Application Procedure

Applicants are required to apply online. Applicants are encouraged to apply for admission well in advance of the term in which they wish to enter the Graduate School (but no more than one year in advance of the proposed entry date). The Graduate School Application for Admission, complete with all required materials, must be submitted by the following deadlines.

Fall semester—June 15
Spring semester&#f8212;October 15
Summer session—March 15

Deadlines that fall on a holiday or weekend will be extended through the next regular workday.

Many major fields have established deadlines earlier than those listed above and also require additional application and supporting materials. It is the applicant's responsibility to obtain information about those deadlines and requirements from the director of graduate studies for the proposed major.

Note: More detailed and up-to-date information regarding the application fee, transcripts, and test data is included in the instructions accompanying the Graduate School Application for Admission.

Transcripts—Official transcripts of previous academic study must be submitted with the admissions application.

Experience at the University of Minnesota has been that often during the course of the program of study a student has need of a complete set of official credentials covering previous college and university training. Applicants are urged to request two sets of official credentials when preparing their admission application—one to be submitted for permanent filing in the Graduate School and the other for personal use.

International Applicants—All international applicants must submit complete credentials. Details on the types of transcripts required are given in the instructions for the Graduate School Application for Admission.

Test Data—One or more of the following tests may be required as part of the application process (in addition, students should consult the individual program requirements under Degree Programs and Faculty).

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)—Most major fields request the GRE. It would be wise, therefore, for applicants to complete this test either in the senior year of undergraduate work or before filing an admission application.
For information about the test, contact the Educational Testing Service, CN 6000, Princeton, NJ 08541; or www.ets.org/gre. Official scores must be sent to the Graduate School Office from the testing service.

Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)—See the accountancy, business administration, and business taxation program descriptions under Degree Programs and Faculty. For information on registering for the GMAT, write to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), 1600 Tysons Boulevard, Suite 1400,
McLean, VA 22102 (866-505-6559 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada only; 703-245-4222; or www.mba.com/mba/TaketheGMAT).

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), and Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB)—The TOEFL operational standard for admission to the Graduate School is a minimum total score of 79, plus minimum section scores of 21 on the writing section and 19 on the reading section on the Internet-based test, or a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based test. The IELTS operational standard is a minimum score of 6.5, and the MELAB operational standard is a minimum score of 80. Individual programs may require a higher score. One of these tests is required of all international applicants whose native language is not English, except those who will have completed 24 quarter or 16 semester credits (within the past 24 months) in residence as a full-time student at a recognized institution of higher learning in the United States before entering the University of Minnesota. These transfer students, however, may be asked to take locally administered English tests after arrival on campus.

TOEFL
www.ets.org/toefl
Educational Testing Service
P.O. Box 899
Princeton, NJ 08541-6151
Inside the U.S. and Canada: 1-877-863-3546
Outside the U.S. and Canada: 1-609-771-7100

IELTS
www.ielts.org
100 East Corson St., Suite 200
Pasadena, CA 91103
626-564-2954

MELAB
www.lsa.umich.edu/eli/testing/melab
English Language Institute
MELAB Office, TCF Building
University of Michigan
401 E. Liberty, Suite 350
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2298
1-866-696-3522

Foreign Medical Graduate Examination in the Medical Sciences (FMGEMS)—Applicants seeking admission to graduate study in clinical medical fields whose medical degrees or qualifications were conferred by medical schools outside the United States, Puerto Rico, or Canada must submit certification by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates or evidence of a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine issued by a state or other territory under U.S. jurisdiction that is authorized to license physicians. For more information on certification and the FMGEMS, write to the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (215-386-5900; www.ecfmg.org).

Additional Information—The Graduate School and individual programs within it reserve the right to request additional information when they believe it is necessary.

Special Applicant Categories
University of Minnesota Undergraduates—If admitted to the Graduate School, University of Minnesota undergraduate students who have no more than seven semester credits or two courses to complete for their bachelor's degree (including both distribution and total credit requirements) may register in the Graduate School to begin a graduate program while simultaneously completing their baccalaureate work. A final bachelor's transcript must be submitted before the second term of registration.

Professional Development—Applicants who wish to enroll in a field in the Graduate School but who are not interested in a graduate degree may apply for admission for "professional development coursework." Applicants for professional development courses must complete the usual application materials and meet existing deadlines and admission standards. Because some major fields restrict admission to only those planning on pursuing an advanced degree, applicants are advised to consult with the director of graduate studies in their proposed major field before completing application materials.

Academic Staff—University of Minnesota staff holding academic appointments above the rank of instructor or research fellow are normally not permitted to complete a graduate degree at the University. Those who wish to register for courses and transfer them elsewhere may apply for admission for "professional development coursework."

Committee on Institutional Cooperation Traveling Scholar Program—The University of Minnesota participates in the Traveling Scholar Program for graduate students enrolled in Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) institutions. The 14 participating universities are the members of the Big Ten, the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

The program enables doctoral students at any CIC university to take advantage of educational opportunities—specialized courses, unique library collections, unusual laboratories—at any other CIC university without change in registration or increase in fees. Students may take advantage of these educational opportunities for three quarters or two semesters.

Graduate students interested in graduate course offerings not available at the University of Minnesota should confer first with their major department and major adviser concerning which of the cooperating institutions to select for program enrichment and diversification. Information on procedures for participating in the Traveling Scholar Program is available in the Graduate School Admissions Office, 309 Johnston Hall (612-625-3014) or online.