PhD Applications

PhD Admission Recommendations

Table of Contents

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

PhD Application Step-by-Step

• 1. 1. Fill out the application
        • Apply online through CollegeNet
     2. Statement of Purpose: (Must include areas of interest in top corner)
     3. 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.
     4. GRE scores: GRE scores sent from ETS (Institution code 1839, Department code 1301 or 1302). If you have the score report, please include a copy.
     5. 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).
     6. 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. Submitting your transcripts is a two-step process:
        1. Submitting transcripts with the Online Application:
           Applicants upload a copy of their official transcript/academic record to the online application.
        2. Sending official transcripts to the Rackham Graduate School:
           Applicants are required to submit an official set of transcript/academic records as an e-transcript or by mail to the Rackham Graduate School before the graduate program application deadline. Use the Academic Records/Transcripts Submission Form to submit your official transcript so that it is quickly matched with your application.
        3. 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.
     7. 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)
     8. 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)
     9. Important Deadlines
        • Application deadline for Fall 2020 PhD: December 10, 2019.
        • Note: PhD applicants are only accepted for entry in the Fall semester.
     10. 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.

Graduate Record Examinations – (GRE)

• The Graduate Record Examination scores (Verbal, Quantitative and Writing Segment) are required for admission for all students. GRE scores are valid for 5 years. For example, scores obtained in November 2003 are good until November 2008. Students who took this exam longer than 5 years ago must retake the examination
• Please contact Matt Irelan mirelan@umich.edu directly with any additional questions
  These are RECOMMENDED scores, not cut-offs for admission consideration. We review your entire application and test scores are only a part of that.
  • Verbal Reasoning scores recommendations are equal to or great than 157 or 77% on the 130 – 170 score scale. (Again, we review the entire application and such things as not being a native English speaker are considered.)
  • Quantitative Reasoning scores are equal to or greater than 163 or 88% on the 130 – 170 score scale.
  • Analytical Writing scores will continue to be reported on the same 0 – 6 score scale. We do NOT have a guideline score.

  IOE will no longer accept the old GRE test scores. (Those reported as 200 – 800 scores)

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.

GPA/GRE/TOEFL Guidelines

IOE highly prefers the TOEFL exam but will consider MELAB and IELTS.

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 Winter 2021 PhD: October 1, 2020; Fall 2021 PhD: December 10, 2020.
• Note: PhD applicants are only accepted for entry in the Fall semester.

Additional Information

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