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, complete with
all required materials, must be submitted by the following
deadlines.
Fall semester—June 15
Spring semester—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.
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 Graduate
School Application for Admission instructions.
Test Data—One or more of the following tests may be required as part of the application process (in addition, 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. 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 Educational Testing Service, CN
6108, Princeton, NJ 08541.
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 minimum scores of 213 on the computer-based test,
or 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.
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, USA or phone 215-386-5900.
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—University of Minnesota
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), if they are admitted, 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 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 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).
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