Admission

How to Apply

Applicants begin the application process through the Office of Admissions Graduate Admissions website: https://admissions.ufl.edu/apply/graduate/. Program-specific deadlines, requirements, and procedures are established by each academic unit; applicants should consult the academic unit’s website for complete information: https://grad.ufl.edu/apply/admission/. 
Applicants must meet all the requirements of both the academic unit and the Graduate School to be admitted for graduate study. 

For information about Florida residency requirements, please visit the Office of Admission’s website for the most up-to-date information regarding initial classification as a Florida resident for tuition purposes; currently enrolled students seeking reclassification as a Florida resident for tuition purposes should reference the information available through the Office of the University Registrar’s website.

Minimum Requirements for Admission 

Degree Requirement 

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s, graduate, or professional degree from an institution accredited by a U.S. regional accrediting body (Higher Learning Commission, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the New England Commission of Higher Education, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges) or an equivalent degree from an international institution recognized by the Ministry of Education in that country.  For international applicants, earned degrees must be equivalent to a U.S. degree (whether bachelor’s, graduate, or professional) in order for the degree to be recognized by the University of Florida.

Grade Point Average

For applicants with solely a bachelor’s degree, a minimum 3.0 GPA on all coursework completed after the applicant has earned 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) is required. For applicants with two bachelor’s degrees, priority review will be based on the GPA of the discipline that most closely aligns with the UF program to which they are applying.  

Academic Examinations 

Academic examinations (e.g., GRE, GMAT) are required only when specified by the academic unit. When required, scores are evaluated as part of a comprehensive review.

English Language Proficiency (International Applicants)

International applicants must demonstrate English proficiency through one of the following:

  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): 80 (iBT)
    • Effective Spring 2027: minimum of 4.5 overall, and minimum of 4.0 across all subsections (reading, listening, speaking and writing)
  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System): 6.5 minimum
  • An Exit Certificate from the University of Florida ELI (English Language Institute program)
  • Applicants to programs requiring the GRE must also receive a minimum 140 verbal GRE score, in addition to TOEFL or IELTS.

Applicants from select countries where English is an official language (https://admissions.ufl.edu/apply/graduate/international) or who have completed degrees at institutions where English is the language of instruction may be considered for an exemption (listed below) at the discretion of the academic unit.

  • Have successfully completed one academic year in a degree-seeking program at a UF-recognized/accredited university or college in the United States.
  • Have successfully completed one academic year in a degree-seeking program in a country where English is the only official language.
  • Have successfully completed one academic year in a degree-seeking program at a non-US institution in which English is the only official language of instruction.
  • Hold an earned equivalent of associate's, bachelor's, master's or PhD degree from a UF-recognized/accredited college or university in the United States.
  • Hold an earned equivalent of associate's, bachelor's, master's or PhD degree from a country where English is the only official language.
  • Hold an earned equivalent of associate's, bachelor's, master's or PhD degree from a non-US institution in which English is the only official language of instruction. 

Application Materials 

Applicants must submit:

  • A completed application and non-refundable $30 application fee
  • Official transcripts from each institution attended, sent directly from an applicant’s prior institution to the Office of Admissions
  • A complete and up-to-date résumé or curriculum vitae detailing all post-secondary education, employment, international affiliations, and research funding, submitted as attachments through the UF Graduate Application via ApplyWeb
  • Proof of required immunizations
  • Any additional materials required by the academic unit
  • Satisfactory conduct record

Applicants currently enrolled at another institution must submit updated transcripts as soon as new coursework is completed. 

Final Credentials Requirement 

Applicants admitted without final official transcripts must ensure that all required final credentials are received by the Office of Admissions, directly from applicants’ prior institutions, no later than the end of the first term of enrollment. 

Conditional Admission

Academic units may, at their discretion, grant conditional admission to up to 10% of applicants who have received offers of admission for an incoming class. An incoming class is defined as all admits within a full academic year (Summer B through Summer A/C).

All conditionally admitted applicants must have the following materials submitted before an admission decision is released:

  • Valid prior degree and transcripts
  • Academic exam scores (if required by the academic unit)
  • English language test scores (required for all international applicants as noted above under “English Language Proficiency)
  • Statement of purpose
  • Recommendation letters
  • Records of post-baccalaureate grades or relevant professional experience, if used to justify the conditional admission

Conditional admission may be granted only under the following circumstances: 

1. GPA Below Minimum Requirement 

  • Applicants with solely a bachelor’s degree who do not meet the minimum 3.0 GPA requirement may be considered for conditional admission.
  • Students admitted with a GPA below 3.0 must satisfy Graduate School-assigned conditions by the end of their first term of enrollment.
  • Students who do not meet these conditions are not permitted to continue enrollment after their first semester.

2. Unofficial Test Scores on File 

 
  • Applies to academic test scores (e.g., GRE, GMAT) required by the academic unit, or English language test scores required for international applicants.
  • Students admitted with unofficial scores must submit official scores prior to the start of the admitted term.
  • Failure to submit official scores by the deadline will prevent enrollment.

3. No, Low, or Expired English Language Test Score (International Applicants Only) 

  • A student may be conditionally admitted based on enrollment in UF’s English Language Institute (ELI) when no, low, or expired English proficiency test scores are on file. 
  • ELI Conditional Admission may include additional program requirements with ELI coordinating enrollment and visa support. 
  • ELI enrollment provides an opportunity to demonstrate English proficiency through an ELI exit certificate (or an equivalent standardized test such as TOEFL or IELTS). The ELI exit certificate must be completed 10 calendar days prior to the start of Summer and Fall classes and 20 calendar days prior to the start of Spring classes.
  • Failure to submit an ELI exit certificate (or an equivalent standardized test such as TOEFL or IELTS) by the deadline will prevent enrollment.

Acceptance Letter Requirements 

Academic units granting conditional admission must include all Graduate School-approved conditions in the acceptance letter issued to the newly admitted student. No acceptance letter can be sent until the Graduate School gives final approval.

International Students

International students are defined as those whose: 

  • nation of citizenship is not United States (not a U.S. citizen) 
  • residency status is ‘A’ for Alien (not a permanent resident or green card holder) 

 Academic departments must submit I-20 requests for newly admitted international students through the ISSS portal before the semester of admission: https://isss.internationalcenter.ufl.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Security.AngLogin.
Submission deadlines are listed below. 

Semester of Admission          1-20 Request Submission Deadline 

          Fall                                                 May 15
        Spring                                           October 1
     Summer A/C                                 February 1 
     Summer B                                        March 15

If an I-20 request is submitted after the deadline and the student is not already in the U.S. in F-1 status, the request will be canceled. The academic department will be notified to defer the student's admission and submit a new I-20 request once the deferral is effective.

For further information, visit the University of Florida International Center (UFIC) website: https://internationalcenter.ufl.edu/.

Students with Disabilities

The Disability Resource Center (DRC) in the Division of Student Affairs celebrates disability identity as a valued aspect of diversity. We champion a community that is universally accessible and supports the holistic advancement of individuals with disabilities.  The DRC offers many student services to students with disabilities. These include setting up accommodation plans to help remove barriers in the learning environment, offering academic coaching, disability management counseling, assistive technology resources, and programs and outreach events that celebrate disability.  The Disability Resource Center works with over 7,500 Gators with disabilities. We go beyond access, remove barriers, and engage with faculty and staff to promote an accessible campus community for all.  We work with graduate and professional students, including those in medical, veterinary, law, nursing, and other disciplines. We welcome graduate students to connect with our office. 

The DRC staff is available for consultation with faculty, families, and students. Please contact the office at (352) 392-8565 or via email at accessUF@ufsa.ufl.edu to schedule an appointment or inquire about our services.  Students with disabilities at UF can request accommodations through the interactive request process with the Disability Resource Center. The interactive process is one in which an ongoing dialogue occurs between the university and the student in order to facilitate assessment, review and determination of applicable reasonable accommodations. Any students inquiring about accommodations or accommodation related concerns should contact the Disability Resource Center at DRC@ufsa.ufl.edu.  If you are a graduate student who requires employment-related accommodations, please contact the University’s ADA Compliance Office via one of the contact methods below:

  • Email: ADA-504@ufl.edu 
  • Phone: 352-294-8720
  • TTY: 1-800-955-8771
  • Fax: 352-392-5268

Disability Resource Center
Reid Hall, 1316 Museum Road
Gainesville FL 32611
https://disability.ufl.edu/
352-392-8565
 

Postbaccalaureate Students

Postbaccalaureate study is for students who have already received a baccalaureate degree and have not been admitted to the Graduate School. Admission for postbaccalaureate enrollment requires a recognized baccalaureate degree (or higher) from a regionally accredited college or university, or an international equivalent based on a 4-year curriculum, a minimum C (2.0) GPA on all junior and senior year undergraduate work, as computed by UF, and a satisfactory conduct record. International Applicants:  Please reference the English Language Proficiency section above.  

The Postbaccalaureate Application

Applicants must ensure that transcripts are sent to the Office of Admissions from each post-secondary institution attended. Applications will not be referred for a decision until transcripts have been received by the Office of Admissions. Postbaccalaureate applicants may apply for Distance Education programs. Only students who have completed a baccalaureate degree in the College of Education may be admitted to postbaccalaureate status for the purpose of completing a teacher certification program. Other applicants may be admitted to postbaccalaureate status only for a limited time to fulfill prerequisites for admission to a master’s program. Applicants with degrees in other fields who are seeking teacher certification should apply for admission to a master’s program in the College of Education.

Postbaccalaureate students may enroll in graduate courses, but graduate credit is generally not accepted for transfer by the Graduate School. It is possible to transfer up to 15 semester credits of graduate coursework earned with a grade of A, A-, B+, or B by petition in clearly justified cases and in conformance with regulations on courses and credit.

Proof of required immunization information can be found by visiting: https://healthcompliance.shcc.ufl.edu/homepage/immunization-requirement/.

For additional information on postbaccalaureate applications, please consult the Office of Admissions website, https://admissions.ufl.edu/apply/post-baccalaureate. 

Faculty Members as Graduate Students

UF faculty members in tenured or tenure-accruing positions, as designated by Regulations of the University of Florida, 7.003, normally may not pursue graduate degrees from this institution. Exceptions are made for the Florida Cooperative Extension Service (IFAS) county personnel, the faculty of the P. K. Yonge Laboratory School, and University Libraries faculty. Graduate Council policies have also established limited exceptions for persons holding faculty positions that do not include tenure or tenure accrual, as well as for specified degree programs, including the online MBA. Other exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Graduate Council. Such exceptions, if given, are rare and will only be approved if pursuit of the proposed graduate degree program is determined to be in the best interest of the University and the Colleges involved. 

Graduate Student Employees

For more information about employing graduate students, please visit the Graduate School website and see Principles for the Employment of Graduate Students at the University of Florida.  

Nondegree Registration

Nondegree enrollment is restricted to participants in special programs, off-campus programs, University-affiliated exchange programs, and those participants with non-degree educational objectives at UF. Students denied admission to UF for any term are not eligible for non-degree registration. If you previously have attended UF in a degree-seeking status and did not subsequently earn a degree, you are not eligible for non-degree registration. Students need prior approval from the academic unit(s) to take courses in a non-degree status. That coursework normally is not applied toward the graduate degree if the student is admitted to the Graduate School. By petition in clearly justified cases and in conformance with regulations on courses and credit, it is possible to transfer up to 15 credits of graduate coursework earned with the grade of A, A-, B+, or B. A student should not remain in this classification for more than 1 term before being admitted as a post-baccalaureate or graduate student.

For non-degree registration request form information, click on this link: https://admissions.ufl.edu/apply/non-degree. 

Readmission

This information applies only to students who have previously been enrolled in a graduate, postbaccalaureate, or professional UF program. Former students who do not enroll at the University for three (3) consecutive terms, including any summer term, must apply for readmission to the same program of their previous enrollment.  Students who wish to take an academic leave of absence should obtain written approval from their academic unit prior to leaving. For students who have a Graduate Assistantship and/or are here on a student visa, please contact the appropriate office(s) for additional information and requirements. 
https://hr.ufl.edu/leave/graduate-assistant-leave-of-absence/
https://internationalcenter.ufl.edu/iss/conclusion-of-studies-/leave-of-absence-loa/ 

All readmission applicants must meet the current admission requirements of the college or school they expect to enter. Readmission is not guaranteed and is subject to availability at the level, college, and major. Consult the admission requirements for the appropriate program. Readmission is for a specific term. If a student is unable to enroll for the term for which they have been admitted, they must apply for readmission again to a different term. 

Applicants must present a satisfactory record of conduct. Regardless of other qualifications, applicants who have experienced major or continuing difficulties with academic progress or issues with other authorities since their last enrollment at the University of Florida may find their application for readmission denied.

The readmission application must be submitted with a non-refundable $30.00 application fee.  

For further information, visit the Office of Admissions website https://admissions.ufl.edu/apply/readmission.