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Graduate Catalog: Graduate Admissions

Prospective graduate students, including University of Utah seniors, apply for admission to graduate study through the University Admissions Office and through the relevant department. The Application for Admission to Graduate School is available through each department or from the Admissions Office. The application is also available at http://www.sa.utah.edu/admiss/ . The application should be submitted by the published semester deadline. Following are deadlines for filing applications. When the date listed falls on a weekend, no late handling fees are assessed on applications received the Monday following the deadline.

Fall Semester	April 1
Spring Semester	November 1
Summer Term	March 15

Transcripts of all previous academic work, both graduate and undergraduate, must be mailed to the Admissions Office directly from each school attended. Students who fail to report attendance at another higher educational institution may have their admission rescinded. The admissions file is due in the Admissions Office a minimum of 30 days before the academic departmental deadline. Because some departments have additional requirements and deadlines, and because some departments review files only once each year, students must check with the appropriate department for special requirements and provide all required materials prior to the departmental deadline.

Graduate students may apply to more than one department. Two separate, complete applications must be submitted. Only one application fee is charged if applications are for the same semester and year.

An offer of acceptance is valid only for the semester the applicant is admitted. If an applicant does not register for classes during his/her admitted term, the applicant must resubmit an admissions application before the application deadline for the semester he/she wishes to begin. Once admitted and enrolled, graduate students are required by Graduate School policy to maintain continuous registration during the academic year of Fall and Spring semesters. If a graduate student must stop out, he/she should file the appropriate paperwork for an official Leave of Absence. Students failing to maintain continuous registration and who have not been granted an official leave of absence must reapply for admission to the Graduate School through the Admissions Office.

Admission Requirements

An applicant for admission to The Graduate School must meet the following minimum requirements:

1. An undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0, based on all undergraduate work. If the undergraduate GPA is below 3.0, a GPA will be calculated on the last 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of the undergraduate work for admission consideration;
2. A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university;
3. Recommendation of the faculty in the college or department in which the applicant wishes to study.

Departments and colleges may establish additional criteria for admission in accordance with the general guidelines established by The Graduate School.

The University of Utah is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity in all programs, activities, and employment. Moreover, students may not be denied admission to graduate work solely because they obtained a prior degree at the University of Utah.

More information, including international requirements, deadlines and links to the online application, is available at the homepage for University of Utah Admissions: http://www.sa.utah.edu/admiss/graduate.htm

Nonmatriculated Students

Students who do not qualify for admission to The Graduate School or non-degree-seeking students may enroll in graduate-level classes on a nonmatriculated basis. (Some graduate-level courses, however, are restricted because of full enrollment, limited space, prerequisites, etc.) When such students want to be considered for matriculated graduate status, they must apply formally through the Admissions Office. Upon recommendation from the major department and approval by the Graduate Admission Committee, the student may qualify for admission. Grades received during nonmatriculated status do not guarantee admission into a graduate program. International students on visas are not eligible for nonmatriculated status.

Credits earned by nonmatriculated students may or may not apply to a graduate degree program. Graduate programs are designed and approved by faculty committees assigned to supervise each graduate student. Decisions on accepting course credit are made initially by these supervisory committees. Only nine semester hours of nonmatriculated work can be applied toward a graduate degree. Applying more than nine semester hours of nonmatriculated work to the degree requires approval of the Dean of The Graduate School upon the request of the department chair or supervisory committee chair.

Any requests for exceptions to these general admission policies should be directed in writing to the Graduate Admissions Committee by the respective college or department.

Application Procedures

Because departmental requirements and deadlines vary, an applicant should check with the major department in addition to making formal application for admission to The Graduate School. The Application for Admission to Graduate School is available from the Admissions Office, 201 S. 1460 E., Room 250S, or at http://www.sa.utah.edu/admiss/ . The admissions file, which is composed of the Application for Admission to Graduate School, all transcripts, and the application fee, must be received by the Admissions Office at least 30 days prior to the departmental deadline.
Official transcripts of all previous graduate and undergraduate academic work must be mailed directly to the Admissions Office from each school attended. Former students must have transcripts sent for work completed since last enrolled. Transcripts submitted for admission become the property of the University and are not returned. Failure to list all institutions previously attended or making false or misleading statements on the application may result in loss of credit and/or cancellation of admission status.
When complete, the admissions file is summarized by the Admissions Office staff and sent to the department for an admissions recommendation. If required, letters of recommendation and results of standardized tests should be sent directly to the major department. Notification of the admission decision is made from the Admissions Office.
New graduate students who do not enroll the term they are accepted and who wish to enroll in a subsequent term must resubmit the admissions application form with the Admissions Office. Files for new students who do not enroll are normally kept one year. Files not reactivated within one year are destroyed.

Application Fees

Graduate applicants new to the University of Utah are charged a $45 processing fee. For new international graduate applicants, the processing fee is $65.  Formerly matriculated University of Utah students applying to The Graduate School for the first time pay a $45 application fee or a $65 international application fee.
Former University of Utah graduate students who do not have an official leave of absence are required to pay a $45 readmission fee or a $65 international fee.
New students who do not enroll the term for which they are accepted and who wish to enroll in a subsequent term pay a $45 domestic application fee or a $65 international application fee.
All applications received after the published deadlines require a $25 late handling fee.
Admission requirements, deadlines, and fees are subject to change without prior notice.

Notice of Acceptance

The Admissions Office notifies all applicants in writing of their acceptance or denial.

Other Policies

Changing Majors

A student who changes majors must file a new Application for Admission to Graduate School with the Admissions Office. The student’s records are then sent to the new department for an evaluation and recommendation. It is the responsibility of the student to arrange for letters of recommendation and test scores, if required, to be sent to the new department.

Continuing Studies After Earning a Degree

If a student receives a master's degree at the University of Utah and wishes to continue graduate study in the same department the succeeding term, that student should obtain a copy of the Recommendation for Change of Graduate Classification form from the departmental graduate secretary. This form requires a departmental recommendation and is then returned to the Graduate Records Office for approval by the dean of The Graduate School.

Changing Resident Status

The Admissions Office classifies all applicants as either residents or nonresidents for tuition purposes. For information, see Establishing Utah Residence in the Undergraduate Information section of this catalog, or contact the residency officer, (801)581-3089, in the Admissions Office.

International Student Admission

Graduate Admission Criteria

For an international applicant to be considered for admission to The Graduate School, the following must be satisfied:

1. The applicant must have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a recognized institution of higher learning.
2. The applicant must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average (B average) or better.
3. The faculty in the college or department in which the applicant wishes to study must recommend admission.

Departments and colleges may establish additional admission criteria in accordance with the general guidelines established by The Graduate School.

The requirements listed are minimum requirements only and do not guarantee admission to a graduate program. Applicants are evaluated with respect to University and departmental requirements and with respect to the pool of available applicants.

International Admissions Officers determine if applicants with international degrees meet The Graduate School's requirement of a recognized bachelor’s degree.

Applicants are urged to contact the academic department of their choice for further information concerning the programs offered and additional requirements set by the department.

Graduate Admissions Deadlines

Many graduate departments have deadlines that are different from the published deadlines of the University; also, many graduate departments accept students only once a year, for Fall semester. Students should contact the academic department of their choice for information concerning departmental deadlines.

International students on visas are not eligible for conditional admission or nonmatriculated status.

Application Deadlines

Fall Semester	April 1
Spring Semester	November 1
Summer Term	March 15

Applications submitted after the deadlines will be accepted with an additional $25 late handling fee until the final cut off date. Final cut off dates will be posted on the Admissions Office web site at http://www.sa.utah.edu/admiss each semester. Applications will not be processed until all fees are paid and all credentials are received in the Admissions Office. International application fees cannot be waived and are nonrefundable. Admission requirements, deadlines, and fees are subject to change without prior notice.

International applicants must submit the following documents:

1. The University of Utah Application for Admission to Graduate School. Students may apply directly using the University website.
2. A nonrefundable $65 processing fee (all costs subject to change). Applicants applying to more than two graduate departments for the same semester and year are charged an additional $10 for each application.
3. Official transcripts, mark sheets, and school records from all colleges or universities attended.
   1. School records must be sent directly from the school attended to the Admissions Office of the University of Utah.
   2. School records must be presented in the original language accompanied by an official English translation. Translations must be literal and complete.
   3. School records must be submitted on an official school document and list the name and address of the school, the dates enrolled, grading system, description of each subject or examination, and mark or grade earned in each subject or examination.
   Transcripts submitted for admission become the property of the University and cannot be returned to the applicant.
   Failure to list all schools previously attended or making false or misleading statements on the application may result in loss of credit and/or cancellation of admission status.
   
4. Official degrees and diplomas in the original language with official English translations.
5. A minimum score of 500 (173 on computer-based exam or 61 on the new iBT exam) or better on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for applicants whose first language is not English. (Individual departments may require higher scores.)
   1. The official TOEFL score must be sent directly to the Admissions Office by Educational Testing Service and must not be over two years old at the time of admission.
   2. Many graduate departments require a TOEFL score above 500 (173 on computer-based exam or 61 on the new iBT exam), a Test of Spoken English (TSE) score, or the score from the Test of Written English (TWE). Applicants should check with their major department to determine their requirements.
   3. Student who have previously completed the TOEFL, but have been outside the United States for two or more years since taking the TOEFL, will be required to complete a new TOEFL exam and meet the minimum requirements.
   4. For test registration information contact:

      TOEFL/TSE Service
      Educational Testing Service
      P.O. Box CN 6151
      Princeton, NJ 08541-6151

   Applicants with an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited college or university in the United States may not be required to take the TOEFL.
   The University has the right to request that students seek additional English language training. Such students will be referred to the English Language Institute or the Department of Linguistics. Regular academic schooling may be deferred until such time as the required level of English proficiency is achieved.
6. A statement of rank in class provided by the school from which the applicant graduated.
7. For students requesting an I-20 certificate of eligibility, the following items:
   1. A financial statement with supporting documents is required to cover the first year of tuition and living expenses. (Check website for current amount required.)
   2. A sponsor statement is required if financial support will be provided by someone other than the student. This statement must be signed by the sponsor and include a statement indicating the sponsor's intent to provide financial support to the student for an entire year of tuition and living.
   3. Students currently on an I-20 from another US school, if admitted to the University of Utah, need to complete a transfer form, which the International Admissions Office will mail to the students upon their acceptance.
   4. Transfer students must provide their SEVIS identification number and the date that they will be released from their previous US college or university.
   5. Students must submit a copy of the first page of their current passport or their national ID card.
   Applicants should contact their major department directly for information about departmental financial aid.
   All international students must comply with current immigration regulations.

International Teaching Assistants (ITA)

International students whose first language is not English and who have been awarded financial assistance in the form of teaching assistantships by their academic department are required to attend and be certified through an ITA workshop prior to beginning their teaching assignment. This workshop is offered by The Graduate School’s ITA Program and includes a training course designed to facilitate ITAs’ acquisition of skills in language, teaching, and cultural awareness. Students who do not satisfactorily complete certain workshops will be ineligible to receive the teaching assistantship. Information about workshop registration is available through the student's academic department. Other information on the workshop is available at http://www.gradschool.utah.edu/ita