The Graduate School

You will be asked to provide a valid credit card for a non-refundable payment of the application fee ($75.00).  Your application is not considered complete or submitted until your application fee payment is fulfilled.

In some circumstances, your application fee may be waived.  Please refer to The Graduate School's fee waiver information.  If you are prompted to submit the application fee payment, but you believe you qualify for an application fee waiver, please contact gradadmissions@uconn.edu. Please do not submit payment for your application until we have responded to your email regarding your request for this waiver. It may take 2 business days for our office to respond during our regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM EST, excluding holidays).

Applicants who wish to apply to more than one program are required to submit a separate application in Slate for each program.  You will be required to pay the $75 non-refundable application fee for each application.  Your application is not considered complete or submitted until your application fee payment is fulfilled.

If you have attended UConn, or are currently enrolled at UConn in a non-degree, undergraduate, graduate, medical, dental, or law program, you must include this information and upload unofficial transcripts for the completed and/or in-progress courses in your application. If admitted, you are not required to send official UConn transcripts to The Graduate School.

If you are a current UConn employee and would like to apply to a graduate program within The Graduate School, please make sure to:

• Use a personal email address rather than your uconn.edu email address
• If you have a Slate account for work purposes, please contact gradadmissions@uconn.edu before applying

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 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. You may choose any evaluator you wish to use (from the following list), commonly used credential evaluation services are below:

• TEC (formerly SpanTran) is a NACES member organization that has created a custom portal for The Graduate School at UConn that will ensure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. You can access their portal here: TEC Application - UConn Graduate School
• IEE is a NACES member organization that has created a custom portal for The Graduate School at UConn that will ensure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. You can access their portal here: IEE Application- UConn Graduate School
• NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) or
• AICE (Association of International Credential Evaluators)

If you do not find your institution in the provided drop-down menu, try using different searches with abbreviations or the complete name or a part of the name.  Please email gradadmissions@uconn.edu to determine if it can be added to the drop-down menu.  In your email please be sure to include the full name and complete mailing address of the institution, including the country, so we can review if it meets the requirements to be added.

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.

GRE or GMAT scores are not a requirement of The Graduate School.  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, if any, 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 with fulfillment of application fee payment).

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.

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:

**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:

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

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.

Current requirements are listed on UConn's English Proficiency Policy for TAs and Testing Procedures website.

Please contact the International Teaching Assistant Services office with additional questions.

English proficiency requirements may be waived for a few acceptable reasons, which are listed on the below policy:

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

Letters of recommendation are not a requirement of The Graduate School, but they could be a requirement for the program to which you are applying.  If recommendations are required they should be submitted electronically in the application by the recommender. Applications can be submitted before recommendation letters have been received. Please contact the program you intend to apply to with any questions about letters of recommendation.

To find out when your application will be reviewed, contact the program to which you are applying.  After the program has made a decision, and it has been audited by The Graduate School, you will be notified by email.

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

International applicants, or applicants who have international transcripts, and who only have one set of original transcripts or degree diplomas/certificates, may use our international transcript cover sheet to send their original official documents.  The Graduate School will make our own certified copies for our records, and return the original copies. With this form, students can pick up their original copies at our office in Storrs when they arrive or we can send the original transcripts back to an address provided. This form must be included with the packet of official documents mailed to us.

Please Note: Tracking is not available. The Graduate School is not responsible for documentation lost in the mail. Materials will be sent back in regular mail, which could take 4-6 weeks overseas. Oversized or overweight documents cannot be returned by mail, but can be picked up in person at The Graduate School in Storrs. Documents must be picked up within 2 years from the date they were received.

Applicants who have transcripts and degrees from international institutions and have since attended a US institution, may have the US institution they attended make copies of their official documents and certify that the copies were made from the original documents. The registrar’s or admissions office should make the certified copy of these official documents and send them directly to The Graduate School at the address above.

Submit an Electronic Transcript

Contact your university to see if they offer an electronic transcript service to send official electronic transcripts in lieu of paper/mailed transcripts. Electronic transcripts must be submitted to The Graduate School at UConn directly from the electronic transcript service provider your university uses.  If an email address is required by the university's electronic transcript service provider, please use: gradadmissions@uconn.edu. (Electronic transcripts sent directly by applicants or the university by email are not considered official.)

Use an Evaluation Service

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)

Use a Verification Service

International transcripts can also be sent electronically using the following approved verification services:

• WES (World Education Services)
• IEE (International Education Evaluations)
• ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators)

Official Documents from China:

• CSSD (Center for Student Services and Development, Ministry of Education, P.R. China)
• CDGDC (China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development Center)

Official Documents from India:

• TrueCopy

Official Documents from Nigeria:

• ETX-NG

Please visit The Graduate School's website and select the Financing tab in the menu for additional information about funding options. For more information about these options, contact the program to which you are applying to ask if these funding opportunities are available. If you are not a U.S. Citizen, you are not eligible for need-based financial aid.

On-campus:
UConn is in the midst of an extraordinary period of growth and graduate housing is limited. Family housing is not available for students. Please review the Residential Life Storrs Campus Graduate Housing webpage for more information.

Off-campus:

Off-Campus and Commuter Student Services Office serves as an advocate and centralized resource for students commuting or living off-campus. Please contact their office or review the Off-Campus Student Services Housing Database for more information.

The International Students and Scholar Services (ISSS) office requires a student to be matriculated with The Graduate School in order to release a student's I-20/DS-2019 document.  Once a student has submitted all required materials, including all official/original transcripts and degree diplomas/certificates, The Graduate School will begin the matriculation process. If a student is missing any materials for matriculation at the time of admission, our office will email the student and specify which materials we are waiting for. Missing documents will be listed on the student's checklist in the Application Status Portal.

If admitted and the student has attended an international university and only has one set of original transcripts or degree diplomas/certificates, they can be mailed with the International Transcripts Cover Sheet to The Graduate School.  The Graduate School will make our own certified copies for our records, and return the original copies. With this form, students can pick up their original copies at our office when they arrive, or we can send the original transcripts back to an address provided. This form must be included with the packet of official documents mailed to us at the following address:

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

Please Note: Tracking is not available. The Graduate School is not responsible for documentation lost in the mail. Materials will be sent back in regular mail, which could take 4-6 weeks overseas. Oversized or overweight documents cannot be returned by mail, but can be picked up in person at The Graduate School in Storrs. Documents must be picked up within 2 years from the date they were received. 

The Graduate School will also accept:

• International transcripts electronically from WES (World Education Services) and IEE (International Education Evaluations).
• 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.

To initiate the creation of an I-20/DS-2019 document, students should first accept admission in their Application Status Portal and then submit an I-20/DS-2019 request form by using the link provided to them in their online admission letter.  The I-20/DS-2019 document will not be released by the International Students and Scholar Services (ISSS) Office to a student until The Graduate School's matriculation process is complete.

After you submit an immigration document request for your I-20/DS-2019, please contact the International Students and Scholar Services (ISSS) Office to check on the status of your document.

If you have been offered admission:

With approval from your admitted program, you may defer your admission up to 1 full academic year from the original term your application was submitted for.

A request to defer your admission should be made through the Accounts & Forms area of your Application Status Portal.  

If you have already attended classes for this term or if it is after the 10th day of classes, you cannot defer your application. In this case, you must complete a Voluntary Separation Notification (VSN) form.

Requests for students who have not been appointed as a Graduate Assistant (GA) should be made by the 1st day of the semester you have been admitted to. These requests are required to be submitted by the 10th day of the semester. Please review the Academic Calendar for the term you have applied to. Confirmation will be sent to you once The Graduate School processes your request, unless it is a declined deferral request, in which case your program will notify you of this decision.

Requests for students who have been appointed as a GA should be submitted prior to the start date of their GA appointment. These requests must be submitted no later than the 10th day of the semester. Please review the Academic Calendar for the term you have applied to.  Confirmation will be sent to you once The Graduate School processes your request, unless it is a declined deferral request, in which case your program will notify you of this decision.

If no decision is made on your application: 

For a current active application, you may defer your application up to 1 full academic year from the original term your application was submitted for.

A request to defer your application should be made through the Accounts & Forms area of your Application Status Portal.  

Requests should be made by the 1st day of the semester you have applied to. These requests are required to be submitted by the 10th day of the semester for which your application was submitted. Please review the Academic Calendar for the term you have applied to. Confirmation will be sent to you once The Graduate School processes your request, unless it is a declined deferral request, in which case The Graduate School’s admission office will notify you of this decision.

A request to withdraw your application or admission should be made through the Accounts & Forms area of your Application Status Portal.  

Requests should be made by the 1st day of the semester you have applied to. These requests are required to be submitted by the 10th day of the semester. Please review the Academic Calendar for the term you have applied to. Confirmation will be sent to you once The Graduate School processes your request to withdraw.

If you have already attended classes for this term or if it is after the 10th day of classes, you cannot withdraw your application. In this case, if you are considering discontinuing your program and exiting the university or requesting a leave of absence, you must complete a Voluntary Separation Notification (VSN) form.

If you withdraw your application, it cannot be reinstated. Withdrawing your application will cancel your admission to this program. Should you wish to be reconsidered for this or any other graduate program, you will need to submit a new application.