Applying for Admission

Admission Requirements

In general, you may be admitted to graduate status if you have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with at least a 3.0 (B) cumulative grade point average in your undergraduate studies, and a 3.0 (B) average in your major, and the major is deemed suitable for continuation of studies in the field of choice. Some programs require the GRE or GMAT and other special criteria for admission to their program. Equivalent accomplishments at a foreign university may be substituted.

For the purposes of admission to graduate study, all grades, including those generated from retaking a course, are included in the calculation of the grade point average.

Program heads in fields of interest will determine the adequacy of the student's preparation and whether or not departmental facilities are sufficient for the student's aims.

Information on specific degree programs can be obtained from academic departments or the Graduate School, telephone (907) 474-7464, e-mail fygrads@uaf.edu, or web www.uaf.edu/gradsch/.

The graduate Application for Admission form is online.

How to Apply

To apply for admission to a UAF graduate degree program, please submit the following to the Office of Admissions:

1. Graduate Application for Admission -- A $50 non-refundable application fee must accompany your application. The fee should be paid by check or money order in U.S. funds. Please do not send cash.
2. Transcripts -- If you've attended other colleges and/or universities, you must request official transcripts from each college or university you attended. The transcripts should be sent to the Office of Admissions by the schools. Transcripts will not be accepted if you submit them.
3. Resume/Vitae -- Include work and research experience, published articles, patents held, honors received, membership in professional and civic organizations and foreign travel.
4. Statement of Academic Goals -- Write a statement indicating why you wish to study in a particular program, your qualifications and educational experience. (For applicants to Education programs, a four-to-five-page self-evaluation essay is required.)
5. Letters of Recommendation -- At least three letters of recommendation from persons able to vouch for your work, character and ability to undertake graduate study and research must be sent.
6. Results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and GMAT -- Results of the GRE or GMAT are required from all applicants if their undergraduate GPA is below 3.0 and they are seeking special admission. Refer to the admission requirements of the specific degree program for which you are applying to determine what other tests might be required.
7. Creative writing applicants -- Submit writing samples.

When to Apply

You should apply six to nine months before the beginning of the semester in which you plan to enroll. At the latest, your application for graduate admission with all supporting documentation, transcripts and test scores should be received by August 1 for the fall semester and December 1 for the spring semester. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early. Applications received near these closing dates will be evaluated as time permits, or may be considered for the following semester.

Most departments require even earlier submission of credentials for graduate student and assistantships. Contact your prospective department for specific deadlines. Applications for programs in anthropology, biology, engineering, geology, geophysics, interdisciplinary and wildlife biology should be sent early, as the number of graduate students accepted in these fields is limited. The School of Education deadline for the M.Ed. degree is April 1 for summer/fall and Oct. 1 for spring admission. The number of graduate students accepted is limited. Please contact the department for more information.

You may apply for on-campus housing when you've been admitted to UAF as a degree-seeking student. If you're interested in single student housing, you should send in a housing application at least six months before you plan to enroll. For information on married student housing, contact the UAF Department of Residence Life at (907) 474-7247.

Ph.D. Program Applicants

To apply for admission into a Ph.D. program, you must submit a description of your proposed graduate program and professional goals.

Interdisciplinary Program Applicants

To apply as an interdisciplinary degree student, you must submit a proposed graduate study plan and a research outline and obtain a commitment from a UAF faculty member to serve as advisory committee chair. Contact the Graduate School for specific interdisciplinary application procedures.

International Students

If an applicant is not a citizen of the United States of America and requires an F-1 visa, the following information must also be provided:

1. A current financial statement with supporting document. You must sign a statement and provide documentation that funds are available to pay all expenses while you attend UAF, as well as the amount needed for round-trip transportation between your home and Alaska. The minimum cost for attending UAF for one school year is $15,410. This amount covers university fees, room and board on campus and a reasonable amount of personal expenses. It does not include transportation to and from Alaska, summer living or cold weather clothing costs. Since the application for the F-1 visa requires affirmation that you don't intend to live in the United States permanently, you aren't eligible for resident tuition fees.
2. If your native language is not English, a minimum TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 213 (computer exam) or 550 (paper exam) is required. For some programs, the minimum score may be higher.
3. You may also be asked to take the TSE (Test of Spoken English) or the TWE (Test of Written English). Please consult with your department of interest to be certain that you have satisfied all necessary requirements.

Other Requirements

1. Since processing applicants for international students takes several months, the application must reach the Office of Admissions prior to March 1 for the fall semester and Sept. 1 for the spring semester. Your application must be completed and accepted by August 1 for the fall semester and Nov. 1 for the spring semester in order to allow time for your I-20 form to be issued.
2. When preparing the I-20 form that is necessary to obtain an F-1 (student) visa, the university must certify to the Immigration and Naturalization Service that you have been accepted for full-time enrollment and that you have funds to meet estimated expenses for one academic year. If you're in the U.S. on an F-1 visa, you must maintain a full-time course load; you may not enroll as a part-time student (less than 9 credits per semester).

Request for Postponement

Your offer of admission is valid for the semester for which you applied. If you are unable to attend that semester, you will need to contact the Office of Admissions. You may request postponement of admission for a maximum of one calendar year. Requests should be directed to the UAF Office of Admissions and are subject to approval.

Students with Master's Degrees

Second Master's Degree Programs

At the discretion of your advisory committee, admitting department and dean, you may transfer up to 20 percent of the minimum number of credits required for a UAF master's degree from a previously earned master's degree. Transferred credit may not be research, project or thesis credit. The transferred credit must be for completed graduate-level courses and not portions of a course. For a 30-credit master's degree, therefore, up to 6 graduate credits may be transferred; for a 45-credit master's degree, up to 9 graduate credits maybe transferred. The following procedures are required for students who wish to pursue a second master's degree:

1. A new application is required, including the application processing fee, updated transcripts and three new letters of reference.
2. Acceptable GRE scores submitted previously may be applied to a second master's degree.
3. You must fulfill all general university requirements for the second master's degree, including taking a comprehensive exam (if required), completing a minimum of 30 semester credits (including thesis, research and transfer credits) and passing a defense of a thesis or project.
4. All of the work used to fulfill degree requirements for a second master's degree must be complete within seven years.

Transfer of Credit

A maximum of one-third of all graduate credits approved for your UAF graduate program may be transferred from institutions outside the UA system, and up to one-half may be transferred from UAA and UAS. All transfer courses must have been taken within the appropriate time for the degree and must have been completed with a B grade or higher.