WELCOME PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS

The University of Memphis is authorized under Federal law to enroll non-immigrant alien students on the F-1 student visa. We accept only students with the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree--16 years of formal schooling.

Prospective students must apply to the Graduate School and the respective department (only if the department requires an additional application). Individual departments may have different admission requirements and application deadlines. It is essential that you familiarize yourself with departmental information.

Applications are available for on-line submission at banssbprod.memphis.edu/pls/PROD/bwskalog.P_DispLoginNon. A non-refundable application and processing fee of sixty dollars U.S. (U.S. $60.00) is required of every international applicant, unless previously paid. Payment of the application fee is by credit card. For a list of specific program deadlines, click here.

For admission to a degree program, international applicants should allow at least four months for necessary documents to be processed by the appropriate degree program and the Graduate Admissions office. All test scores and credential evaluations must be on file in the Graduate Admissions, 101 Wilder Tower, at least four months before the desired enrollment date. Applicants are urged to apply early to ensure full consideration. Applicants will be selected on a competitive basis and, therefore, admission will not be granted to all applicants who meet only the minimum requirements. Some departments require higher standards or additional items such as portfolios, proficiency examinations, auditions, etc.

When Graduate Admissions receives your application materials, an official file is established and reviewed. Your requested department then reviews your application and makes a recommendation to Graduate Admissions. You will be notified as soon as a decision has been reached.

Letters of Recommendation: If the program to which you are applying requires letters of recommendation, have them sent directly to the department. Some departments also require other material such a a statement of professional goals. Be sure to check with them.

Readmission into the University: International students who wish to apply for readmission to the University must meet the deadlines set for regular admissions.

ADDITIONAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

In addition to general admissions requirements, international students must provide the following items:

• TOEFL Scores: All applicants who will be attending the University on a student visa and who are not native speakers of English and are not graduates of The University of Memphis must supply a minimum score of 550 on the paper or 210 on the computer-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Some degree programs require a higher TOEFL score; check department listings for specific requirements. Testing locations and other information can be obtained from www.toefl.org or by writing to TOEFL, Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey, 08540, U.S.A. All test scores must be sent directly from the testing agency to The University of Memphis (institution code R-1459).
  
• Evaluation of Credentials: Applicants whose highest degree is from a foreign university must have their credentials evaluated. The university will accept evaluations done by any credentialing agency listed on the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services web site (http://www.naces.org). A course-by course report is required. Departments may provide a scholarship to cover the cost of the credential evaluation for selected scholar-applicants. For additional information, please contact the graduate program coordinator. The department will collect the necessary documentation and fees and forward them to the selected credentialing agency.For general information on the equivalency of international degrees click here.
  
• Health Certificate: Within 30 days from the first day of classes, each international student must submit a certificate from a licensed U.S. physician or other qualified U.S. medical authority verifying freedom from tuberculosis. Failure to do so shall result in denial of enrollment. In the event that a student either has tuberculosis or has potential tuberculosis requiring medical treatment, continued enrollment will be conditional upon the determination by a licensed U.S. physician that such enrollment does not present a risk to others and upon the student's compliance with any medical treatment program.
  
• Health Insurance: All international students must purchase health insurance before they are allowed to enroll. Click here for more information.

Please contact academic departments for information on additional requirements and graduate assistantships.

Advisors for graduate students are typically department based. Often, departments will assign advisors to students upon admission based on areas of interest. After students have matriculated and enrolled in coursework under various faculty members, students may select a different advisor. To inquire about your academic advisor, please contact the graduate coordinator or department chair for your program.

MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAMS

The following admissions requirements are minimum standards that identify the pool of master’s level applicants from which each academic unit makes its selection. Prospective students should check with the appropriate degree program for specific deadlines. For admission to a degree program, applicants should allow a reasonable amount of time for necessary documents to be processed by the appropriate department and Graduate Admissions.

• Baccalaureate Degree: The applicant must provide an official transcript showing that a bachelor's degree was awarded by an accredited college or university. The applicant must have earned an acceptable grade point average. In addition, transcripts from any other college or university attended must be requested. (Students who received bachelor's degrees from The University of Memphis may disregard this requirement.) Only transcripts received directly from an issuing institution are considered official. Signed and sealed transcripts that have been in the applicant's possession can be used for admission purposes; however, official transcripts must later be requested. Personal copies are not acceptable as official documents.

• Entrance Examinations: New applicants to the Graduate School (except to the MALS program) must have taken an appropriate entrance examination within five years of the application date. Contact the appropriate program for information on which tests and what scores are acceptable. Scores on MAT exams written in less than 2 month intervals are not acceptable. Test scores must be sent directly to Graduate Admissions from the testing agency.The University of Memphis institution code number for reporting ETS scores is R-1459. See program descriptions for more information on requirements. Some programs may waive the entrance examination requirement for applicants with exceptional credentials, extensive professional experience, or a prior graduate degree from an accredited institution. These waivers are at the discretion of the academic program. Check individual program descriptions for details.

• Program Requirements: Many academic units have separate departmental applications and/or additional requirements for admission. Check program descriptions for more information on requirements.

EDUCATION SPECIALIST (ED.S.) PROGRAM

The Education Specialist degree is designed for the educator-practitioner who desires post-masters training but who does not wish to earn a doctorate. This program is administered by the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences; please refer to the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences section of the Graduate Catalog for a more complete description or contact the dean's office in the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences for additional details.

DOCTORAL DEGREE PROGRAMS

The following Graduate School admissions requirements are minimum standards that identify the pool of doctoral level applicants from which each academic area make their selections.

• A Baccalaureate or Master's Degree as specified by the program: The applicant must provide an official transcript showing an earned bachelor's or master's degree, depending on program requirements. The degree must have been awarded by an accredited college or university. Only transcripts received directly from an issuing institution are considered official. Personal copies are not acceptable as official documents.

• Entrance Examinations: New applications to the Graduate School require submission of an appropriate entrance examination test score that is not more than five years old. Contact your program for information on which tests and what scores are acceptable. Test scores must be sent directly to Graduate Admissions by the testing agency.The University of Memphis institution code number for reporting ETS scores is R-1459. Some programs may waive the entrance examination requirement for applicants with exceptional credentials, extensive professional experience, or a prior doctoral degree from an accredited institution. See individual program descriptions for details.

• Program Requirements: Some academic units may have separate departmental applications and/or additional requirements, such as portfolios, proficiency examinations, auditions, etc. Refer to the appropriate program description in the Graduate Catalog for details.