International Graduate Admissions

Returning Degree Seeking Students - Requirements for admission to the University of Arkansas Graduate School:

Readmission to the Graduate School is not automatic. Students must meet each specific criteria and are also strongly encouraged to ensure that an adviser in the department/program is still available to them. Post-candidacy doctoral students who have not been enrolled in the preceding year must be acceptable by the program for readmission.

Students who have been enrolled in the Graduate School within the five preceding academic years but have not enrolled in the immediately preceding semester may be readmitted if:

• The student has earned at least a 2.85 cumulative grade-point average on all graduate credits attempted during all previous enrollments;
• A new Application for Admission form and $30 processing fee (waived if less than 12 months have passed since last enrollment - two majors semesters and a summer) is filed prior to the desired registration date (preferably, at least one month prior to that date);
• The Graduate School has received an official transcript of all course work attempted at other institutions subsequent to the previous enrollment in the University of Arkansas Graduate School;
• For students initially admitted Fall 2014 or after, an official standardized test score acceptable to the degree program is on file in the Graduate School; and
• The student’s academic status at the end of the previous enrollment was “good standing” and the student had no disciplinary conduct or academic integrity violations imposed or pending

Note:  The Graduate School reserves the right to deny readmission consistent with the mission and values of the Graduate School and/or graduate degree program.

1. All requirements for the master’s degree and specialist degrees must be completed within six years of the first enrollment used for the graduate degree. Absence from the University does not change these time limits. Graduate students may petition for extensions to these time limits only if the course work was completed at the University of Arkansas (Fayetteville).

2. Students who have been previously admitted to and enrolled in the Graduate School but have no enrollment within the five years preceding the semester of readmission and who wish to be readmitted to pursue a graduate degree, may be considered for readmission upon a petition by the graduate degree program to the Graduate School. Such students should contact the department/program head/director or graduate coordinator to request readmission. The department/program head/director, graduate coordinator, or major adviser of the student will petition the Director of Graduate Admissions, using the form “Request for an Exception to the Admissions Requirements of the Graduate School,” and will specify whether all of the student’s previous course work and grade points will be forfeited. (Note: Neither the graduate degree program nor the student may petition to forfeit only some of the previous course work and grade points; rather, all or none of the course work may be forfeited.) If all of the previous course work and grade points will be forfeited, a notation on the transcript next to these courses will state: “This course may not be used for graduate credit at the University of Arkansas.” If the previous course work and grade points will not be forfeited, the student’s major adviser must petition for a time extension. Please see the Time Extension Policy.

3. Readmission for non-degree seeking students: Non-degree-seeking students who have previously been enrolled in the Graduate School but have had a lapse in their enrollment will follow the procedures stated above, or in the policy pertaining to non-consecutive one-term admissions, whichever is most appropriate.

4. Readmission to the Graduate School under any other circumstances will be considered and decided on an individual basis. Students interested in obtaining such readmission should contact the Graduate School.

   Students who were not enrolled in the Spring semester, but who were enrolled for the Summer session will have registration materials available for the Fall semester should they wish to continue their registration.

Non-Degree Seeking Students - Requirements for admission to the University of Arkansas Graduate School:

Admission as a special, non-degree seeking student is not intended to serve as a means of access to regular, degree-seeking status.  Non-degree students who later wish to pursue a degree must reapply for admission as a degree-seeking student and meet the admission requirements of the Graduate School and be admitted by the academic program.

Visiting Students - Requirements for admission to the University of Arkansas Graduate School:

Non-degree visiting admission enables graduate students to take a few classes at the University of Arkansas while continuing to be a graduate degree-seeking student at their home institution. 

Visiting graduate applicants must be both:

• Actively pursuing a graduate degree at an academic institution other than the University of Arkansas
• In good standing at that home institution.

Returning Degree Seeking Students: After You Apply

Response times will vary depending upon the volume of applications and time of year. You are welcome to contact us at gradapp@uark.edu with any questions you may have.

When your file is complete, you will be notified. If you meet Graduate School admission requirements and are seeking a graduate degree, your file will be forwarded to the academic program for their admission decision. You are strongly encouraged to contact the department regarding any additional application requirements, application deadlines or information they may have for you.

Non-Degree Seeking Students: After You Apply

When we have received your application and fee, we will review your file and contact you if additional information is needed. Once all materials have been received, allow 3 to 5 business days for this step. If you are admitted we'll notify you by email and mail your Notice of Admission along with other important information for incoming students.

Senior Citizens: After You Apply

When we've received your application and supporting documents (if degree seeking) we'll review your file and contact you if additional information is needed. Once all materials have been received, allow 3 to 5 business days for this step. If you are admitted we'll notify you by email and mail your Notice of Admission along with other important information for incoming students.

Arkansas residents 60 years of age or older may apply either as an undergraduate or graduate student for on-campus and online credit courses by paying all non-tuition applicable fees. Tuition waiver does not apply to non-credit Continuing Education programs or independent study courses. Senior students that meet admission requirements may be admitted as degree or non-degree seeking . The College of Arts and Sciences allows senior citizens to audit classes. All other colleges require instructor’s permission for audit prior to taking a class. Senior citizens who do not wish to register on a space available basis during the senior citizen registration period may pay tuition and register during priority registration. The tuition waiver does not cover text books, class supplies, or non-tuition applicable fees.

Visiting Students: After You Apply

When we've received your application, fee, and letter of good standing, we'll review your file and contact you if additional information is needed. Once all materials have been received, allow 3 to 5 business days for this step. If you are admitted we'll notify you by email and mail your Notice of Admission along with other important information for incoming graduate students.