How to Apply
Graduate programs at the University of Delaware each have their own unique admission requirements, funding options, deadlines, review processes and decision timelines. Understanding how your program of interest structures each of these areas is key to having a productive and positive applicant experience. Please read carefully the information contained on the webpages below and thank you for considering the University of Delaware as your partner in education.
Update as of September 1, 2011.
The University of Delaware's graduate application system is designed to put the applicant in control of not only the application but all documents associated with that application. You should have no need to send a single item by mail during the applicant stage. Self-managing your own application in this way is possible because we have designated areas within the application where each required document should be uploaded.
We invite you to begin, continue or check the status of your graduate application to the University of Delaware.
Reminder: Because programs require a completed application to be filed by a clearly stated deadline do not wait until the program's deadline to find you cannot submit because you have not uploaded or attached all required items. Identify your recommenders and prepare your documents well in advance so you are ready to submit in a timely fashion.
What is an application deadline?
A graduate application deadline can have different meanings at different institutions and across different graduate programs. Here is what a graduate application deadline means at the University of Delaware:
If you are applying for a joint or dual degree follow the program deadline that is the earliest date.
Represents the general application deadline
If
you wish to be considered for assistantships or fellowships AND there
is a date in RED, all of your application materials must be received by
the date in RED. If there is no date in RED, use the general
application deadline.
For the 2012-2013 application season the application fee is $75.00. Waiver categories include those who have participated in the following programs:
If you feel you qualify for one of the categories you will find waiver instructions at the end of the application.
The University of Delaware is a highly ranked research University. As such, our master and doctoral degrees attract students from around the world. Please read these special instructions carefully to understand our online application process:
Do not mail official transcripts during the applicant stage. You should visit the Registrar's page of your home institution to print an unofficial copy to create your scan or – if your home institution does not provide this service – ask for a student copy to create your scan. Do not have official transcripts mailed at the applicant stage. If your department of interest indicates to the central office that they have an interest in offering you admission, the central office will insert the appropriate conditions for verifying your documents. The Office of Graduate and Professional Education will call into question the veracity of any document submitted to our office. We regularly verify transcripts with the issuing institution. If any material is found to have been altered or falsified in the finalization process, we reserve the right of expulsion.
Here are important notes for creating and uploading your documents:
The Office of Graduate and Professional Education will call into question the veracity of any document submitted to our office. We regularly verify transcripts with the issuing institution. If any material is found to have been altered or falsified, we reserve the right of expulsion.
The University of Delaware’s graduate programs have moved toward exclusive use of electronic recommendation submissions. Exceptions can only be authorized by a direct communication from a UD graduate department. Because UD requires the completion of a specific grid of questions by a recommender, we also cannot accept any third-party recommendation service or any individual letters already in the applicant’s possession.
How many recommenders will I need?
The majority of graduate programs at the University of Delaware require three (3) recommenders. There are a handful of programs that require only two (2), and those should be listed on the program’s admissions requirements website. Regardless, you will be prompted to enter the appropriate number of recommenders once you begin this process.
Who should I request as recommenders?
Each program wants to see recommendations from different types of individuals. Again, this is most often posted directly on the graduate program’s admissions website. If the website does not have it stated, please contact the graduate program of interest.
How the online recommendation process works:
The Recommendations module within the application is unique in that you can sign up your recommenders, send off the e-mail links, continue to re-send the links yourself, change your recommenders and, finally, see when the recommender completed the form via your status page – all before you click the final “Submit” button on your application.
Note: After you click the final “Submit” button, you can continue to have all the features described above except changing a recommender. After submission you must contact our office to make this substitution or make any other changes to your application. This is why it’s best to collect your recommendations prior to clicking the submit button on your application.
Helpful tips to successfully receive your recommendations:
Applicants should request all official test scores be reported directly to the University of Delaware.
The most important thing to know about the GRE at the University of Delaware is that it is an admission requirement set by the graduate programs themselves. If you would like to know whether your particular program of interest requires a GRE and/or what scores they consider acceptable for consideration, please check the program’s website.
Once you have determined if the GRE is required, you can see a new table comparing “old” GRE scores with the “new” GRE scores.
Finally, please know that the ETS University of Delaware institution code is "5811." YOU ONLY NEED TO SUBMIT THE UNIVERSITY CODE OF 5811. NO DEPARTMENT CODE IS NEEDED FOR OUR INSTITUTION.View the GMAT®
Program Code List or request for official test scores online at mba.com.
GRE & GMAT test scores are
only valid for five years from the test date until the date your application is
received.
Waiver of these tests can only be
made by a request from the faculty admission committee to the central graduate
admissions office at the time of acceptance.
TOEFL paper-based: Minimum score of 550 (600 for some programs) TOEFL IBT: Minimum score 79 (100 for some programs)
TOEFL ibt Score |
IELTS Bank |
|
| 0-31 | 0-4 | |
| 32-34 | 4.5 | |
| 35-45 | 5 | |
| 46-59 | 5.5 | |
| 60-78 | 6 | |
| 79-93 | 6.5 | University minimum unless otherwise stated by program |
| 94-101 | 7 | |
| 102-109 | 7.5 | Required by some programs |
| 110-114 | 8 | |
| 115-117 | 8.5 | |
| 118-120 | 9 |
A resume, or curriculum vitae, documents your prior work experience, publications, honors and awards received, and a summary of your educational credentials.
Every applicant is required to submit a resume.
Every applicant is required to submit a personal statement. The personal statement is generally 1-5 pages and is your opportunity to share relevant information about yourself, your goals, and why you would make a good match for the particular graduate program to which you are applying. Some programs ask that you address particular questions as your personal statement. Please check below to see if your program requires this.
The following programs require a writing sample be submitted as part of their application for admission:
If you wish to know what each graduate program is looking for in terms of content, please visit their website or contact them directly. Once your writing sample is ready, please upload your writing sample directly into your graduate application in the area called “Additional Document Uploads”
The following programs require a unique supplemental document be submitted as part of their application for admission:
All supplemental documents should be uploaded directly into your graduate application in the area called “Additional Document Uploads” prior to submitting your application.
Tuition rates for all students can be found by clicking here: http://www.udel.edu/finaid/rates.html
Information on tuition rates as they apply to funding offers for the 2011−12 academic year can be found at: http://www.udel.edu/gradoffice/polproc/index.htm
U.S. citizens may apply for Stafford Loans. You must file a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) no later than March 15 (February 1st is preferred) with the Financial Aid Office (302-831-8761) to be considered for a Federal Stafford Loan.
International Students: See www.udel.edu/ofs/information/costs.html for more information.
An applicant who receives an offer of financial support is required to reply in writing by April 15. Earlier communication of an applicant's decision is encouraged and appreciated by the faculty.
Acceptance of an offer of financial support (such as a graduate scholarship, fellowship, traineeship, or assistantship) for the next academic year completes an agreement that both student and graduate school expect to honor. If a student accepts an offer before April 15, and subsequently desires to withdraw that acceptance, the student may submit in writing a resignation of the appointment at any time through April 15.
However, an acceptance given or left in force after April 15 commits the student not to accept another offer without first obtaining a written release from the institution to which a commitment has been made.
Further information is available through the Council of Graduate Studies.
*All funded students are subject to a criminal background check http://www.udel.edu/HRSystemsAdmin/cbc.html
