Minimum Admission Requirements

Admission to the Graduate School is open to anyone holding a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from an accredited college or university. In cases, where a program’s accrediting body allows alternate admissions standards, exceptions may be made. Applicants should have completed undergraduate or graduate work of sufficient quality and scope to enable them to successfully pursue graduate study. The University of Memphis offers equal educational opportunity to all persons without regard to race, religion, sex, creed, color, national origin or disability.

Students are admitted to the University of Memphis through a cooperative effort of the Graduate School and the departments, colleges, and schools of the University. When the Graduate School receives the student’s application material, an official file is established and reviewed. The department then reviews the application file and makes a recommendation to the Graduate School. The Graduate School notifies applicants as soon as a decision has been reached. In many degree programs, the number of applications received from individuals qualified for graduate study regularly exceeds the number of applicants who can be accommodated. In such cases, only the most highly qualified are offered admission. The number of spaces available in various departments is limited according to the availability of faculty, special resources, and funds for students requiring financial assistance.

Applicants are required to meet admissions criteria established by the Graduate School in order to enroll in graduate courses. In order to be admitted to a degree program in any academic unit, applicants are also required to meet any additional standards set by the unit or college. Applicants are selected on a competitive basis and, therefore, admission is not granted to all applicants who meet only the minimum requirements. Past behavior and classroom performance can be considered in admissions decisions. Some academic programs have individual application forms and additional requirements such as portfolios, proficiency examinations, auditions, etc.

The following Graduate School admissions requirements are minimum standards that identify the pool of master’s and doctoral level applicants from which each academic unit makes its selection. Many academic units have separate departmental applications and/or additional requirements for admission. Prospective students should check with the appropriate program for specific deadlines and admissions requirements.

Minimum Admissions to Masters Degree Programs

Baccalaureate Degree: The applicant must provide an official transcript showing that a bachelor’s degree was awarded by an accredited college or university. If you are a UofM undergraduate student applying to Graduate School at UofM, you do not need to request that an official transcript be sent to Graduate Admissions. This office has access to your transcript. In addition, transcripts from any other college or university attended may be requested. Only transcripts received directly from an issuing institution are considered official. Personal copies are not acceptable as official documents.
GPA: The applicant must have earned an acceptable grade point average, typically a minimum of 2.5 on a scale of 4.0, but departments may make exceptions for students whose overall GPA does not adequately reflect their ability to succeed in their chosen field.

Minimum Admission to Doctoral Degree Programs

A Baccalaureate or Master’s Degree: The applicant must provide an official transcript showing an earned bachelor’s or master’s degree, depending on program requirements. In cases, where a program’s accrediting body allows alternate admissions standards, exceptions may be made. If you are a UofM undergraduate student applying to Graduate School at UofM, you do not need to request that an official transcript be sent to Graduate Admissions. This office has access to your transcript. 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.
GPA: The applicant must have earned an acceptable grade point average, typically a minimum of 2.5 on a scale of 4.0, but departments may make exceptions for students whose overall GPA does not adequately reflect their ability to succeed in their chosen field.

Language Proficiency Minimum Requirements

International students must provide evidence of English Language Proficiency.

English proficiency test scores accepted by the University:

Duolingo English Test- 100 or higher on the overall score, all sub scores must be at least 80.
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) 550 or higher on the paper version, 79 or higher on the internet-based test
IELTS (International English Language Testing System)- 6.0 or higher
PTE (Pearson Test of English) - 53 or higher

Spring 2024 admissions (and future terms) the English Proficiency minimum requirements will change to:

Duolingo English Test-110 or higher on the overall score.
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) 550 or higher on the paper version, 80 or higher on the internet-based test
IELTS (International English Language Testing System)- 6.5 or higher
PTE (Pearson Test of English) - 59 or higher

Some degree programs require higher scores; check department listings for specific requirements.

International students who are citizens of one of the countries below or who have earned, or are in the process of earning, a four year bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in one of the countries below, are exempt from this requirement.

Antigua

Australia

Barbados

Belize

Bermuda

Botswana

Canada (except Quebec)

Cayman Islands

Dominica

Fiji

Gambia

Ghana

Grand Turks and Caicos Islands

Grenada

Guyana

Ireland

Jamaica

Kenya

Lesotho

Liberia

Malawi

Malta

Mauritius

Montserrat

Namibia

New Zealand

Nigeria

Papua New Guinea

Seychelles

Sierra Leone

Singapore

Solomon Islands

South Africa

St. Lucia

St. Vincent

Swaziland

Tanzania

The Bahamas

The British Virgin Islands- St. Kitts-Nevis, Anguilla

Trinidad and Tobago

U.S. Virgin Islands- St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John

Uganda

United Kingdom

Zambia

Zimbabwe