Admissions Information
Admission
Degree Seeking Students
First-time, first-year undergraduate applicants with a strong record of academic achievement may apply for admission. These individuals must submit official high school transcripts and an essay (note: the Common Application prompt fulfills this requirement). Official college transcripts reflecting any attempted or earned credit must also be submitted. Applications are accepted starting September 1 of the year prior to entry, and new students may begin classes in any semester. In addition, UIS has an Honors Program that is a selective program and enrolls a limited number of students each year. Eligible students will be contacted by the Honors Program.
Undergraduate transfer applicants are those who have attended college in a fall or spring semester after graduating from high school. Applicants who have attempted or earned less than 24 semester hours must submit the same credentials as those seeking admission as first-time, first-year students. Applicants who have attempted or earned 24 or more semester hours only need to submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Remedial and developmental course work, test-based and most military credit, and credit attempted or earned during high school is not counted toward the 24-hour minimum above. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and new students may begin classes in any semester.
Graduate applicants must apply to UIS and have official transcripts and any required test scores submitted to the Office of Admission. In addition, some graduate programs may request supplemental admission documents. Admission to graduate studies may be granted to students who have earned a baccalaureate degree and who have met all specific program requirements and prerequisite courses.
Non-Degree Seeking Students
Applicants must complete an application and submit it to the Office of Admission. The undergraduate non-degree student will be asked for clarification of their status before exceeding 16 hours; the graduate non-degree student before exceeding 12 hours.
Contact the Office of Admission for additional information regarding any of the admission items mentioned above including possible exceptions.
University of Illinois Residency Status for Admission and Assessment of Tuition
General Information
Please see the Residency Requirements and Policy website for more information.
English Language Proficiency
Applicants whose native language is not English or are applying from a country whose official language is not English are required to submit documentation of English proficiency. Please visit the UIS English Proficiency Requirements website for further information.
In certain situations, applicants may submit a petition to waive the English test requirement. These situations include:
- Applicants who have successfully completed with a “B” or higher Composition 1 and 2 and a speaking course at an accredited college or university within an English-speaking country.
- Applicants who transfer with 60 credits and a GPA of 2.0 or better on a 4.0 scale from an accredited college or university within an English-speaking country where the language of instruction is also English.
- Applicants who have a minimum of two years of full-time professional employment experience in the U.S. or an English-speaking country. This demonstration is subject to employer verification.
Applicants who believe they qualify for a waiver of the English proficiency requirement should submit the petition to the UIS Office of Admission. The form can be found on the Office of Admission English proficiency website.
Undergraduate Students
Applicants whose native language is not English must submit official TOEFL scores (or scores from an approved equivalent exam). Those who earned an associate degree in the United States with a GPA of 2.0 or better on a 4.0 scale, or those who graduated from and attended a U.S. high school for three or more years, are not required to submit TOEFL scores. Please visit the UIS English Proficiency Requirements website for further information.
Master’s Students
Applicants whose native language is not English must submit official TOEFL scores (or scores from an approved equivalent exam). Applicants who hold a U.S. bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 2.50 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) are not required to submit TOEFL scores. Please visit the UIS English Proficiency Requirements website for further information.
Doctoral Students
Applicants whose native language is not English must submit official TOEFL scores (or scores from an approved equivalent exam). Please visit the UIS English Proficiency Requirements website for further information.