Additional considerations for Students with Disabilities who are thinking about applying to graduate or professional schools include identifying which exams are needed, how far in advance exam accommodations must be requested, and which documentations regarding your disability will likely be needed for exam accommodations.

Personal Statements

Preparing a well-written and effective personal statement (sometimes referred to as statements of purpose or personal essays) that clearly articulates your preparation, goals, and motivation for pursuing that specific graduate degree is critically important. You will need to spend a considerable amount of time and effort crafting these statements. For individual assistance with writing your personal statement, consult with the writing tutor in your residential college  or the Writing Center within the Yale Center for Teaching and Learning .

Letters of Recommendation

Graduate programs will commonly require 2-3 letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation allow an admissions committee to understand your strengths, weaknesses, and potential from another person’s perspective. You can find more information in our Soliciting Letters of Recommendation Blog .

Application Forms

Program application forms are typically available on the program web site; you can also call the program to request application materials. Pay special attention to any directions given and complete application forms exactly as instructed. Do not simply refer the recipient to your resume; answer all questions completely and thoroughly.

Transcripts:  Graduate schools usually require that you submit official transcripts from all institutions of higher education as part of your application. You can request your Yale College transcript online through the Student Information System (SIS) or by contacting the Office of the Registrar . If you completed courses at another college or university or studied abroad, you will need to contact those schools directly to request official transcripts. For courses taken abroad, you may be required to get a translation of your transcripts if it is in another language.  

Resumes and CVs:  Graduate programs often require applicants to provide a resume or CV (curriculum vitae). The OCS website provides resume samples and a CV worksheet  that you can use as a guide when developing your document. Before submitting your resume or CV, you should have it reviewed by a OCS Career Advisor or Graduate Peer Advisor to assure it is free of errors and is effectively conveying your skills, background, and experiences.

Writing Samples and Creative Portfolios:  Depending on your discipline, you may also need to submit writing samples appropriate to your intended area of specialization, such as poetry, fiction, or journalism. For those pursuing advanced degrees in performing or visual arts, you may also need to submit a portfolio of your work or audition tapes. Review the specific requirements for the programs you’re considering and speak with your faculty advisor or OCS Career Advisor, Derek Webster , to discuss your needs.

Interviewing:  A graduate school interview should be approached in the same manner as a job interview. Preparation and practice are essential. Be ready to discuss your academic preparation and motivations for seeking a graduate degree, your specific areas of interest within the field of study, and your goals following your degree completion. Also, be prepared to discuss any internships, fieldwork, research, or clinical experiences and the impact they had on you. After the interview, don’t forget to send thank you notes.

News from OCS

Yale silver scholars progam at som.

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The  Silver Scholars Program  at the Yale School of Management allows students to  earn a Yale MBA degree within three years , directly after graduation, spring-boarding them toward their career goals and leadership positions. The program is designed for exceptional students with  strong …

Connecting with Faculty & Requesting Letters of Recommendation

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Connecting With Faculty During Your Time at Yale

There are many reasons you will want to get to know your professors during your time at Yale. Not only are they brilliant researchers, and wonderful teachers, they also greatly enjoy working …

Applying To (and Paying For!) Graduate School (videos)

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Thinking about graduate school? Wondering how to approach the application process and funding? Watch these two great videos to find out. Both review the general application approach and process; the first video also includes information about fellowships you might want …

Meet with OCS Advisors

For all employer events, visit Yale Career Link

Student Groups, Organizations & Professional Associations

Yale office for graduate student development & diversity (ogsdd), association of professional schools of international affairs (apsia), career videos, job search resources, ocs youtube channel.

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OCS is excited to share our brand new YouTube Channel ! You’ll find all our animated videos, panel talks, career development …

Big Interview (AI Resume Reviews and Mock Interviews)

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Big Interview is a system designed to meet your needs. Start with an AI Resume Review to see how your …

Service to School (S2S)

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Service to School (S2S) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides free college and grad school application counseling to military veterans …

OCS Professional Development Reimbursement for Yale Juniors and Seniors

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In an effort to support students pursuing careers in the nonprofit, government and the arts sectors, those interviewing for national …

International research and collaboration opportunities outside the U.S

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Funding for global research and in support of collaboration with researchers from other countries.

LawCareer.Net

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LawCareers.Net (LC.N) is a comprehensive, one-stop online resource created for future lawyers and those who recruit them. The site contains …

CONTACT & LOCATION

55 Whitney Avenue, 3rd Fl. New Haven, CT 06510

SERVICE HOURS

The office is closed weekends, holidays, and recess days .

Office of Career Strategy

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Important Dates and Deadlines

Main navigation.

The items below should be completed as soon as possible to ensure a smooth transition to your graduate program:

As Soon As Possible

• Respond to the offer of admission.  If receiving department financial aid, the deadline to respond to the offer of admission is April 15.
• Upload a photo for your Stanford ID Card by logging in through the  Upload link.
• Maintain/update mailing address in your student  Axess  account.
• Apply for housing  starting April 3; more information below.
• Review Entrance Health Requirement information; more information below. 
• International Students: Those who are not U.S. citizens or U.S. registered permanent residents should submit  I-20 or DS-2019 requests  online. Starting in early April, Bechtel will send incoming students invitations to their Bechtel Connect portal.

Important dates for students starting in Autumn Quarter of academic year 2024-25

• Deadline to register with the Office of Accessible Education if you will later submit an application for disability/medical housing accommodation. 
• Housing application deadline  for disability/medical accommodation
• Housing application deadline  for first-round assignments
• Housing application deadline  for second-round assignments

July 4 - October 25

• Housing rolling assignments
• Entrance Health Requirement Deadline , submitted to Vaden Health Center..

Late August

• Stanford English Placement Test  for international students who have the item listed on their To Do list in their Axess account.

September 5

• Axess opens for Autumn quarter enrollment. Refer to the Student Services website and academic calendar for the most current information regarding enrollment groups. (New international students will not be able to enroll until after arriving on campus.) Sign the Patent and Copyright Agreement on Axess prior to enrollment.

September 9 - 20

• Orientation program for international graduate students  organized by Bechtel International Center. 

September 15

• Deadline for students starting in Autumn quarter to acknowledge or waive  Cardinal Care health insurance coverage

September 15 - 21

• New Graduate Student Orientation , hosted by The Graduate Life Office. (Previous years' schedules included Grad 101 panel, Library tours, Speed Friending, President's Reception, American Football 101, and a lunch and information event.)

September 23

• First day of classes; if not already enrolled through  Axess , do so before 5 pm. Last day to clear any additional admission requirements (see your “To Do” list in  Axess ) as specified by Graduate Admissions, Student and Academic Services.

Payment Deadlines

Stanford uses electronic billing and payment services. Charges for tuition, room, and board are billed prior to the beginning of each academic quarter, and are due as indicated on the bill, generally on the 15th of the following month. All other charges are billed monthly as they are incurred. Information about these services and university payment deadlines is available at the Student Services website .

Academic Calendar

See the 2024-25 calendar for important dates throughout the year.

Graduate School

Review Admission Decision

Welcome to all admitted applicants!

As an admitted applicant, your offer of admission outlines the tasks you will need to complete to review and submit your admission decision. Much of this will be completed in our Admitted Applicant Portal. Below is an outline of key tasks.

The response to our offer must be submitted no later than April 15, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

Admitted Applicant Portal

Visit the Admitted Applicant Portal, which is accessible via your application account , for access to the offer of admission and to keep track of your task list.

Activate Your Princeton NetID

The Office of Information Technology (OIT) will send an email with details about a personal Princeton account. This account will need to be activated to review the details of the admission offer and to submit an admission decision online. Please refer to the original email from OIT or contact the  OIT Service Desk for questions or assistance with this account. If an applicant has an active Princeton account, please use the current netID and password to log into TigerHub , select Menu, then select Graduate Admission Decision.

Review Admission Offer & Submit Decision

Using the Princeton netID and password, log into the Graduate Admission Center  to review the admission offer.

View Your Offer : Go to the Graduate Admission Center . Select Graduate Admission Decision to view the admission offer and conditions of admission. If you are a current student using TigerHub , select Main Menu in the upper left then select Graduate Admission Decision.

Accept, Defer, or Decline : Scroll down to accept, accept but request a deferral (degree-seeking students only), or decline the offer of admission. If requesting a deferral, please see deferral information below. Enter the reasons for the decision and answer the questions. If declining our offer of admission, system access will be terminated within 30 days.

Submit : To send the final decision, select Submit. A confirmation email that the response has been received will be sent within 48 hours. By selecting Save, the decision is not final and has not been submitted to the Graduate School.

Print or Save : After a final decision is submitted, print or save a copy of the submitted form. Select the link in the top right box “Print Submitted Form” and it will open in PDF format. In order to view/print the submitted form, Adobe Acrobat Reader must be installed on a computer and pop-up blockers disabled. Adobe Acrobat Reader is available as a free download .

Visas : Applicants applying for a visa are required to submit a copy of the Admission Offer directly to the Davis International Center with the visa application.

Decision Deadline

The Graduate School must receive the submitted response to our offer no later than April 15 by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. We strongly encourage submitting the decision sooner. A reply allows us to inform others who may be awaiting a decision. Once a final decision is submitted, it cannot be changed. An offer of admission may be rescinded based on the Policy on Rescinding an Offer of Admission . In order to accept an offer of admission, you must submit the acceptance online. Contacting the department or program will not serve as an acceptance.

An offer of admission to the Graduate School is made only for the upcoming academic year.  Acceptance of the offer is generally not deferred; however, the Graduate School permits academic degree programs to recommend admission deferrals on a case-by-case basis, generally only for academic-related reasons. If the recommendation is approved by the Graduate School and granted, the deferral is normally for one year only; the student is expected to have accepted Princeton’s offer of admission and support. Accordingly, a student who requests and is approved to defer admission is considered under an obligation to enroll and attend the graduate program the following year.

Under exceptional circumstances, where the deferred student fails to satisfy the reason for or conditions of the deferral, the deferral may be withdrawn and the offer of admission may be rescinded.

There are two parts to requesting a deferral. First, an applicant must contact the department or program to discuss the reasons why he or she wishes to defer. If the department or program approves the deferral request, the applicant should select the "I accept but am requesting a deferral" button within the admission offer and upload a brief statement explaining the specific reasons for the deferral request in the field provided. Then, the Graduate School will review the request and a decision will be emailed within three to five business days. A deferral is NOT confirmed without Graduate School approval. Please see our Policy on Deferring Admission .

International students who are not able to arrive by the start of the fall term due to travel or visa issues may request to defer enrollment to a later semester beginning August 15.

The Graduate School at Princeton University is a member of the Council of Graduate Schools and abides by its resolution on admissions. The applicant can only accept one offer of admission to one institution. In the event that the applicant accepts an offer and decides to change his or her mind, either before or after the April 15 deadline, the applicant will need to inform the program of the withdrawal of acceptance of an offer in writing, prior to accepting a second offer. To notify Princeton that you withdraw your acceptance, please email [email protected] and include the reason for the withdrawal.

Pre-Onboarding Tasks

Access your princeton email.

The personal Princeton email address is the provided netID and @princeton.edu ( [email protected] ) and can be accessed at http://gmail.princeton.edu . Access to email can also be found on the Princeton University website by selecting Links for, then Students, and Gmail. Learn more about Princeton email . For help with an email account, contact the OIT Help Desk by calling 609-258-4357, emailing [email protected] , or visiting the OIT Service Desk . Note: After you accept your offer, if you are experiencing an issue with logging into your new Princeton Gmail account, you may need to reset your password .

Apply for Graduate Housing

To apply for Graduate Housing , you must complete and submit the online housing application. NetID and password will be required. Princeton makes every effort to make an offer of University housing to all incoming graduate students whose applications are received between March 1 and April 19, 11:59 p.m. View our graduate housing tour .

Housing applications received after April 19 will be put on a waitlist regardless of when a student was admitted. Please note that all communications from graduate housing will be sent to the Princeton email. Any questions regarding housing can be directed to the Housing Office at 609-258-3721 or [email protected] .

University of Washington Information School

Doctorate in information science.

• Advising & Support
• Capstone Projects
• Upcoming Info Sessions
• Videos: Alumni at Work
• Request more information

Ph.D. Application Process

Application timeline for autumn 2024 enrollment.

• Sept. 1, 2024:  Application opens
• Dec. 2, 2024:  The Application for Graduate Study and all application materials must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (PST). *
• Early January 2025:  Select applicants will be notified that they have been chosen to participate for an interview. Applicants not selected for an interview will receive a final decision letter.
• January 2025:  Interviews will be conducted via phone or private chat room with members of the Ph.D. admission committee.
• Early February 2025:  All decisions (admit, wait list, deny) will be conveyed via email. 
• Mid-February 2025:  Admitted applicants will receive their funding package. (All admitted applicants receive a funding offer.)
• March 6-7, 2025:  Visit events for admitted students occur on the UW campus in Seattle.
• April 15, 2025:  Reply deadline for initial round of offers.

Deadline Policy

All application materials should be submitted by the Dec. 2 deadline. Review and/or consideration of incomplete applications or late materials is at the discretion of the Ph.D. admissions committee.

* Please be aware that our application system operates on the U.S. Eastern Time Zone, which means the time displayed in your application may be three hours later than the current time in Seattle/Pacific Time. All applications submitted by the deadline and marked as received by Dec. 4 at 2:59 a.m. Eastern Time will be considered.

* Test scores and letters of recommendation have a two-day grace period beyond the application deadline for submission, Dec. 4 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Kindly urge your recommenders to submit the letters at their earliest convenience to ensure the completeness of your application for the given round.

Reapplication Procedures

Some individuals apply to the Ph.D. program more than once.  These applicants will need to submit a complete application through the Application for Graduate Study just like any other first-time applicant. However official test scores submitted during the previous admissions cycle will be kept on record and will not need to be reported again. Applying to the program multiple times does not increase or decrease your chances of being admitted. Each application cycle is a fresh start.

Full Results

Customize your experience.

• Application Deadlines & Requirements

Upcoming Deadline

November 1, 2024, application deadline.

Early Decision I

Deadlines & Requirements for First-Year Applicants

After choosing an admissions plan ( Early Decision I, Early Decision II , or Regular Decision), make sure to review all application steps before submitting your materials by the required deadline.

Johns Hopkins University is a QuestBridge College Partner. See dates, deadlines, and requirements at apply.jhu.edu/questbridge .

If you’re interested in applying to the Peabody Institute, visit peabody.jhu.edu for application requirements and deadlines.

First-Year Applicant Eligibility

• Students who are currently in high school.
• Students who have graduated high school or earned a GED and have less than 12 semester-based credits from another institution. This does not include college credit earned while in high school.

If you’ve already earned a bachelor’s degree, you are not eligible to apply for undergraduate admission to Hopkins. We encourage you to explore our graduate programs for more opportunities to pursue your interests.

Deadlines & Important Dates

Application Checklist

Submit through the  common application  or  coalition on scoir, your completed application.

A completed application through Common Application or Coalition on Scoir will include your high school transcript, activities list inclusive of family or work responsibilities, list of academic achievements and honors, personal essay (known as the personal statement), parent or guardian information, the Hopkins supplement, and optional standardized test scores.

The Hopkins supplement, which includes our supplemental essay

2024–2025 supplemental essay prompt.

How has your life experience contributed to your personal story—your character, values, perspectives, or skills—and what you want to pursue at Hopkins? (350-word limit)

The supplemental essay helps the admissions committee get a sense of how your interests and values align with the opportunities available at Hopkins.

In this essay question, we’re looking for how your background, life experiences, or interests have shaped who you are and what you want to get out of college.

This can be a future goal or experience you hope to pursue at Hopkins that is academic, extracurricular, or social, or how you hope to approach your college experience as a scholar, leader, or community member.

Wondering how to get started? An admissions counselor shares tips on crafting your supplemental essay .

Applying to Biomedical Engineering (BME):

If you are interested in applying to our biomedical engineering program, be sure to indicate it as your first-choice major. There is no separate application process.

Students are admitted to BME based on evaluation of credentials and space available. It is possible to be admitted to the university without acceptance to the BME major. If you are accepted into the BME major, you’ll be notified at the time of decision release. If you are admitted to the university but not to the BME major, you may select any other intended major in the Whiting School of Engineering or Krieger School of Arts & Sciences.

The $70 application fee or fee waiver

You can request a fee waiver directly through the Common Application or Coalition on Scoir. If you don’t meet the eligibility criteria on the application and need support covering the application fee, you or a representative from your current high school can submit our fee waiver request form .

Your standardized test scores Optional, but recommended

Johns Hopkins University is test-optional for the 2024–2025 application year (students enrolling in fall 2025) but encourages students with access to testing to submit available SAT or ACT scores. As part of our holistic review process, submitted scores will be taken into consideration within the context of your broader application.

We will review self-reported or official test scores as part of the application. If you self-report your scores, and you are admitted and choose to enroll, you will be required to send official score reports.

Learn More About Our Testing Policy

Your signed Early Decision Agreement Early Decision I and II only

If you’re applying as an Early Decision applicant, you must submit a binding agreement to attend Hopkins if admitted.

Learn More About Applying Early Decision

Request the Following Materials From Your School

Your secondary school report.

Ask your school counselor or another school official to submit your secondary school report—which includes your counselor recommendation, transcript, and high school profile—through the Common Application or Coalition on Scoir.

Two teacher evaluations

Also known as letters of recommendation, these should be from teachers of two different academic subjects who can provide insight into you and your work. They can be submitted through the Common Application or Coalition on Scoir.

Your mid-year report Due in mid-February

When you apply, your school counselor will usually send your current transcript with few or no senior year course grades included. The mid-year school report allows us to review your grades and performance in the first half of your senior year. We’ll reach out to you and your school counselor via email when these are due.

Submit Through Your Applicant Portal

International certification of finances form international students only.

You’re considered a domestic applicant if you’re a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, eligible noncitizen , or have DACA or undocumented status.

All international applicants must document the available funding for their education by submitting the Certification of Finances form.

All international students who are applying for financial aid must submit the CSS Profile.

Important note: International students must apply for aid as first-year applicants if they think they’ll need any financial help at any time while they’re at Hopkins.

Explore Our Resources for International Students

After You Apply

Check your application status, view your financial aid checklist, and access your admissions decision through the applicant portal. You'll receive instructions for logging on after you apply.

How We Make Hopkins Financially Possible

We make it possible for talented students to join our community and explore all it has to offer through financial aid that doesn’t need to be paid back.

Additional Applicant resources

We understand each student has a different set of questions about the application process. Use the dropdown menu below for helpful answers that may apply to you.

Support for Unique Circumstances

We understand external circumstances like natural disasters or current events can impact your ability to complete your application. If you need support or flexibility throughout the application process, please contact your regional admissions counselor .

Admissions Tips & Advice for Your College Search

Our College Planning Guide is a quick-reference resource where you can find all our application tips videos, advice for your college search, and financial planning resources.

Admissions Events & Tours

Our events help you understand our admissions process and prepare you to craft your strongest application. Hear directly from our admissions team at a Q&A or application workshop, and get the answers you need to apply with confidence.

Hopkins is coming to you

We're hitting the road! Join our admissions counselors at an information session hosted in a city near you.

Quick Links:

• Majors, Minors & Programs
• College Planning Guide

How to Apply

Penn students and alumni are shaping the future of engineering and transforming the world. are you ready to join them.

The application process is straightforward, and we’re here to help. We evaluate your application holistically based on the following components:

The Application

When you’re ready, start your online application here . 

Your Professional Resume

We look at your resume to learn about your job skills, the depth of your professional experience, your leadership experience and more. 

A Personal Statement

In two pages or less, write an essay that answers the questions below. (But if you’re applying to the Integrated Product Design program, see the IPD-specific questions here .) Use specific examples where possible.

• Why are you interested in this program?
• What have you done that makes you a great candidate?
• How will you benefit from the program?
• How do you plan to contribute to the student community in Penn Engineering while you’re here?
• Why will you succeed in the program?
• What will you do/accomplish once you have completed the program?

Letters of Recommendation

Please provide two letters of recommendation (three for the CIS Ph.D. and BE Ph.D. “Medical Physics” concentration only), including one from a faculty member who is familiar with your scholarly abilities.

• Your letter writers will receive an email when you enter their contact information in the application for admission. 
• The email provides a link to fill out a form and upload their letter. 
• We don’t have any formal requirements or guidelines for how the letters should be written.

Transcripts

When you apply, please submit an unofficial transcript from each university or college where you earned course credit. Your transcripts must be in English. Admission to a Penn Engineering graduate program requires satisfactory completion of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited U.S. university or its equivalent prior to your matriculation. Transcripts uploaded must reflect all coursework taken from every post-secondary institution attended, even if you transferred, withdrew, or did not graduate. 

When requesting documents to be sent to Penn Engineering Graduate Admissions, please ensure that you have indicated the appropriate office. In instances where multiple University of Pennsylvania profiles are available, you should select the option for the University of Pennsylvania, Dept: SEAS Graduate Admissions (Engineering) when possible.

Institutions Outside the United States

For each university or college you’ve attended outside the U.S., we require that you contact a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) to have a course-by-course evaluation of your non-U.S. transcript(s) sent directly from the NACES member to Penn Engineering Graduate Admissions. This evaluation should include course titles, grades received, GPA, and U.S. degree equivalency. 

Penn Engineering does not accept transcripts directly from institutions outside the U.S. or English-language translations of such transcripts. Any document uploaded as a transcript for an institution outside of the U.S. without the NACES course-by-course evaluation will not be reviewed and your application will be considered incomplete. The evaluating agency will provide instructions for how to request and submit the required academic documents for review, and the process can take several weeks to complete, so we encourage you to begin this process at least eight weeks in advance of the application deadline.

While Penn Engineering accepts course-by-course evaluations from any NACES member ,  many of our applicants have been successful using: 

Educational Perspectives

Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)

International Education Evaluations (IEE) 

World Education Services (WES) 

Official transcripts are only required if you have been admitted and choose to enroll.

Exchange Programs or Study Abroad

Exchange program or study abroad at an institution in the United States

If the course names and grades from any exchange programs do not appear on your home institution’s transcript, you must upload a copy of a registrar-issued transcript directly through the online application system. Applicant-uploaded copies will be considered unofficial and used only for faculty review purposes. Should you be admitted and choose to enroll at Penn Engineering, official transcripts must be sent directly from the registrar’s office of the relevant institution(s) before you begin coursework.

Exchange program or study abroad at an institution outside the United States

If your exchange program’s course names and grades do not appear on your home institution’s transcript and your host institution was a non-U.S. school, please upload an English copy of your registrar-issued transcript from your exchange institution to the online application system. If you have completed more than two semesters of study at an institution based outside of the United States, you must submit all official transcripts to a member of NACES and request to have an official course-by-course evaluation sent directly from a NACES member to Penn Engineering Graduate Admissions.

The Application Fee

Please pay the $90 nonrefundable application fee along with your online application. You may qualify for a fee waiver if you are in one of the following categories: 

• US citizens or permanent residents with proven low-income background
• Applicants with Penn or military affiliation
• Eligible students from a US partner institution applying to an Accelerated Master’s program

If you meet one of these criteria, your fee will be automatically waived.

GRE (Optional)

The GRE is optional during the current application cycle, and it won’t hurt your application if you choose not to take it. But if you have taken the exam and received valid scores, we encourage you to submit them. Here’s what you need to know if you decide to submit your scores: 

• The institution code to use for the GRE exam is 2888.
• Test results must be valid at the time you submit your application.
• Your official scores must be submitted by the application deadline.

English Language Proficiency (for international students)

If you are an international applicant or a non-US citizen or permanent resident and English is not your native language, you must submit official scores for (1) the Test Of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), (2) the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or (3) Duolingo English Test (DET).

• The institution code for the TOEFL exam is 2888.
• Test results must be valid when you submit your application.
• You must take the exam by the application deadline.
• Test scores from at-home administration of the GRE and TOEFL exams are accepted. 
• Please send your IELTS score report electronically to “University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science.”
• Please send your DET score report electronically to “ University of Pennsylvania – School of Engineering and Applied Science – Graduate.”

Test Waivers

To have the English-language requirement waived, you must meet one of the following criteria by the time of matriculation:

• Graduate from a program in the United States;
• Attend school in a country in which English is recognized as the official language; or,
• Graduate from an institution where the medium of instruction is English, and this is indicated on the unofficial transcript

If you meet one of these criteria, this requirement will be automatically waived.

Recommended Scores

You don’t have to achieve a particular score to be admitted, but we recommend that you aim for at least the following scores:

Ph.D. Admissions Timeline

16 Sep Application opens for Fall 2025

16 Dec Application deadline

1 Apr Admissions decisions released **Release Update: Decisions are released on a rolling basis. Applicants can expect a decision by April 1.

Master’s Degree Admissions Timeline

1 Nov Early admissions deadline (for CIS, Data Science, Robotics and MCIT on-campus programs with two deadlines)

15 Jan Early admissions decisions released

3 Feb Regular admissions deadline

1 Apr Regular admissions decisions released for Fall 2025

Funding Your Education

A degree from Penn Engineering is an excellent investment in your future. Find out more about costs, scholarships and other funding opportunities.

Request Information

Fill out our form to learn more about graduate programs at Penn Engineering.

• PhD/Master's Application Process

Who is Eligible to Apply? 

If you have completed your undergraduate degree (bachelor's or equivalent) or will have completed it prior to your intended matriculation date at Yale, you may apply to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS).

A Master's degree is not required to apply for a PhD at Yale, although some programs give preference to applicants with post-baccalaureate training. Consult your program of interest directly for information on how it evaluates applications.

We value diversity of all kinds at the Graduate School, and we encourage students from all backgrounds to apply if Yale is a good fit for your intellectual and professional goals. All are welcome to apply, without regard to citizenship or immigration status, socioeconomic level, race, religion, gender identification, sexual orientation, disability, etc.

Requirements for All PhD and Master's Degree Applicants

You will need to provide the following with your application for admission:

• A statement of academic purpose. You will find the prompt for the statement of purpose in our Application Question FAQs . 
• A list of all the prior colleges or universities you have attended, accompanied by unofficial transcripts from each school. Unofficial transcripts should be uploaded with your application. Official or paper transcripts are not needed at this time. 
• Three letters of recommendation. Enter the names of your recommenders directly in the application and they will receive a link to upload a letter on your behalf. 
• $105 application fee or fee waiver. 
• Standardized tests . GRE requirements vary by program. TOEFL or IELTS are necessary for most non-native English speakers. 
• Resume/CV . 
• Some programs have additional requirements, such as a writing sample . You can find information about any specific requirements on the program's website. 

Where Do I Begin?

Decide whether you will apply for a PhD or a terminal Master’s (MA, MS) in one of the programs available at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences . (Note that you will earn one or more Master's degrees en route to a PhD.) Learn about the program: its faculty, course offerings, and resources. Read the faculty's research publications. If you can identify and articulate why the program is a good fit for you and show how your preparation and interests align well with it, you will have a strong application.

A note to students applying to one of Yale’s professional schools or programs:

• If you are applying for a PhD in Architecture, Environment, Investigative Medicine, Law, Management, Music, Nursing, or Public Health; for an MS in Public Health; or for an MA in Music, be sure to use the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences PhD/Master's application.
• If you are applying for any other degree at one of the University’s professional schools (Art, Architecture, Divinity, Drama, Environment, Global Affairs, Law, Management, Medicine, Music, Nursing, and Public Health), visit that school’s website for further instructions. Those programs have separate admissions policies and processes that are administered by the professional schools, not GSAS.

Application deadlines vary by program, so please see Dates & Deadlines for information about your program of interest. 

All new students matriculate in the fall. The admissions process begins nearly a year in advance of matriculation.

Some PhD and Master’s degree programs require Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. Check your program's standardized testing requirement before you apply. 

In addition, applicants whose native language is not English may need to take an English Language test (TOEFL or IELTS).

The application for Fall 2025 entry is now available. 

Be sure to complete and submit the application before your program's application deadline. 

Your application fee or an approved fee waiver is due upon submission of your application. 

Your letters of recommendation do not need to be received before you will be able to submit your application. However, since programs begin reviewing applications shortly after the respective application deadline, please be sure that your letters of recommendation are submitted promptly.

What Happens After I Submit My Application?

The faculty admissions committee in each department and program begins reviewing applications shortly after their application deadline. Led by the director of graduate studies (DGS) or director of graduate admissions (DGA), the committee will recommend students for admission to the Graduate School. Once confirmed by the deans of the Graduate School, the admissions office will release final decisions to applicants.

Unlike undergraduate admissions, the admissions office and staff of the Graduate School maintain the application, the application process, and other administrative transactions, but the admissions staff does not review applications or make admissions decisions. That responsibility is handled by the faculty of each department or program.

Most admissions decisions are provided between February and early March. You will receive an email notification when your admissions decision is available.

If you are accepted for admission, you will need to decide if you wish to accept our offer by April 15. We abide by Council of Graduate School's April 15 Resolution , regarding graduate financial support. 

Ready to apply? Begin your application today.

PhD/Master's Applicants

• Why Choose Yale Graduate School?
• Dates and Deadlines
• Standardized Testing Requirements

Non-Degree Program Applicants

Looking for non-degree programs? In some cases, it is possible to enroll at the Graduate School as a non-degree student. Non-degree students receive a transcript and many of the benefits of being a Yale student, but do not earn a degree upon completion of their enrollment. We offer three types of non-degree programs.

• Non-Degree Programs

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Application Deadlines

Submit your application and all required materials by the program’s application deadline.

Start your  Engineering Application at any time. Apply now for summer and fall 2025 start terms. Application deadlines and requirements vary by degree program . A ll application materials are due in the application at the time of submission; updated or replacement materials are not accepted via email.

For part-time/online master’s degrees and certificate programs offered in the Whiting School of Engineering, visit Engineering for Professionals  

How to Submit Your Application  

Once you begin your application, you may log-in at any time to complete and submit your application. Complete and answer all required questions and upload all required materials. Applications must be submitted by the degree program’s posted deadline. View the chart below for application deadlines by degree program; all dates are valid for applications submitted for 2025 start terms.

After your application has been submitted, log in to your status portal to check the receipt of all materials on your requirements checklist. 

Application Submitted vs Application Complete

You will see a confirmation page once the application is successfully submitted. Our application system takes approximately 60 minutes to refresh after submission before all supporting materials display as received. You will receive a confirmation email that your application has been successfully submitted, and an additional email when your application is complete with all required materials, including letters of recommendation and official test scores, which may arrive later.

Application Materials

All application materials must be submitted directly in the application portal and are due at the time of submission. Official test scores, credential evaluations, and letters of recommendation will automatically populate to an application, even after submission.

We do not accept updated or replacement materials   after submission or via email. This policy includes but is not limited to:

Unofficial Transcripts:  Many applicants apply with partial or “incomplete” transcripts while in the process of completing a degree; programs are aware of this and utilize a holistic review of all materials submitted.

Self-reported Test Scores:  If scores were submitted with your application, we will not include an additional self-reported test date. You are welcome to send additional verified scores directly from the testing agency, which will populate automatically to your application after a delay of up to 14 days. Be aware, if new scores arrive after review begins, they may not be considered.

Supporting Documents: This can include Resume/CV, Statement of Purpose, Personal Statement, Sample of Work, or additional materials beyond what has been requested in the application. Programs will only review the required materials requested in the application, and applicants are responsible for ensuring their documents are accurate before submission. Examples can include: a recently published paper, adding a new internship to resume, or a typo found in a supporting material.

Official Test Score(s) Delay

Programs will use unofficial test scores for review while awaiting officials scores from the Testing Agency. Official scores have a delay of up to 14 days  between requesting official scores and when they are received by our application system. If your name formatting, date of birth, or email differs between your Testing Agency account(s) and your application account, scores may not populate to your application.

If it has been more than 2 full weeks since requesting official scores, contact Engineering Graduate Admissions with your full name, application reference number, and the following information typed directly into the body of your email to verify scores: (1) GRE registration number to verify ETS scores sent to code 4655; (2) TOEFL appointment number to verify ETS scores sent to code C559; (3) IELTS test report form number to verify IETLS scores sent to code Johns Hopkins, Whiting School of Engineering.

Application reviews are conducted directly by the degree program you applied for. Most programs do not begin review until after the deadline for submission has passed. Some programs wait to release decisions until all applications are reviewed.

Once a decision has been made, you will receive an email sent to the address registered with your application account to check the status update in your online portal. Contact the program you applied to directly for a specific timeline estimate. Engineering Graduate Admissions is not able to provide updates about decisions via email.

Application Deadlines by Degree Program

Application deadlines are listed in the table below. Departments or programs are listed in alphabetical order, followed by the available degrees, programs, and fall, spring, or summer deadlines. Any degree programs listing “Not accepted” in a column indicates that applications are not accepted for that start term.

Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date. 

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Gre prep online guides and tips, grad school deadlines: when you need to apply.

With your academic future at stake, it’s critical that you don’t miss a grad school deadline! Luckily, in this total guide to grad school application deadlines, we’ll review when most graduate school deadlines are and some special application deadline situations. Finally, we’ll help you figure out how you should best approach grad school deadlines in your own planning.

When Are Grad School Applications Due?

For most programs that begin in the fall—when the school year traditionally starts— deadlines for graduate school applications are in December or January. It’s rare for programs to have application deadlines earlier than December, but of course, there are exceptions.

Another sizable chunk of programs have deadlines in February or March. Grad school deadlines later than March aren’t very common, but some programs do have them.

Sometimes a particular school will have a very late application deadline, but most of the actual individual programs have much earlier deadlines for grad school applications. For example, University of Illinois at Chicago has a school-wide application deadline of August 1, 2018  for students applying to enter in fall 2018. However, you can see in the actual list of programs that most of the on-campus degree programs have a required or recommended deadline before February 15 for fall admission.

Of course, if you want to know the deadline of a particular program, the best thing to do is look it up!

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Grad School Application Deadlines: Special Situations

There are also some special situations you might encounter for graduate school deadlines. We’ll go over them below.

Rolling Admissions

Some graduate school programs have a rolling admissions policy. This means that applications are considered as they come in and results are mailed out as soon as a decision about an application is reached. A general rule with rolling admissions is that it’s better to apply earlier if you can because admissions will be less competitive. Essentially, the earlier you apply, the more space remains in the class.

For rolling admissions, admissions usually open about a year before the program begins and close when the class is full. Once the class is full, you will no longer be able to apply.

As an example, many of the master’s programs at the Penn Graduate School of Education have rolling admissions. Penn reports that admissions usually reach capacity in mid or late spring.

Some other graduate programs do admissions in rounds or phases. This means that there are several deadlines for sending in applications at different points in the year. When a deadline is reached, the applications for that phase are all considered in a batch, and then offers are made.  Then the process repeats itself one to three more times (creating two to four rounds) to assemble the class.

If your application is ready for the first round of admission, it’s a good idea to submit it then. Admission rates are usually higher in the first round. However, if your application will be much stronger in a later admissions cycle, wait. So don’t write your entire personal statement overnight in an attempt to make the first round!

The rounds process is particularly common for business school. For example, Stanford Business School has three admission rounds. They advise that their second round has grown much more competitive in recent years. This means that if possible, students should apply for the first round. Additionally, students need to apply in the first or second round to be eligible for need-based financial aid and on-campus housing.

This is a situation where planning ahead really benefits you!

Starting in a Different Term/Semester

Some programs allow you to apply to start the program in a spring or summer term instead of the fall term. In this case, you’ll have a different deadline —usually in the early fall for spring semester entry. For example, many programs at Purdue University—West Lafayette allow entry in the spring or even the summer. You can start their Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics in the fall or the spring. The deadline for the fall is January 1st, and the deadline for the spring is September 15th.

Be aware that if you do start in a different term, it may affect your financial aid, scholarship, and campus housing application eligibility and/or processes. On the other hand, since schools receive fewer applications in “off” terms, admission may be less competitive. Check all of that out before you decide to apply in an off-cycle.

Meeting “Recommended” Grad School Deadlines

Some schools have “recommended” or “priority” grad school application deadlines. There are typically two kinds of recommended or priority deadlines: admissions priority deadlines and funding priority deadlines.

For admissions priority deadlines, applications received by this date are guaranteed full consideration for admission. Applications received after the deadline may not be reviewed based on space constraints. For example, Electrical and Computer Engineering at Duke had a priority deadline of 12/1/2017 for fall 2018 entry that guarantees full review. However, they will still consider applications based on available space until the application closes on  2/28/18 .

The second kind of recommended or priority deadline is a funding priority deadline. Some programs guarantee that applications received by a particular date will receive consideration for all funding opportunities. Applications received later than the priority date will receive limited consideration for financial aid (or none at all, depending on the program). For example, the Bioethics and Science Policy master’s program at Duke has a hard deadline of  3/31/2018  for guaranteed review of your application, but the priority deadline for financial aid consideration is  1/31/2018 .

If your program does have a recommended deadline, be sure to check exactly what the priority deadline means: is it for admission, for financial aid, housing, or some combination? This may affect your decision to apply or wait if you can’t get everything together by the deadline. For instance, if the priority deadline affects financial aid and you know that you will need financial aid to attend graduate school, it may be best to wait for the next admissions cycle if you can’t make the priority deadline.

As a general rule, if there is a recommended or priority deadline, it’s definitely to your advantage to get your application filed by that date!

How to Plan for Grad School Application Deadlines

Filling out graduate school applications is typically a process that takes many months. There are many moving pieces that require your attention—requesting transcripts, getting recommendation letters, writing a personal statement, taking the GRE, etc. To that end, I recommend planning ahead and starting the whole process about a year before any deadlines.

Here’s my four-step plan to grad school deadline management success:

A Year In Advance: Start to Identify Programs of Interest

You should start thinking about what programs you are interested in applying to as soon as you start thinking about going to graduate school! About a year before you intend to submit applications, take a few months to research schools and programs and hone in on a list of schools you want to apply to. You can of course make tweaks to this list throughout the process. But try to have your core list of schools mostly finalized by about eight months before any deadlines . So if I was applying to start a master’s in Fall 2019, I would want to have my list of programs finalized around May 2018, about eight months before December/January deadlines.

7 Months in Advance: Identify Application Tasks

Once you have a list of programs, identify everything you will need to do to complete the applications for each those programs. Make a list of those tasks. What tests will you need to do? How many recommendations do you need for each program? What are the essay prompts? Look through the application requirements online for all of your schools to figure it out.

You should also think about timing so that you can get everything completed before your deadlines. Don’t just ask: when are grad school applications due? You also need to consider more granular questions about all of the parts that go into each application, like “when do I need to ask for recommendations?” and “when should I submit my transcripts?” or else things will fall through the cracks.

The tasks you will need to complete will vary by program, but here’s a general guideline to things you’ll most likely need to get done and when you should think about completing them:

• Prepare and take the GRE (or other tests): If you’re able, it’s best to take your first GRE at least four months before any graduate school deadlines. This way, if you don’t get the score you want the first time around, you’ll still have time to prepare more and take the test again .
• Ask for recommendation letters: It’s best practice to ask for recommendation letters at least eight weeks in advance of any deadlines. Be sure to give your recommenders all the necessary information they’ll need to submit your letters!
• Request transcripts: Request all transcripts at least a month in advance to account for processing times.
• Essays: There’s a little more wiggle room here because you have total power over when your essay is completed and submitted. There’s no waiting on bureaucracy! But you should definitely have a first draft done at least a few weeks in advance of grad school application due dates so you’ll have time to revise and edit.

6 Months in Advance: Create a Planning and Tracking System

Once you’ve got a list of tasks that you’ll need to do complete and a general idea of when those things need to be completed, make a clear, organized planning and tracking system for your tasks.

I personally recommend making a spreadsheet for this purpose. List your programs along one side of the sheet and all of your requirements on the other side. You can use the spreadsheet to indicate the status of all of your tasks, goal dates for completing tasks, when they’re completed, and so on. You can even put useful links (like to the application portal!) in your spreadsheet.

Here’s an example of what a tracking and planning spreadsheet might look like:

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Of course, these are just suggestions—you can format your own plan whatever way is most intuitive for you. But making some kind of visual representation that places all the information you need right in front of you, as well as your deadlines and status, is an enormous help in meeting deadlines. You’ll be able to see everything about your status at a glance.

Until Deadlines: Complete and Track Tasks

Once you make your plan to meet all of your grad school application deadlines, the next thing to do is start completing and tracking your tasks! This means preparing for the GRE, starting essays, requesting transcripts, asking for recommendations, and so on.  Refer to your plan often (at least once a week) so that you know what tasks are next. Also be sure to keep the status of each task updated in your plan. This will keep you organized and prevent scrambling all the way up until you submit your completed applications.

Should I Rush to Meet a Grad School Deadline?

If you realize on October 15 that your true calling is to get a master’s degree in agricultural sciences and the deadline is on December 1st, should you rush to get everything in on time or wait another term or year? In general, I advise against rushing. But here are three things to consider:

Can You Still Put Forth a Strong Application?

A last-minute application won’t be as strong as one you crafted with tender love and care over many months. But this doesn’t mean you can’t put forth a decently strong showing. If you already have strong, valid GRE scores, some recommenders who really like you and are willing to expedite a recommendation for you, and a lot of available time to work on your essay and application forms, you can probably make it work. However, if you don’t have any of those key ingredients, you may really struggle to create a strong application in a short time frame.

Is It Worth the Expense and Strain?

Trying to pull together an application as quickly as possible is expensive and stressful. Not only will you incur all the expenses associated with graduate school applications very close together, you may find that you’ll need to pay extra to do things like expedite transcripts to meet deadlines.

Also, pulling together everything at the last minute will be stressful for you (and probably anyone significant in your life). Perhaps even more critically, asking recommenders to quickly write recommendations for you can put a strain on those relationships. It’s pretty inconsiderate to ask for recommendations less than 6 weeks in advance at the very least; giving recommenders at least 8 weeks is much better. If you really want both a high-quality recommendation and to maintain a positive relationship with recommenders, it may be a lot better to wait.

What’s Your Worst-Case Scenario Plan?

Worst-case scenario is, of course, that you won’t get in. In this case, if you still want to go for graduate school, you’ll need to reapply for another term. Schools generally won’t hold the fact that you’ve applied before and been rejected against you just so long as you put a demonstrably stronger application in front of them the second time.

Of course, you could also get in and be offered less funding or support than you would have with a stronger application. In this case you’ll have to consider if it’s worth it to accept the offer or try again next year.

The upshot is that if you can afford the expense and stress of a rushed application process that’s not as likely to be successful, you don’t necessarily have a lot to lose in terms of your future prospects if you do apply. But you definitely need to moderate your expectations when you’re scrambling to complete everything at the last possible moment.

Graduate School Deadlines: Key Takeaways

For programs that begin in the fall, most graduate school application deadlines are in the preceding December or January. You’ll also see a few in February and March, and maybe even a few in other months!

There are a few special types of grad school application deadlines you may encounter:

• Rolling admissions:  Admissions committees consider applications as they receive them and accept applicants until the program is full. So it’s to your advantage to apply early.
• Rounds:  Admissions committees consider applications in several batches. Earlier rounds are typically less competitive than later ones.
• Applying for different terms: Some programs accept applications to start studies in the spring or summer. You may find that applying for an off-term is less competitive. However, you might also have less access to things like housing and funds, so investigate all of this before you commit to a course.
• Priority or recommended deadlines: These deadlines give you the highest consideration for admission and/or funding. Admissions committees may still look at applications after priority or recommended deadlines. However, they may not receive as close of consideration or have as much funding available.

Here’s my four-step plan to dealing with graduate school deadlines:

• 12 months before applying: Investigate programs and make your list of schools
• 7 months before applying: Identify the tasks you’ll need to complete for each application
• 6 months before applying: Create a detailed planning and tracking system for all the tasks you need to complete for your graduate school applications.
• Until deadlines: Closely following your planning and tracking system, complete essential application tasks and submit applications!

What’s Next?

Want more information on graduate school? See our decision guide for graduate school . And check out if you need to take the GRE to apply !

Stumped by grad school admissions tests? We’ll help you figure out whether to take the GRE or the GMAT , how long to study for the GRE , how to make a GRE study plan , and when to take the GRE .

Not sure if your scores can get you in to school? See our analysis of average GRE scores by major  and by school . Plus see our in-depth guide to retaking the GRE .

Ready to improve your GRE score by 7 points?

Author: Ellen McCammon

Ellen is a public health graduate student and education expert. She has extensive experience mentoring students of all ages to reach their goals and in-depth knowledge on a variety of health topics. View all posts by Ellen McCammon

PhD Application Timeline: Timeline For Applying For Grad School

If you are looking to apply to start your Ph.D program, the journey can be daunting. However, with the right roadmap, it becomes manageable.

In this post, we guide you through each crucial step of the application process. From drafting your statement of purpose to securing letters of recommendation, we offer insights and tips to help you stay on track and maximise your chances of success.

PhD Application Timeline

March To June

In March, it’s crucial to start preparing your application components. This includes finalizing your list of target programs and universities, ensuring they align with your research interests and career goals.

Begin drafting your statement of purpose and personal statement, emphasizing how your experiences and aspirations fit with each program’s offerings.

Simultaneously, focus on getting your GRE test done if your chosen programs require it. If you’re not satisfied with your GRE score, consider retaking the exam.

April is all about refining and finalizing your documents. Review these documents, and ensure they do not have any grammatical mistakes of typos: 

• Statement of purpose
• Personal statement, and
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)

This is also the time to finalize your letters of recommendation. Choose recommenders who are aware of your academic potential and can vouch for your suitability for graduate research.

By May, you should be ready to submit your application. Ensure all components, including your transcript and writing sample, are tailored to each program’s requirements.

This is also a good month to start exploring financial aid options, such as the FAFSA and any available fellowships or scholarships.

June is often when you’ll hear back from programs with rolling admissions. This can give you an early indication of where you stand and may require you to adjust your strategy for other applications.

Throughout these months, it’s important to stay organized, keep track of application deadlines, and allow ample time for each step of the application process. 

July To August

July and August are typically quieter months in the PhD application timeline, but they are by no means less critical.

This period provides an invaluable opportunity to enhance your application and position yourself as a strong candidate for fall admissions. Let’s delve into some key activities you should engage in during these months.

In July, if you haven’t already submitted your application, now is the time to do a final review. Check for any grammatical mistakes or typos in your

• Writing samples.

It’s also crucial to ensure your CV is up-to-date and reflects your most recent achievements and experiences. For those who have already submitted their applications, use this time to research potential fellowship opportunities and prepare for any upcoming interviews.

August is an excellent time to reach out to the graduate programs you’ve applied to and confirm that your application is complete. This shows your continued interest and ensures that nothing is missing from your application file.

If you’re waiting to hear back from programs with rolling admissions, you might start receiving admissions decisions.

During this period, it’s also wise to start preparing for your next steps. Research the graduate schools and the areas where you might live for the next few years. Look into:

• Housing options
• Support systems available at the university, and
• Job placement statistics for graduates. 

This will not only help you make an informed decision if you receive multiple offers but also allow you to plan accordingly for your move and transition to graduate school life.

September marks a critical juncture in your PhD application timeline. This month, you’re not just a prospective student; you’re a strategist, networking to enhance your application. Here’s what you should be focusing on:

First, reach out to potential recommenders. These should be faculty members who can attest to your unique skills and academic prowess. A strong letter of recommendation from someone who knows you well can significantly bolster your application.

Ensure they are aware of your grad school application deadlines and provide them with key insights about the programs you are applying to.

Networking with current students and alumni from your target programs is also crucial. They can offer invaluable insights into the graduate program’s:

• Teaching styles, and
• Research opportunities.

If possible, plan informal visits or attend virtual sessions to get a sense of the community you’re hoping to join.

Don’t forget to make contact with the admissions team. Attending information sessions and engaging with them can provide a deeper understanding of the program’s requirements and research opportunities.

This interaction is often noted by graduate admissions teams and can influence admissions decisions.

Finally, seek input on your Statement of Purpose (SOP). Have mentors or peers review it for grammatical accuracy, clarity, and effectiveness.

Remember, a well-crafted SOP can make a significant difference in showcasing your suitability for the program.

First, finalize your list of prospective schools. It’s a strategic decision – weighing program strengths against your research interests. This is more than just ticking boxes; it’s about envisioning where you’ll live and thrive for the next few years.

By now, you should have a solid sense of the universities and programs that align with your aspirations.

Creating accounts on each graduate program’s application portal is your next step. This isn’t just a formality; it’s where you’ll:

• Submit your application
• Track documents, and sometimes
• Find out about those pesky additional requirements – like that surprise essay due in early December.

Start preparing now to avoid a last-minute scramble.

Tailoring your statement of purpose for each application can make the difference between getting noticed or overlooked. It’s not just a personal statement; it’s your narrative, tying your past achievements to future potential.

Admission committees seek candidates who not only fit their program’s ethos but also bring a fresh perspective.

Finally, transcripts are more than a formality; they’re a testament to your academic journey. Request them early to ensure accuracy and timeliness.

November To December

As November and December roll in, the timeline for applying to PhD programs becomes critical. Whether you’re eyeing the upcoming fall admission or strategizing for later, focus on these steps:

Finalize Your GRE Prep and Test Dates: Many programs still consider GRE scores pivotal. If you’re retaking the GRE to improve your score, now’s the time. Remember, it’s not just about the score but how it complements your overall application.

Secure Letters of Recommendation: Ensure your recommenders are aware of your timeline. A well-thought-out letter from a faculty member who knows your capabilities and research interests can make a significant difference.

Submit Applications: Graduate school applications are often due in early December. This includes your personal statement, CV, transcripts, GRE scores, and sometimes a writing sample. Remember, a typo or grammatical mistake can be costly—proofread meticulously.

Financial Aid and Fellowship Applications Don’t overlook financial aid and fellowship opportunities, like the Graduate Research Fellowship or school-specific scholarships. The FAFSA and other financial documents are crucial and often have different deadlines.

Make contact with graduate students in these programs to provide a different perspective and understand the support systems available. You can also reach out to the professors directly.

Preparation Is Key When Applying To Graduate School 

Embarking on your PhD journey is an exciting yet intricate process that requires meticulous planning and dedication. This comprehensive timeline serves as your beacon, guiding you through the labyrinth of grad school applications.

By adhering to these timelines and embracing each step with thorough preparation and strategic thinking, you position yourself as a strong candidate.

The journey to a PhD is not just about academic rigor but also about personal growth and aligning your aspirations with the right opportunities. Stay focused, stay inspired, and your path to graduate school will lead to rewarding destinations.

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

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Normal length of time taken to arrive at a phd admission decision?

I would like to know, if possible, how long it takes on the average to reach a first admission decision for doctoral programs?

Let us say a doctoral program promises to inform the applicants of the outcome three months after the deadline for submitting application packages. Does this really mean that to reach a decision requires exactly three months?

• graduate-admissions
• application

• 3 I am not quite sure what you are uncertain about. I do not see any way the quoted statement could mean what you ask. They just promise not to spend longer than that. –  Tobias Kildetoft Commented Dec 27, 2014 at 16:23
• Downvote for what? My question is clear. That my motivation is unclear does not constitute a reason for downvoting, by the rules here. –  Yes Commented Dec 28, 2014 at 1:58
• @TobiasKildetoft I am afraid you asked a wrong question. That you cannot tell why something causes a question does not mean that the question is not a question. My question is clear in itself. –  Yes Commented Dec 28, 2014 at 2:01

2 Answers 2

In my experience it's common for academic departments to have a graduate admissions committee that meets periodically to make admissions decisions and decisions on financial aid. Sometimes decisions on financial aid are made separately from decisions on admission.

In our department we review applications as they come in and typically respond with a decision on admission within a few weeks. However, decisions on financial aid are made only a few times per year. For example, we'll meet in early April to decide on assistantship awards for the fall semester.

Under this system, if you applied for admission now, we'd review your application and reach an admissions decision by the end of January, and you'd either be told "no", or "you've been admitted but we'll make decisions about financial aid in early April."

I've seen other institutions where all of the applications are held until one meeting where both admissions and financial aid decisions are made at the same time. Under that system, you probably wouldn't hear anything at all until the committee met and made its decisions.

A couple of other comments:

Applications are often sent to a central office ("graduate studies" or something similar) and then distributed to the departments to make admissions decisisons. In my experience, there are many incomplete applications received by our graduate office. We don't see them in the department until and unless all of the required materials have been submitted. You can and probably should check with the office where you sent your application to make sure that the complete application has been received.

Christmas (December 25) and New Year's Day (January 1) are important holidays in the US. Traditionally, fall semester classes end before Christmas and spring semester classes don't start until after New Year's Day. Many colleges and universities are effectively closed for a few weeks around these holidays. You shouldn't expect to hear anything from any university in the US until after New Year's Day because of these holidays.

I am assuming that you are referring to programs that offer rolling admissions —that is, programs where you can submit an application at any time of the year.

The key words in your question are on average . If you consider all of the applications received by the committee, it will take the committee approximately three months to reach a final decision on a randomly chosen application. However, that is definitely not an exact number—in clear-cut cases, they could reach an answer much sooner. Similarly, applications received during "peak" periods or during the summer—when many faculty are on travel and therefore not as readily available to meet for such decisions—it may take a bit longer.

Part of the reason for this is that several layers of decision are usually involved: first the applications need to be reviewed, and individual members of the admissions committee will have a chance to weigh in. Then, if needed or part of the program's process, interviews will be conducted. After that, the application will still need to be approved by the entire admissions committee, and possibly departmental-level approval will also be required.

If you have not heard anything after three (or better, three and a half) months, then a politely worded email to the admissions office to ask about the status of your application would be appropriate.

On the other hand, if there is a single admissions cycle per year, the decision-making schedule is usually more or less the same each year. Thus, regardless of when you actually submit the forms, notification of the decision comes at the same time for everyone.

• Thank you very much for the answer :) In fact, I am not referring to the rolling admissions! I am referring to the normal admissions: One admission for one year. To this case, does the answer still apply or situations might be different? Thanks! –  Yes Commented Dec 27, 2014 at 16:06
• The situation is more or less the same. The issue is that when you submit the application relative to the deadline has less of an effect. The decision will be made for everybody as a group, not just on an individual basis. –  aeismail Commented Dec 27, 2014 at 17:20

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April 15 Resolution

The April 15 resolution is an agreement among the signatory graduate schools to provide applicants until April 15 to consider offers of admission that also include financial support.

Resolution Regarding Graduate Scholars, Fellows, Trainees, & Assistants

Acceptance of an offer of financial support (such as a graduate scholarship, fellowship, traineeship, or assistantship) by a prospective or enrolled graduate student for the next academic year completes an agreement that both student and graduate school expect to honor. In that context, the conditions affecting such offers and their acceptance must be defined carefully and understood by all parties.

Students are under no obligation to respond to offers of financial support prior to April 15; earlier deadlines for acceptance of such offers violate the intent of this Resolution.

If a student accepts an offer before April 15 and subsequently desires to withdraw that acceptance, the student may submit a written resignation of the appointment at any time through April 15. Applicants are not required to obtain a formal release from the program whose offer they accepted, either before or after the April 15 deadline. Once applicants have informed the program that they are withdrawing their acceptance of the offer, they then can accept any other offers.

It is further agreed by the institutions and organizations subscribing to the above Resolution that a copy of this Resolution or a link to the URL should accompany every scholarship, fellowship, traineeship, and assistantship offer.

• This Resolution applies to offers of financial support only, not offers of admission.
• This Resolution is reviewed and reaffirmed by the CGS Board of Directors every five years and was last renewed October 2019.

CGS has prepared several documents regarding the April 15 Resolution:

• A PDF of the Resolution , which includes a list of CGS member institutions that support the agreement;
• A sample letter to send to your school deans, graduate program directors, and administrators outlining the Resolution
• An FAQ page that addresses the most common questions.

Many institutions have worked with their graduate councils to garner broad institutional support for the resolution. If your institution is not currently a signatory of the April 15 Resolution and is interested in being added, please contact Cari Moorhead .

The Fall 2025 Graduate Program Application is open! Apply by the early action deadline on October 3, 2024.

Requirements & Deadlines

Requirements & deadlines on this page:

Full-time Master's Programs

Phd program.

• Evening Master's Program

Non-Degree Programs

Deferred applicants, application deadlines.

The above notification dates are subject to change. We typically release both scholarship and admission decisions at the same time. Students who receive a scholarship will see a letter on their account. If you have questions or concerns or would like to discuss your scholarship please email [email protected] .

Note: Applications are accepted until space is no longer available. Decisions may be released periodically as space becomes available or completed documents are received. Application deadlines may be adjusted. Please visit this page for the most updated deadline and notification information.

Academic Support Programs

While no specific experience is required for our degree programs, students with a strong liberal arts background and sound quantitative and analytical skills will be best prepared to thrive at Harris Public Policy. To help incoming full-time students who need a boost in any of these areas, we offer several academic support programs , including pre-orientation programs in English (for international students) and math. For current students, additional support is available through the Policy Writing Program.

Orientation Programs

Harris hosts a series of orientation programs for entering students—some are optional and some are required. All incoming full-time students are required to attend orientation Welcome Week which takes place the week before classes begin. Nearly all entering full-time students also opt to participate in Math and Coding Camp, which begins one month before the start of classes. To learn more about our orientation programs see the info for admitted students .

Application Requirements

The following documents are required for admission to full-time master’s degree programs.

The Committee on Admission and Aid evaluates all official transcripts of academic work, personal essays, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities and community service, performance on standardized tests (for full-time degree programs), and any special factors brought to its attention. The committee considers each application on the basis of all materials submitted and does not automatically eliminate applications based on grade point averages or test scores. The application requirements are the same for all full-time master's degree programs.

Online Graduate Application

The application for 2025 degree programs at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy is now open! Apply now.

Upload a current resume, reflecting your work experience, education, community service, professional honors, and any other relevant information.

Motivation Statement (Required)

Prepare a brief and well-articulated response to a prompted question regarding your motivation to pursue graduate studies in public policy (300 words).

Short Essay (Optional)

Although the Motivation Statement is required, the essay question is optional. Prospective MPP Students who would like to be considered for The Pearson Fellowship must complete the Pearson essay at the time their application is submitted. Please note, only MPP applicants may apply to The Pearson Fellowship.There is no right, or even preferred, approach to answering the essays. Each essay is an opportunity for you to showcase your writing, analytic, and critical thinking skills.

Transcripts

You may submit unofficial transcripts through the electronic application process. Official transcripts will be required upon admission only for enrolling students. Please submit transcripts for all prior academic work from any institution of higher education.

Letters of Recommendation

Recommenders should submit letters through the electronic application—hard copy letters will be accepted but are not preferred.

For students applying directly from their undergraduate program, we prefer to have at least one reference from a previous professor who can speak to your academic background and preparedness for graduate studies.

• To  submit your application,  you must provide the names and contact information for three recommenders in the application portal. The application will not allow you to submit without the contact information for three designated recommenders listed in the portal. You can submit your application prior to the actual letters being received, but you must list the names and contact information for three recommenders in order to submit.
• In  order to be reviewed for admission,  two of the three letters must be received within a week of the deadline.

Applicants cannot designate which letters should be included in admission review. If all three letters are received, all of them will be used in the admission review process

The GRE waiver attestation is completed as part of your application for admission. Your transcript and resume documents, as well as your work experience section, education information, and additional information provided in your application are the support for your GRE waiver attestation. These elements will be used for verification during the admission review process. You  do not  need to send GRE waiver documentation separately from your application. Applicants to the full-time master’s programs— Master of Public Policy (MPP) , MA in Public Policy (MA) , MS in Computational Analysis and Public Policy (MSCAPP) , and MA in Public Policy with Certificate in Research Methods (MACRM) —must either meet one of the four waiver criteria below or submit a GRE test. Applicants will submit this information as part of their application. Students will attest to the criteria and provide supporting documentation in the application.  Please note, this information should not be sent via email, and must be uploaded and submitted as part of your application in order to be considered by the admissions committee.

Waiver Criteria

1. Qualifying Professional Experience. At the time of application submission, applicants must indicate in their work history and on their resume that they have completed five or more years of full-time relevant professional work.  

• Relevant may be defined as related to policy, government, business, economics, education, or social services.   
• Applicants in other fields may attest that their work experience is relevant to public policy study.  
• Five or more years are calculated as the time between  completion of bachelor's degree and the date of application submission.

2. Military Service - Completed five years of active duty national military service (in any country). 3. Documented coursework. Completed the equivalent of college-level, credit-bearing, Calculus I and/or beyond with a grade of B or better. Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus may satisfy this requirement if it appears on the undergraduate college transcript as college credits.

• Please see MATH 15100 Calculus I in the UChicago Course Catalog for an example of the concepts to have been covered.  
• Applicants who completed Calculus I in a different grading scale may attest that they earned the equivalent of a B or better. 

4. Qualifying Education – Applicants who are graduates of an undergraduate program at the University of Chicago. 

Approved GRE Test Substitutions  

• Applicants to the JD/MPP may submit the LSAT  
• Applicants to the full-time master’s programs—MPP, MA (full-time), MSCAPP, and MACRM— may submit the GMAT 
• Applicants to the University of Chicago Medicine partner programs for physicians may submit the MCAT 

The GRE is not required for the Evening Master’s Program (EMP) , the Five Year Master in Public Policy with the College (BA/MPP), and Five Year MS in Computational Analysis and Public Policy with the College (BA/MSCAPP) programs.*  

*Please note: only currently enrolled undergraduate students at the University of Chicago are eligible to apply to the BA/MPP and BA/MSCAPP programs. 

You may submit self-reported (unofficial) GRE or GMAT scores for admission review. Official scores must be provided upon accepting an offer of admission. The Harris Public Policy institution code is 1832 . Either code will be accepted. Make your reservations with ETS directly: http://www.ets.org/gre .

Hardship Requests 

Applicants for whom a recent natural disaster or other major, widespread disruption has affected their ability to complete an application may submit a Hardship Request . For more information and questions about the Hardship Request, please contact [email protected] .   

English Language Requirement

Applicants to the Harris School of Public Policy who do not meet the English proficiency waiver criteria must submit proof of English language proficiency, in the form of either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) . Read about test score requirements.

Minimum Score

While we do consider TOEFL/IELTS scores below the minimum requirement, including the total and sub-scores, admitted students with below requirement scores will receive conditional admissions until they achieve the required score(s).

Exam Retake

If you choose to retake the exam to meet the minimum requirement, note that we accept the highest total score and sub-score of each valid exam. In the Test Scores section of the application include the dates of your upcoming retake exam. 

Find more information about the English language requirement .

Harris Admissions is not authorized to waive the English language requirement and must be granted by the University of Chicago.

The Harris application system will automatically grant the waiver if you meet the University of Chicago's  English language requirements .

Application Fee (Submitted with Online Application)

In order to reduce barriers for prospective students, this year we have eliminated the application fee for master's degree applicants .*

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Application Deadline

Phd candidates | december 5, 2024.

The following documents are required for admission to the PhD program.

Research Statement

Prepare a well-articulated response to a prompted question regarding your motivation to pursue graduate studies in public policy, specifically addressing your research interests (800 words).

Writing Sample

PhD candidates will be required to submit a writing sample or single-authored research paper.

Three (3) Letters of Recommendation

We are looking letters of recommendation that speak to your professional or academic ability. Recommenders should submit letters through the electronic application.

The Harris Public Policy institution code is 1832 . Either code will be accepted . Please make your reservations with ETS directly: http://www.ets.org/gre . If you choose to submit your scores, official scores are required for all applicants. Please contact the Harris Admissions Office if you have questions regarding other standardized tests.  PhD applicants must submit the GRE and cannot request a waiver.

Language Requirements

*Please note, while a $90 nonrefundable application fee is still required for PhD applicants, fee waivers are available. In order to have your application fee waived you must start an application and complete the Fee Waiver Request Form, which is linked to from your online application on the instructions page of the application. If approved, you will be notified directly.

Evening Master’s Program (EMP)

The Evening Master's Program (EMP) launches two times throughout the year. Applications will be reviewed during application deadline periods. Applications received after the application deadline will be reviewed as space is available and may be reviewed for a future quarter.

The following documents are required for admission to the part-time Evening Master’s Program (EMP).

The  application for the EMP is now open. Apply now for the class starting in fall 2025!

Motivation Statement

Applicants to the Harris School of Public Policy who do not meet the English proficiency waiver criteria must submit proof of English language proficiency, in the form of either Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) . Read about required minimum scores for each test.

Short Essays (Optional)

Evening Master's Program (EMP) applicants are not required to complete the short essay. However, EMP applicants who wish to be considered for another program if not admitted to their original program choice must submit the required short essay.

Requirements and deadlines for non-degree programs vary by program. Find the details for each program:

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When issuing admission decisions some students may receive a deferred acceptance. Student who receive this decision are admitted to a future year, and their admission letter will provide further information. Additionally, some students who are admitted to the current fall class may choose to defer for personal reasons. In both instances, students may be required to deposit each year in order to hold their seat in the next class. 

If you were offered admission in the previous admission cycle to a future year, or if you elected to defer your enrollment, you will receive instructions from Admissions in late January regarding your application. It is important to respond to these instructions in order to ensure we have available space for incoming students.

Please note a request for deferral is not automatically approved. Your request to defer may be denied. Students who do not respond by the deadline given by admissions may be asked to reapply rather than defer.

For more information, please refer to the Hardship and Deferral Requests page or contact us .

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Graduation Requirements & Deadlines

The Graduate School has a set of requirements for each degree that must be submitted to our office in order to have your degree conferred. Let us help you on your journey to graduation.

Requirements by Degree Type

For each degree type, there are specific requirements that must be submitted to the Graduate School, prior to set deadlines, in order to have your degree conferred. Find your degree below to determine what requirements you must submit.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Phd required conferral materials:

• A completed M-Form for Master's Degrees With Thesis and All PhD Degrees .
• Electronic submission of your dissertation. Please see our Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) Guidelines page for submission instructions.
• Completion of the doctoral degree recipient surveys ( two surveys required for PhD students).
• For more information review the Doctoral Degree Checklist for Graduation . 

Master's Degrees, Advanced Certificates, Doctor of Audiology (AuD), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Doctor of Social Work (DSW) and Doctor of Education (EdD)

Those pursuing an advanced certificate, any master’s degree, AuD, DNP, DSW or EdD, must “Apply for Graduation” through HUB by deadline listed below in order to become a candidate for degree conferral. Please refer to the step-by-step guide on applying for graduation in HUB.

Students completing an exam, paper, project or portfolio: Before your conferral date your department must complete the appropriate culminating experience milestone in HUB.

Students completing a thesis: Submit completed M-Form for Master's Degrees With Thesis and All PhD Degrees and electronic submission of your thesis. Please see our Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines page for submission instructions.

Other Degrees (DDS, DPT, JD, MD and PharmD)

The Graduate School does not handle your degree conferral. Please contact your academic department for the details about your graduation requirements.

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Application Submission Deadlines (Autumn 2025 Enrollment)

All applications must be submitted by the deadline; we do not accept late applications. However, please see the University’s Hardship Request policy for possible extensions related to widespread disaster or disruption of access to services. All deadlines are 11:55 p.m. U.S. Central Time.

PhD Programs 

The application deadline for all PhD programs is December 5, 2024 .

Master’s Programs

Applications for master's programs are accepted in three rounds:

• Early Action: November 14, 2024
• Round 1: January 7, 2025
• Round 2: May 1, 2025

Note: Round 2 is on a space available basis only. Although we make every effort to accommodate Round 2 applications, we cannot guarantee full consideration to those received after the Round 1 deadline.

Only a few programs interview applicants. Those that do will issue invitations via the online application system in January or February. At the time interview invitations are issued, applicants who are not selected to move forward are notified of their decisions. The following programs conduct interviews:

• Anthropology (PhD)
• Comparative Human Development (PhD)
• Political Economy (PhD)
• Psychology (PhD)
• Sociology (PhD)

The Office of the Dean of Students notifies applicants of their admissions decision via our online application system. In some cases, departments may informally notify applicants of decisions earlier. Only the formal offer of admission from the Dean of Students is official.

PhD Program Decision Timeline

PhD programs typically issue decisions at the end of February or in early March.

All applicants who are not admitted to our PhD program are automatically forwarded for consideration by our MA programs, unless the applicant specifically opts out of this process on their application. That said, as referred applications are considered later than most other MA applications, scholarship assistance for students admitted to an MA program through the referral process may be limited. If you are interested in our MA programs and would need scholarship assistance to attend, we would encourage you to apply directly to the MA as well as our program (note that this would require a separate application and application fee). MA applications are accepted multiple times per year with decisions typically issued within 6 to 8 weeks. Questions about applying to an MA program should be directed to  [email protected] .

PhD applicants whose applications are considered for review by our MA programs will receive a decision from the MA program in March.

MA Program Decision Timeline

MA programs issue decisions approximately 6-8 weeks after the decision round deadline.

Offers & Response Deadlines

PhD Programs

We ask admitted students to respond to their offers of admission by April 15, in accordance with the Council of Graduate Schools April 15 resolution .

The Division does not defer admission to PhD programs, except when matriculating in sanctioned dual programs with the University of Chicago law school or medical school. Other admitted applicants are invited to reapply for the next academic year application cycle and may contact the SSD Admissions Office to have the fee waived.

MA Programs

The deadline to respond to an offer of admission to an MA program varies by the application deadline round. No offer of admission will require a response earlier than April 20. Individuals admitted during the final round are usually requested to respond within 4 weeks.

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Clinical Mental Health Counseling Interview FAQs

Frequently asked questions, where do i park .

Please park in the Admissions Visitor Parking Lot. The location of the interview will be indicated in your confirmation email. Please reference the campus map for more information.

What is the dress code? 

While there is no specific dress code, we encourage business casual attire.

What should I bring to the interview? 

You are welcome to bring a water bottle and note-taking materials such as a laptop or notebook. However, this is not necessary as light refreshments, pens and paper will be provided. Bringing printouts of your application materials is not necessary.

Do I need to prepare anything ahead of time? 

There is nothing academically that you need to prepare ahead of time as you will not be quizzed on your counseling-related knowledge. This interview is an opportunity for you to learn about the program and for our faculty to get to know more about you. Feel free to ask questions and make sure our program is a good fit for your goals.

How long is the interview and is there an agenda? 

The day will consist of a variety of different events including a presentation from faculty, small group discussions and one-on-one meetings. The specific times will be noted on your confirmation email and an agenda will be provided the day of the interview. 

What if I can’t make this interview or I live out-of-state? 

Please email the Office of Graduate Admission at [email protected] as soon as possible to make alternative arrangements.

When can I expect an application decision?

Decisions are expected to be released about 2-3 weeks after the final interview date. Please note, often there may be multiple interview dates and decisions do not go out until all interviews are completed. 

Contact Graduate Admission

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Admission Steps

Professional/clinical psychology - psyd, admission requirements.

Terms and Deadlines

Degree and GPA Requirements

Prerequisites

Additional standards for non-native english speakers, additional standards for international applicants.

For the 2025-2026 academic year

See 2024-2025 requirements instead

Fall 2025 quarter (beginning in September)

Final submission deadline: December 2, 2024

Final submission deadline: Applicants cannot submit applications after the final submission deadline.

Degrees and GPA Requirements

Bachelors degree: All graduate applicants must hold an earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited college or university or the recognized equivalent from an international institution.

University GPA requirement: The minimum grade point average for admission consideration for graduate study at the University of Denver must meet one of the following criteria:

A cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the baccalaureate degree.

A cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits (approximately two years of work) for the baccalaureate degree.

An earned master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution or the recognized equivalent from an international institution supersedes the minimum GPA requirement for the baccalaureate.

A cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all graduate coursework completed for applicants who have not earned a master’s degree or higher.

Program GPA requirement: The minimum undergraduate GPA for admission consideration for this program is a cumulative 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Please visit for more details on the program specifc GPA requirement.

Applicants WITHOUT a psychology background (major or minor), must meet the department's psychology prerequisite prior to matriculation.  The psychology prerequisite can be met either through psychology coursework or by obtaining a score of at least 660 or higher on the psychology subject GRE exam. Applicants should state how they plan to meet the psychology prerequisite in their application. For the psychology coursework prerequisite, applicants must complete four (4) psychology courses earning a 'B' or better in these classes from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants offered admission should be aware that all psychology classes must be completed before registration in September.

Official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), C1 Advanced or Duolingo English Test are required of all graduate applicants, regardless of citizenship status, whose native language is not English or who have been educated in countries where English is not the native language. Your TOEFL/IELTS/C1 Advanced/Duolingo English Test scores are valid for two years from the test date.

The minimum TOEFL/IELTS/C1 Advanced/Duolingo English Test score requirements for this degree program are:

Minimum TOEFL Score (Internet-based test): 80

Minimum IELTS Score: 6.5

Minimum C1 Advanced Score: 176

Minimum Duolingo English Test Score: 115

Additional Information:

Read the English Language Proficiency policy for more details.

Read the Required Tests for GTA Eligibility policy for more details.

Per Student & Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) regulation, international applicants must meet all standards for admission before an I-20 or DS-2019 is issued, [per U.S. Federal Register: 8 CFR § 214.3(k)] or is academically eligible for admission and is admitted [per 22 C.F.R. §62]. Read the Additional Standards For International Applicants policy for more details.

Application Materials

Transcripts, letters of recommendation.

Required Essays and Statements

We require a scanned copy of your transcripts from every college or university you have attended. Scanned copies must be clearly legible and sized to print on standard 8½-by-11-inch paper. Transcripts that do not show degrees awarded must also be accompanied by a scanned copy of the diploma or degree certificate. If your academic transcripts were issued in a language other than English, both the original documents and certified English translations are required.

Transcripts and proof of degree documents for postsecondary degrees earned from institutions outside of the United States will be released to a third-party international credential evaluator to assess U.S. education system equivalencies. Beginning July 2023, a non-refundable fee for this service will be required before the application is processed.

Upon admission to the University of Denver, official transcripts will be required from each institution attended.

Two (2) letters of recommendation are required.  Letters should be submitted by recommenders through the online application.

Essays and Statements

Essay instructions.

Please respond to both essay prompts below and upload one PDF document, which should include your two essay responses, to your online application. The word limit for each essay is 500 words. Please number or label your essays. • We do not require a personal statement. • Both essay responses are required. **Note: Please read the essay prompts carefully and be sure to align your response with what is requested in the prompts.** Essay 1 Describe someone you know, other than a parent or guardian, about whom you have strong ambivalent or conflicting feelings. Describe the person in such a way that they “come alive” for the reader. How do you understand your reactions to this person? How might your personal history influence how you react? Essay 2 What life experiences and personal motives have most influenced your decision to pursue graduate study in psychology in GSPP’s PsyD Program? *This question is about your personal motives and requires a degree of self-disclosure. *Avoid writing about the wish to help others or about how you want to contribute to society. *There is no need to list your credentials or professional experience (this is already on your CV/resume which will be read).

Résumé Instructions

The résumé (or C.V.) should include work experience, research, and/or volunteer work.

Faculty review completed applications December through early February.  We will notify applicants via email with an admissions status update sometime in late January/early February.  If invited to interview, interviews will be held online in late February. For more information about the programs that the Graduate School of Professional Psychology (GSPP) offers, please refer to GSPP's admissions webpage.  If you have any questions or concerns regarding admission requirements, deadlines, and late application materials, please contact [email protected] or call (303) 871-3736.

Start the Application

Online Application

Financial Aid Information

Start your application.

Your submitted materials will be reviewed once all materials and application fees have been received.

Our program can only consider your application for admission if our Office of Graduate Education has received all your online materials and supplemental materials by our application deadline.

Application Fee: $65.00 Application Fee

International Degree Evaluation Fee: $50.00 Evaluation Fee for degrees (bachelor's or higher) earned from institutions outside the United States.

Applicants should complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 15. Visit the Office of Financial Aid for additional information.