Graduate Non-Degree Application Procedures
Congratulations on your decision to apply to the University of Michigan-Dearborn!
The University of Michigan-Dearborn is committed to building a diverse learning community. We serve highly motivated candidates whose accomplishments suggest the ability to succeed in graduate study.
The instructions below are intended for applicants for Graduate Non-Candidate for Degree (NCFD)/Guest status.
All graduate applicants are required to meet the following minimum requirements for admission:
- Completion of a bachelor’s degree from an approved institution
- Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency
A holistic review of each applicant is conducted. Admission is granted to applicants who have been recommended for admission by the academic unit. Preference is generally given to students who have at least a B average (3.0 in a 4.0 grading system) in relevant coursework or otherwise provide evidence of promise that is satisfactory to the admitting program.
Applicants should submit all required materials by the posted deadline in order to be considered for admission.
Graduate Non-Degree Deadlines
The Online Application generally opens for Graduate NCFD/Guest applicants two weeks before registration begins for new graduate students until 5 business days before the start of classes.
Final Day to Submit Winter 2024 Graduate NCFD/Guest Application: December 15
Application Procedures
All materials should be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies for processing; any materials submitted to other offices on campus will experience delayed processing.
All correspondence must be in English and should contain the full legal name of the applicant, as shown on a passport or other government-issued identification. It is vital that your full legal name is included on all materials submitted to ensure proper and timely matching of supporting documents to your application. If there are any discrepancies, you must notify the Office of Graduate Studies. All applicants have the opportunity to disclose any previous names on the application prior to submission. If your application has already been submitted and additional name(s) require disclosure, please send an email to umd-graduatestudies@umich.edu.
To create a new application, please click “Sign up” in our online application portal. Create your login details and follow on-screen instructions. A valid email address is required to create and verify your account. Your application does not need to be completed all at once, as your login and password will allow you to return at a later date.
- Start A New Application
- Under Non-Degree and Certifications, select Start Application
- Select Graduate Guest (if currently enrolled in a graduate program elsewhere) or Graduate Non Candidate for Degree under Non Degree Student Type as applicable
Itemization of the specific course(s) requested for that term is required in the online application; to see what courses are available that term, use the Class Schedule once posted.
Once an Online Application has been submitted, we recommend all applicants become familiar with our instructions on monitoring your portal.
Required Transcripts
Your undergraduate degree-granting institution and all institutions where graduate-level coursework has been completed or is in progress.
UM-Dearborn does not require a third-party credential evaluation for non-U.S. transcripts, however we strongly encourage course-by-course evaluations from the following services in order to expedite the application review process:
- Educational Credential Evaluators preferred
- World Education Services (Course-by-Course ICAP type)
- SpanTran (Course Analysis type)
- Educational Perspectives
Course-by-course evaluations from other NACES members may be utilized on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants with international transcripts that do not submit an approved third-party transcript evaluation will have an internal evaluation completed. The results of the internal evaluation are for internal purposes only and will not be shared with the applicant. This process cannot start until all other required materials have been received and generally adds 4-6 weeks to the process before your file can be considered for admission.
How to Submit
An official transcript is securely sent directly from the institution via their approved means or received in an envelope sealed by the issuing institution, bearing the institutional seal and the official signature of the Registrar or Recorder of Records.
- Electronic transcripts can be submitted to umd-graduatestudies@umich.edu. Electronic delivery is only accepted when sent directly from the institution, by a Registrar or similar official of the university. Transcripts sent by the applicant via email will be considered unofficial.
- Transcripts can also be sent by mail in an institution-sealed envelope. Unsealed, unattested, or notarized copies are considered unofficial.
Office of Graduate Studies
University of Michigan-Dearborn
4901 Evergreen Road, 1055 AB
Dearborn, MI 48128-1491
Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency and are required to provide an official score report of an accepted English Language Proficiency Test. Proficiency tests that are accepted are the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Applicants only need to take one of these test options. Achieving the minimum score does not guarantee admission, only consideration. Please see below for minimum required scores for each proficiency test.
Please see below for minimum required scores for each proficiency test:
- IELTS
- IELTS (Academic)/IELTS Indicator: Overall score of 6.5
- IELTS scores are received electronically. An institution code is not required. Use the following information to locate our institution: University of Michigan, Dearborn - Graduate Studies.
- TOEFL
- IBT Internet-Based Test: Overall score of 84
- Our ETS Institution Code for TOEFL registration is 1861. Individual department codes are not necessary for the TOEFL. As long as the institution code is used, your scores will be electronically delivered to us.
- At this time we are not accepting the TOEFL MyBestScore to meet our English language proficiency requirement and will continue to require the posted overall minimum score for an individual test.
- Duolingo English Test
- Duolingo: Overall score of 105
- Scores should be sent electronically to University of Michigan, Dearborn - Graduate
English Proficiency Exemptions
- Applicants who have earned or will earn a bachelor's or master's degree from a country where the official language is English (United States of America, Australia, or United Kingdom) are exempt from submitting an Official English Proficiency Score.
- Applicants who have earned or will earn a bachelor's or master's degree from an institution where the language of instruction is exclusively English are exempt from submitting an Official English Proficiency Score.** Verification from the school is required. Please contact the Office of Graduate Studies for further details regarding verification for your case.
Note: Exemptions are not allowed if insufficient TOEFL or IELTS scores are reported.
Current UM-Dearborn Graduate Students
Students already enrolled in a graduate degree program at UM-Dearborn may declare a Graduate Certificate to supplement their primary field of study or area of expertise. Rather than completing the Online Application, submit a completed Declaration of Certificate Form and return it to the academic unit which supports the certificate.