Your graduate journey is just beginning! See all admissions info below, and for any further questions please contact us or the Director of Graduate Studies for the program you are interested in applying for.
Grad School Admission
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Special Admission Categories
Please see below which admissions category you want to explore.
Graduating Seniors as Part-Time Graduate Students
Seniors at the University of Kentucky lacking no more than 6 credit hours for graduation and having an undergraduate average of at least 2.75 on all work attempted may register in the Graduate School in conditional status with the consent of the undergraduate college dean, the appropriate Director of Graduate Studies, and the Dean of the Graduate School. The total load of such students may not exceed 12 credit hours. Graduate credit will be allowed for each credit hour of graduate work beyond the six or fewer credit hours needed to complete undergraduate requirements. Requirements for the undergraduate degree must be completed during the semester in which the student is allowed to register for part-time graduate work. Students applying for admission to the Graduate School under these conditions must fill out a petition form listing the course or courses to be taken to complete the undergraduate requirements
Post-Baccalaureate
Students who hold a baccalaureate degree from a fully accredited institution of higher learning and who wish to pursue graduate study without a degree objective may apply for admission as post-baccalaureate graduate students. Post-baccalaureate students may take graduate courses for graduate credit. Permission to enter any graduate class as a post-baccalaureate student will however be granted only if the student meets the prerequisites for that course and if space is available.
An application for admission to the Graduate School as a post-baccalaureate graduate student should be submitted at least two weeks in advance of the term in which the student plans to enroll. An original or a photocopy of a transcript showing an awarded bachelors degree must accompany the application. An overall undergraduate grade point average of 2.50 or better and 3.00 on all previous graduate work (both on a 4.00 point scale) are required by the Graduate School for admission. GRE scores are not required.
A post-baccalaureate student who later wishes to apply to enter a degree-granting graduate program must have a 3.00 or better grade point average on all course work, graduate or undergraduate, attempted as a post-baccalaureate. There is no restriction on the number of transferrable hours from post-baccalaureate status to a master's, specialist or doctoral degree program at the University of Kentucky. All such transfers of credit hours into a graduate program must be approved by that program's Director of Graduate Studies and by the Dean of the Graduate School. A grade of A or B must have been earned in the course or courses to be transferred.
Visiting Students
Students who are enrolled in a graduate program at another institution and plan to attend the University of Kentucky as Visiting Students need not submit transcripts. Students must, however, request a Visiting Student form from the Graduate School office when filing an application. Visiting Student admission is for one semester only and credit earned in that status is not applicable to a University of Kentucky degree.
** GRE scores are NOT required for admission to Social Work (M.S.W. only), Rehabilitation Counseling and Dentistry (domestic students only) or for admission as a post-baccalaureate, non-degree-seeking, fifth year, rank I or other certification student. Some programs require GMAT rather than GRE scores including Accounting (M.S.) and Business Administration (M.B.A. or Ph.D.). GMAT or GRE is accepted by Economics (Ph.D.), Health Administration (M.H.A.), Public Administration (M.P.A. or Ph.D.) and Public Health (M.P.H. or Ph.D.; scores are not required for applicants with an M.D., D.M.D., D.D.S., Pharm.D., D.V.M., D.O., D.N.P., D.Sc., or Ph.D.).
Apply for Readmission
If you are an enrolled graduate student at the University of Kentucky and you sit out for one or more semesters you will need to complete a new application and pay the application fee in order to be considered for readmission. In many instances you can avoid this requirement by requesting a “leave of absence”. In addition to avoiding the application process, this status will allow you to priority register in preparation for your return.
Procedurally, you should contact your Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) to seek approval for the leave prior to the beginning of the semester in question*. If approved, the DGS will contact your Graduate School admissions officer who will modify your record accordingly. You may request no more than two consecutive and four total semesters in leave of absence status. Post-qualifying doctoral students are not eligible for the leave of absence.
International students considering a leave of absence are strongly encouraged to discuss their plans with the UK International Center (formerly the Office of International Affairs), Department of Immigration Services prior to making a formal request.
Applications for readmission must be submitted at least one month prior to the start of the semester. Individual programs may have earlier deadlines.
*Post baccalaureate students who need to request a leave of absence should contact their admissions officer directly.
Application Deadlines
Many Programs have earlier deadlines. Please check the program page for specific deadlines.
Complete applications must be submitted by the dates below:
Summer 2025
International Deadline - January 15, 2025 (restricted to programs that begin in the summer)
Domestic Deadline - April 13, 2025 (Programs may have earlier deadlines)
Applicants for Readmission - April 13, 2025
Postbaccalaureate Student Application Deadline- April 29, 2025
Many programs have earlier deadlines.
Fall 2025
International Deadline - April 15, 2025 (Programs may have earlier deadlines)
Domestic Deadline - July 25, 2025 (Programs may have earlier deadlines)
Applicants for Readmission - July 25, 2025
Postbaccalaureate Student Application Deadline - August 11, 2025
Many programs have earlier deadlines.
Spring 2026
Spring 2026
International Deadline - September 15, 2025
Domestic Deadline - December 12, 2025 (Programs may have earlier deadlines)
Applicants for Readmission - December 12, 2025
Postbaccalaureate Student Application Deadline - December 15, 2025
Many programs have earlier deadlines.
Accelerated Master's Pathways (AMP)
AMP Program Details
The University of Kentucky’s Accelerated Master’s Pathways (AMP) gives highly motivated students the opportunity to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in five years, instead of six. Qualified students can begin earning graduate credit during their undergraduate programs, allowing them to maximize their time on campus and return on their educational investment – earning up to 12 dual credit hours at no additional cost.
* Time to degree completion may vary based on the program. AMP allows students to complete both degrees in less time than students not participating in AMP.
