PhD Applications

PhD Admission Recommendations

Table of Contents

• • PhD Application Step-by-Step
  • Previous Degrees Required
  • Course Pre-Requisites/Deficiencies
  • Test Of English As A Foreign Language (TOEFL)
  • Letters Of Recommendation
  • Deadlines To Submit Applications
  • Additional Information

PhD Application Step-by-Step

• 1. 1. Fill out the application
        • Applying to UM-Ann Arbor (Rackham Graduate School Link)
     2. Personal Statement:
        Some suggested topics for your personal statement are:
        • volunteer and/or community service;
        • extra-curricular activities;
        • leadership activities;
        • educational, cultural, geographic or socio-economic background underrepresented in your discipline of graduate study;
        • financial hardship;
        • first generation U.S. citizen or first generation in family to graduate from a four-year college.
     3. GRE scores: GRE score is not required for applicants who apply for Fall 2021 PhD admission.
     4. Three Letters of Recommendation: If you apply online, we encourage you to submit your letters electronically. (Note: At least TWO of your letters should be from faculty).
     5. Transcripts: Submit a transcript for each Bachelor’s, Master’s, Professional or Doctoral degree earned or in progress.
        For instructions on submitting transcripts, please see the Rackham Graduate school website. Applicants will upload a copy of the official transcript and enter a “self-reported” GPA when applying online. Official paper transcripts/documents are only required if a student is admitted, and these must be submitted by the end of the first term of enrollment.
        • Note: All credentials submitted for admission consideration become the property of the University of Michigan and will not be returned in original or copy form.
     6. International Applicants must also send:
        • Include one set of: official transcripts, certificates, and diplomas in the original language, in addition to an English translation.
        • TOEFL scores sent from ETS (Institution code 1839)
     7. Application Fees:
        • $75.00 application fee for domestic applicants or $90.00 application fee for international applicants (If you apply on-line, you will pay by credit card)
        • In certain circumstances, you may be eligible for an application fee waiver administered by the Rackham Graduate School. For information about eligibility criteria and instructions for various fee waiver programs, please see Application Fee and Waivers.
     8. Important Deadlines
        • Application deadline for Fall 2021 PhD: December 10, 2020.
        • Note: PhD applicants are only accepted for entry in the Fall semester.
     9. Track Your Application Progress: You can now track the progress of your application electronically. On Wolverine Access you can see when we received documents, what documents we are missing, what recommenders letter we have received, whose letters we are missing, etc. We will post your admission decision on Wolverine Access and you will indicate your admission decision on Wolverine Access.
        Please Note: It may take 5-7 days from the receipt of your application for this information to appear on Wolverine Access.

Previous Degrees Required

Admission to the Ph.D. program does not require a Master’s degree. Qualified students who hold a bachelor’s degree in engineering, science or mathematics may apply directly to the Ph.D. program.

Course Pre-Requisite/Deficiencies

• The following undergraduate courses are required:
  • Calculus – 2 years (4 semesters or 6 quarters)
  • Science – 2 years (Chemistry, Physics or Biology)
  • * Probability – 1 course (Calculus based)
  • * Statistics – 1 course (Calculus based)
  • * Linear Algebra – 1 course (frequently included in Calculus sequence)
  • * Computer Programming – Demonstrated ability (e.g. completed coursework) to write computer programs

* Note: Many undergraduate programs in engineering and science do not require courses on these topics. Students who are deficient in these pre-requisites, if admitted, will be required to elect courses in these areas and earn a grade of B or better. This requirement must be fulfilled as soon as possible after entering the program. For specific information on removing deficiencies refer here.

Test Of English As A Foreign Language – (TOEFL)

• Foreign applicants whose native language is not English or does NOT have a degree from an English speaking institution, must provide evidence of either a “Test of English as a Foreign Language” (TOEFL) score or take the “English Proficiency Test for Foreign Students” administered by the English Language Institute at The University of Michigan. Upon entering the IOE graduate program, a student who has been determined by the Graduate Admissions Committee to have a deficiency in spoken or written English, is required to:
  1. take the verbal and written English tests given by ELI (English Language Institute);
  2. report the results to the IOE graduate program advisor, and
  3. abide by any recommendation made by his or her counselor or the Graduate Program Advisor for remedial coursework.

Letters Of Recommendation

• Letters of recommendation should be submitted on-line, but hard copies may be submitted if that is not possible. Remember to add sufficient time for hard copies to reach us by the application deadlines.

Deadlines To Submit Applications

• Application deadline for Fall 2021 PhD: December 10, 2020.

Additional Information

Please send requests to: ioe.gradadmission@umich.edu