Apply to the UNH Graduate School

picture of admissions officer and an applicant talking

Admission to graduate study at the University of New Hampshire is competitive. Those interested in pursuing an advanced degree are strongly encouraged to submit an application and supporting materials as early in the fall as possible. Fortunately, the application process has never been easier. All applications are now done online. Students who are unable to use an online application must request a printed version via e-mail to the Graduate School.

Applying*

Step-by-step Instructions for Applying Online

Create Your Account: Follow this link to apply online. Click on "First time user account creation." Once you have created your Login and Pin you can begin your application. Be sure to remember your id and pin for later use.
1. Macintosh and Non-Internet Explorer Users: Be sure to read the instructions on the apply online web page on how to use our online application for web browsers that are not Internet Explorer.
Complete the Form: Fill in all of the required information to the best of your ability. A red star indicates the field is required before you can continue. If at any time you want to stop you can simply click on the "Finish Later" button at the bottom of the page and your application will be saved for you. When you want to return you can use your Login ID and Pin to pick up where you left off.
1. Social Security Numbers: The University of New Hampshire is requesting your Social Security number (SSN) to comply with federal and state reporting requirements regarding students attending the institution. You must provide your SSN if you are applying for financial aid. The institution is required by the Internal Revenue Code and other federal laws to report names and SSN's of students who receive financial aid. The institution will not disclose an applicant's SSN to anyone outside the institution except as mandated by law or institutional policy.
  1. Your UNH Student ID: We will not use your SSN as your UNH Student ID. Instead you will be assigned a random 9 digit ID that we will email to you once we process your submitted application.
Submit Your Application: Once you have completed all sections of the application you can submit it to our office by clicking on the "Application is Complete" button. You MUST click this button or the application will NOT reach our office. Once the application is submitted you will NOT be able to edit it. If you need to edit something after the application is submitted please email our office at grad.school@unh.edu.
Pay the Application Fee: Once you have submitted your application you will immediately be required to pay the non-refundable $65 application fee by credit card. If you have problems paying after submitting you can go to this fee payment link to pay it later. However, applications submitted without the fee will NOT be processed until the fee is received. This applies to both US and International applicants. Note: If unable to pay by credit card you can mail (or drop off) a check or money order, drawn on a US bank, to our office made out to "UNH".
Submit Supplemental Documents: Gather all additional documents for your application (see requirements below) and submit them as a complete package.
Monitor Your Status: You will be able to monitor the status of your application online. For detailed instructions on how do this please see our application status instructions page.

Deadlines and Application Terms

General Deadlines: Unless otherwise noted, use the general application deadlines below. Most programs accept applications for just the fall or spring terms, exceptions will be noted below.
- Fall Term:
  - February 15th (for financial assistance)
  - April 1st (recommended deadline; deadline for international applicants)
  - July 1st
- Spring Term:
  - December 1st
- Summer Term (no programs accept applications for summer unless otherwise indicated):
  - April 1st
Program Specific Deadlines and Terms: Some programs have their own deadlines and/or will only accept applications for specific terms.
- Accounting:
  - Contact department directly for deadlines and application terms
- Business Administration:
  - Contact department directly for deadlines and application terms
- Chemistry (MST):
  - The MST degree is open for any term. MS and PHD degree fall and spring only
  - All degrees use the general deadlines as appropriate by term
- College Teaching (MST):
  - Summer Only: April 1st
- Communication Sciences and Disorders (MS):
  - Fall Only: April 1st
- Earth Sciences (all programs and degrees):
  - Fall: January 15th for financial assistance, otherwise April 1st
  - Spring: December 1st
- Economics:
  - Contact department directly for deadlines and application terms
- Education:
  - Use this chart for deadlines and application terms. If you have any questions please contact the department directly.
- English (MFA and PhD are fall only admissions, MST is any semester, and MA English programs are fall and spring only):
  - Fall: January 15th for financial assistance and for the MFA and PHD degrees; July 1st for MA and MST without financial assistance but April 1st recommended
  - Spring: October 15th for financial assistance; December 1st for MA and MST degrees only
  - Summer: April 1st, only available for the MST degree
- Environmental Education:
  - Summer Only (except under special circumstances): Rolling admissions. Should you wish to apply for Spring or Fall please check with the department first to make sure you qualify and to find out deadline dates
- Family Studies:
  - Fall: February 15th for all Marriage and Family Therapy Program candidates, as well as Core Areas of Study candidates seeking financial aid. May 15th for Core Areas of Study candidates not seeking financial aid.
  - Spring: December 1st (Core Areas of Study only, Marriage and Family Therapy program is Fall only)
- History:
  - Fall Only: January 15th for PHD degree as well as MA applicants seeking financial aid (March 1st for MA applicants if not seeking financial aid).
- Justice Studies:
  - Fall: By departmental approval only
  - Spring: By departmental approval only
  - Summer: Classes begin first week in August. March 1st for financial assistance, April 1st if not seeking financial assistance. Note that typically full time students start in the summer (August only).
- Kinesiology:
  - Fall: February 1st for Dual Degree students; February 15th for regular MS degree if seeking financial aid, otherwise July 1st (but April 1st is recommended)
  - Spring: December 1st
- Liberal Studies:
  - Accepts applications for all terms (fall, spring and summer) using the general deadlines
- Mathematics:
  - The MST degree is open for any term. All others are fall and spring only
  - All degrees use the general deadlines as appropriate by term
- Microbiology:
  - Fall: January 15th
  - Spring: November 1st
  - Summer: March 1st
- Natural Resources: Environmental Conservation Option (all other options use general deadlines and terms):
  - Environmental Conservation is a fall only option, but uses same general fall deadlines
- Natural Resources and Earth Systems Science PHD Programs:
  - Fall: January 15th
  - Spring: October 15th
- Nursing (note the Direct Entry program has special deadlines):
  - Fall: Regular MS degree is July 1st. Fall is not open for the Direct Entry program
  - Spring: Regular MS degree is November 1st. Direct Entry program is September 1st.
- Occupational Therapy:
  - Fall Only: February 15th for financial assistance, otherwise April 1st
- Painting (The Arts, MFA):
  - Fall Only: February 15th
- Physics:
  - Fall: January 15th
  - Spring: October 15th
- Plant Biology:
  - Follows general terms and deadlines, except they request applicants contact department to see if they are accepting applications for the spring term
  - Admission is typically limited by availability of financial assistance in the form of teaching assistantships or project assistantships.
- Political Science and Public Administration:
  - Accepts applications for all terms (fall, spring and summer) using the general deadlines
- Psychology:
  - Fall: No formal deadline. Review of applications begins January 15th and continues until class is filled.
- Public Health:
  - Fall: March 1st if seeking financial assistance, otherwise July 1st
  - Spring: December 1st
- Social Work:
  - Fall Only: February 1st
- Sociology:
  - Fall Only: Uses general deadlines
- Spanish:
  - Accepts applications for all terms (fall, spring and summer) using the general deadlines
- Zoology:
  - Fall: Screening candidates for fall admission will begin February 15th and will continue through March or until program is full
  - Spring: December 1st

Requirements and Supplemental Documents

General: The UNH Graduate School application is self-administered, meaning that the applicant is responsible for submitting the online application as well as all of the required supporting materials. To speed up processing all material should be submitted directly to the UNH Graduate School office in Thompson Hall as one complete package. Do not send or address any materials directly to the department. Applications will not be processed until all required information is received by the Graduate School.
Properly Identify Yourself: Please be sure to include your full name (i.e. Jonathan, not John) on all documents submitted, including the recommendation forms, to minimize the possibility of items becoming lost. If you have used any previous last names be sure to include those as well.
Access to Your Documents: All application materials become the property of the University of New Hampshire and will not be returned, duplicated, or forwarded to a third party at any time.
Application Status and Incomplete Applications: It is the responsibility of the applicant to monitor the status of their application. You can do this online once you have activated your MyUNH account. If your application indicates it is incomplete you need to follow up with the missing documents or contact our office if you think we should already have them. Be sure all documents come directly to the graduate school and not the department you are applying to.
Application Fee: The application fee is a flat $65 for all applicants regardless of residency or citizenship. You should pay the fee at the same time you complete and submit your application online. The online fee payment only accepts credit cards. Should you be unable to pay at that time you can use the separate online fee payment form. If you can not pay online please mail us a check for the correct amount (drawn on a US bank) made out to UNH and be sure to include in the memo line the name of the applicant the fee is for.
- McNair Applicants: All McNair applicants have their application fee waived upon receipt of the McNair Fee Waiver Application Form and can ignore all the fee payment requirements. Please be sure to indicate in the comment area of the online application that you are a McNair applicant.
Transcripts: Request one official transcript from each college/university attended for at least one year. Transcripts must remain sealed in order for them to be considered official by our office. If you attended UNH as an undergrad you must contact the Registrar's Office to request your transcripts. It will not be done automatically.
Letters of Reference: Request three recommendations on our recommendation form. Instruct the referee to seal the letter in an envelope and sign across the seal before returning the recommendation directly to you (Non-Graduate School issued envelopes are acceptable as long as the referee signs across the back). Photocopied, faxed, or emailed letters are not acceptable as we need official ink signatures. Letters from relatives/friends are not acceptable. Placement credentials over three years old may be accepted as one letter of recommendation. Letters must remain sealed and unopened to be accepted by our office.
Test Scores: Request that official test scores, if required, be sent directly to the Graduate School by the testing service. Test scores more than five years old may not be acceptable. Student copies and photo copies of scores are not considered official. (Our TEST SCORE CEEB code is 003918, also referred to as the College Code).
Statement of Residence Form: For New Hampshire residents only - submit with your application materials. This form can be found on our forms page. Until you have proven your in-state residency you will be considered out of state by default.
Personal Statement: We encourage applicants to submit their personal statement, or essay(s), online, to speed up processing. Should you prefer to not use the online form you will need to send in a hard copy. Prepare a brief but careful statement regarding: 1) reasons you wish to do graduate work in this field, including your immediate and long-range objectives, and 2) your specific research or professional interest and experiences in this field. Some programs either want you to submit :
- Education MED, MA, and MAT Degrees: In no more than two pages, describe the reasons you wish to pursue the degree program you have chosen, including relevant personal qualities and life experiences that have shaped your beliefs about learning, development and teaching, counseling, or administration (depending on the program to which you are applying). You can submit this online or by paper.
- Education PhD Degree: Requires a second essay (in addition to the one required by the Graduate School), that discusses one issue in the field of education that is of interest to you. Explore the opportunities and challenges this issue poses and explain why you find it personally compelling. It should be 1000 to 1500 words in length and you must to submit it on paper.
- Public Health MPH Degree: Each applicant needs to submit a typed, well-written personal statement that answers five essay questions - you can get the essay questions from our website. You can submit this online or on paper.
- Social Work MSW Degree: In a well-constructed essay of 4-5 pages please respond to the questions below. Your essay must be typewritten and double-spaced. 1. How did you become interested in social work? What personal, academic, organizational, volunteer and/or paid work experiences have influenced your choice of social work as a profession? 2. Briefly discuss a current social issue of great concern or interest to you. 3. Describe some intellectual and personal attributes that you believe make you particularly suited for the profession of social work.
- Spanish: The personal statement for Spanish should be written in Spanish
- Whittemore School of Business Applicants (MA, PHD Economics, All MBA Programs and MS Accounting Programs): Each applicant must submit four essay questions which can be found on their website. These can be done online or by paper.
Additional Documents: Provide any documents or items required specifically by your department (writing sample, resume, art work, music, etc.). Check with your department before applying as they will have the most up to date listing of any additional documents you may need to submit to our office, in addition to the ones listed above.
- English All Degrees: Applicants must submit a writing sample with their application.
- History All Degrees: Applicants must submit a writing sample with their application.

Decision Letters

Official Letters of Admission Status (admit or deny): All official letters will come from the Graduate School office. Statements about admission - verbal or written - from other sources, including the department, are NOT official.
Letters of Admission will be Emailed: Once a decision is made on your application an official letter will be emailed to you (as a PDF file) with that decision. The email will go to your UNH email address, if it exists, otherwise it will go to the email address you provided on your application. Please keep your email address up to date with our office!
Assistantships: Offers of assistantships will come directly from the department.
Responding to an Offer of Admission: If you are admitted you can then respond to that offer of admission online using your Blackboard/MyUNH account. The online form will let you accept, reject or defer your offer of admission. You cannot use this form until you have been officially admitted.

*Please Note: If you are applying to a certificate program please go to the certificate instructions page.

UNH Center for Graduate & Professional Studies (CGPS), in Manchester

The UNH Graduate School offers several professional Master's programs through CGPS in Manchester, NH. For a list of programs offered see our online catalog. To learn more about CGPS visit their website at www.unhmgrad.unh.edu. If you are going to apply to a CGPS program be sure to indicate that when you apply online.

Change of Degree

Enrolled students who wish to pursue a degree program other than the one to which they were admitted either must submit a new application for admission or a change of degree form. For more information on how to do a change of degree, download the change of degree form and instructions.

Dual Degrees and Special Programs

The UNH Graduate School offers a variety dual degree options, certificates, and special programs, that are not outlined in the catalog, and can be found below.

Dual Degrees

Policy and Dual Degree Types

The UNH Graduate School offers a variety of dual degree programs. For general information, and the various types of dual degree programs we offer, see our policy section on dual degrees in our online catalog.

College Teaching Master of Science in Teaching Dual Degree

The college teaching program prepares graduate students for academic teaching positions. Applicants to the cognate or M.S.T. programs must have completed one year in a doctoral program at UNH and have the support and recommendation of their doctoral program coordinator. The M.S.T. program is also available to faculty members and doctoral students from other universities. Students in master's-only programs at UNH may be eligible to enroll in an M.S.T. program as a dual degree or in the Cognate program. More information can be found in our catalog under the college teaching program.

Early Admit Dual Degrees (UNH Seniors Only)

Early Admission is a Special Program for UNH Seniors Only. Qualified University of New Hampshire seniors may be admitted to the Graduate School provided they have followed normal application procedures. See our early admit page for complete details.

Kinesiology: Outdoor Education and Social Work Dual Degree Program

The Kinesiology: Outdoor Education and Social Work departments have a special dual degree program applicants can apply for as long as they meet the application requirements for both programs. Interested applicants need ONLY apply to the social work program; however, they must note at the TOP of their personal essay in bold: DUAL DEGREE APPLICANT IN SOCIAL WORK AND KINESIOLOGY: OUTDOOR EDUCATION.

Applications will be forwarded on to admissions in kinesiology. Dual degree students should integrate into their personal essay why they are interested in both fields and their long term professional goals based on receiving this dual degree. This should supplement their responses to the three questions all applicants are required to address in their personal essays for social work. Please note, dual degree applicants may be accepted into the M.S.W. program only, M. S. in kinesiology only, or both. Dual degree applications are due by February 1st.

Certificates as a Dual (Secondary) Program

A student can also pursue a certificate program as a secondary degree. Instructions on how to do this are provided on the application for a certificate as a secondary degree form.

Special Programs

Professional Development and Training

UNH Professional Development & Training (PD&T) offers a wide variety of seminars, noncredit certificate programs, conferences, and institutes designed to provide practical, state-of-the-art skills and knowledge that enable individuals, companies, and organizations to enhance their performance and productivity. Offerings are held at the PD&T Training Centers at Pease Trade port in Portsmouth, in downtown Manchester, and on the Durham campus. In addition to its public programs, PD&T also develops customized training to meet the needs of companies that want to offer in-house training for their managers and staff. For more information or to request catalogs, call (603) 862-4234, visit the web, or send an email to professional.development@unh.edu.

Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS)

The Graduate School of Library and Information Studies of the University of Rhode Island (URI), with the cooperation and support of the UNH Library, offers courses each semester in Durham. The courses meet requirements for a URI Master's Degree in Library and Information Studies (M.L.I.S.). The degree requires 42 hours of credit, most of which may be completed at UNH and/or through online courses. Depending on the individual program of study, a student may need to take one or more courses at other campuses (URI Kingston, URI Providence, or Worcester State College). Visit the UNH Registrar's Office website for information on taking courses towards the MLIS at UNH.

Preparing Future Faculty (PFF)

At UNH, the Preparing Future Faculty Program (PFF) is designed to provide graduate students with the necessary tools to become successful faculty members. The program includes faculty mentoring opportunities; teaching courses with faculty supervision; direct, personal experience with diverse institutions; and learning about the emerging and future expectations of faculty. The PFF Program is intended to enhance, rather than replace, current models of graduate education.

Earth, Oceans, and Space (EOS)

The Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space offers students the opportunity for interdisciplinary study and research. Certain graduate degree programs in earth sciences, physics, natural resources, and zoology may be accessed through the institute as follows: all the M.S. programs in earth sciences, the specialization in space physics and astrophysics (M.S. and Ph.D.), and departmental (M.S.) or interdepartmental (Ph.D.) program in natural resources and earth systems sciences. Admission and degree requirements are set by the respective departments and program. See the graduate program descriptions in earth sciences, physics, zoology, natural resources, and the natural resources and earth systems sciences program (NRESS) for admission and degree requirements.

Marine Program

Formed in 1974, the UNH Marine Program serves to integrate the marine research, education and public service activities of over 60 faculty, 300 undergraduate lighthouse image students and 100 graduate students from 14 departments and three colleges at the university. The Program serves as a catalyst for marine research activities at various levels from individual investigators to large interdisciplinary Centers of Excellence and Cooperative Institutes. Since 2000, these activities have attracted in excess of $20M in extramural support annually at the university and allowed us to expand the research opportunities available to our undergraduate and graduate students. In addition to these opportunities, the Marine Program retains a core focus on finding solutions to real-world problems and integrating these efforts not only into the formal classroom, but through nationally-acclaimed public education and outreach efforts through our Marine Docent and Sea Grant programs.

English as a Second Language (ESL)

Our intensive ESL Institute is offered each summer as well as during the academic year. The institute is designed for students who wish to develop their English language skills and learn more about American culture, and/or prepare for study at an American university. Our program consists of four hours of in-class English instruction each morning, including pronunciation, conversation, listening comprehension, reading, and writing. Equal attention is given to spoken and written language. Language lab, computer facilities, and our state-of-the-art library are available for your use. There will be excursions to nearby points of interest on Saturdays and on some weekday afternoons, for those who wish to participate.

Disability Services

Information on disability services for students can be found at www.unh.edu/disabilityservices or by calling 603-862-2607.

UNH Affirmative Action Statement

You can read the UNH Affirmative Action Statement online at the Affirmative Action and Equity Office website.

Jeanne Clery Act

The annual safety, security, and crime information document that complies with the Jeanne Clery Act is on line at: www.unh.edu/upd/clery.pdf If you wish to receive a hard copy, you may call the Office of Vice President for Student and Academic Services at 603.862.2053 V/TTY or stop by 102 Thompson Hall, or call the University Police Department at 603.862.1427 V/TTY, or stop by Janetos House. A copy of the Annual Crime Brochure is also available in Braille.

This document contains information about statistics of reported crimes that occurred on campus, in certain off-campus buildings owned or controlled by UNH, and on public property immediately adjacent and accessible to campus for three previous calendar years. It also has information about crime prevention, services, Campus Sex Crime Prevention Act, disciplinary procedures, and reporting policies and procedures

Things You Should Know When Applying

When requesting test scores our college CEEB code is: 003918
All of our applications are submitted online
The application fee is $65 and you can pay it online with a credit card or mail us a check, made out to UNH.
You can monitor the status of your application online.
Any additional application materials should be submitted as a complete package
You should check with the department you are applying to for special deadlines or requirements

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University of New Hampshire Graduate School - 105 Main Street - Thompson Hall - Durham NH 03824

Phone: (603) 862-3000 Fax: (603) 862-0275 Email: grad.school@unh.edu

A proud member of the Council of Graduate Schools and the Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools

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