Admission
IU Indianapolis Graduate School Programs
Undergraduate Requirements (All Admission Categories)
The Indiana University Graduate School Indianapolis will consider applications from students holding bachelor’s degrees from regionally accredited four-year collegiate institutions. Students from unaccredited or nationally accredited institutions may be admitted as a graduate non-degree student (GND); if their records are satisfactory and their department, program, or school recommends them, they may apply to an Indiana University Graduate School Indianapolis program. Ordinarily, a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in an undergraduate major is required for admission to the Indiana University Graduate School Indianapolis. Students with a grade point average below 3.0 may consider the GND program as an option to prove they can be successful in graduate school and, therefore, be considered for admission upon exemplary performance in their courses taken as a GND student.
International Candidates
International candidates should contact the program that they are applying to for program-specific application requirements, instructions, and deadlines.
International graduate applicants are expected to have completed the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree to be considered for graduate study, such as:
- Have completed at least 16 years of primary + secondary + tertiary education and have earned a university first degree, or
- Have completed a university first degree that grants eligibility for graduate study in a recognized university in that same country.
Persons without this background cannot be accepted for graduate study, regardless of the name of any first degree they may hold.
Once minimum eligibility is determined, Indiana University graduate programs and then the Graduate School will make the final admissions decision, based on reviewing the applicant’s educational credentials to determine if the applicant is academically competitive and has the preparation needed for success in that program. The Office of International Affairs at IU Indianapolis will provide evaluations of the applicant’s educational background and academic documents upon request from the departments. For more details regarding admission requirements visit Office of International Affairs.
Applicants from non-English speaking countries must prove English proficiency and may be required to take a standardized English proficiency test, such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English language testing system (IELTS) examination to qualify for graduate study at IU Indianapolis; many graduate programs require a score significantly higher than the minimum campus standard. The Office of International Affairs offers further information on English proficiency requirements.
By University policy, most graduate students who are non-native speakers of English are required to take the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) test prior to registering for classes, before the start of their first semester on campus, even if they already submitted English proficiency test scores to gain admission. The courses prescribed based on the student’s test results on the EAP test are required. Students who have not completed their EAP requirements will not be able to graduate.
Transient and Visiting Students
Students not within the IU system but in good standing in any accredited graduate school who wish to enroll for one semester or summer session at IU Indianapolis and who plan to return thereafter to their former institution may be admitted as graduate non-degree students. Non-degree students may be advised by the graduate non-degree advisor at IU Graduate School Indianapolis or the advisor in their graduate program. Visit Graduate Non-Degree Program for more information.
Visiting students who are eligible for a temporary intercampus transfer (ICT) must be active in a graduate/professional degree-seeking program at another Indiana University campus, be in good academic standing with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (2.3 GPA for Law School) and have not been an ICT student at IU Indianapolis for more than 2 consecutive terms.
Detailed information about ICT and how to apply can be found at Temporary Intercampus Transfer (ICT).
Application to Graduate Degree Programs
Prospective graduate students, including graduates of Indiana University, must make formal application to a department or program, which will forward its recommendation to the Dean of the Indiana University Graduate School Indianapolis. Online applications are normally sent to the departments or programs for consideration within two working days, but the review and approval process may take several weeks. Applicants should navigate to the department’s website to obtain the most program-specific instructions and dates and should navigate to the online application through the IU Graduate School Indianapolis website. A listing of all 300+ graduate certificates, graduate and professional degrees can be found on the IU Graduate School Indianapolis graduate programs' website.
All applications must be accompanied by official complete transcript(s) of all previous college and university course work and should be submitted directly to the department or program in which the student wishes to apply. Indiana University graduates should ask the registrar to send unofficial copies of their transcripts to that department or program.
Admission (except for visiting and continuing graduate non-degree students) is made to a particular department or program for a specific degree, and no student shall be permitted to work toward a degree without first having been admitted. Students who want to change programs should contact their current department or program to notify them of their intent. Students must apply and be admitted to the new program.
Following the notice of admission to the Graduate School, an applicant normally has two calendar years in which to enroll. Supplementary transcripts of any additional academic course work undertaken during that period are required, and a department may request additional letters of recommendation. Should the updated material prove unsatisfactory, the admission may be canceled. If the applicant fails to enroll within two years, a completely new application is required. Applicants to IU programs may defer their admission decision up to 1 year at a time and up to two times during the two-year period.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
Applicants may be required to take the Graduate Record Examination General Test, Subject Test, or both (see the department or school sections of this bulletin). Information concerning these examinations may be obtained from the Graduate Record Examinations Educational Testing Service.
For additional information about the IU Graduate School Indianapolis programs, financial support, academic regulations, and specific courses, consult the specific departments or the separate bulletin of the Indiana University Graduate School Indianapolis.
Last Updated: April 2024
