Frequently Asked Questions

Pre-Application Questions

1. How do I apply to a UMass Dartmouth Graduate Program?
2. What items do I need for my application?
3. Is it possible to register for a graduate course if I am not enrolled in the program?
4. Do you offer graduate application fee waivers or deferrals for prospective students with financial trouble?
5. To whom do I make the application fee payment? Where should I mail it?
6. When is your deadline to be considered for financial support?
7. Did I need to fill out an additional assistantship application form if I need financial aid?
8. Does a master's student have the same opportunity to access financial aid as a doctoral student?
9. Will my GRE and TOEFL scores be kept until my fee and application are received?
10. If I already sent transcripts for a certificate or a degree program, do I have to send them again when I apply to the full time degree program or a second degree?
11. Can I apply for a Ph.D. program with only a bachelor's degree?
12. Is the Subject GRE (AGRE) required for any of your programs?
13. What is the minimum verbal score (of GRE) requirement for a student with a high GPA and a good TOEFL score?
14. I am applying from overseas, and want to know if one of my relatives/friends residing in the USA can pay the application fee for me by means of a check?
15. Do you offer financial assistance?
16. What is the amount of tuition and fees?
17. Can I apply to more than one Masters/Doctoral program at the same time; if so, how?
18. Can you pre-evaluate my credentials before I apply?
19. What are the application deadlines for UMass Dartmouth?
20. If an exam (GRE/GMAT/TOEFL) is taken twice, will they AVERAGE the scores or is only the RECENT score taken into account?
21. My TOEFL score is below the required amount; what should I do?
22. What are the minimum TOEFL scores required by your university?
23. How can I get the TOEFL score requirement waived?
24. What is the ETS Code for UMass Dartmouth?

1. There are three ways to apply to a UMass Dartmouth graduate program:

a. Apply Online via our paperless web application, Click Here and select Apply Online.

b. Download an application from the website and print a copy to fill out and mail in. Click Here

c. Request an application by mail one of the following ways:

1) Submit the application request form

2) Telephone the Office of Graduate Studies at 508 999-8604

3) E-mail us at graduate@umassd.edu

2. The items you need to apply for graduate admission are:

1. Application cover page
2. Application fee payment (Check or money order; or credit card if using the web application) - $40 for Mass. Residents, $60 for out-of-state residents and international applicants. The fee for all certificate programs is $40.
3. Statement of Purpose (1-2 page essay)
4. Official College Transcripts (listing courses taken, grades and degree(s) received)
5. Three Letters of Recommendation (from past/present instructors who can judge your abilities)
6. GRE score report (official copy from ETS), GMAT for MBA applicants, or other requirements as appropriate.
7. TOEFL score report (official copy from ETS) (international students only)

Some programs have variations of these basic requirements; be sure you check the admissions information of the specific program you are applying for.

You may send all items together (preferred) or separately, but we must have all items in order to evaluate your file for a decision.

3. Yes. Individuals with baccalaureate degrees may enroll in graduate courses as non-degree special students without applying for admission to the graduate program, when space in the course is available and if the department allows. However, if you are considering entering a program, you should contact its Graduate Program Director to find out how many non-degree credits they will accept prior to matriculation into a formal graduate degree program. Some programs limit the number to six credits.

There are also a number of certificate programs available, allowing candidates to pursue teacher certification, various specialized certificates, and a program of individualized, non-degree study. For information, see the Interdisciplinary and Special Programs section of the Graduate Catalogue.

4. No, we are sorry, but regardless of the circumstances, the application fee cannot be waived nor can it be deferred for any reason.

5. Please make the fee payable to the "University of Massachusetts Dartmouth" and mail your materials to the following address:

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Graduate Admissions Office
285 Old Westport Road
North Dartmouth, MA 02747-2300

If you apply online, you will pay the fee by credit card.

6. February 1st is a general deadline for priority consideration for assistantships.

7. There is an application for a graduate assistantship. The main application asks if you are seeking an assistantship. In your Personal Statement essay, you could discuss your interest and qualifications for an assistantship as well as the other topics called for. US citizens are strongly encouraged to submit a FAFSA form, because it can give access to loans or work-study support. It is best to submit a FAFSA to UMD even before you have been accepted or decided whether to enroll; list UMD as a report recipient (code # 3786).

8. Programs at UMD attempt to provide assistantship support to both masters and doctoral students. Some programs limit the number of assistantships available to new, incoming students.

9. Yes, we keep all miscellaneous scores and materials (letters, transcripts, etc.) for a total of two years. When you apply, all materials are gathered for your application prior to processing, so that your acknowledgment letter is accurate.

10. If you submitted your official undergraduate transcripts when you applied to the certificate program or degree program, you do not need to do so again when you apply to another degree program. We do have them on file. However, if you have attended any other institutions in the meantime, you are required to submit those transcripts.

11. Yes. Our doctoral programs can consider applicants with a bachelors only or a bachelors and a masters.

12. Yes. It is required for the Biology/Marine Biology programs and also for the General Psychology program if the bachelor's degree is in psychology. The MBA program requires the GMAT.

13. We do not have a campus-wide minimum GRE score requirement. Each program maintains its own standards for qualification.

14. Yes, a relative or friend is welcome to pay your fees on your behalf. Please be sure that they mark your full name on their check or money order so we can credit the correct application.

15. The principal form of financial assistance is through graduate assistantships. There are no application forms for these awards, and they are only granted through the individual departments. Some departments have priority dates for consideration. US citizens have access to some other forms of financial assistance (primarily loans; possibility of work study); for this consideration, they must file a FAFSA form, listing UMD as a report recipient (code # 3786).

16. The amount of tuition and fees varies depending upon your residency status. Please select the following link to view the current rates. CLICK HERE

17. You are welcome to apply to several different programs, but we will need a separate application form, application fee payment, and statement of purpose for each. You should use your judgement whether to request different recommendation letters. Also, for your information, in the event that you are accepted into both/all of the programs you apply for, you MUST then choose which (one) program you will enroll for. You are only allowed to be enrolled in one graduate program at a time here at UMD.

18. We cannot evaluate your records prior to your applying to a graduate program. General question's about requirements and qualifications may be addressed to the program representative.

19. UMass Dartmouth does have some deadline dates for graduate applications, depending on the program. Generally, we recommend that you apply by November 15th for the spring term and by April 20th for the fall term. If you are an international student, we recommend that you apply by September 15th for the Spring and February 20th for the Fall. This will ensure that all of your materials are here on time, and it will allow enough time for the visa process, if you are admitted into a program. Some programs list their own specific deadlines.

20. All official test scores are reported to the department, which judges them according to their internal criteria.

21. If your current TOEFL score is below the minimum requirements for the program or for UMass Dartmouth in general, you will need to retake the TOEFL exam and submit the new official scores to us as soon as possible. If the new scores are the minimum or above, we will process your application for a decision.

22. We require a minimum score of 500/173 (PBT/CBT) on the TOEFL for entrance to any program and a minimum score of 550/213 (PBT/CBT) for consideration for a teaching assistantship. Some programs require higher minimum TOEFL scores. We suggest that our applicants have a 3.0 GPA but this is not a firm requirement of any program.

23. There are only two ways to obtain a TOEFL waiver here at our University.

1. You must have attended two semesters at an accredited university in the United States of America.
2. You may make a personal appointment with the graduate program director of your choice of program, who may involve other campus experts if desired. S/he would then forward the result to the Graduate Office if your English skills were found to be adequate.

24. The code for the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is 3786. All of the score reports from ETS (GRE, GMAT, MAT, and TOEFL) are sent directly to the graduate office for processing. You do not need to worry about a department designation; if you wish, you can put "00" for the department code.