How to Apply

Degree-seeking applicants must upload a statement of purpose as part of the online application. Your statement should demonstrate your post-graduation career plans, explain how your educational and experiential background aligns with these goals, and describe how the graduate program at the University of Michigan-Dearborn will help you achieve them. The preferred length is approximately 500 words.

Select programs have specific requirements for the supplemental statement(s):

• Clinical Health Psychology (MS): You must submit an additional statement that briefly describes events or experiences that demonstrate your potential as an effective health care professional. You may include work or school experience, life experiences, personal philosophy or other relevant information.
• Education (EdD): Submit a letter of intent instead of a traditional statement of purpose. In your letter, explain your motivation for pursuing the EdD and identify one or more questions related to educational curriculum, policy or practice that you wish to explore as a focus for advanced study and dissertation research. You are also required to respond to an additional writing sample prompt (options are provided in the online application) related to a current education issue. Please use APA format for any references.
• Doctoral Degree (PhD): In your academic statement of purpose, identify your intended field or fields of research. You must also submit a personal statement describing your unique background and life experiences, including any cultural, geographical, financial or educational opportunities or challenges that motivate your decision to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
• Doctor of Engineering (DEng): Your statement of purpose should include a research topic and a corresponding plan. It is strongly recommended that you identify a potential faculty advisor at the application stage, as this is required for enrollment after admission.

A resume or CV provides a summary of your qualifications, including your education, work and research experience, professional affiliations, and any notable achievements. Include: 

• Education Information: List your educational background.
• Work Experience: Include details of your employment. For each position provide:
  • Dates of employment (month/year)
  • Employer location
  • A concise bullet-point list of your responsibilities
  • College of Business applicants are also required to designate part-time vs full-time employment
• Research, Teaching, or Internship Experience: Outline any relevant professional experiences in these areas.
• Professional Affiliations: Mention any organizations or professional bodies you are part of.
• Volunteer Activities and Community Engagement: Highlight any volunteer work and involvement in community initiatives.
• Honors or Awards: Include any relevant recognitions you have received.

Master's applicants have a limit of two pages; doctoral or specialist applicants have a limit of four pages.

Supporting recommendations are required for most degree-seeking applicants at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. The number of recommendations varies by college and program. Graduate certificate applicants are not required to provide recommendations. 

Appropriate recommenders are typically current or former professional supervisors, research supervisors or faculty instructors. If you have questions about whether a potential recommender is suitable, contact your academic program for guidance.

Required Recommendations by College

College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters (CASL)

• Clinical Health Psychology: 3 recommendations
• All other programs: 2 recommendations

College of Business (COB)

• 1 recommendation

College of Education, Health, and Human Services (CEHHS)

• 2 recommendations

College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS)

• Master's level: Recommendations are not required, but you may request one if you wish. We recommend submitting a recommendation if your GPA is below 3.0 or if you have a non-traditional background for your program of interest.
• Doctoral level: 3 recommendations

Requesting Recommendations

In the online application, you must enter your recommender's name and email address. The application system will automatically notify your recommender. We highly recommend that you contact your recommender before completing this section of the application.

You will also select whether to waive your right to review submitted recommendations if you are admitted and enroll in courses.

After submitting your application, you can monitor the status of your recommendations online.

To apply to the University of Michigan-Dearborn, you must submit transcripts from all post-secondary institutions you have attended, including transferred credits. 

• Be sure to report all institutions within your Online Application, including any attendance at UM-Dearborn.
• Your academic records should include detailed course names, grades earned and your institution’s grading scale.
• If you are a current or former student at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, your transcript(s) on record will be transferred to your graduate admission application during processing after you submit your application.

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution is required for graduate admission consideration. You may apply before completing your degree if you will finish it before classes begin.

Submitting Transcripts 

You can upload unofficial academic records in the Online Application for admission consideration. Failure to meet accepted guidelines for unofficial records may require submission of an official transcript. Offers based on unofficial or incomplete records are conditional, pending submission of final, official records by the end of your first enrollment term. 

Guidelines for unofficial records: 

• Documents must be issued by the institution.
• Student name and institution name must appear on the document.
• Include detailed course names and grades.
• Include transcript legend or grading scale (often found on the back page).
• Submit one compiled PDF per institution with pages in order. Do not include syllabi, extracurricular certificates or non-academic documents.

Other ways to submit documents:

• After your application is processed, you will receive a personalized upload URL via email. You may use this for unofficial records.
• Request your institution to send official records electronically to [email protected]. Records must be sent directly from the Registrar through an institutional domain or approved third-party services (e.g., Parchment, National Clearinghouse) to be considered official.
• Mail official records to: Office of Graduate Studies, 1145 Renick University Center (RUC), 4901 Evergreen Rd., Dearborn, MI 48128.

Our graduate programs do not require the GRE or GMAT. If you submit GRE or GMAT scores, we will link them to your application file and the review committee may consider them during the admissions decision process. If you choose to submit GRE or GMAT scores, official scores are required. GRE and GMAT scores are valid for five years from the test date. 

As part of our holistic admissions review, the admissions committee may request scores from some applicants if additional information is needed to help demonstrate readiness for graduate study. 

GRE Scores

Our ETS Institution Code for GRE registration is 1861. Individual department codes are not necessary for the GRE.  As long as the institution code is used, your scores will be electronically delivered to us.  

GMAT Scores

Our GMAC Institution Code for GMAT registration varies by program. 

• Accounting (MSA): 1V5-HP-06​
• Business Administration (MBA): 1V5-HP-19
• Business Administration (MBA) - Online: 1V5-HP-50
• Business Analytics (MS): 1V5-HP-93
• Finance (MS): 1V5-HP-12​
• Information Systems (MS): 1V5-HP-38​​
• Marketing (MS): 1V5-HP-80
• Supply Chain Management (MS): 1V5-HP-71
• Dual Degree: Accounting (MSA)/Finance (MSF): 1V5-HP-22
• Dual Degree: Business Administration/Industrial & Systems Engineering (MSE): 1V5-HP-45
• Dual Degree: Business Administration (MBA)/Finance (MSF): 1V5-HP-58
• ​Dual Degree: Business Administration (MBA)/Health Services Administration (MHSA): 1V5-HP-56
• Dual Degree: Business Administration (MBA)/Information Systems (MS): 1V5-HP-40
• Dual Degree: Business Administration (MBA)/Supply Chain Management (MS): 1V5-HP-87

Required Documents

A four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, or its equivalent*, is required for graduate admission consideration. You may apply before completing your degree if you will finish it before classes begin. Offers based on unofficial or incomplete records are conditional, pending submission of final, official records by the end of your first enrollment term. 

International applicants must provide comprehensive academic records, including a detailed list of courses, grades and proof of degree completion, such as diplomas or degree certificates. 

• If your documents are not originally in English, you must submit both the original and an official English translation. The translation should be precise and maintain the format of the original document. If your institution does not offer an official translation, a professional licensed translation is acceptable.
• Depending on your country, additional documentation may be required, such as diploma supplements (Bologna Process) or individual semester marksheets for all attempts (South Asia). If your institution issues only consolidated marksheets, you must provide an official statement on institutional letterhead, signed by an authorized official, confirming this practice.

*Effective May 2026: UM-Dearborn is piloting a change in how we evaluate three-year bachelor’s degrees for graduate admission. Rather than relying primarily on the number of years completed, we will use a benchmarking approach to assess whether a three-year degree meets internationally recognized standards of quality and rigor.

• Some credentials may still not be considered equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree for graduate admission. Applicants who have completed additional qualifications, such as an honors degree, post-graduate diploma, or graduate degree in addition to an HND or three-year bachelor’s degree, may strengthen their eligibility.
• Applicants unsure about the equivalency of their educational credentials are encouraged to obtain a course-by-course evaluation from Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) or International Education Evaluation (IEE) with a benchmarking approach. UM-Dearborn will honor benchmarked three-year degree equivalency determinations by these providers. 

Submitting Transcripts and Evaluations 

You can upload unofficial academic records (evaluation reports, transcripts, marksheets, grading scales, etc.) in the Online Application for admission consideration. Failure to meet guidelines for unofficial records may require submission of an official transcript. 

Guidelines for unofficial records: 

• Documents must be issued by the institution or evaluation service.
• Student name and institution name must appear on the document.
• Include detailed course names and grades.
• Include transcript legend or grading scale (often found on the back page or in a diploma supplement).
• Submit one compiled PDF per institution with pages in order. Do not include syllabi, extracurricular certificates or non-academic documents.

Other ways to submit documents:

• After your application is processed, you will receive a personalized upload URL via email. You may use this for unofficial records.
• Request your institution to send official records electronically to [email protected]. Records must be sent directly from the Registrar through an institutional domain or approved third-party services to be considered official.
• Mail official records to: Office of Graduate Studies, 1145 Renick University Center (RUC), 4901 Evergreen Rd., Dearborn, MI 48128.

All records submitted become the property of the University of Michigan-Dearborn and will not be returned. 

Non-U.S. academic records require evaluation for institution accreditation, U.S. equivalency and grade conversion to the 4.0 scale. Most applicants can choose between two options to fulfill this requirement. However, if you are applying to the Teaching (MAT) program, you are required to submit an approved third-party course-by-course evaluation to develop your plan of study.

Option 1: Third-Party Evaluation

While not required, UM-Dearborn strongly encourages you to obtain a course-by-course evaluation from an accepted vendor to expedite your application. If you enroll at UM-Dearborn with an accepted evaluation, you will receive a reimbursement of up to $200 toward the cost, credited to your first term’s bill after the add/drop period ends and enrollment is confirmed.

You are encouraged to compare accepted providers to find the best fit for your needs. Providers differ in cost, turnaround time, and documentation requirements. Because cost and processing time are determined by each organization—not by the University of Michigan-Dearborn—review each provider’s website for the most current information. Holidays, application volume, and additional documentation verification may affect processing times. The information below is intended to help you select the evaluation service that aligns with your goals. Information was last verified September 2025.

You may submit course-by-course evaluations from members of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Reports must include accreditation status, degree equivalence and GPA conversion. Evaluation providers not affiliated with NACES are not accepted.

Option 2: Internal UM-Dearborn Evaluation

You may request an internal evaluation within your Online Application, used only for institutional assessment and not disclosed to you. If you choose this option, include your transcript legend or grading scale to avoid delays. The internal evaluation begins only after all required materials are received and generally extend the timeline by 2 to 4 weeks for programs with rolling admissions. For programs with fixed deadlines, the evaluation will align with internal review dates if all materials are submitted on time. Please check your program’s deadlines.

Any applicant whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency in one of the following ways: 

• Submit official scores from an approved English language proficiency exam
• Meet the criteria for an exemption from taking an English language proficiency exam

English Language Proficiency Accepted Exams

The University of Michigan-Dearborn accepts the following exams:

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Minimum score 6.5 (Academic)
  • Send scores electronically to University of Michigan-Dearborn Graduate Studies. An institution code is not required.
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT: 
  • For exams taken before January 21, 2026 (scale 0-120): Minimum score of 79 for most programs; 84 is required for all doctorate level, Education Specialist (Ed.S.) and Clinical Health Psychology (MS) programs
  • For exams taken on or after January 21, 2026 (scale 1-6): Minimum score of 4.5
  • Use ETS Institution Code 1861; department codes are not necessary.
  • Only individual test scores are considered; TOEFL MyBestScores are not accepted.
• Duolingo English Test (DET): Minimum score 105
  • Send scores electronically to University of Michigan-Dearborn Graduate Studies.
  • Doctoral programs and Clinical Health Psychology (MS) do not accept Duolingo English Test scores.
• Michigan English Test (MET): Minimum score 57 for most programs; 59 for doctorate and Clinical Health Psychology (MS) programs
  • Send scores electronically to University of Michigan-Dearborn Graduate Studies.

You may take any of these exams more than once; only your most recent score will be considered. Scores must be no more than two years old. Achieving the minimum score does not guarantee admission, but your application will be considered. There are no sub-score requirements.

English Language Proficiency Exemption Policy 

You are exempt from providing an English language proficiency score if you meet one of the following criteria:

• You have earned, or will earn, an accredited bachelor’s or master’s degree from the United States of America, Australia or United Kingdom.
• You have earned, or will earn, an accredited bachelor’s or master’s degree from an institution where the language of instruction is exclusively English. Verification is required. Some institutions provide this designation on the transcript or related academic record (such as a diploma supplement). If the transcript does not include this designation, a supplemental letter from the institution may be required.

If you have questions about verification, contact the Office of Graduate Studies.

After your application has been processed, you will receive a personalized upload URL via email. Supporting exemption documentation can be uploaded through this form. 

Stay informed about the admissions process timelines as you move through the process. To ensure your application is complete, refer to the instructions provided for submitting any outstanding checklist items. If you need to submit additional documents not explicitly listed, upload them as PDF files through the personalized URL sent to you via email after your application is processed. The Office of Graduate Studies will review your materials and notify you of any updates.

All applicants applying to a fully online program must complete a supplemental Online Student Disclosures and Certifications form that will appear in your UM-Dearborn applicant portal alongside your application checklist once the application has been submitted. This covers important Distance Education Student Information and Procedures and Export Control Regulations our campus must follow. 

If you need to change your start term, submit a deferral request to the Office of Graduate Studies using the Graduate Admissions Deferral Request Form. It is recommended to send your request by the advisory deadline for your new intended term.

Applications remain valid for one academic year from your initial term of application (ex. Fall 2025 is valid through Fall 2026). Deferral requests for programs with hard deadlines are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the academic program.

All previously submitted documents will be transferred to the new term if your deferral is approved. If you attend another university during the deferral period, you must submit transcripts from that enrollment. Admitted students required to pay an enrollment deposit must do so prior to requesting a deferral. 

Deferral requests are processed in order of receipt, with priority given to immediate upcoming deadlines.

International Students

Deferring your admission does not automatically defer your I-20. You must work with the OIA to receive an I-20 with an updated program start-date to coincide with the semester of your arrival on campus. If you have been previously issued an initial I-20, you must submit an I-20 Deferral eForm via M-International. If you have not yet received an initial I-20, then you must submit the Initial I-20 Request eForm via M-International.

The Office of International Affairs (OIA) manages I-20 and DS-2019 processing. Please contact OIA directly for further details related to: 

• Proof of Financial Support
• Health Insurance
• SEVIS Form DS 2019
• Transfer Clearance Form
• Optional Practical Training (OPT) for STEM-designated programs

Admitted international students who require an F or J student visa must provide certification of financial resources sufficient to cover all expenses while attending the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Financial Affidavit and Bank Certification forms are not required for your admissions application to be reviewed.

International students are eligible for the Graduate Dearborn Scholarship with a yearly value of approximately $10,000 if you enroll full-time for fall and winter terms. Full-time enrollment is required for students sponsored on a student visa. 

Our Ph.D. programs are fully-funded. Admitted students receive full funding through appointments as Graduate Student Instructor (GSI), Research Assistant (GSRA), or a combination of both. Funding includes a competitive monthly stipend, health insurance, and tuition waiver.