Admission
IU Graduate Programs
The Indiana University Graduate School is represented on the IUPUI campus by the IUPUI Graduate Office. There are two categories of admission to the University Graduate School:
- Admission to pursue a degree
- Conditional Admission
Undergraduate Requirements (All Admission Categories)
The Indiana University Graduate School will consider applications from students holding bachelor’s degrees from accredited four-year collegiate institutions. Students from unaccredited institutions may be admitted conditionally upon acceptance in the program for one semester or as a graduate non-degree student (GND); if their records are satisfactory and their department, program, or school recommends them, they will then be given full standing. Students from unaccredited institutions may be admitted as special students for one semester; if their records are then satisfactory and their department, program or school recommends them, they will be given full standing. Ordinarily, a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in an undergraduate major is required for admission to the Indiana University Graduate School. Students may be admitted with deficiencies as graduate non-degree students (GND) or conditionally at the discretion of the program with the approval of the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies.
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 in order 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 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 IUPUI will provide evaluations of the applicant’s educational background and academic documents upon request from the departments. For more details regarding admission requirements visit: http://international.iupui.edu/admissions/how-apply/graduate/index.html
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 in order to qualify for graduate study at IUPUI; 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 at http://international.iupui.edu/admissions/how-apply/graduate/english.html.
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.
Indiana University Bachelor’s Degree Candidates Candidates for bachelor’s degrees at Indiana University may apply for conditional admission to the Indiana University Graduate School and may enroll for graduate credit for that portion of their program not required for completion of the bachelor’s degree, provided:
- they are within one semester of meeting bachelor’s degree requirements. If the bachelor’s degree is not completed within that semester, graduate credit earned may not be counted toward an advanced degree.
- the total course load does not exceed that ordinarily taken by a full-time graduate student.
- the courses taken for graduate credit are authorized to carry such credit. (In certain instances, graduate credit is allowed for undergraduate courses.)
Conditional Admissions
Students who have applied but have not been admitted fully to a degree program but intend to pursue the degree may be admitted by that department with the approval of the Associate Dean of the Indiana University Graduate School as a conditional admit. Academic conditions set by the program must be met in order to continue in the degree program. Students must either be accepted into a degree program or apply to the non-degree program.
Visiting/Transient Students/Non-degree students
Visiting students in good standing in any accredited graduate school who wish to enroll for one semester or summer session and who plan to return thereafter to their former institution may be admitted as graduate non-degree students. Non-degree students are advised by the graduate non-degree counselor in the IUPUI Graduate Office. Visit http://graduate.iupui.edu/admissions/non-degree.shtml for more information.
Application to Indiana University 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 Associate Dean of the Indiana University Graduate School. 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. Students should navigate to the online application through the department’s website to obtain the most program-specific information and dates.
All applications must be accompanied by an official complete transcript of previous college and university course work and should be submitted directly to the department or program in which the student wishes to work. 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 Indiana University 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 cancelled. If the applicant fails to enroll within two years, a completely new application is required.
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 (www.ets.org/gre).
For additional information about the IU Graduate School programs, financial support, academic regulations, and specific courses, consult the specific departments or the separate bulletin of the Indiana University Graduate School at http://www.graduate.iupui.edu/academics-research/bulletin.shtml.
