How to Apply

Congratulations on your decision to apply to a graduate program at 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 successfully complete a rigorous program of graduate study. Applicants are evaluated not only for academic ability, but for career goals and overall "fit" for their selected program of study. Applicants should carefully review the available graduate programs and choose one that is most appropriate for their future goals.

Basic admission requirements and application deadlines vary by program. Reviewing our admissions processing timelines can help you plan for the timeframe between application submission and receiving an admission decision. Note: not all programs admit for every term. 

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.

More information on admission timelines and monitoring your online portal can be found in our instructions on monitoring your application status

Graduate Non-Candidate for Degree (NCFD) and Guest Applicants should follow the Graduate Non-Degree Application Procedures

Apply Online!

Create your login details in the online application linked below 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. If you need to make changes to your application, do not complete a new application. Reach out to the Office of Graduate Studies via email and a staff member can either provide guidance or update that information for you. 

Submission of an online application requires payment of a $60 application fee. UM-Dearborn has a limited number of application fee waivers available each year. Fee waiver requests are considered on a first-come, first-serve basis and must be requested before you pay the application fee. The application fee is nonrefundable and cannot be credited toward tuition or any other fees. 

Note:  An applicant may only apply to one program at a time. After an admission decision is made on the first program, the student can apply to one other program, but will have to submit a new application and fee. Details needed for submission of a second application will need to be coordinated with the Office of Graduate Studies.

Note: Students seeking readmission should work with the admitting department.

Supplemental Application Materials

As part of the admissions process, several documents supplement the online application to complete your admissions profile. Some items require upload in the Online Application to submit. Once the application has been submitted, our portal does not support upload functionality within it; please review the instructions below on submission options by requirement.

If you have additional items to submit that are not itemized below, please send an email to [email protected] with the items attached as separate PDFs per item. 

Be sure to review our Application Deadlines to ensure your supplemental materials are submitted on time for consideration. 

Required Within Online Application

Some items require direct upload in the Online Application in order to submit. If these items require updates after submission, they can be sent via PDF to the Office of Graduate Studies at [email protected]

Required College/University Transcripts

Transcripts (academic records) for all colleges/universities attended, regardless of whether a degree was earned, are required. All colleges/universities should be reported within the online application, including the University of Michigan-Dearborn and credit transferred into a University of Michigan-Dearborn degree. Academic records provided must show the course work completed and grades earned.

Applicants must have obtained a four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college, or its equivalent.* You may submit an application before receiving your degree, or while your degree is still in progress, so long as the degree will be completed prior to the start of classes. 

*Some degrees may not be equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree. If your three-year degree is from India, Canada, Australia, or certain other countries, we will not consider the degree to be eligible for graduate admission as a standalone credential. If you have a National Diploma (ND)/Higher National Diploma (HND) combination or standalone HND, we will not consider the degree(s) eligible for graduate admission as standalone credential(s). This is our policy even if the degree(s) have been evaluated as equivalent to a four-year degree by an outside credential evaluator. If you have completed an honours degree, a post-graduate diploma, or a graduate degree, with your three-year bachelor’s, you may be eligible to apply. If you are unsure about the equivalency of your educational experience(s), you are encouraged to obtain an Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) course-by-course evaluation. Our equivalency guidelines are generally aligned with those of ECE for determining equivalency to a U.S. bachelor’s degree. 

For additional information specific to current/previous UM-Dearborn students and applicants with international records, please be sure to read through the accordions below. 

Required Test Scores 

All test scores must be valid to be added to an admissions file. GRE and GMAT scores are valid for five years from the test date. English language proficiency scores are valid for two years from the test date. Expired test scores will not be added to your admissions file. 

Notify the Office of Graduate Studies if there are any discrepancies in your name reported for your test scores and your online application. If your name does not match exactly, there will be a delay in matching your test scores to your application data.

Online Student Disclosures and Certifications Supplemental Form

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. This covers important Distance Education Student Information and Procedures and Export Control Regulations our campus must follow. 

Financial Support and Student Visas

Office of International Affairs (OIA) manages I-20 and DS-2019 Form Processing. Please contact their office directly for further details or forms related to the following: 

  • Proof of Financial Support
  • Health Insurance
  • SEVIS Form DS 2019
  • Transfer Clearance Form

Please note that admitted international students in need of an F or J student visa must submit certification of financial resources adequate to provide for all expenses while attending. The Financial Affidavit and Bank Certification forms are not needed for your admissions application to be reviewed. 

International students are eligible to receive our generous 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. Students admitted receiving full-funding in the form of an appointment as Graduate Student Instructor (GSI), Research Assistant (GSRA), or a combination of both. This covers a competitive monthly stipend, health insurance, and tuition waiver.

An extended 24 month Optional Practical Training (OPT) is available for STEM-designated programs

Change in Start Term Needed?

Student Expectations

The primary purpose of the Statement of Student Rights and Code of Student Conduct is to assist the University in providing an environment which supports the educational process and the well-being of the campus community. The responsibility for maintaining such an environment is shared by all members of the campus community including faculty, staff, current and prospective students. Therefore, any person expressing interest in enrolling at the University of Michigan-Dearborn is expected to demonstrate behavior consistent with the Code of Conduct. Behaviors inconsistent with the Code of Student Conduct will not be tolerated. The University seeks applicants that demonstrate the potential to be contributing members of the campus community and reserves the right to deny admission based upon violation(s) of the Code of Student Conduct.

Office of Graduate Studies

1055 - Administration Building
4901 Evergreen Road
Dearborn, MI 48128
View on Map
Phone: 313-583-6321
Fax: 313-436-9156