Graduate Students
U of I graduate studies admission requirements
With more than 90 graduate programs to choose from, University of Idaho offers a wide range of opportunities to match your goals and interests.
Your first step toward becoming a Vandal graduate student is to review the general admission requirements. Application requirements may vary depending on whether you’re applying as a domestic or international student.
Use the links in the Additional Links box to explore the graduate admission process and find the details specific to you.
Browse graduate degrees and certificates
Explore U of I’s graduate programs and review the specific admission requirements for each. Some programs may have additional criteria or require supplemental application materials beyond the general graduate admission requirements.
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Admission criteria
All graduate school applicants must satisfy the following criteria to be considered for graduate admission to University of Idaho:
- Have earned a bachelor's degree from a college or university accredited by a recognized accrediting body, a ministry of education, or an official quality assurance organization in another country.
- The bachelor's degree should consist of four years of study, equivalent to 120 semester credit hours or 180 quarter hours.
Application requirements
All applicants to graduate programs — whether domestic or international — must submit the following materials for admission consideration:
- Online application: Complete the graduate application form and submit the $50 non-refundable application fee. Apply now
- Transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities: Unofficial transcripts (scanned copies of transcripts issued by the university Registrar) may be used for initial admission review. If admitted, official transcripts sent directly by the Registrar’s office are required.
- Standardized test scores: Some programs may require GRE scores; check specific program requirements found on each degree page.
- English proficiency for applicants whose native language is not English
- Letters of recommendation: One to three letters of recommendation as specified by your program of interest.
- Statement of purpose: Outline your academic and professional objectives.
- Resume
- Additional materials: Some programs may require additional materials such as a portfolio, writing sample, or statement of objectives.
Ready to apply? Review specific graduate program requirements to ensure you meet admission criteria and have all materials prepared.
General graduate admission requirements
The College of Graduate Studies at University of Idaho can't wait to welcome you.
International graduate admission requirements
Make University of Idaho College of Graduate Studies your new home.
Additional admissions processes
Deferred admission
Students admitted to a graduate program may defer the admission to a future term within one year of their originally admitted semester. For example, a student admitted for the fall term (with a start date in August) may request to defer enrollment to the following spring (January), summer (May), or the next fall term.
Students who wish to defer their admission can submit a deferral application on this link here.
Important information about the graduate deferral process:
- This deferral information is for graduate students only. If you have been admitted to an undergraduate program and wish to defer, please contact the Admissions Office at admissions@uidaho.edu or 208-885-6326 for more information.
- The deferral request form must be submitted by the application deadline of the semester in which you intend to enroll.
- A non-refundable application fee of $30 is required. Exceptions apply only to University of Idaho students applying to programs that offer expedited admission.
- Additional application materials, such as official transcripts or an updated resume, may be required if a student has enrolled at a university not included in the original application.
- Although most students can defer their admission to a future term, admission is not always guaranteed. Situations where the academic program may not approve a deferral may include but not be limited to the following: the funding originally offered is no longer available; the program has reached capacity; or the faculty member assigned as graduate advisor does not have space in their project, grant or lab.
- An approved deferral does not guarantee that the funding offered for the original admission will be carried over to the new term.
- For students who claim Idaho residency during the application process, the Admissions Office will reassess their residency status when reviewing the new application. We recommend you carefully read through all the eligible pathways to make the appropriate selection.
- Students who did not complete their application or were denied admission are not eligible for deferred admission.
Readmission
The readmission application is for previous graduate students who have been absent for two or more years.
Readmission needs approval by the academic program in which the student wishes to enroll. To request readmission to the University of Idaho, the following will be required:
- Readmission application
- $30.00 non-refundable application fee
- Updated resume/CV
- Additional documents may be required at the department’s request
Returning to the same degree/major
Graduate Admissions will begin the department approval process upon submission of the online Application for Readmission. The application must be completed for the program in which the student was previously enrolled.
Changing to different degree/major
Returning students who have been absent for more than two years and wish to change to a different graduate/program must complete an online application for readmission indicating the new degree or program.
Current graduate students who hope to gain admission into a new degree or want to change to different program must submit a change of curriculum form to the College of Graduate Studies with all the appropriate departmental approvals.
Exceptions: Education (Ph.D., Ed.D.) requires a new complete application.
* When submitting your application, do not use an inactive Vandal email, create or reuse a personal login.
Expedited admission for U of I undergraduates
University of Idaho undergraduate students with a bachelor’s degree earned or expected prior to their first graduate level semester may qualify for an expedited admissions process into a non-thesis master's program which requires the following:
- Bachelor's degree from U of I in a similar or closely related field
- 3.0 GPA (minimum)
- Statement of purpose
The application fee and letters of recommendation will be waived. Take this opportunity to start your U of I graduate program in the field you are passionate about.
Students who meet the minimum admission criteria will receive direct entry into a non-thesis graduate program without additional departmental review. Selected programs may choose to review all applications, including those that meet requirements for the GPA and the major in a related field. Reasons for departmental review may include (but not be limited to) prerequisites review, program capacity, strict admission deadlines.
Students who do not meet the minimum requirements of 3.0 GPA and undergraduate major in a similar or related field may be asked to provide additional documents and/or 1-3 letters of recommendation. The applications will be reviewed for admission by the academic program.
Apply for expedited admissions. The application fee will be waived once the admissions office reviews your application.
Dates and deadlines
Important dates
Application deadlines for each academic program can be found on each degree page. Some programs have deadlines earlier than those listed below or have a rolling admission process, which always takes precedence.
Priority submission dates
Applications submitted before this date will receive full consideration for admission, financial support or assistantships.
| Fall semester (August to December) | January 15 |
| Spring semester (January to May) | September 1 |
| Summer session (begins mid-May) | January 15 |
General application deadlines
Domestic students
To ensure applications are reviewed in time, you must submit no later than the dates listed below. Some programs may accept applications closer to the start of the semester. Contact the Graduate Admissions Office with questions.
| Fall semester (August to December) | July 30 |
| Spring semester (January to May) | December 1 |
| Summer session (begins mid-May) | April 15 |
International students last day to apply
You must submit applications no later than these dates to ensure sufficient time for application evaluation and for U.S. Immigration student visa processes.
| Fall semester (August to December) | April 15 |
| Spring semester (January to May) | October 1 |
| Summer session (begins mid-May) | March 1 |
Funding for graduate students
University of Idaho offers top value with low attendance costs and living expenses. As Idaho’s only Carnegie R1 university, this excellence extends to our graduate programs. We also provide multiple funding options to support your advanced degree.
- Teaching and research assistantships
- Employer tuition support
- Loans
- Military discounts
Be mindful of all documentation and deadlines.
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The College of Graduate Studies is here to help you succeed.
Western Regional Graduate Program
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) is a collaboration between universities from 16 neighboring states and territories, all members of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), that facilitates lower tuition rates comparable to in-state tuition.
When applying to selected graduate programs at University of Idaho, students from WICHE states may qualify for Idaho in-state tuition for master’s, graduate certificate and doctoral programs.
U of I WRGP-eligible programs
- Accounting (Masters)
- Agricultural education (Masters)
- Animal physiology (Doctorate)
- Animal science (Masters)
- Anthropology (Masters)
- Architecture (Masters)
- Art (M.F.A.)
- Bioinformatics and computational biology (Masters)
- Bioinformatics and computational biology (Doctorate)
- Bioinformatics and computational biology (Graduate Certificate)
- Civil engineering (non-thesis Masters)
- Computer science (Masters)
- Computer science (Doctorate)
- Creative writing (M.F.A.)
- Criminology (M.S.)
- Cybersecurity (Masters)
- Doctor of Anatomical Sciences (D.A.S.)
- Dietetics (Masters)
- English (Masters)
- Environmental science (Masters)
- Environmental science (Doctorate)
- Experimental psychology — human factors emphasis (Doctorate)
- Geological engineering (non-thesis Masters)
- History (Masters)
- History (Doctorate)
- Integrated architecture and design (Masters)
- Kinesiology (Masters)
- Landscape architecture (M.L.A.)
- Law (J.D.)
- Music (Masters)
- Nuclear engineering (Masters)
- Nuclear engineering (Doctorate)
- Physics (Doctorate)
- Physical education (Masters)
- Psychology — human factors emphasis (Masters)
- Public administration (M.P.A.)
- Statistical science (Masters)
- Theater (M.F.A.)
How do I apply for WRGP?
We do not require a separate application for the WRGP award. The Graduate Admissions Office will determine eligibility based on the information provided in your graduate application. If you qualify, your tuition and fees will be adjusted to the in-state rate. The WRGP award and terms will be posted to your tuition and fees bill.
IMPORTANT:
- The determination for the WRGP award is made at the admissions stage. We do not re-evaluate WRGP eligibility after you have begun your program.
- The out-of-state tuition waiver will be applied to your bill. There is no minimum credit requirement.
- To maintain your award, you must remain continuously enrolled in the same program to which you were initially admitted.
Readmission to grad school
If you’ve left graduate school prior to earning your degree and would like to reenroll, you need to apply for readmission. The readmission application is for previous graduate students who have been absent for two or more years and for students who earned a graduate degree and wish to enroll a second graduate program or degree.
Readmission needs approval by the academic program in which the student wishes to enroll. To request readmission to University of Idaho, the following will be required:
- Readmission application
- $30.00 non-refundable application fee
- Updated resume/CV
- Additional documents may be required at the department’s request
Graduate Admissions will begin the department approval process upon submission of the online Application for Readmission.
Returning to the same degree/major
Returning students who have been absent for more than two years and wish enroll in the same program/degree must complete an online Application for Readmission.
Changing to a different degree/major
Returning students who have been absent for more than two years and wish to change to a different graduate/program must complete an online Application for Readmission indicating the new degree or program.
Re-admission to a different degree/major after earning a previous graduate degree in a different major
Former U of I graduate students who already earned a previous graduate degree and wish to pursue a new program/degree must complete an online Application for Readmission indicating the new degree or program.
Current graduate students who hope to gain admission into a new degree or want to change to a different program must submit a Change of Curriculum form to the College of Graduate Studies with all the appropriate departmental approvals.
Exceptions: Education (Ph.D., Ed.D.) requires a new complete application.
When submitting your application, do not use an inactive VandalMail address.