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International Applicants:

How to Apply for Graduate Study at URI

 

Special information for International Applicants

The Graduate School at the University of Rhode Island welcomes applications from students around the globe. Individual graduate programs have their own entrance requirements, so please be sure to check with the Department to which you are applying for information on admissions tests and pre-requisites.

To be considered for admission to master’s or doctoral level graduate programs, the Graduate School requires that you have completed a baccalaureate degree at an accredited institution in the United States OR the equivalent of a four-year degree at an international university. Please note that three-year bachelor’s degrees from India and some Asian countries are not considered equivalent; applicants with these degrees must undertake additional coursework before becoming eligible for graduate study at URI. Click here for more information.

Using the online application and information management system

The Graduate School at the University of Rhode Island accepts online applications only. First, complete the online application form and submit the application fee. Then, send all your supporting application materials directly to the Department to which you are seeking admission. Once your application is complete, the Department will review your credentials and make a recommendation to the Graduate School.

The Graduate School will communicate the admission decision to you via e-campus, the electronic information management system of the University of Rhode Island. You will receive instructions for creating your e-campus account via e-mail after you submit your application. It is imperative that you provide a working e-mail address and check it regularly for updates. The Graduate School will NOT mail hard copies of letters of denial; letters of admission will be provided to international addresses only when the applicant makes special arrangements with the Graduate School.

Deadlines for admission and financial aid vary by department; click here for a list of application dates. Applicants should always contact the Graduate Director for their plan of study before applying to ensure that applications are still being accepted for the term in which admission is sought.

Submitting supplemental materials to the department for review

Only complete applications will be reviewed. Please check with your department regarding deadlines and required admissions tests or course prerequisites. You must mail all supplemental materials as a complete package to the Department to which you are applying. DO NOT send mail to the Graduate School, as this will postpone evaluation of your application. If you have questions about admission requirements, contact the Department. DO NOT submit more than one application for the same degree plan.

A complete International application file includes:

  • Complete, submitted online Application Form
  • Nonrefundable application fee submitted via online application as a credit card payment or as an electronic check
  • Personal statement (submitted via online application)
  • Official transcripts from all colleges attended, sent directly by your registrar to the Department
  • Official English translation of transcripts from all colleges attended
  • Letters of recommendation (2 or 3, depending on program; online preferred, but we will accept hard copies mailed directly by the recommender to the Department)
  • Official test report from the GRE, GMAT or MAT taken within the past five years, if required by the Department to which you are applying (link to new page with table listing admissions tests required by each program) You must arrange for the testing organization to report your scores directly to URI. The ETS institution code for URI is 3919 ; you do not need to specify a department.
  • Applicants whose native language is not English must submit an official test report from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) taken with the past two years. You must arrange for ETS to report your scores directly to URI. The ETS institution code for URI is 3919 and you do not need to specify a department. Required minimum scores on the Internet-based (iBT) and Computer-based TOEFL are: Reading 20, Writing 22, Listening 17, Speaking 17; the suggested minimum speaking score for international teaching assistants is 23. The minimum score on the Paper-based TOEFL is 550. Individual programs may require a higher score; please check the graduate catalog for details on specific programs. Some departments may accept the IELTS in lieu of a TOEFL; please check with the department.

TOEFL is not required if an applicant satisfies one or more of these conditions:

a. Citizenship of Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Guyana, Ireland, New Zealand, United States, an Anglophone country of Africa, or an English speaking country of the Caribbean.

b. A college or university degree earned in the United States or in one of the countries listed above.

c. A degree earned from the American University in Beirut, American University in Bulgaria, American College in Greece or from Bogazigi University.

Certificate of Financial Responsibility this document is not required as part of the application package, but accepted applicants who choose to matriculate will need to provide proof of financial support in order to receive their I-20.

  • Individual Departments may require additional materials, including resumes, professional portfolios, and official reports of standardized tests. Please contact the Department directly for more information.


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