Graduate Admissions
Office of Graduate Studies
4901 Evergreen Road
1055 Administration Building
Dearborn, MI 48128
313-583-6321
umd-graduatestudies@umich.edu
umdearborn.edu/admissions/graduate
General Admission Requirements
All graduate applicants are required to meet the following minimum requirements for admission:
- Completion of a bachelor’s degree from an approved institution. Criteria vary based on whether you earned your bachelor’s degree from a US institution or an institution outside of the United States.
- Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency.
Additional Requirements
Additional requirements vary by program. A summary of basic requirements can be found sorted by college in our Prerequisites by College section of this catalog.
Applicants are considered for admission without regard to race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, height, weight, or veteran status.
A holistic review of each applicant is conducted. Admission is granted to applicants who have been recommended for admission by the program to which they have applied. Preference is generally given to students who have at least a B average (3.0 in a 4.0 grading system) in relevant undergraduate coursework or otherwise provide evidence of promise that is satisfactory to the admitting program.
Admitted international students seeking an F-1 or J-1 visa must submit an Affidavit of Financial Support along with an original bank certification (in English) from their financial supporter or a detailed letter of sponsorship from a government, employer, or other organization indicating the exact dollar amount available for expenses in U.S. funds. The bank statement must show the required available funds as specified on the affidavit. The Affidavit of Financial Support is valid for one year. See more on the Office of International Affairs webpage.
Applying for Graduate Admission
Find current information on the Graduate Admissions webpage.
We serve highly motivated candidates whose accomplishments suggest the ability to successfully complete a rigorous program of graduate study. Applicants are evaluated not only for academic ability, but for career goals and overall “fit” for their selected program of study. Applicants should carefully review the available programs and choose one that is most appropriate for their future goals. Application deadlines vary by program. Note: Not all programs admit for every term.
A generalized list of steps for how to apply is provided below. Complete details can be found on the "how to apply" webpage.
- Submit an online application.
- Complete a statement of purpose.
- Gather required letter(s) of recommendation.
- College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters (CASL): 2 (except Psychology requires 3)
- College of Business (COB): 1
- College of Education, Health, and Human Services (CEHHS): 2
- College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS): 2 for master's level; 3 for doctoral level
- Provide current copy of CV/resume.
- Provide college/university transcripts and/or any international evaluations required from all institutions attended.
- Request any relevant test scores (GRE or GMAT) be sent if desired. Note: our graduate programs do not require the GRE or GMAT. If received, they will be linked to your application file and weighed at the discretion of the review committee during decision review. As part of our holistic admissions process, the admissions committee may ask some applicants to submit scores if additional information is necessary to help demonstrate readiness to succeed in a graduate program. Official scores are required if submitting GRE or GMAT scores.
- Submit required language proficiency scores (i.e. TOEFL or IELTS) if a non-native English speaker. Please refer to the policies below.
English Language Requirements for Graduate Admission
Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency and are required to provide an official score report of an accepted English Language Proficiency Test or meet the criteria for an exemption. Proficiency tests that are accepted for all programs are the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Our TOEFL institution code is 1861. Some programs also accept Duolingo. Applicants only need to take one of these test options. Achieving the minimum score does not guarantee admission, only consideration. The table below provides the minimum score required by test type.
| Test Type | Minimum Score |
|---|---|
| IELTS | Overall 6.5 |
| TOEFL Internet Based Test | Overall 79 for most programs; 84 overall for PhD, EdD, EdS, and Psychology (MS) |
| Duolingo | Overall 105 (not all programs accept this test type) |
English Proficiency Exemptions
- Applicants who have earned or will earn a bachelor's or master's degree from an institution where the language of instruction is exclusively English may be exempt from submitting an Official English Proficiency Score. Verification from the school may be required.
- Applicants who have earned or will earn a bachelor's or master's degree from a country where the official language is English (United States of America, Australia, or United Kingdom) are exempt from submitting an Official English Proficiency Score.
For testing information, please visit:
IELTS
100 East Corson Street, Suite 200
Pasadena, CA 91103, U.S.A.
Telephone: 626-564-2954
www.ielts.org
ielts@ieltsintl.org
TOEFL
P.O. Box 6151
Princeton, NJ, 08541, U.S.A.
Telephone: 609-771-7600
www.toefl.org
toefl@ets.org
Student Expectations
The primary purpose of the Statement of Student Rights and Code of Student Conduct is to assist the University in providing an environment which supports the educational process and the well-being of the campus community. The responsibility for maintaining such an environment is shared by all members of the campus community including faculty, staff, current and prospective students. Therefore, any person expressing interest in enrolling at the University of Michigan-Dearborn is expected to demonstrate behavior consistent with the Code of Conduct. Behaviors inconsistent with the Code of Student Conduct will not be tolerated. The University seeks applicants that demonstrate the potential to be contributing members of the campus community and reserves the right to deny admission based upon violation(s) of the Code of Student Conduct.