Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements

To apply to The Graduate School please note the dates below:

The Graduate School application deadlines are provided in the following tables. However, some programs have earlier deadlines to submit an application and to reply to an offer of admission. Please refer to the program’s website for specific information.

 

Summer 2025
First day to submit an application Monday, September 9th, 2024
Last day to submit an application & pay fee: Wednesday, August 20th, 2025
Deadline to reply to an offer of admission: Friday, August 22nd, 2025

 

Fall 2025
First day to submit an application Monday, September 9th, 2024
Last day to submit an application & pay fee: Wednesday, July 23rd, 2025
Deadline to reply to an offer of admission: Friday, July 25th, 2025

 

Spring 2025
First day to submit an application Monday, January 29th, 2024
Last day to submit an application & pay fee: Wednesday, December 18th, 2024
Deadline to reply to an offer of admission: Friday, December 20th, 2024

Application Fee

You will be asked to provide a valid credit card for a non-refundable payment of the application fee ($75.00). In some circumstances, your application fee may be waived.  Please refer to The Graduate School’s fee waiver information.  Your application is not considered complete or submitted until your application fee payment is fulfilled.

Education Requirements

Undergraduate Degree

You must hold a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from a regionally accredited college or university.

We do not consider 3-year bachelor’s degrees from India, Canada, Australia, Sri Lanka, Scotland and certain other countries to be equivalent to a 4-year US bachelor’s degree.  While we do accept outside credential evaluations from NACES and AICE members, if the degree is a 3-year bachelor’s degree from India, Canada, Australia, Sri Lanka, Scotland or other certain other countries, we will not consider the degree to be equivalent with a 4-year US bachelor’s degree.

The Graduate School does not require third-party credential evaluations for international transcripts. However, evaluations from members of the following associations are welcome:

  • NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) or
  • AICE (Association of International Credential Evaluators)

If you have obtained a third-party credential evaluation from a member of one of these associations, please include this in your application.

If you attended a school outside the US, additional application requirements are below.

GPA Requirements for The Graduate School

Except in exceptional circumstances, to be considered for admission to a graduate degree or certificate program, a student’s prior coursework must meet one of the following criteria:

  • A cumulative GPA for their most recent degree of 3.0 or higher for the entire degree, or
  • If the most recent degree is an undergraduate degree or the student has not yet completed their undergraduate degree:
    • A GPA of 3.0 or higher for the entire two most recent years of full-time undergraduate coursework, or
    • A GPA of 3.5 or higher for the entire most recent year of full-time undergraduate coursework, or
  • If a student has taken at least one semester of full-time study (9 credits or more) following the completion of the most recent undergraduate or graduate degree, a GPA of 3.0 or higher for all of their post-degree coursework.
To complete your application you must:
  • Upload transcripts from the educational institution where you received your bachelor’s degree and any courses taken beyond regardless of whether a degree was received.
  • Upload transcripts and degree diplomas/certificates from educational institutions outside of the United States in both English and the primary language of the university. Your application will not be reviewed without these copies.

Failure to upload transcripts from all educational institutions, regardless of whether a degree was received, may be grounds for cancellation of admission.

Additional application requirements for international students

Upload individual/yearly mark sheets, a consolidated marksheet, or transcripts (courses and grades, not hours) for students who complete their education in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, or Sri Lanka.

You must hold a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from a regionally accredited college or university. 

The Graduate School requires the completion of a U.S. 4-year bachelor’s degree or the equivalent. Please note: 3-year degrees from schools outside of the U.S. are not generally recognized to be equivalent. 

In order to qualify for admission to The Graduate School, an applicant must hold either a 4-year bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in the US or provide evidence of equivalent qualifications. Equivalent qualifications include: 

  • A 4-year bachelor’s degree from an institution outside of the U.S. 
  • A 3-year bachelor’s degree from an institution outside of the U.S. that requires the equivalent of 13 years of primary and secondary education (not including kindergarten) 
  • A 3-year bachelor’s degree from an institution outside of the U.S. plus one of the following: 
    • A master’s degree (or higher)  
    • A post-graduate diploma 
    • A combination of 1 year of education outside of the U.S. either before or after a 3-year bachelor’s degree  
    • Passing the final examination for a chartered accountant program 
    • Receiving a diploma from the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) 

Coursework must be completed at an appropriately accredited university.  

Please note that we cannot give absolute assurance that your academic documentation will qualify you for graduate study until we have reviewed your documents. When you apply, you must provide transcripts and degree statements for all post-secondary coursework at a college or university, even if a degree or certificate was not awarded. 

The Graduate School does not require third-party credential evaluations for international transcripts. However, evaluations from members of the following associations are welcome: 

  • NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) or 
  • AICE(Association of International Credential Evaluators) 

If you completed a degree and it is not indicated on your transcript, then we will require a copy of your degree diploma/certificate to be uploaded to your application. The most common reason for delayed consideration of applications is failure to upload all required transcripts and degree diploma/certificates from educational institutions outside of the United States.

To try and minimize international mail delays after submitting your application, The Graduate School recommends sending official transcripts and degree diplomas/certificates from each college/university you have attended.  (Please note official transcripts and degrees are not required to be sent to The Graduate School until after an offer of admission has been made.)  The documents should be mailed to:

University of Connecticut
The Graduate School
438 Whitney Road Ext. U-1152
Storrs, CT 06269-1152

Please note The Graduate School will accept:

  • International transcripts electronically from WES (World Education Services), IEE (International Education Evaluations), and ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators).*
  • Transcripts and degrees from China that are verified by either CSSD (Center for Student Services and Development, Ministry of Education, P.R. China), or CDGDC (China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development Center).*
  • Transcripts and degrees from India that are verified by TrueCopy.*
  • Transcripts and degrees from Nigeria that are verified by ETX-NG (Electronic Transcript Exchange and Certificate Verification System for Nigeria).*

* While CSSD, CDGDC, TrueCopy, ETX-NG and electronic evaluations from WES, IEE, and ECE are options for sending official transcripts and degree diplomas/certificates, original transcripts and degree diplomas/certificates are also accepted.

The Graduate School does not require a third-party credential evaluation. However, evaluations from members of the following associations are welcome:

    • NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) or
    • AICE (Association of International Credential Evaluators)

If your degree is a 3-year bachelor’s degree from India, Canada, Australia, Sri Lanka, Scotland or certain other countries, we will not consider the degree to be equivalent with a 4-year US bachelor’s degree. This is our policy, even if the degree has been evaluated as a 4-year degree by an outside credential evaluator that is a member of NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) or AICE (Association of International Credential Evaluators).

English Proficiency

If English is not your primary language**, you may be required to submit evidence of your proficiency in the English language. See Below.

**A primary language is defined as a language used to communicate since childhood.

Graduate Test Scores

Note: All test scores are only considered official by The Graduate School when sent electronically directly from the testing agency. Self-reported/uploaded scores will not be considered official in your application.

Important: Please verify with your testing agency that your name and email address match what is listed in your application. If they do not, please email gradadmissions@uconn.edu.

GRE and GMAT

The program you are applying to may require the GRE, specific GRE Subject Tests, or the GMAT. Please contact your intended program to confirm which test scores are required.

If required by your program, request that your standardized test scores be submitted to UConn. GRE and GMAT scores are only valid for 5 years (from original test date to submission of UConn application).

Test Details
GRE GRE scores will only be accepted when sent electronically through ETS

  • The GRE code for UConn Storrs is 3915
  • The GRE code for the UConn Health Center is 3931
GMAT GMAT scores will only be accepted when sent electronically through the Graduate Management Admission Council
English Proficiency for Admission

Regardless of visa status, students whose primary** language is not English, must show evidence of proficiency in the English Language by submitting either TOEFL, IELTS, PTE or Duolingo scores. The required minimum score for each test is listed in the chart:

Test Score Test Information
TOEFL 79 Internet-based test iBT, or iBT Home Edition, or iBT Paper Edition. We do not accept TOEFL Essentials, TOEFL MyBest Scores or TOEFL Institutional Testing Program (TOEFL ITP) results unless the TOEFL ITP scores are from UConn.
IELTS 6.5 Online IELTS is accepted. IELTS General Training and IELTS Indicator are not accepted.
PTE 53 PTE Academic or PTE Academic Online.
Duolingo 100

**A primary language is defined as a language used to communicate since childhood.

TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, and Duolingo scores are only valid for 2 years (from original test date to submission of UConn application).

Scores that an applicant self-reports or uploads to an application are considered to be unofficial. Official scores that meet our English proficiency requirement must be received directly from the testing agency.

Please see the following chart on how to submit your official scores:

Test Submitting Official Scores
TOEFL Send electronically through ETS using the following codes:

  • 3915 for UConn Storrs
  • 3931 for the UConn Health Center
IELTS Submit request for the testing company to send scores electronically to UConn. When sending official IELTS scores, please use the following information if prompted to provide it:

  • Organization: University of Connecticut – The Graduate School
  • Name of Department Head: Leslie Shor
  • Email ID: gradadmissions@uconn.edu
  • Contact: (860) 486-3617

Your IELTS testing center may require your UConn Graduate Application ID to request your official IELTS scores to be sent to our university. If this is the case, you can find this information on your Application Status Portal.

PTE Submit request for the testing company to send scores electronically to UConn.
Duolingo Submit request for the testing company to send scores electronically to UConn.

In addition to submitting official test scores, there are 2 alternative ways to meet the English Proficiency requirement.

Score Waiver Please note that even if English proficiency is waived for purposes of admission, Teaching Assistants (TA’s) must still provide proof of English proficiency in accordance with UConn’s English Proficiency Policy for TAs and Testing Procedures.
Proficiency Certificate Request that UCAELI (University of Connecticut American English Language Institute) send your Proficiency Certificate to gradadmissions@uconn.edu as evidence of meeting academic proficiency in English.
English Proficiency for Teaching Assistants

Prospective Teaching Assistants for whom English is not a primary language** must pass an oral English proficiency test regardless of citizenship or visa status. Even if English proficiency was waived for purposes of admission, TAs must still provide proof of English proficiency in accordance with UConn’s English Proficiency Policy for TAs and Testing Procedures. For more information about this policy and testing procedures, please contact International Teaching Assistant Services.

**A primary language is defined as a language used to communicate since childhood.

Policy on Waiver of Language Proficiency Examinations

U.S. citizens and applicants with permanent resident status are not required to provide test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, Duolingo) showing English-language proficiency. In addition, the following categories of applicants are not required to provide test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, Duolingo) showing English-language proficiency:

  1. International applicants whose primary language is English*.
  2. International applicants who have received a degree from a post-secondary institution outside of the United States whose language of instruction for the entire degree is English. Official documentation will be required from the institution’s Registrar’s office stating that the medium of instruction for the degree received was English.
  3. International applicants who have completed one year or more of full-time coursework at a post-secondary institution in the United States (30 credits undergraduate level work or 18 credits graduate level work). The total amount of academic work completed must be officially graded by the registrar of that institution and have a cumulative GPA value of 3.0 or higher.

All applicants other than current UConn graduate, UConn Health, or UConn Law students are required to provide evidence of English-language proficiency.

*A primary language is defined as a language used to communicate since childhood.

Effective date: March 1, 2013

Revised date: June 22, 2023

Program Requirements

Each specific degree and program will have different requirements. Please refer to the program’s website for specific application requirements.

U.S. Student Visa Sponsorship

If you are an international student who requires U.S. student visa sponsorship by the University of Connecticut, please be prepared to submit an immigration document request to the International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) Office after you have been admitted to The Graduate School. (An I-20/DS-2019 document will not be released by the ISSS Office until your admission has been finalized/matriculated.)

Submit your I-20/DS-2019 request to ISSS at least one month before the semester that you will begin your program.

Should you have any questions about the required materials, please contact the ISSS Office: international@uconn.edu.

A NetID is required to apply for an I-20 or DS-2019. This will be emailed to you within 2-5 business days of receiving your admission notification.  For any assistance with your NetID or reissue of the information already emailed, please contact the ITS Office at (860) 486-4357 or email: techsupport@uconn.edu.

Connecticut Residency

For the purpose of assessing the cost of tuition, each UConn applicant will be classified as a Connecticut resident (in-state tuition rate) or a non-resident (out-of-state tuition rate). The Office of Graduate Admissions uses the information provided by the Connecticut General Statutes to determine an applicant’s residency classification. Failure to complete residency information on your application for admission will result in a non-resident (out-of-state tuition rate) classification.

New England Regional Student Program

If you are a legal resident of a New England state, you may be eligible for a tuition reduction under the New England Regional Student Program. The New England Board of Higher Education provides New England residents with a tuition reduction when they pursue certain majors at New England public colleges and universities.

To be eligible for this tuition reduction, the student must be enrolled in an approved degree program that is not available at a public institution in their state of legal residence. Qualified students receive a reduction of the out-of-state tuition cost.

The six New England states are:

  • Connecticut
  • Maine
  • Massachusetts
  • New Hampshire
  • Rhode Island
  • Vermont

Dual Degree Programs

Ordinarily, a student is granted admission to pursue a graduate degree in one field at a time. A student may be permitted to enroll concurrently in two different degree programs with approval of their advisors in both programs.

There are several approved dual degree programs providing the opportunity for the student to pursue work toward two degrees simultaneously. These programs often involve the sharing of a limited and specified number of course credits between the two degrees. In all cases, separate applications must be submitted and reviewed for each of the two degree programs.

Incoming Fulbright Foreign Students

The Fulbright program for incoming foreign graduate students revolves around the participation of many of collaborating partners in support of Fulbright graduate students at the University of Connecticut. For general questions about the Fulbright program and the procedure of admitting a Fulbright graduate student, please contact Meg Buckley.  For more details of the placement process please visit the Office of National Scholarships & Fellowships.

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