According to law, the University of Kentucky and all other state-supported institutions of higher education assess tuition on the basis of Kentucky or non-Kentucky residence. The policy for determining residence is established by the Commonwealth of Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (see Residency Policy). Students who are unsure of their residence status should check with the Registrar's Office before applying for admission.
The University of Kentucky is committed to a policy of providing educational opportunities to all qualified students regardless of economic or social status, and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, marital status, beliefs, age, national origin, or physical or mental disability.
Applicants for admission to the University of Kentucky Graduate School must pay an application fee. The fee is $30 for domestic applicants and $35 for international applicants. A check or money order made payable to THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY should accompany the completed application. NO CASH OR STAMPS, PLEASE.
Students seeking admission to the University of Kentucky Graduate School must hold a baccalaureate degree from a fully accredited institution of higher learning. An overall undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 and 3.0 on all graduate work is required by the Graduate School. Individual departments may require higher grade point averages.
All applicants for admission to degree programs in the Graduate School must submit official scores on the verbal, quantitative and analytical portions of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (see Provisional Admission). The College of Business and Economics substitutes the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) for M.B.A., Ph.D. and Accounting applicants. Also, applicants for Public Administration and Health Administration may substitute the GMAT.
New students applying for admission must have two official transcripts sent by each institution of higher learning previously attended. All transcripts must be sent to the Graduate School, or transcripts in sealed envelopes obtained from Registrar of each institution may accompany the application.
To be official, records must bear the Registrar's signature and/or official seal of the issuing institution. A summary of credits transferred and recorded on the transcript issued by the institution granting the degree will not suffice.
Application forms can be obtained by writing:
The Graduate School
351 Patterson Office Tower
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky 40506-0027
or on the World-Wide Web at:
<www.rgs.uky.edu/gs/gsapplication.html>.
Applications must be submitted no later than one month before the beginning of the term the applicant intends to begin graduate work (see Calendar).
Graduate students may not be able to begin immediately a full graduate program leading to the degree they desire; it may be necessary for them to satisfy prerequisites which they omitted in their undergraduate curriculum. Deficiencies are determined by the program in which the major work is to be done. Ordinarily, graduate students may begin a full program in any field in which they have a balanced undergraduate major or its equivalent.
Admission tothe Graduate School entitles students to take such courses as they desire, provided they have the necessary prerequisites and departmental approval.
Attendance in the Graduate School at the University of Kentucky is not a right, it is a privilege which may be withdrawn by the University or by any area of graduate study if it is deemed necessary by the Dean of the Graduate School in order to safeguard the University's standards.
All non-U.S. citizens, except Permanent Residents of the U.S., should request an Application Form for International Students. Applicants must have excellent grades and rank in the top quarter of their classes. To be considered for entry as a graduate student, an applicant must hold a four-year Bachelor's degree. (Indian students: a first-class record is normally expected although high second-class holders in non-science areas may be considered if they can offer further evidence of having been in at least the top 10 percent of their graduating class.)
When credentials are submitted in support of any application, they should be either the original documents or certified copies (i.e., copies certified or attested as "true copies" by a notary public). An official translation must be attached to these records if they are in a language other than English. Credentials should include a record of all degrees earned, detailing all subjects taken and grades obtained. Grades must be listed in the indigenous system.
GRE/GMAT Requirement. Applications will not be considered without official scores on the verbal, quantitative, and analytical portions of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Business and Accounting applicants must substitute the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). Also, applicants for Public Administration and Health Administration may substitute the GMAT. If the GRE or the GMAT have not been taken, write to the Educational Testing Service (ETS), Box 6000, Princeton, NJ 08541, for information concerning the appropriate examination. The tests are administered throughout the year and test scores generally require six weeks for delivery. It is important, therefore, that the applicant take the appropriate test well in advance of the application deadline in order to allow ample time for scores to be received in the Graduate School.
Test scores must be sent directly to the University of Kentucky Graduate School from ETS. Photocopies can be submitted for use in a preliminary evaluation until official scores are received from ETS.
Application Fee. International applicants for admission to The University of Kentucky Graduate School must pay a $35 application fee. A check or money order in United States funds made payable to THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY should accompany the completed application. Applications will be processed upon receipt of the fee. NO CASH OR STAMPS, PLEASE.
English Proficiency Requirement. The University of Kentucky requires a minimum score of 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for all applicants whose native language is not English. (The equivalent score on the new "computer" version of the TOEFL is 213.) The test is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), which publishes the TOEFL Bulletin. The TOEFL Bulletin includes a registration form. Bulletins are available in many locations outside the U.S., usually at American embassies and consulates, offices of the United States Intercultural Communications Agency (ICA), United States educational commissions and foundations, bi-national centers, and many private organizations such as the Institute of International Education (IIE), African-American Institute (AAI), America-Mideast Educational and Training Services, Inc. (AMIDEAST), and American Kor-Asian Foundation.
Students who cannot obtain a TOEFL Bulletin and registration form locally should write, well in advance, to: Test of English as a Foreign Language, Box 6154, Princeton, NJ 08541-6154.
Test scores must be sent directly to the University of Kentucky Graduate School from ETS. Photocopies can be submitted for use in a preliminary evaluation until official scores are received from ETS.
Financial Resources Requirement. Entering students must certify that they have at least $18,011 available for each 12-month period of study. It is estimated that this amount will cover the cost of tuition fees, books and supplies, room and meals, health insurance (explained below) and incidentals, for a single person. Applicants must certify $5,000 per year for their spouse and $3,500 per year for each additional dependent. Only upon receipt of acceptable financial information is an I-20 (or IAP-66) issued to applicants who have been academically accepted.
The students must have on hand at the beginning of each registration period
funds sufficient to pay for tuition, fees, room and board and health insurance.
These costs are to be paid at the beginning of each term.
Note: Fees subject to change without notice.
Health History Form. All international students must obtain from the Student Health Service a tuberculin screening test and reading, and complete a health history form, before registration will be allowed. This should be done as soon as possible following arrival on the University campus. (See also Health Services.)
Applications for admission should reach the Graduate School at least six months before the opening of the term the applicant intends to begin graduate work; that is, February 1 for the fall semester which begins in late August, June 15 for the spring semester which begins in mid-January, and October 31 for all summer sessions. No application will be considered until all supporting documents have been presented.
Post-Baccalaureate Graduate Students
Students who hold a baccalaureate degree from a fully accredited institution of higher learning and who wish to pursue graduate study without a degree or certification objective, and students who do not fulfill the entrance requirements of the Graduate School, may apply for admission as post-baccalaureate graduate students.
Admission to this status may be granted to two types of applicants: 1) Those who demonstrate promise for graduate work but have not qualified for admission to a degree program, or 2) Those who do not intend to complete a degree or to work toward certification. Post-baccalaureate status is not a form of probationary admission to a degree-granting graduate program.
An application for admission to the Graduate School as a post-baccalaureate graduate student should be filed in the Admissions Office at least 30 days in advance of the registration date for the term in which the student plans to enroll. An original or a photocopy of a transcript showing an awarded bachelor degree must accompany the application. An overall undergraduate grade point average of 2.5 or better and a 3.0 on all previous graduate work (both on a 4-point scale) are required by the Graduate School for admission.
Post-baccalaureate students may take graduate courses for graduate credit. Permission to enter any graduate class as a post-baccalaureate student will be granted only if the student meets the prerequisites for that course and if space is available.
A post-baccalaureate student who later wishes to apply to enter a degree-granting graduate program must have a 3.0 or better grade point average on all course work, graduate or undergraduate, attempted as a post-baccalaureate. A standard application form or written notice requesting consideration for admission to a specific program and stating the semester or summer session for which enrollment in the program is desired must be presented to the Graduate School. Calendar deadlines for application noted in the front of this Bulletin should be observed.
A maximum of nine semester hours or 25 percent of the semester hours required for the degree concerned (exclusive of residence or thesis credit, research and independent study), whichever is greater, may later be transferred from post-baccalaureate status to a master's or specialist degree program at the University of Kentucky. All such transfers of credit hours into a graduate program must be approved by that program's director of graduate studies and by the Dean of the Graduate School. A grade of A or B must have been earned in the course or courses to be transferred (see Transfer of Credit for details).
Non-Degree Certification Students
The University of Kentucky offers admission to students pursuing course work applicable toward non-degree certification. These include, for example, Rank I Certification and Fifth Year Certification through the College of Education. This is a separate type of special admission, which differs from post-baccalaureate status. Minimally, the Graduate School requires applicants for certification to meet the same admission requirements as those for post-baccalaureate status, but the certification unit often imposes additional and more rigorous requirements for admission. It is best to consult with the director of graduate studies in the specific area for which certification is sought prior to applying.
Certification students who later wish to transfer credits into a master's or specialist's program at the University of Kentucky may do so. The requirements and limitations are the same as for any transfer of credits into such a program.
Students wishing to pursue an advanced degree who are temporarily ineligible for regular graduate admission status may be recommended by the director of graduate studies for provisional admission status in the following cases:
Provisional status is permitted for a maximum of one full-time semester or up to 12 hours after which the student's record will be reviewed. Within 30 days into the following semester, and on recommendation of the director of graduate studies, the student will be changed from provisional to regular program status, or dropped from the graduate program entirely.
Seniors in the University of Kentucky lacking no more than six credit hours for graduation and having an undergraduate average of at least 2.75 on all work attempted may register in the Graduate School in the provisional status with the consent of the undergraduate college dean, the appropriate director of graduate studies, and the Dean of the Graduate School. The total load of such students may not exceed 12 credit hours. Graduate credit will be allowed for each credit hour of graduate work beyond the six or fewer credit hours needed to complete undergraduate requirements. Requirements for the undergraduate degree must be completed during the semester in which the students are allowed to register for part-time graduate work. Students applying for admission to the Graduate School under these conditions must fill out a petition form listing the course or courses to be taken to complete the undergraduate requirements. Petition forms are available in the Graduate School office.
The University Scholars Program offers particularly gifted and highly motivated students the opportunity and the challenge of integrating their undergraduate and graduate courses of study in a single continuous program culminating in both a baccalaureate and a master's degree. The total number of hours for the combined program may be as many as 12 fewer than the total required for both the bachelor's and the master's degrees separately. The requirements for the bachelor's degree are unaffected.
Application to the program should be submitted at the end of the student's junior year. Applicants should have completed at least 90 credit hours of work toward the bachelor's degree, or be eligible for senior standing in the semester they are admitted to the program. The master's program should be in the field of the undergraduate major, and the undergraduate grade point average must be at least a 3.5 in the applicant's major field and 3.2 overall.
Applicants to a University Scholar's program must fill out and have signed a University Scholar's application form, which is available in the Graduate School Admissions Office. This form should be returned along with the standard Graduate School application form.
The Dean of the Graduate School or his appointee will make admission decisions. Students must register in the Graduate School for all work taken following admission to the University Scholars' Program. University Scholars may take no more than 16 credit hours per semester, except by recommendation of their director of graduate studies and by approval of the Dean of the Graduate School. Students must have an undergraduate advisor and a graduate advisor. A jointly planned program must be prepared for each student.
The following participate in the University Scholars Program:
Agricultural Economics
Anthropology
Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
Chemistry
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Classics
Communication
Computer Science
Electrical Engineering
Family Studies
Forestry
French
Geography
History
Materials Science and Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Music
Nursing
Physics
Sociology
Spanish
Students combining studies toward an MD degree and a Ph.D. degree in one of the established programs of the Graduate School must be admitted to both programs. Before applying for admission to the Graduate School, applicants should consult with the Director of Graduate Studies of the graduate area of interest.
Copies of the guidelines for students wishing to pursue the combined MD/Ph.D. degrees may be obtained in the office of the Associate Dean for Academic Administration, the Graduate School.
The Lexington Theological Seminary and the University of Kentucky have established a double competency program to educate qualified students whose career interests are social work and the ministry. Interested students should contact their major adviser.
Asbury Theological Seminary and the University of Kentucky have established a double competency program for students whose interests are social work and the ministry. Interested students should contact their major adviser.
The University of Kentucky offers a two-year, 45-hour professional Master of Public Administration degree through the Graduate School. The College of Law offers a three-year, 90-hour Juris Doctorate. The MPA program has been professionally reviewed and recognized by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration. The College of Law is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. The JD/MPA dual degree is the only one of its type offered in the Commonwealth. It permits students to gain both degrees in a total time period of one year less than if the degrees were earned independently. For information, contact the Program in Public Administration or the College of Law.
The College of Business and Economics and the College of Law offer the opportunity to obtain the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Juris Doctor (JD) degrees in a dual degree program. Because both schools recognize that some aspects of business and law are compatible and interrelated, students can usually obtain both degrees in four or four and one-half years instead of the five required if the degrees were pursued separately. As a result, students gain marketable skills and specialized employment opportunities in less time than might otherwise be required. Students interested in the MBA/JD program must apply to both the College of Law and the Graduate School.
The College of Business and Economics and the College of Pharmacy offer the opportunity to obtain the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degrees in a dual degree program. Students can usually obtain both degrees in four years plus three summers instead of the five and one-half years required if the degrees were pursued separately. The dual degree program is designed to provide students with the necessary educational foundation so that they not only are prepared to begin practice as a pharmacist, but to assume managerial responsibility in a variety of health care settings. A student desiring admission into the dual degree program will be required to apply formally and independently to both programs.
The University of Kentucky offers a two-year, 45-hour professional Master of Public Administration degree through the Graduate School. The College of Pharmacy offers a four-year, 158-hour Doctor of Pharmacy. The Pharm.D./MPA dual degree is the only one of its type offered in the Commonwealth. The dual degree program permits a student to gain both degrees in a total time period less than if the degrees were earned independently. The dual degree program is highly desirable for persons seeking careers in state and federal regulatory and administrative agencies, the pharmaceutical industry, managed care organizations, and academics. For information contact the Program in Public Administration or the College of Pharmacy.
The College of Business and Economics and the College of Engineering offer the opportunity to obtain the Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BS) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees in a five-year dual degree program. In addition to regular engineering courses, prerequisite undergraduate courses in accounting, economics, and statistics are taken during the first three years of study to prepare students for management, economics, business, and finance MBA courses. The students' senior years mark the beginning of the graduate MBA courses and interaction with non-engineering MBA students. During the summer prior to the fifth year, the students participate in a study-abroad experience designed expressly for the program, thereby enhancing and broadening their cross-cultural experiences.
Students who are enrolled in a graduate program at another institution and plan to attend the University of Kentucky as Visiting Students need not submit transcripts. Students must, however, request a Visiting Student form from the Graduate School office when filing an application. Visiting Student admission is for one semester only and credit earned in that status is not applicable to a University of Kentucky degree.
Former University of Kentucky graduate students in good standing are eligible for readmission within one academic year. Otherwise, readmission is contingent on the approval of the student's program. Students must file an application for readmission by the stated deadlines (see Calendar). An exception to this rule is made on behalf of students who attend only University summer sessions. These students do not have to apply for readmission to a summer session if they were enrolled for the preceding summer session. (No application fee is assessed for students seeking readmission.)
All applicants for admission to degree programs in the Graduate School must submit scores on the verbal, quantitative and analytical portions of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). This rule may be waived for one semester in individual cases upon recommendation of the Director of Graduate Studies in the individual department or program. In cases where waivers are granted, however, the GRE scores must be submitted before the end of the first semester of graduate study (see Provisional Admission). The advanced portion of the GRE may be required by individual departments or programs if they so desire. (Students who do not plan to work toward a graduate degree, i.e., Visiting Students, Rank I, Fifth-year, other certification and certificate programs, and Post-baccalaureate students, are exempt from this requirement.)
The College of Business and Economics substitutes the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) for the Graduate Record Examination for M.B.A., Ph.D, and Accounting students. Also, applicants in Public Administration and Health Administration may substitute the GMAT.
Students who have earned an academic doctorate are exempt from the GRE/GMAT requirement.
International Student Services. International Students and Scholars Services division, part of the Office of International Affairs, is the focal point for international student services. It orients students to a new educational system and to American culture, and provides a continuing source of information, counsel, and friendship through their stay. The Office is charged with the responsibility of interpreting immigration regulations which affect international students and scholars. It also sponsors cross-cultural programs on campus and in the community designed to encourage communication and understanding between Americans and internationals. Among the programs offered are the Cosmopolitan Club, Welcome and Orientation Week, the International Hospitality Program, and English as a Second Language. The Office of International Affairs is located in Bradley Hall.
Health Services. The University has an excellent health care clinic for out-patient care that is of special importance to international students (see Health Services). UK international students must have hospitalization insurance that is payable in the United States. They must also pay any charges insurance does not cover. Because of the extremely high cost of medical care, it is imperative that a student have insurance for himself or herself, spouse, and children. Health insurance application forms can be obtained in Bradley Hall.
Program in English for International Students. The English Department
sponsors the Center for English as a Second Language. The Center offers
eight-week terms of study; students may join in June, August, October, January,
or March. Students receive 160 hours of intensive English instruction in
an eight-week period. No college credit is given for the course of study,
but students are given certificates of completion for the Center's program.
Sometimes students are admitted to the Graduate School contingent upon successful
completion of the program. The Center is authorized under federal law to
enroll non-immigrant alien students. The fee is $1,235* for instruction;
room, board, and textbooks are not included in the fee. For further information
write the Center for English as a Second Language, 1235 Patterson Office
Tower, UK, 40506.
*Subject to change without notice.
Sponsored International Graduate Students. International graduate students financed and monitored by sponsoring agencies can be provided with special placement, advising, and management services. Literature describing these services is available from the Office of International Affairs. The sponsoring agency is assessed a fee of $300 per semester per student for these special services.
