Apply FAQs

Information about University of Kansas graduate programs and application deadlines can be found on the KU Graduate Programs page. Applicants requiring immigration documents are encouraged to apply as early as possible for all programs.

There is no institutional minimum GPA requirement, though individual programs may require a minimum GPA or consider it during application review. Information about University of Kansas graduate programs and contact information can be found on the KU Graduate Programs page.

While there is no institutional GRE or GMAT requirement, many programs require one of the tests. Information about University of Kansas graduate programs and contact information can be found on the KU Graduate Programs page.

Non-native or non-native like English speakers must demonstrate English proficiency for admission to a graduate program. More information about the different ways to meet English proficiency can be found here on the English Proficiency Requirements page.

We do not accept self-reported or applicant-provided unofficial English proficiency test scores. Please have official test scores sent electronically, directly from testing organizations. TOEFL scores should be sent to institution code 6871. No department codes are needed. IELTS scores should be sent via the testing center's e-delivery service to University of Kansas Graduate Admissions. PTE scoresheets should be emailed directly to graduateadm@ku.edu for verification and addition to the application.

Please contact the department of application if you are inquiring about providing self-reported GRE or GMAT scores as those are department-specific requirements. Departments decide if those are acceptable. Information about University of Kansas graduate programs and contact information can be found here.

Receipt of official test scores will display on your graduate application checklist. Once official scores are received, the application checklist will also indicate that scores have been received, via a green check mark next to the requirement(s).

Review timelines vary and are program-specific. Please inquire with your program of application as graduate programs manage the timeline and process for application review. Program contact information can be found here.

Decision notifications will be shared by email by Graduate Admissions. You will receive an email with a link to the status portal, where a decision letter will be found.

Applicants can accept or decline the offer of admission in their status portal. There is no institutional deadline related to submitting the decision, though applicants are encouraged to share their plans. Some programs strongly encourage applicants to submit decisions via the portal.

Yes, you are welcome to apply to multiple programs. Each application will have program-specific application requirements and each application will require a fee payment.

Bachelor’s and higher degree transcripts are required for admission. Applicant-provided copies of official transcripts can be used for admission, while final, official degree-conferring transcripts received directly from the institution/s are required prior to the second semester of graduate enrollment for those who are offered admission.

If admitted, applicants with degrees from institutions in China must additionally provide CSSD Degree Verification Reports for each degree earned. Applicants with degrees earned from institutions in India must provide a copy of a diploma or degree certificate for each degree earned.

Current or former KU students are not required to provide KU transcripts; Graduate Admissions will upload documentation to your application after submission.

While we do not accept unofficial transcripts, applicant-provided copies of official transcripts can be used for application review and admission. If offered admission, students must provide final official degree-conferring transcripts received directly from degree-granting institutions prior to the second semester of graduate enrollment. Transcripts marked or stamped as unofficial cannot be used for application review, nor can web-based downloads from student systems.

A professional credential evaluation is not required, though you are welcome to submit one if you have already had one completed. Graduate Admissions will verify degree equivalency and perform a GPA calculation to the US 4-point scale if the program of application requires the GPA for application review.

A US bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution or equivalent foreign degree is required for admission to a KU graduate program. Although the HND represents a high level of expertise, it is not typically comparable to a US bachelor's degree in a technical field.

We are able to consider the HND equivalent to a bachelor's degree in cases where a professional evaluation from WES (wes.org) or another NACES (naces.org) member determines that the HND is equivalent to a US bachelor's degree.

A US bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution or equivalent foreign degree is required for admission to a KU graduate program. A 3-year bachelor's degree from a NAAC "A" accredited institution, where the applicant has graduated in the first or honors class, can generally be considered equivalent to a US bachelor's degree, though Graduate Admissions would confirm equivalency on a case by case basis.

Most official English test scores must be sent electronically, directly from testing organizations. TOEFL scores should be sent to institution code 6871. No department codes are needed. IELTS scores should be sent via the testing center's e-delivery service to University of Kansas Graduate Admissions. PTE scoresheets should be emailed directly to graduateadm@ku.edu for verification and addition to the application.

Please allow a number of days for official test score orders to be processed by testing organizations, for scores to be sent and for them to match application records.

Non-native or non-native like English speakers may demonstrate English proficiency for admission to a graduate program with a degree from an English-medium university. While Graduate Admissions can determine the language of instruction for most institutions, we may request a medium-of-instruction letter if the language of instruction is unclear.

Accepted tests to demonstrate English proficiency are listed here. Duolingo is not an accepted test.

For those who do not have an accepted form of proof of English proficiency, there is an administrative review process that might be considered by the academic program of application. Program contact information can be found here at this link.

There is no place in the graduate application to submit self-reported or unofficial test scores. The application checklist itself will not update until official scores are received, and Graduate Admissions cannot accept or review self-reported or unofficial scores.

Letters of recommendation are submitted directly by references via the application system. Additional questions about letters of recommendation may be sent to the program of application as references are program requirements. Program contact information can be found here.

You may be able to edit recommenders via your application status page.

Scroll to the blue "recommendations page" link at the bottom of the Application Checklist section, just above the Upload Materials section to access the recommendation information.

Exclude any recommenders and enter another. This action should be done in one session; please do not exclude a recommender, leave the system and return to add another.

The blue recommendations page link will only display if any of the requested letters of recommendation have not been received; once all of the recommendations requested have been received the blue recommendations page link is not available and recommenders cannot be updated in the application system. Graduate Admissions and graduate program staff are unable to edit recommenders.

From the application status page, scroll to the blue "recommendations page" link at the bottom of the Application Checklist section, just above the Upload Materials section to access the recommendation information, where you can send reminders.

Some programs accept fee waiver requests. For a program listed on our KU Graduate Program Page, you will most likely need to submit a fee waiver request here.

Detailed information about the fee waiver process, such as eligibility requirements and the timeline for review, can be found on the Application Fee Waivers tab on the Graduate Admissions Page. Not all programs offer fee waivers. To determine if a program reviews applications for fee waivers, contact the program directly. Certain programs sponsor the application fee for all applicants and applicants to those programs won’t receive a prompt for payment.

At the graduate level at the University of Kansas, funding opportunities, if available, are coordinated by graduate programs. There are no general institutional scholarships available to applicants, and applicants are encouraged to contact graduate programs directly for any potential program- or discipline-specific opportunities.

This page contains useful information about affording KU. The costs page provides information for both domestic and international students about estimated costs while the funding and aid page provides additional resources.

Occasionally applicant issues are related to settings on internet browsers or restrictions based on the country from which the website is being accessed. In most cases, the following suggestions will resolve application account access challenges:

• If you are using a mobile device, please try using a computer.
• Make sure the browser you are using is completely updated, and make sure to empty or clear cache/cookies. We recommend using Chrome.
• If the first browser you are using does not provide access, please try using another browser (making sure it is completely updated and making sure to empty or clear cache/cookies).

Here are suggestions related to payment of the graduate application fee:

• If you are trying to pay using a mobile device, please try using a computer
• Make sure the browser you are using is completely updated, and make sure to empty or clear cache/cookies. We recommend using Chrome.
• If the first browser you are using does not facilitate payment, please try using another browser (making sure it is completely updated and making sure to empty or clear cache/cookies)
• Toggle between the payment options to see if fields will reset
• Some payment challenges relate to the country from which the payment is being initiated or ISPs and associated settings and Graduate Admissions cannot provide more feedback, suggestions or troubleshooting in these instances.

Please reach out to your program of admission as deferral requests start at the department/academic program level. Program contact information can be found here.

You must submit an official, final transcript with bachelor's degree conferral and official, final transcripts for any graduate degrees you've earned to complete your admission. Official transcripts must be sent directly from the degree-granting institution(s). New students are able to enroll for the first semester, but the GAP hold is placed on records to prevent enrollment for the second semester until final, official transcript(s) are received from the degree-granting institutions.

A team in KU’s International Support Services office manages the visa document production process. More information can be found in the blue box at this link.

Please contact the program to which you were admitted with questions about enrollment and advising.