Before You Apply
Start planning now
It’s never too early to start planning.
Early preparation is the key to a smooth and successful application and admission process. Give yourself the best chance of acceptance by doing your research and putting your best application forward.
Your advisor Heading link
This program follows a mentoring model. Take a look at the faculty associated with our Ph.D. program and identify potential advisors whose research matches your interests. Make sure to clearly identify who your preferred mentors are in the personal statement of your application.
Know your deadlines Heading link
Applications are due January 15.
Don’t wait until the last minute to apply. Start early and give yourself plenty of time to collect all your materials.
Check your requirements Heading link
- Bachelor’s degree in any field of study
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) for the final 60 semester hours of undergraduate work (3.25 preferred) and 3.5 for all graduate work
International Students: If English isn’t your native language, you might need to take a minimum English proficiency test. Check out the International Requirements to see if this applies to you.
Prepare your documents Heading link
When you apply, you’ll need to submit your transcripts, a personal statement, and three letters of recommendation. Get started on those things now. Refer to the Applying page for all the specifics.
The application process is paperless. Please don’t mail any materials unless told to do so. Documents that you will upload must be in PDF format, no larger than 5 MB in size. “Portfolio” PDFs and secured PDFs which require a password are not compatible with our system.
International Students: You might have a few extra things you need to provide. Read through the International Requirements page to make sure you have everything you need.
International Students: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores must be submitted to UIC directly from ETS. Paper score reports will not be accepted.
Our ETS Institutional Code is 1851.
Think about funding Heading link
See what funding options are available to you. The Graduate College has some great information on financial resources and funding opportunities.
Graduate assistantships are the primary means of support for graduate students seeking financial assistance. We offer assistantships in both teaching and research (or a combination of both). Research assistantships will generally be in the lab of your advisor or a faculty member pursuing research related to your own.