Application Procedures

We normally admit MS and PhD students for the fall semester only, since the first year program consists of course sequences that begin only in the fall.

Application for admission to both the Department's MS and PhD programs is made through the Graduate School.  In addition to the completed application form, the Graduate School requires and admission decisions depend on:

• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores;
• One copy of the transcript of record from all institutions attended after high school
• Three letters of recommendation; and
• Statement of purpose

Students from non-English-speaking countries are required to demonstrate English proficiency by providing scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

The application deadline is January 15th of the same calendar year for which you are applying (e.g., the application deadline for fall 2012 admission is January 15, 2012).  Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis and are based on the applicant’s overall qualifications relative to the pool of applicants.

You can get information about the Graduate Schools’ admission policies at http://www.gradschool.umd.edu/welcome/before_you_apply.html  That website contains links to the Graduate School’s online application and for downloading the Graduate School’s application forms in PDF format. If you have any further questions, please write to graduateprogram@arec.umd.edu.