Before You Apply

• Choosing the Right Program:
  
  Before you decide to apply to graduate school, it is important to carefully consider what program will be best suited to your academic and/or professional interests. Applicants should review the descriptions of Maryland’s graduate programs, available on the various department websites. You are encouraged to contact departmental directors of graduate study, potential academic advisers, and other faculty members for further information. (If you are seeking professional training, we encourage you to visit the Office of Extended Studies at www.oes.umd.edu, for a listing of the programs they offer.)
  
  To facilitate your search, you can find links to the websites of each of our graduate programs here.
     
  Program descriptions, admission requirements, listings of faculty and their research, information regarding the graduate student community, and the availability of assistantships, fellowships and other forms of financial support should be available on each of these pages.


• General Requirements:
  
  Before initiating an application, please be sure you meet the University's general requirements.
  In order to be considered for admission, the Graduate School at the University of Maryland has established a set of minimum admission criteria:
  
• Applicants must have earned a four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or an equivalent degree from a non-U.S. institution.
• Applicants must have earned a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in all prior undergraduate and graduate coursework.
• Applicants must provide an official hard copy of a transcript for all of their post-secondary work.
  
  
• Preparing Your Application Materials:
  
  Once you have determined the program to which you intend to apply, and believe you can meet our general requirements for admission, it is important that you carefully read the admission directions for the program in which you are interested. Pay particular attention to the deadline for graduate applications because each department sets its own deadline(s). Be sure to note any additional admission requirements listed for your program and understand you must submit all required materials before your application will be reviewed.
  
  Most programs require applicants to provide test scores.  Be sure you understand which scores you must provide.  Applicants must register for those tests and arrange to have the scores electronically submitted to Maryland with institutional code 5814.
  
  Applicants must obtain official hard copies of their transcripts for all post-secondary academic credit and submit those transcripts to:
  
  University of Maryland, College Park
  Enrollment Services Operation – Attn: Graduate Admissions
  Room 0130 Mitchell Building
  College Park, MD 20742
  
  Finally, you must identify at least three individuals who will provide you with a strong letter of reference. Your references should come from faculty or individuals who can speak to your academic talents, work ethic, and intellectual strengths.  You must provide their names in your application and they will be contacted via email and asked to electronically submit a letter on your behalf.


• Understanding the University of Maryland's application process:
  
  The University of Maryland Graduate School accepts applications through the Online Graduate Application.  The application is in two parts and begins with a Common General University Application, which requires general student information. It concludes with the Application Supplementary Form (ASF) which requires more detailed and complex information material, specific to each graduate program.  Please be sure you are committed to completing the entire application before you hit the submit button.  Please understand that even if you do not pursue your online application, you will still be charged a $60 nonrefundable application fee once you hit 'Submit'. You are strongly encouraged to submit all materials and documents electronically, with the exception of official transcripts, which must be submitted in a hard copy format. 
  
  Electronic submission of your application materials will expedite the review of your application and help you avoid delays. Completed applications are reviewed by an admissions committee in each graduate degree program. The recommendations of the committees are submitted to the Dean of the Graduate School, who will make the final admission decision. Students seeking to complete graduate work at the University of Maryland for degree purposes must be formally admitted to the Graduate School by the Dean.


• Important Information for International Students:
  
  The University of Maryland is dedicated to maintaining a vibrant international graduate student community. The Office of International Education Services (IES) is a valuable resource of information and assistance for prospective and current international students.  International applicants are encouraged to explore the services they offer, and contact them with related questions.
  
  As an international applicant there are a few additional requirements you must satisfy to be considered for admission:
  
  
• You must submit the Certification of Finances form, which documents how you plan to sufficiently finance your entire course of study at Maryland.
• If you are currently residing in the United States, you must provide visa and/or permanent residency status information (this may include copies of your passport, U.S. Visa, I-94 card, I-20/DS-2019, and/or other immigration documents showing your status).
• If English is not your native language, you must take and receive an acceptable score on either the TOEFL or IELTS exam. See the General Requirements section above for further details.
  
• You must submit official copies of degrees, diplomas, and transcripts issued by all previous undergraduate and graduate institutions attended. If these documents are not in English, you must provide copies in the original language, along with a certified professional translation. Information about acceptable translation services is available here.
• Your grade point average will be calculated using the U.S. standard 4.0 scale.
• You must determine the equivalency of degrees from previous undergraduate or graduate institutions.


• Tuition, Fees, and Financial Assistance:
  
  The University of Maryland is dedicated to maintaining a vibrant international graduate student community.The Office of International Education Services (IES) is a valuable resource of information and assistance for prospective and current international students.  International applicants are encouraged to explore the services they offer, and contact them with related questions.