Admission to Michigan State University is open to all candidates on the basis of academic preparation and ability, and the availability of space in the desired academic program, and without regard to race, color, gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, political persuasion, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, height, weight, veteran status, age, or (in the case of U. S. citizens) financial need.
The applicant for admission at the graduate level must:
- Complete the Online Application for Admission to Graduate Study. The Application Fee is required at the time of submission.
- Submit any additional materials through the application portal or as specified by the department, school or program to which admission is sought.
- Request the registrar of each college or university attended to send one copy of each official transcript (original language version plus one translated into English, if needed) to the college, department, school, or program to which admission is sought or to the Office of Admissions. Transcripts of work taken at Michigan State University need not be requested.
- Have three letters of recommendation submitted electronically using the application system.
- Take any required examinations and have the testing agency forward official results to the appropriate entity at Michigan State University as specified in the application instructions.
- Fulfill any additional requirements and procedures of the college, department, program or school to which admission is sought.
To ensure full consideration, the application for admission, the application fee, official transcripts, letters of recommendation, test scores, and other required documents received by the appropriate offices at least nine months prior to the anticipated first semester of enrollment.
If the applicant is also applying for financial aid, the application materials must be received nine months prior to the first semester of enrollment.
An application for an assistantship, fellowship, or scholarship for a fall semester is assured of full consideration if received before January 1, of that year, unless the application is for a special form of financial aid carrying an earlier deadline date. Some awards of financial aid are made earlier than January 1, and the applicant is therefore encouraged to file the application as early as possible.
Applications for loans for new students are made through the Office of Financial Aid and should be returned to that office before April 1, except for such loans as may carry a later deadline date.
See the General Information, Policies, Procedures and Regulations section of this catalog for further details.
Concurrent Application to a Graduate Program
Applicants seeking admission to a graduate program may apply to two programs concurrently in order to seek admission to the program that is the appropriate field of study for their needs. Submission of applications concurrently may be for any two programs selected from master’s degree programs, educational specialist degree programs, graduate certificate (Type 2) programs, and/or doctoral degree programs. For each program, the applicant must file a separate application and pay a separate application fee.