Application Information

All applicants must complete the on-line application to the Graduate School according to the instructions posted at the Online Application webpage. The appropriate fee must be paid before an application can be considered. To receive full consideration for Fall Semester admission with school funding, a complete application must be received no later than January 15th. Applications received through June 30th will be considered for admissions, but funding may no longer be available.

The core strength of our program is the intellectual creativity and scholarly activity of our faculty. We seek graduate students who wish to take advantage of working closely with their professors. Applicants should review the faculty web page, where the complete CV of each faculty member can be found. In their personal statements, applicants should explain how their research interests fit with the expertise of particular faculty members.

The following items must be included in applications:

Personal Statement: A well-written personal statement is the most effective means of communication with the Admissions Committee. Applicants may use the personal statement to provide insight into their general background and the motivation they can bring to graduate studies. The personal statement should clearly indicate how the student's interest in a MA, PhD, or Certificate fits with school's research expertise. It also serves as a sample of the student's writing ability.

Vita (resume)

Unofficial transcript(s) of all college-level or post-graduate-level work, uploaded by the applicant via the Graduate School's on-line application system.  Please carefully review the Graduate School's policy on transcripts:  http://grad.uc.edu/admissions/policy.html

Three letters of recommendation: At least one letter (and preferably more) must be from a professor who can attest to the applicant's academic ability, interests and promise in graduate study. Letters should be submitted by the recommenders via the Graduate School's on-line application system.

Official reports of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores: Applicants should request that their GRE scores be sent by ETS to the University of Cincinnati.

Official reports of Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores: Required if the applicant's native language is any other than English. Conditional admission may be granted to international applicants who have strong academic records but have yet to demonstrate English proficiency. While enrolled in English language courses, students may take a limited number of political science classes as non-matriculated students. Once English proficiency has been demonstrated and all application requirements have been fulfilled, students may fully matriculate into a graduate program. For more information, please see the web sites for UC International Services and the ELS-Cincinnati Language Center.