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Admission Procedures & Documents

For admission into a degree program, applicants should allow a reasonable amount of time for processing. If we have received all of the requested documents at the time of submission application processing can often be completed within two weeks. Applicants are urged to apply early to ensure full consideration. 

All admission credentials become the property of the University and will not be forwarded or returned. Credentials will be maintained in active files for 12 months, after which they will be destroyed.

To be eligible for Degree Regular Admission an applicant must have a U.S. baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university or foreign equivalent and be in good academic standing at the last institution attended.

Misrepresentation of academic credentials constitutes a Class A misdemeanor, under Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-7-133.

For international applicants, the I-20 or IAP-66 needed to secure an F-1 or J-1 visa is enclosed with the official letter of admission.  For more information on the I-20 process, please visit here. 

Steps for applying:

  1. View departmental information about admission requirements, test score requirements, application deadlines, etc. Some departments may also require a separate admissions application and may have an earlier application deadline.
  2. Use our electronic admission applications to apply to Graduate School. (Application fees for initial admission are $35 application fee for domestic students and $60 for international students). 
  3. Make sure that you submit all required documentation and request that official documents be sent from previous institutions and testing agencies.  See application documents below. 
  4. Following the initial review of your application by an admissions coordinator in your program, you will be notified of any additional documentation that may be needed to continue processing your application. 
  5. You can check the status of your application at the graduate admission portal. https://apply.memphis.edu/portal/graduate_application
  6. After receiving and reviewing your application and all required documentation, your program will make a decision. After the department has determined your admissibility, the decision will be communicated to the Office of Graduate Admissions. You will receive notification of the decision directly from the Office of Graduate Admissions.
  7. Offers of graduate assistantships are made directly by programs/departments. 

Admission Documents 

1. TRANSCRIPTS: Your program needs to see your previous grades in order to make a decision on your file. At a minimum you will need to submit a transcript from the institution at which you received (or will receive) your bachelor's degree. Admission decisions can be made on the basis of unofficial transcripts (a personal copy of your transcript). A copy of your transcript(s) should be uploaded with your application. Failure to upload a copy of your transcript will result in processing delay. 

If you are accepted and enroll you must have a final official copy of your transcript sent to the University of Memphis from your institution by the end of the second week of your first semester. Degree conferral dates must be clearly indicated on the final official transcript. Personal copies of your transcript will not be accepted. Failure to have your final official transcript sent to us by the end of your second week of the first semester will result in a hold being placed on your account and you will not be able to register for the next semester. 

If your institution can send official transcripts electronically, they can be emailed from the institution to graduatetranscripts@memphis.edu or have your institution send a final, official transcript to:

The University of Memphis
Graduate Admissions
Wilder Tower, 8th Floor
3675 Alumni Avenue, Memphis, TN 38152

2. TEST SCORES: Entrance exam tests (such as the GRE, GMAT) may be required by some programs. Check your program to determine which test scores, if any, are required. If your program requires test scores, upload a test taker score report at the time of application submission. Failure to submit your score report will result in a delay in processing your application. 

Although admission decisions can be made on the basis of unofficial test scores, if you are accepted you will need to make scores available to us for verification or have them sent to us via the testing agency by the end of the second week of classes of your first semester. Failure to do so will result in registration hold being placed on your account.  

3. Credential Evaluations (International Students): Applicants whose highest degree is from a foreign university may be required to have their credentials evaluated by any credentialing agency listed on the Association of International Credential Evaluation Services website (https://aice-eval.org) or the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services web site (www.naces.org).Please check the website of the specific program to determine if this evaluation is required.

  • TEC is our recommended international transcript evaluation service. They have created a custom application for University of Memphis Graduate School that will help you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. You can access their application here: TEC Application - University of Memphis

4. Proof of English Language Proficiency: Some students may require proof of language proficiency. There are several ways to prove English language proficiency. For instance, you might be from a country listed on our English Language Country List. For information please visit here. If you are required to submit a language proficiency test score, upload a copy of your Test Taker Score Report at the time of application submission. In order to verify the scores on your test taker score report, English Language Proficiency test scores must be sent directly from the testing agency to The University of Memphis or made available to us for verification. Admission decisions will not be made on unofficial language proficiency scores. We must verify your scores before admission decisions are made. Please see the information below on how to make your scores available for verification or sent directly to us by the testing agency. Please see the information below on how to do this:

Minimum requirements:

• Duolingo English Test-110 or higher on the overall score.
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) 550 or higher on the paper version, 80 or higher on the internet-based test
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System)- 6.5 or higher
• PTE (Pearson Test of English) - 59 or higher

7.  Letters of Recommendation: Some programs require letters of recommendation (also called letters of reference). If your department requires letters of reference, you should add the names and contact information for your references within the application. An automated email will be sent to your references so that they can upload their letter.  Please be sure that the contact information is correct. Failure to submit the correct contact information for your reference will cause delays in processing your application. You can check the status of your letters of recommendation in your application portal. For valuable information on letters of recommendation please visit here.  

8.  Additional Materials: Some departments require additional documents such as a resume, CV, personal statement, or cover letter.  Please check with your program for additional document requirements.