Apply to the PhD in Kinesiology and Nutrition
How to apply and what happens after you do
The PhD in Kinesiology and Nutrition (KN) at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) prepares you to become national and international leaders in research and scholarship in the broad fields of kinesiology and nutrition. This page covers what to do before you apply, what to submit and what happens after you apply.
The program follows a mentoring model, so your first step is to connect with a faculty member whose research matches your interests. Start early, since you’ll need time to connect with a mentor before the Dec. 15 deadline. We're happy to schedule a visit or interview with you before you apply. Make sure to clearly identify who your preferred mentors are in the personal statement of your application.
Application at a glance
- Deadline: Dec. 15 each year for fall admission (for fall 2027, Dec. 15, 2026).
- Application fee: $80, non-refundable
- Required degree: Bachelor’s degree in any field. A master’s degree is not required.
- Minimum GPA: 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for your final 60 semester hours of undergraduate work (3.25 preferred) and 3.5 for all graduate work
- Letters of recommendation: Three
- Faculty mentor: Identify potential faculty mentors and name your preferred mentors in your personal statement.
- Personal Statement: Explain your objectives for enrolling and identify your preferred faculty advisors.
- Transcripts: Unofficial copies for review. UIC requires official transcripts if you’re admitted.
- GRE: Not required
- Curriculum vitae
- Application format: Online and paperless
Take the next step
Find a faculty mentor
This program follows a mentoring model. To complete your application, identify potential faculty mentors whose research matches your interests, and name your preferred mentors in your personal statement.
Follow these steps:
- Explore faculty research. Review faculty profiles to find researchers who work in your area of interest.
- Contact a potential mentor. Introduce yourself, describe your research interests and academic background, and explain why you want to pursue a research doctorate.
- Discuss fit. Ask whether the faculty member’s research and mentoring match your goals.
- Name your preferred mentors in your statement. Name your preferred faculty advisors in your personal statement and explain how your research interests match theirs.
The admissions committee considers your requested mentor’s input when it makes its final decision, so begin these conversations now.
What to know before you apply
Admissions requirements
To apply, you need:
- A degree in any field. A bachelor’s or master’s degree in any field of study.
- A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for your final 60 semester hours (3.25 preferred).
- A bachelor’s degree in any field. You don’t need a master’s degree to apply.
Meeting these minimums does not guarantee admission. The committee also reviews your personal statement, research experience, recommendations and fit with your requested mentor. The GRE is not required.
Application checklist
The application process is paperless. Don’t mail any materials unless we ask you to. Upload documents as PDFs no larger than 5 MB. Portfolio PDFs and password-protected PDFs don’t work with our system.
You don’t have to finish your application in one sitting. You can return to the system as often as you need and check which materials have been uploaded and verified.
What to submit:
- Online application and $80 fee
- Unofficial transcripts from every college or university you attended.
- Personal statement
- Three letters of recommendation
- Curriculum vitae
- English proficiency scores, if required
- International credential evaluation fee, if you have coursework from outside the United States.
Online application and fee: Submit your application through the UIC Graduate College application system. The fee is $80 and is non-refundable for all applicants.
Transcripts: Upload unofficial copies of your transcripts from every institution you attended, including those where you earned degrees. The program reviews unofficial transcripts, so you don’t need to pay for or wait on official copies to apply. If you’re admitted, UIC requires official transcripts. Submit them before your admission term starts.
Personal statement: Submit a statement that addresses your objectives for enrolling in the program. Identify your preferred faculty advisors and explain how your research interests match theirs.
Letters of recommendation: Submit three letters of recommendation, preferably from academic sources. After you submit your application and fee, the system typically sends instructions the next business day on how to use the application checklist to request letters from your recommenders.
Curriculum vitae: Submit a current CV that includes your scholarly activities and your record of publications and presentations to date.
International applicants
If English isn’t your native language, submit TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic or PTE Academic scores unless you qualify for an exemption. UIC’s minimum scores are:
- TOEFL iBT: 80
- IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall
- PTE Academic: 54 overall
Send scores directly to UIC using institutional code 1851. TOEFL scores must come directly from ETS. Paper score reports aren’t accepted. Review UIC’s international requirements for subscores and exemptions.
If you studied outside the United States, UIC charges a nonrefundable $100 International Credential Evaluation Fee once per application term. Upload PDF copies of your credentials for review, including your degree certificate or diploma for each completed degree. Credentials must come from the institution you attended. Third-party evaluations such as WES or ECE aren’t accepted in their place, and documents in another language need certified, literal English translations. UIC requests official, sealed credentials only from admitted applicants who plan to enroll.
Tuition and aid
Review your funding options before you apply. Visit our college tuition and aid page for the most up-to-date information, and explore the Graduate College‘s guidance on financial resources and funding.
You can complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before you apply. Use UIC’s school code, 001776. Many scholarships and grants have deadlines earlier than the admission deadline, so a head start helps. UIC’s FAFSA priority deadline is March 1.
Graduate assistantships are the primary means of support for graduate students seeking financial assistance. The program offers assistantships in teaching, research or a combination of both. Research assistantships are generally in the lab of your advisor or a faculty member whose research relates to yours. Ask potential mentors about funding. Admission doesn’t guarantee a graduate assistantship or other funding unless the program confirms an award in writing.
What happens after you apply
Check your application status to confirm that your items are correct and complete, and to see your decision.
Departmental review
The admissions committee decides whether to recommend you for admission. It bases its decision on your credentials and your requested mentor’s input. Review time varies. We send recommendations to Admissions throughout the application cycle, and Admissions updates the official record.
We review applications for completeness. If we find that any part of your application is missing before the deadline, we’ll contact you once. If we receive the missing information before the deadline, we’ll treat your application as complete and forward it to the admissions committee.
Graduate college review
In some cases, an application we recommend may also need Graduate College review. The Graduate College can uphold our recommendation or deny the application.
Your decision
Admissions typically enters a decision within five business days. You can also download the letter from the status page. UIC mails an official decision letter.
If you’ve been admitted…
Congratulations! Visit our newly admitted students page for next steps.
International students who need a student visa should submit financial documents for the Office of International Services through the application checklist and contact that office with questions about visa processing. Follow any instructions in your admission notice. Most admitted students accept or decline their offer through the application status page. Submit official transcripts before your admission term starts.
Teaching assistant or graduate assistant positions: If you’re a new or current KN graduate student, apply here for a TA or GA position.
If you need to defer …
You can defer admission once for up to one academic year. For example, a fall admission can move to the following spring, summer or fall term. Tell us as soon as possible. If we approve your request, we forward it to campus for final approval and an update to your student record.
If you’ve been denied…
Contact us to ask about the decision. In some cases, we can advise you on how to strengthen your profile or apply successfully for a future term.
Frequently asked questions
When is the PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences application deadline?
The deadline is Dec. 15 each year for fall admission. For example, to start in fall 2027, apply by Dec. 15, 2026.
What GPA do I need to apply?
You need at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for your final 60 semester hours of undergraduate work, with a 3.25 preferred. If you have graduate coursework, the program asks for a cumulative graduate GPA of at least 3.5.
Do I need a faculty mentor before I apply?
Take a look at the faculty associated with our PhD program and identify potential advisors whose research matches your interests. Name your preferred mentors in your personal statement.
What do I need to submit?
Submit the online application and $80 fee, unofficial transcripts, a personal statement and three letters of recommendation. International applicants may also need English proficiency scores and the credential evaluation fee.
Can I defer my admission?
Yes, once, for up to one academic year. Contact us as soon as possible.
Is funding available?
Yes. Graduate assistantships are the primary means of support. The program offers assistantships in teaching, research or a combination of both. Review the tuition and funding resources above and ask potential mentors about funding.
Do I need a master's degree?
No. You can apply with a bachelor’s degree in any field.
Do I need official transcripts to apply?
No. The program reviews unofficial transcripts. If you’re admitted, UIC requires official transcripts before your admission term starts.
What English test scores do international applicants need?
UIC’s minimums are a TOEFL iBT score of 80, an IELTS Academic overall score of 6.5 or a PTE Academic overall score of 54, unless you qualify for an exemption. See UIC’s international requirements for subscores and exemptions.
Questions?
We’re here to help with questions before and after you apply.
You can contact Lisa (Li) Chin Goelz at:
Email lchin1@uic.edu
Phone 312.413.8525
Address 1919 W. Taylor St., 625 AHSB, Chicago, IL 60612