Create an account in Slate for Grad Admissions to apply. Make sure you review the admissions requirements below before starting the application process. Please consult your program’s page for additional instructions and deadline information.
Admissions into a graduate degree program is a process shared by the UMass Graduate School and the graduate program. To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must meet the requirements of the Graduate School and of the graduate program.
Visit the graduate program’s website for any additional requirements. Note that some programs may specify additional material (e.g., portfolio, auditions, test scores) which requires preparation. Links to program websites are listed in the program pages.
Application requirements differ between graduate programs. Be sure to check your program’s page for specific admission requirements. If you are interested in applying to more than one degree program you must submit separate applications and fees, but only one set of credentials (e.g. transcripts and test scores). Please do not submit more than one application to the same department (e.g. master’s and doctoral, separate concentrations, etc.).
The nonrefundable $85 application fee is payable online via credit card.
Please submit your current transcripts from all colleges/universities attended, undergraduate and graduate, where nine (9) or more credits were earned. Current or final unofficial transcripts uploaded to the Academic History section of your application are acceptable for the initial application review. If you are recommended for admission, official transcripts will need to be submitted, either electronically or in paper format, directly by each institution’s registrar to the Graduate Student Service Center. Review After You Apply for instructions on submitting official transcripts.
You may submit these either by entering them directly into your online application, or by uploading the PDF files and attaching them to your application.
Most programs require a minimum of two letters of recommendation, but some programs require more. The References section of the online application will indicate the number of required references for the program you select. You may also consult your program’s page for the specific requirement.
Upon entering reference information in the online application, an email is sent to each reference with instructions on how to electronically deliver the recommendation to the Graduate School. All recommendations are nonconfidential unless the applicant waives their right of access.
All applicants applying as a Massachusetts resident or for the New England Board of Higher Education Tuition Break Program must complete the Residency section of the online application.
Please note, not all degree programs at UMass Amherst are eligible for the reduced tuition rate. To find a program, and information on fee reductions, review the NEBHE's Tuition Break website at www.nebhe.org
Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate their English proficiency by submitting scores from a standardized English Language Proficiency Test. This is not required of U.S. citizens or non-U.S. citizens who hold U.S. permanent resident status. Scores expire after two years and must still be valid for your anticipated date of entrance. Please consult the International Applicants page for more details.
Official test scores must be transmitted electronically from the test agency to the UMass Amherst Graduate School. The institutional code for UMass Amherst is 3917.
If you are applying to a program that requires the GRE or GMAT, the Graduate School will waive this requirement under the following circumstances:
If you do not fall under any of these categories, waiving the GRE or GMAT requirement is at the discretion of the academic program to which you are applying. Please contact the academic program for more information about their GRE or GMAT requirement.
Although we request that you disclose criminal history on your application, any information you provide will not be used to determine your candidacy for admission. If the program to which you apply recommends you for admission, only then will the Graduate School look at the criminal history information provided. A separate evaluation will be done to determine whether the criminal activity or disciplinary violation was serious enough to have a bearing on the final admissions decision. In the rare event it is determined that prior criminal history or disciplinary violation may adversely affect your candidacy for admission, a committee is appointed to review the information and will typically ask an applicant to provide additional information to help them in making the determination.
(Note: You are not required to answer “yes” to the criminal history question if the criminal adjudication or conviction: (1) has been expunged, sealed, annulled, pardoned, destroyed, erased, impounded, or otherwise ordered by a court to be kept confidential; (2) was a first conviction for misdemeanor drunkenness, simple assault, speeding, minor traffic violations, or disturbance of the peace; or (3) was a conviction of a misdemeanor where the conviction occurred more than five years prior to the date of this application, unless you were sentenced to imprisonment upon conviction of the misdemeanor, or you have been convicted of another criminal offense within the five-year period.)
Please consult your program’s page for deadline information.
Application deadlines for summer and fall admission vary by program. For spring admission, the deadline for most programs is October 1st. Note that many programs only accept applications for fall entrance.
If you miss your program's deadline for your intended entrance term, select the first available term on the Term Selection page of the online application and contact the program to inquire whether they are able to consider your application for your earlier intended term.
Applicants in the following categories may qualify for a Graduate School application fee waiver:
UMass Amherst accepts students from all over the United States into online programs and classes. Please see below for important information that may pertain to you and check your program’s website for the most up-to-date information on additional restrictions.
UMass Amherst operates online classes and programs for out-of-state students under the terms and provisions of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement. Please see the SARA website for a list of participating states and territories.
The state of California allows all public institutions to offer distance education to its residents.
The Elaine Marieb College of Nursing at UMass Amherst is authorized to accept applications or enrollments for online degree or certificate programs from residents of most states. There are some restrictions, so please check with the College of Nursing for the most recent updates before submitting an application for admission.