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The Application Process

The application for graduate study at the University of Kentucky is fully online.

The first step is to set up a new account and establish a user name and password. Do not lose this information; you will need it if you wish to return to continue an unfinished application or review a completed application. You will also need this login to access the decision on your application.

You will need the following to complete your application:

Admissions Requirements and Transcripts

Test Scores

Program-Specific Requirements

Application Deadlines

Application Fee

List of GRE Waivers through Summer 2024

Programs Requiring GRE Scores for Admission for Fall 2024

All applicants must meet both program and Graduate School admission requirements.

Admissions Requirements and Transcripts

Students seeking admission to the Graduate School must have obtained a bachelors degree, prior to the start of the term for which s/he is admitted, from a fully accredited U.S. institution of higher learning or from a recognized foreign institution. An accredited U.S. institution is one that is accredited by one of the seven regional academic accrediting associations. A recognized foreign institution is an institution that is recognized by that nation's Ministry of Education or similar authority as a post-secondary, academic degree-granting institution.

Minimum Undergraduate GPA: 2.75*

Minimum Graduate GPA: 3.0*

*on a 4.0 scale (individual programs may have higher requirements)

Students who wish to calculate their GPAs for self-reporting may wish to use https://www.scholaro.com/premium.

If you are offered admission and decide to enroll you will then be required to submit official transcripts to the Graduate School.

Official transcripts can be sent the following ways:

Electronic transcripts: Graduate Admissions, University of Kentucky gradtranscripts@uky.edu.
You may also choose to use the National Student Clearinghouse or Parchment, used by most institutions.
Electronic transcripts must be sent through one of these clearinghouses or directly from your institution.

 

You can direct hard copy transcript mailings from your institution to:

University of Kentucky

Graduate Admissions

202 Gillis Building

Lexington, KY 40506-0033

 

Test Scores

Test scores can be self-reported in the application, however official scores should be sent directly from the testing agency.

Test Institution Code Minimum Score
GRE 1837, Program Code 0000 Varies by Program
GMAT 1837 Varies by Program
TOEFL iBT 1837, Program Code 99 79
IELTS (Academic) University of Kentucky Graduate School, Lexington, Kentucky 6.5 Overall Mean Band Score
Duolingo University of Kentucky Graduate School 115 (May be evaluated by an ESL professional)

 

Program-Specific Requirements

This may include a curriculum vita, personal statement, writing sample, letters of recommendation, portfolios and program application deadlines. The documents required by your program of interest must also be uploaded to the application; you can review these requirements here.

 

Application Deadlines

For domestic applicants the Graduate School requires applications to be submitted no later than one month prior to the start of the term the applicant intends to begin graduate work. Please refer to the Academic Calendar for typical semester starting dates.
For international applicants the following Graduate School deadlines apply:

  • Fall semester admission– April 15
  • Spring semester admission- September 15
  • Summer semester - International students are not admitted for summer sessions

Please note that some programs have earlier deadlines than those specified above, and some restrict admission to specific semesters. This information is also available here.

 

Application Fee

Domestics Application Fee $65

International Application Fee $75

You may apply for as many programs as you wish, but each application requires completion of a separate application form and fee. The application cannot be submitted without payment of the fee.
 

The application fee is non-refundable.

 

The Graduate School pays the application fee for domestic students (U.S. Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident) who are participants in the following programs:

          a. National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Sciences (GEM)

          b. Ronald E. McNair Scholars

          c. National TRIO Scholars

          d. Bridge to the Doctorate

          e. The Kentucky - West Virginia Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (KY-WV LSAMP)

In addition, the Graduate School pays the application fee for applicants who are U.S. military veterans.

In all cases, the student must have started the application for the program.

 

** List of GRE Waivers through Summer 2024 admission:

  • Accounting (MS, UK students only)
  • Anthropology (MA, PhD) Effective Fall 2022 - Spring 2023
  • Applied Behavioral Analysis (MS)
  • Applied Environmental and Sustainability Studies (MS)
  • Applied Mathematics (MS)
  • Art Studio (MFA)
  • Arts Administration (MA)
  • Athletic Training (MS)
  • Biochemistry (PhD)
  • Biology (MS, PhD)
  • Biomedical Engineering (MS, PhD) Effective Fall 2022 - Fall 2024
  • Biostatistics (MS)
  • Business Administration (MBA - Contact the Program)
  • Chemical Engineering (MS, PhD)
  • Chemistry (MS, PhD)
  • Classics (MA)
  • Civil Engineering (MS, PhD) Applies to students who graduated from ABET-accredited program
  • Communication (MA, PhD) Effective Fall 2022 - Spring 2023
  • Communication Sciences and Disorders (MS)  Effective Fall 2021 - Spring 2024
  • Community and Leadership Development (MS) 
  • Computer Science (MS, PhD)
  • Counselor Education (MAC)
  • Creative Writing (MFA)
  • Curatorial Studies (MFA)
  • Curriculum and Instruction (MA, MS, PhD)
  • Curriculum and Instruction - Secondary Education (Masters with Initial Certification)
  • Data Science (MS) Effective Fall 2022
  • Digital Mapping (MS)
  • Diplomacy and International Commerce (MA)
  • Education - School Psychology (EdS) GRE optional through 2024
  • Education and Counseling Psychology - Counseling Psychology (MSEd, PhD) GRE optional through 2024
  • Education and Counseling Psychology - Educational Psychology (EdD, PhD) GRE optional through Fall 2022
  • Education Sciences - Educational Policy Studies: Philosophical and Cultural Inquiry option (PhD)
  • Education Sciences - Educational Policy Studies: Evaluation and Policy option (PhD)
  • Educational and Counseling Psychology (MSEd) GRE optional through 2024
  • Educational Leadership (MEd, EdS)
  • Educational Policy Studies (MSEd)
  • Educational Policy Studies, Measurement, and Evaluation (EdD)
  • English (MA, PhD)
  • Entomology (MS, PhD)
  • Epidemiology and Biostatistics (PhD) For holders of specific degrees - see program page
  • Exercise Science (PhD) Effective Fall 2022 - Spring 2023
  • Family Sciences (MS, PhD) Effective Fall 2023 - Spring 2024
  • Finance (MS)
  • French (MA)
  • Forensic Toxicology and Analytical Genetics (MS)
  • Forest and Natural Resource Sciences (MS, PhD)
  • Gender and Women's Studies (PhD)
  • Geography (MA, PhD)
  • Geological Sciences (MS, PhD)
  • German (MA)
  • Health Administration (MHA)
  • Health Services Research (PhD) For holders of specific degrees - see program page
  • Higher Education (MSEd)
  • Hispanic Studies (MA, PhD) Effective Fall 2022 - Spring 2023
  • Historic Preservation (MA)
  • History (MA, PhD) Effective Fall 2022 - Spring 2023
  • Information Communication Technology (MS)
  • Instructional Systems Design - Online (MS)
  • Integrated Biomedical Sciences (PhD)
  • Integrated Plant and Soil Sciences (MS, PhD)
  • Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Educational (MSEd)
  • Kinesiology and Health Promotion (MS, EdD) Effective Fall 2022 - Spring 2023
  • Kinesiology and Health Promotion - Health Promotion Option (MS) Effective Fall 2022 - Spring 2023
  • Library Science (MS)
  • Linguistic Theory and Typology (MA) Effective Fall 2022 - Spring 2023
  • Manufacturing Systems Engineering (MS)
  • Mathematics (MA, MS, PhD)
  • Medical Sciences (MS) Effective Fall 2022
  • Music Education (MMME, PhD)
  • Music Performance (MM, DMA)
  • Music Theory and Composition (MA, MM, DMA, PhD)
  • Music Therapy (MM)
  • Nursing (PhD)
  • Nursing - Healthcare Systems Leadership (MS)
  • Nutrition and Food Systems (MS)
  • Nutritional Sciences (MS, PhD)
  • Orientation and Mobility (MS)
  • Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD)
  • Philosophy (PhD) - Effective Fall 2022 - Spring 2023
  • Physics (MA, PhD) Effective Fall 2022 - Spring 2023
  • Plant Pathology (MS, PhD)
  • Psychology (MA, MS, PhD) Effective Fall 2021 - Spring 2024
  • Public Administration (MPA)
  • Public Financial Management (MS)
  • Public Health (MPH)
  • Research Methods in Education (MS)
  • Retailing and Tourism Management (MS)
  • Science Translation and Outreach (MS)
  • Social Work (MSW)
  • Sociology (PhD)
  • Special Education (MSEd)
  • Sport and Exercise Psychology (MS) Effective Fall 2022 - Spring 2023
  • STEM Education (MS, MAT, PhD)
  • Studies in Higher Education (PhD)
  • Supply Chain Management (MS)
  • Teacher Preparation Program in Visual Impairments (MS)
  • Teaching English as a Second Language (MA)
  • Teaching World Languages (MA)
  • Toxicology and Cancer Biology (MS, PhD)
  • Veterinary Science (MS, PhD)
**For holders of M.D., D.M.D., D.D.S., Pharm.D., D.V.M., D.O., D.N.P., D.Sc., or Ph.D. degrees, no GRE or GMAT is required for admission to: (through Summer 2024)
  • Business Administration (MBA)
  • Clinical and Translational Sciences (PhD)
  • Dentistry (M.S. for domestic students only)
  • Public Administration (for PharmD students applying to this program)
  • Toxicology and Cancer Biology (PhD)
**No GRE or GMAT is required for admission in the following categories: Graduate certificate, Professional/Graduate dual degree programs (for example Pharm.D./MPA), Post-baccalaureate, University Scholars (all programs), Fifth Year, Rank I, and other certifications. 

 

Programs Requiring GRE Scores for Admission for Fall 2024 on:

  • Agricultural Economics (MS, PhD)
  • Animal and Food Science (MS, PhD)
  • Architecture (MAR)
  • Art Education (MA)
  • Business Administration (MBA, PhD)
  • Economics (MS, PhD)
  • Electrical Engineering (MS, PhD)
  • Marketing (MS)
  • Mining Engineering (MME, PhD)
  • Musicology (MA)
  • Radiation and Radiological Sciences (PhD)
  • Radiation Science (MS)
  • Urban and Environmental Design (MS)

The 2024 Annual Safety and Security Report includes the latest statistics for 2023, as well as statistics from 2022 and 2021 concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in certain off-campus buildings owned or controlled by UK; and on public property immediately adjacent to campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security. You can access the report at police.uky.edu/get-informed/annual-safety-security-reports. Paper copies will be provided upon request.

The 2024 Annual Fire Safety Report includes statistics for the three previous calendar years concerning reported fires in on-campus student housing facilities, such as residence halls, Greek housing, graduate housing, or at any facility designated as a place of residence for students. The report also includes a description of fire safety systems; yearly fire drills; policies on portable electrical appliances, furniture, decorations, bicycles/motorized scooters, and open flames; evacuation procedures; policies on fire safety education and training; and contact information. You can access the report at ehs.uky.edu/docs/pdf/fs_annual_fire_safety_report_2024_01.pdf. Paper copies will be provided upon request.

The Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (EADA) requires co-educational institutions of higher education that participate in federal student aid and have intercollegiate athletic programs to prepare an annual EADA report. The Report on Athletic Program Participation Rates and Financial Support Data includes athletic participation, staffing, revenues and expenses for men's and women's teams. You can access the report at uknow.uky.edu/files/report-athletic-program-participation-rates-and-financial-support-data-fy24pdf. Paper copies will be provided upon request.

University of Kentucky Graduate School
Ezra Gillis Building
502 Administration Drive
Lexington, KY 40506-0033
859-257-4613

For contact information organized by function, please visit our "Who Does What" page.  For a comprehensive staff listing, please visit our Staff Directory.

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