Apply to the PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences
How to apply and what happens after you do
The PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) prepares you for a research career that advances rehabilitation and healthcare. 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 Jan. 15 deadline. We're happy to schedule a visit or interview with you before you apply.
Application at a glance
- Deadline: Jan. 15 each year for fall admission (for fall 2027, Jan. 15, 2027)
- Application fee: $70, non-refundable
- Required degree: Bachelor’s degree in a related field. A master’s degree is not required
- GRE: Not required
- Minimum GPA: 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for your final 60 semester hours of undergraduate work (3.25 preferred)
- Letters of recommendation: Three
- Personal statement
- Curriculum vitae
- Transcripts: From every institution attended
- Faculty mentor: Contact at least one potential mentor before you apply and submit a signed faculty commitment-to-advise form
- Application format: Online and paperless
Take the next step
Find a faculty mentor
This program follows a mentoring model. To complete your application, you need to identify and contact at least one faculty mentor who works in your specialty area, then secure a faculty signature on the faculty commitment-to-advise form that you submit with your application. You can’t apply without a faculty member.
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.
- Get the form signed. Download the faculty commitment-to-advise form and ask your mentor to sign it. You will upload it with your application.
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 bachelor’s degree in a related field. You don’t need a master’s degree to apply.
- A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for your final 60 semester hours (3.25 preferred).
- A graduate GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, if you have completed graduate-level work.
- A faculty mentor: See the steps above.
Meeting these minimums does not guarantee admission. The committee also reviews your personal statement, research experience, recommendations and fit with your requested mentor.
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 $70 fee
- Unofficial transcripts from every college or university you attended
- Personal statement (two pages maximum)
- Three letters of recommendation
- Curriculum vitae
- Signed faculty commitment-to-advise form
- 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 $70 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: Your statement can be up to two pages. Address these three points:
- Your career vision.
- Why a research doctorate will help you reach that vision.
- The clinical, teaching and research experiences that shaped your interest in a research doctorate.
Letters of recommendation: Your recommenders submit their letters through the UIC application portal. If a recommender has trouble, contact Joelle Livermore Lantz at jclantz@uic.edu.
Curriculum vitae: Submit a current CV that includes your scholarly activities and your record of publications and presentations to date.
Faculty commitment-to-advise form: Submit the form signed by at least one faculty mentor working in your specialty area.
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
The program doesn’t set minimums higher than UIC’s. Send scores directly to UIC using institutional code 1851. 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.
Ask potential mentors about research assistantships and other funding opportunities in their labs. 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 see whether 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.
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 enters a decision, the application portal updates and UIC mails an official decision letter, typically within five business days. You can also download the letter from the status page.
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 to 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.
If you need to defer …
If you’re admitted but can’t start in fall, ask us about deferring. Campus policy allows one deferral for up to one academic year. Most students defer a full year and begin the following fall, which gives them more time to secure materials, funding and other resources. We consider a spring start case by case. Tell us as soon as possible. If we approve your request, we forward it to the Office of Admissions for final approval. If approved, UIC creates a new admission record and sends you a new admission letter.
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 Jan. 15 each year for fall admission. For example, if you want to start in fall 2027, apply by Jan. 15, 2027.
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?
Yes. Contact at least one potential mentor in your specialty area and submit their signed commitment-to-advise form with your application.
What do I need to submit?
Submit the online application and $70 fee, unofficial transcripts, a personal statement of up to two pages, three letters of recommendation, a CV and the signed faculty commitment-to-advise form. International applicants may also need English proficiency scores. 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. Most students defer a full year and start the following fall. We consider a spring start case by case. Contact us as soon as possible.
Is funding available?
Funding options vary. Review the tuition and funding resources above and ask potential mentors about assistantship opportunities.
Do I need a master's degree?
No. You can apply with a bachelor’s degree in a related field. If you have completed graduate coursework, the program asks for a cumulative graduate GPA of at least 3.5.
Can I start the program in spring or summer?
No. The program admits students for fall only.
Is the GRE required?
No. The GRE is no longer required.
Do I need official transcripts to apply?
No. The program reviews unofficial transcripts. If you’re admitted, UIC requires official transcripts by your first week of enrollment.
Can I apply without a faculty mentor?
No. The program can’t accept an application without a signed commitment-to-advise form. Start by browsing faculty profiles and contacting researchers whose work matches your interests.
What English test scores do international applicants need?
If English isn’t your native language, 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. If you’re not sure what to do next, contact Joelle Livermore Lantz.
You can contact Joelle at:
Email jclantz@uic.edu
Phone 312.996.1015
Address 808 S. Wood St., 167 CMET, MC 518, Chicago, IL 60612