Graduate Admissions
Application Deadlines
Some academic departments have their own application deadline and may have additional application requirements. We recommend submitting all materials to the Office of Graduate and International Admissions at least one month before the departmental deadline. For departments with no deadlines, and for non-degree, returning, visiting and senior citizens, all application materials (including all transcripts and any required test scores) should reach the Graduate School and International Education by the deadlines listed below. Applications received after the deadline will be automatically deferred to the next available Spring or Fall semester.
Fall semester
August 1
Spring semester
December 1
Summer sessions
April 15
Graduate School Eligibility
Graduate admission is a two-step process. Students must be admitted to both the University
of Arkansas Graduate School and the graduate program of their choice.
Choose an applicant type to learn more about eligibility.
New Degree Seeking Students - Requirements for admission to the University of Arkansas Graduate School:
- A conferred baccalaureate degree. Students who have not completed their baccalaureate degree at the time of application must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA on the last 60.0 credit hours of attempted coursework. Upon admission, students will be required to submit official transcripts with degree confirmation for enrollment privileges. Students who have a degree at the time of application must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA on the last 60.0 credit hours of attempted coursework from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
- A conferred post-baccalaureate degree, master’s degree or doctoral degree (excluding professional degrees) from a regionally accredited institution.
Admission to the Graduate School is the first step. Applicants must also be admitted to an academic program:
- Your desired degree program will make the formal admission decision based upon factors including GPA, letters of recommendation, GRE (or other graduate-level standardized test) scores.
- Graduate degree programs may have additional requirements, such as statement of purposes, resume or CV, writing sample, and more that must be submitted before the admission decision is made. Please see the graduate degree program or department website for further items that may be required.
Returning Degree Seeking Students - Requirements for admission to the University of Arkansas Graduate School:
Readmission to the Graduate School is not automatic. Students must meet each specific criteria and are also strongly encouraged to ensure that an adviser in the department/program is still available to them. Post-candidacy doctoral students who have not been enrolled in the preceding year must be acceptable by the graduate degree program for readmission.
Students who have been enrolled in the Graduate School within the five preceding academic years but have not enrolled in the immediately preceding semester may be readmitted if:
- The student has earned at least a 2.85 cumulative grade-point average on all graduate credits attempted during all previous enrollments;
- A new Application for Admission form and $30 processing fee (waived if less than 12 months have passed since last enrollment - two majors semesters and a summer) is filed prior to the desired registration date (preferably, at least one month prior to that date);
- The Graduate School has received an official transcript of all course work attempted at other institutions subsequent to the previous enrollment in the University of Arkansas Graduate School;
- For students initially admitted Fall 2014 or after, an official standardized test score acceptable to the degree program is on file in the Graduate School; and
- The student’s academic status at the end of the previous enrollment was “good standing” and the student had no disciplinary conduct or academic integrity violations imposed or pending
Note: The Graduate School reserves the right to deny readmission consistent with the mission and values of the Graduate School and/or graduate degree program.
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All requirements for the master’s degree and specialist degrees must be completed within six years of the first enrollment used for the graduate degree. Absence from the University does not change these time limits. Graduate students may petition for extensions to these time limits only if the course work was completed at the University of Arkansas (Fayetteville).
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Students who have been previously admitted to and enrolled in the Graduate School but have no enrollment within the five years preceding the semester of readmission and who wish to be readmitted to pursue a graduate degree, may be considered for readmission upon a petition by the graduate degree program to the Graduate School. Such students should contact the department/program head/director or graduate coordinator to request readmission. The department/program head/director, graduate coordinator, or major adviser of the student will petition the Director of Graduate Admissions, using the form “Request for an Exception to the Admissions Requirements of the Graduate School,” and will specify whether all of the student’s previous course work and grade points will be forfeited. (Note: Neither the graduate degree program nor the student may petition to forfeit only some of the previous course work and grade points; rather, all or none of the course work may be forfeited.) If all of the previous course work and grade points will be forfeited, a notation on the transcript next to these courses will state: “This course may not be used for graduate credit at the University of Arkansas.” If the previous course work and grade points will not be forfeited, the student’s major adviser must petition for a time extension. Please see the Time Extension Policy.
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Readmission for non-degree seeking students: Non-degree-seeking students who have previously been enrolled in the Graduate School but have had a lapse in their enrollment will follow the procedures stated above, or in the policy pertaining to non-consecutive one-term admissions, whichever is most appropriate.
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Readmission to the Graduate School under any other circumstances will be considered and decided on an individual basis. Students interested in obtaining such readmission should contact the Graduate School.
Students who were not enrolled in the Spring semester, but who were enrolled for the Summer session will have registration materials available for the Fall semester should they wish to continue their registration.
Non-Degree Seeking Students - Requirements for admission to the University of Arkansas Graduate School:
Admission as a special, non-degree seeking student is not intended to serve as a means of access to regular, graduate degree-seeking status. Non-degree students who later wish to pursue a graduate degree must reapply for admission as a graduate degree-seeking student and meet the admission requirements of the Graduate School and be admitted by the academic program.
Senior Citizens - Requirements for admission to the University of Arkansas Graduate School:
Senior citizens are welcome to pursue graduate studies. Arkansas residents who are 60 years of age or older are encouraged to enroll tuition-free in for-credit courses based on the availability of space. Students participating in this program register for class/classes during the senior citizen registration period.
Note: More detailed information can be found in Fayetteville Policies and Procedures 515.0.
- An Arkansas resident;
- At least 60 years of age at the time of application
- A graduate of a regionally accredited college or university
- Be admitted to the University of Arkansas
Visiting Students - Requirements for admission to the University of Arkansas Graduate School:
Non-degree visiting admission enables graduate students to take a few classes at the University of Arkansas while continuing to be a graduate degree-seeking student at their home institution.
Visiting graduate applicants must be both:
- Actively pursuing a graduate degree at an academic institution other than the University of Arkansas
- In good standing at that home institution.
International Students - Requirements for admission to the University of Arkansas Graduate School:
If you are an international graduate student, please visit the International Graduate Admissions website.
Transcript Requirements
Unofficial Transcripts
Unofficial transcripts are uploaded as part of the application process.
Upload unofficial copies* academic records/transcripts/mark sheets into your application portal. For evaluation purposes, you may submit an unofficial copy of each transcript needed. Review of your application will begin once your fee and all required documents for evaluation have been submitted.
Official Transcripts
Official transcripts are required for enrollment if you're offered admission.
IMPORTANT: The student cannot have direct contact with these documents at all.
The UA considers the following as official:
- Emailed directly from the institution or via 3rd party service
- Student’s prior institution(s) mails directly to the University of Arkansas.
- documents must be in a sealed and stamped envelope
- if given directly to the student to bring to campus, student is not permitted to open the envelope. Unsealed documents will be considered unofficial.
- Schools in China: Academic documents from China — including transcripts, graduation certificates, and degree certificates in Chinese and in English — must be verified by either the China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development Center (CDGDC) or the China Higher Education Student Information and Career Center (CHESICC). Verification reports from these agencies may be mailed directly to the Graduate and International Admissions Office, or uploaded through the applicant portal. Documents other than the verification report will not be considered official.
* Academic records will be accepted as official only if they have been certified by appropriate university officials. Photocopies of certified documents are not considered official. Faxed documents, scanned documents, notarized photocopies, and copies made by translators or evaluation agencies are not considered official.
** Admission may be rescinded if discrepancies exist between uploaded transcripts and official documents.
Official academic records include:
- Transcripts and/or mark sheets showing the grades earned in each course.
- If the academic records are in a language other than English, you must submit both the original-language documents and a literal, word-for-word English translation.
- A diploma or certificate of graduation. (Not required if the transcript includes the name of the degree and the date it was conferred.)
- The Diploma Supplement, if the degree is Bologna-compliant.
Graduate School Application Process
Choose an applicant type to learn more about the application process.
New Degree Seeking Students Application Process
Follow these steps to complete your admission to the University of Arkansas:
- APPLY
Visit the apply now section below to complete and submit the online application for admission. - PAY APPLICATION FEE
$60.00 non-refundable application fee** - SEND YOUR TRANSCRIPTS
For evaluation purposes, applicants may submit an unofficial copy of transcript(s) from the university where they received or will receive their first bachelor’s degree. Upon admission, students will be required to submit official transcripts with degree confirmation for enrollment privileges. Send official transcripts to:
Graduate and International Admissions
340 N. Campus Drive
Gearhart Hall 213
1 University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701 - SUBMIT TEST SCORES
If required by program, request official GRE score be sent directly to the University of Arkansas (institution code = 6866). Other graduate level standardized tests (such as MAT and GMAT) may be submitted in lieu of the GRE. - TAKE ENGLISH PROFICIENCY EXAM
If your native language is not English: submit verification of English proficiency
Returning Degree Seeking Students Application Process
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Submit the Request for Reactivation of Enrollment form.
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Visit the Application Instructions section below.
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Pay the $30.00 application fee.
- Application fee is waived if less than 12 months have passed (two major semesters and a summer) since your last enrollment at the University of Arkansas.
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Application fee may be waived under certain circumstances.
Non-Degree Seeking Students Application Process
- APPLY
Visit the apply now section below to complete and submit the online application for admission. - Pay the $30 application fee**
- If your native language is not English: submit verification of English proficiency
**Application fee may be waived under certain circumstances.
Senior Citizens Application Process
- APPLY
Visit the apply now section below to complete and submit the online application for admission. - Complete the Senior Citizen Tuition & Fee Waiver Form*.
Applicants to graduate level programs should submit this form to the Graduate School Admissions Office:
213 Gearhart Hall,
1 University of Arkansas,
Fayetteville, AR 72701 - If seeking a degree, check your programs website for additional requirements. The
Graduate School requires:
- Transcripts from your baccalaureate institution
- Official GRE or MAT or GMAT test score (if required by program)
*In order to ensure that registration occurs on a space-available basis, students that wish to use the waiver must wait to register for classes until the last business day before classes begin for a given term. Further, if all waiver requirements have not been met prior to the last day of regular registration, the waiver will not apply and the student will be financially responsible for the balance owed. Senior Citizens who sign up to use the fee waiver, but later wish to pay regular fees so they can register during assigned priority registration, should contact the Registrar’s Office for instructions.
There is no “space available” in classes that do not meet enrollment minimums and are cancelled, or in self-supporting classes until paid enrollment is sufficient to cover costs associated with offering the class. Enrollment minimums are established by Academic Policy 1640.10. This is applicable to campus, online and off-campus classes including study abroad.
Visiting Students Application Process
- APPLY
Visit the apply now section below to complete and submit the online application for admission. - $60.00 non-refundable application fee**
- Letter of good standing from your faculty advisor, graduate college or registrar
- If your native language is not English: verification of English proficiency
**Application fee may be waived under certain circumstances.
International Students Application Process
If you are an international graduate student, please visit the International Graduate Admissions website.
Apply Now to the Graduate School
The New Student Center manages your application process, including applying for admission, uploading related documents, applying for scholarship opportunities and registering for new student orientation.
Starting a New Application
Step 1: After clicking First-Time Users above, create an account using a personal e-mail.
Step 2: Activate your account with the PIN sent to your e-mail.
Step 3: Click Start New Application.
Step 4: Select the appropriate Application Type:
- For all business degree programs (master's, doctorate, certificates, and micro-certicates), select Walton College of Business Graduate Application.
- For master's, doctorate, and specialist degree programs, select Graduate School Application.
- For graduate level certificate and micro-certificate programs, select Graduate School Application.
- For licensure coursework, endorsements, or those taking individual graduate level courses (both Walton College of Business and Graduate School), select Non-Degree Graduate School Application.
Step 5: Click Create Application.
Check Your Application Status
Log in with the email address and password you set up before applying. Your Application Checklist will list the outstanding items for your application.
Forgot your password or lose your PIN?
Visit the reset password page for returning users. Do not create an account using a separate email address.
If you need help, please call 1-866-234-3957 or email gradinfo@uark.edu.
Return to Finish a U of A Graduate School Degree Program
If you are a previous graduate-level U of A student seeking to reactivate enrollment into the same graduate degree program after being out one or more semesters, you should NOT create an account or log in. Please follow these instructions:
- For all graduate programs, besides business, complete the Request for Reactivation form.
- If you have previously applied to graduate for this degree program and wish to continue enrollment, you will need to complete the Reapplication to Graduate form and return it to the Registrar's Office.
- If you are starting a new program or adding a second program, please see 'Start a New Application' section above.
Graduate Business Programs
For Graduate Business programs, contact Admissions at 479-575-2851.
After You Apply to the Graduate School
Choose an applicant type to learn more about what to expect after you apply.
New Degree Seeking Students: After You Apply
Response times will vary depending upon the volume of applications and time of year. You are welcome to contact us at gradapp@uark.edu with any questions you may have.
When your file is complete, you will be notified. If you meet Graduate School admission requirements and are seeking a graduate degree, your file will be forwarded to the academic program for their admission decision. You are strongly encouraged to contact the department regarding any additional application requirements, application deadlines or information they may have for you.
Returning Degree Seeking Students: After You Apply
Response times will vary depending upon the volume of applications and time of year. You are welcome to contact us at gradapp@uark.edu with any questions you may have.
When your file is complete, you will be notified. If you meet Graduate School admission requirements and are seeking a graduate degree, your file will be forwarded to the academic program for their admission decision. You are strongly encouraged to contact the department regarding any additional application requirements, application deadlines or information they may have for you.
Non-Degree Seeking Students: After You Apply
When we have received your application and fee, we will review your file and contact you if additional information is needed. Once all materials have been received, allow 3 to 5 business days for this step. If you are admitted we'll notify you by email and mail your Notice of Admission along with other important information for incoming students.
Senior Citizens: After You Apply
When we've received your application and supporting documents (if degree seeking) we'll review your file and contact you if additional information is needed. Once all materials have been received, allow 3 to 5 business days for this step. If you are admitted we'll notify you by email and mail your Notice of Admission along with other important information for incoming students.
Arkansas residents 60 years of age or older may apply either as an undergraduate or graduate student for on-campus and online credit courses by paying all non-tuition applicable fees. Tuition waiver does not apply to non-credit Continuing Education programs or independent study courses. Senior students that meet admission requirements may be admitted as degree or non-degree seeking . The College of Arts and Sciences allows senior citizens to audit classes. All other colleges require instructor’s permission for audit prior to taking a class. Senior citizens who do not wish to register on a space available basis during the senior citizen registration period may pay tuition and register during priority registration. The tuition waiver does not cover text books, class supplies, or non-tuition applicable fees.
Visiting Students: After You Apply
When we've received your application, fee, and letter of good standing, we'll review your file and contact you if additional information is needed. Once all materials have been received, allow 3 to 5 business days for this step. If you are admitted we'll notify you by email and mail your Notice of Admission along with other important information for incoming graduate students.
Graduate School Admissions FAQs
Up to 6 hours of graduate credit for a 30-hour masters program or up to 12 hours for a 60-hour masters program may be transferred with appropriate approvals. For doctoral degrees, transfer credit is allowed to fulfill the course requirements of the doctoral degree at the discretion and request of the department/program. For the courses to be eligible to transfer, they must follow the below regulations:
Criteria for Acceptable Transfer Credit (Masters and Doctoral)
- The course must have been regularly offered (not special problems or individual study) by a regionally accredited graduate school.
- The course must have been a bona fide graduate level course, approved for graduate credit and taught by a member of the graduate faculty.
- The course must appear on an official transcript as graduate credit from the institution offering the course.
- Only graded courses are subject to transfer and the course grade must be a “B” or “A.” (The student’s grade point average does NOT include grades on transfer courses.)
- The course must be recommended by the student’s major adviser and be applicable to the degree requirement at the University of Arkansas.
- The course must not have been taken by correspondence or for extension credit.
- The course must be acceptable to the department concerned and to the Graduate Dean.
- The student must have satisfied the 24 hour residence requirement. (The student must have satisfactorily completed a total of 24 hours of graded graduate course work taken in residence.)
- The course must have been taken within the time limit of the student’s program at the University of Arkansas.
- For doctoral degrees, the transcript must say either that the student was admitted to a doctoral program, the coursework was completed after an earned master’s degree, or a master’s degree was not earned while the student was attending the institution.
- Petitions for transfer of credit from foreign universities may be made to the Graduate Dean by the department/program on a case by case basis.
Master's students will need to submit an original transcript, along with a Transfer of Credit — Master's form signed by the major advisor, to the graduate school.
Graduate Certificate students will need to submit an original transcript, along with a Transfer of Credit form signed by the major advisor, to the graduate school.
Doctoral students will need to submit an original transcript, along with a Transfer of Credit — Doctoral form signed by the major advisor, to the graduate school.
We strongly encourage prospective students to visit campus. The Graduate School will plan a custom visit based on your needs. Campus Visit Request
After submitting your application for admission, you will provide the names and email addresses for your recommenders and submit an automated request for their recommendation. You may track the receipt of these LORs through your Applicant Portal. You can update your recommender list or send reminders at any time via your Applicant Portal. LORs that are in hardcopy should be sent to the department to which you are applying.
The application fee is $60 for all new domestic graduate applicants. The application fee is $75 for all new international graduate applicants. For applicants who have current graduate enrollment at the UA, the fee is $30. The application fee is a mandatory fee approved by the Board of Trustees for the 2023-24 academic period.
An application fee waiver will be granted to individuals that qualify under these circumstances:
- Full-time employees at the U of A main campus
- U of A summer REU program participants
- Senior Citizens age 60+ (Arkansas residents only)
You must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education, with a grade point average of 3.0 on the last 60 credit hours of academic coursework OR a 3.0 cumulative grade average. You must also meet the minimum requirements for the program to which you are applying; requirements vary by program.
The University of Arkansas Graduate School does not require a standardized test score (GRE, GMAT or other graduate-level standardized test) for official admission to the university. However, individual programs may require a standardized test score. Contact your program directly for more information.
The Walton Graduate School of Business has a waiver process for qualifying master’s students – please visit their admissions page for further information, Apply for Admission: Graduate School of Business
Acceptable GRE scores are determined by the individual programs.
The University of Arkansas awarded over $3 million in fellowships just this year alone! Some of the numerous funding opportunities available include:
- Graduate Assistant Positions: All graduate assistants receive a monthly stipend, and most cover the cost of tuition.
- Benjamin Franklin Lever Tuition Fellowship: A tuition only fellowship for graduate students who contribute to the diversity needs of their program.
- Distinguished Doctoral Fellowship and Doctoral Academy Fellowship: These are the university’s highest awards, and include a 12-month or 9-month graduate assistant position (see above), PLUS a fellowship stipend of either $22,000 per year or $12,000 per year for four years.
Additional information about these opportunities can be found on the Cost and Funding page.
You would need to apply for admission to your desired program, and then apply to receive transfer credit for your previous studies. Please see the above entry for the requirements to transfer in a course.
To establish state residency you will need to establish a domicile in the state of Arkansas and continue that residency for a period of six months. After six months you can appeal for a change of residency status with the Office of the Registrar. If you live in Texarkana or Bowie County, Texas you are already considered in-state. See Resident Reclassification for Fee Purposes for more information.
The University of Arkansas currently has on-campus housing for graduate students in the Duncan Ave. Apartments. For information visit the University Housing website. Currently there is no on-campus housing for married students. The Fayetteville area does offer several other housing options for students many of which are on the university bus routes. More information can be found on the Off-Campus Housing site.