Admission to Graduate Study

Applicants whose records indicate their ability to succeed in advanced work may be admitted to the University of Kansas for graduate study in one of the professional schools or in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The provisions herein constitute University minima. Departments and programs may be more selective.

Applicants can apply to be degree-seeking, non-degree-seeking, or certificate-seeking students. Applicants pursuing an identifiable degree program are degree-seeking; those applicants pursuing a certificate program are certificate-seeking; those who are not pursuing an identified degree or certificate program should be admitted under the non-degree-seeking category. No student may work toward a graduate degree without being accepted as a degree-seeking student in a specific graduate program.

The University of Kansas notifies each applicant in writing of the admission decision. In situations requiring a previously enrolled student to re-apply for graduate admission, the previous admission does not guarantee re-admission.

English Proficiency

In accordance with the policy on English Proficiency Requirements for Admission to Graduate Study, all applicants who are non-native speakers of English must demonstrate English proficiency, as described in the policy. In some circumstances, students may be offered admission and also be required to complete mandatory English Language Training alongside or prior to the academic degree program.

Degree- and Certificate-Seeking Admission

Acceptance for gradute study requires an official, final transcript as evidence of a completed bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited university or from a foreign university with substantially equivalent bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree requirements. Students may be admitted for one (1) semester of graduate work based on transcripts issued for an active bachelor’s degree program, but these students must provide evidence of a completed bachelor’s degree before they will be allowed to enroll in a second term of graduate study at KU. For more information about what constitutes evidence of a completed bachelor's degree and about procedures used to provide and evaluate transcripts, see the procedures governing Graduate Admission.

GPA Requirements

Individual degree programs, departments, and/or schools and the College determine minimum GPA requirements for each program.

Adding a Certificate Program

Active degree-seeking graduate students may choose to pursue a graduate certificate upon approval of the certificate-granting department. Degree-seeking graduate students must be in good standing in their degree program in order to be admitted to a certificate program, whether in the same or a different department.

Adding a Degree Program

If students admitted to a graduate certificate program wish to pursue a degree, they must submit a new application for graduate admission. Upon degree-seeking admission, applicable courses taken for the graduate certificate program may be counted toward the degree with the approval of the degree-granting program. While the courses comprising a graduate certificate may be used as evidence in support of a student's application for degree-seeking admission, the certificate itself is not considered to be a prerequisite and does not guarantee admission into any graduate degree program.

Non-Degree-Seeking Admission

A non-degree-seeking applicant applies to a specific department, program, professional school, or the College for admission as a non-degree-seeking student. A non-degree-seeking applicant must fulfill the English proficiency requirements for admission to graduate study at KU and must provide an official, final transcript as evidence of a completed bachelor's or higher degree from a regionally-accredited university or from a foreign university with substantially equivalent bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree requirements. Non-degree-seeking students may be admitted for one (1) semester of graduate work based on transcripts issued for an active bachelor’s degree program, but these students must provide evidence of a completed bachelor’s degree before they will be allowed to enroll in a second term of graduate study at KU. For more information about what constitutes a completed bachelor's degree and about procedures used to provide and evaluate transcripts, see the procedures governing Graduate Admission.

A non-degree-seeking applicant is not required to meet the other requirements for graduate admission.

Non-degree-seeking admission is not intended to bypass regular admission into a graduate certificate or degree program. However, if a non-degree-seeking student later applies for admission and is accepted as a degree- or certificate-seeking student, the student may transfer up to nine (9) credit hours earned as a non-degree-seeking student at KU toward a graduate certificate or degree, or up to six (6) credit hours in the case of a nine-hour (9-hour) certificate. Students who withdraw from a degree program and subsequently seek admission to a certificate program are subject to these same transfer limits (i.e., nine [9] credit hours, or six [6] toward a nine-hour [9-hour] certificate). For more information, see the policy on Graduate Credit.

Offers of Admission

Offers of admission are valid for one (1) year from the term of admission, as long as the admitting program approves deferral to a future term. If the admitted applicant is not enrolled after one (1) year, the prospective graduate student must submit a new application, application fee, official transcripts, and other required materials. Previous acceptance into a graduate program does not guarantee an admission offer for a future application.

Records Retention

Graduate admission application records will be retained according to the following Records Retention Schedule.

Exceptions to Policy

In exceptional cases, the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies may grant exceptions to these policy provisions. In such cases, the Vice Provost reviews all relevant documentation and extraordinary circumstances and may consult with the Executive Council of Graduate Faculty as appropriate.