Steps to Admission

Degree

Earn an advanced academic degree.

• U.S. Students
• International Students

Non-Degree

Take a few classes without being in a degree program, start classes while awaiting admission to a degree program, or pursue a graduate certificate or educator certification.

• Non-degree, Post-baccalaureate - the basic non-degree
• Graduate Certificate, Non-degree - admission with a graduate certificate objective
• Visiting, Non-degree - pursuing a degree at another institution
• Nebraska Teacher, Non-degree - educator certifications and endorsements and/or teaching in the state of Nebraska

Special Situations

Returning Students

A returning student is someone who was admitted through UNL's Office of Graduate Studies, enrolled, took a break of three or more consecutive terms, and now intends to resume the program in which they were previously enrolled.

Returning students should send an email to graduate@unl.edu requesting reactivation in the program of previous enrollment. This is for reactivation in a degree program or in the status of post-baccalaureate non-degree student.

These are the basic steps for an application to a degree program for students who are U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents of the U.S. Your application materials are reviewed by both Graduate Studies and the graduate committee of your intended degree program.

1. Submission of Application and Materials

   Submit materials required by Graduate Studies and by your department as described on your department's graduate program summary.

   Upload transcripts to MyRED; see Transcripts for requirements and instructions.
   
   Additionally, many of our graduate programs use GAMES (the Graduate Admissions Management and Evaluation System) for online submission of departmental application requirements.

2. Preliminary Graduate Studies Review

   Once we have your online application, $50 application fee, and uploaded transcripts, an admissions evaluator will review your file. You will be contacted if additional information is needed by Graduate Studies. Once the preliminary review is complete, we will notify your academic department of your eligibility for admission. You can monitor your application's progress in MyRED under UNL Admissions.

   Once all materials have been received, allow 3 to 5 business days for this step.

3. Departmental Review

   Each department has a Graduate Admissions Committee who decides if a student will be accepted into their program. You should be aware of and understand application deadlines. Your application will be reviewed only after you have submitted all required program-specific application materials. We recommend verifying receipt of all materials before the department's stated deadline — via GAMES if your program uses GAMES, otherwise by contacting your department directly.

   The frequency with which department graduate committees meet varies; contact your academic department for information regarding your application status.

4. Final Graduate Studies Review

   As soon as the academic department notifies Graduate Studies of their admission recommendation, admissions evaluators will conduct a final review of your file.

   If all materials have been received, allow 2 to 3 business days for this step.

5. Admission

   If you are admitted into the degree program, Graduate Studies will notify you by email and mail your Certificate of Admission along with other important information for incoming students.

   You will be eligible to enroll for the entry term indicated on your Certificate of Admission. Enrollment beyond the first term requires submission of official transcripts. The deadline for submitting official transcripts is the end of the first week of classes. Admission may be rescinded if discrepancies exist between unofficial and official documents.

   Register for classes through MyRED. Consult the Academic Calendar for registration dates, the Graduate Bulletin for course descriptions, and the Schedule of Classes for course times and locations. Our Arriving on Campus and Relocating to Lincoln may also help you prepare for your journey.

These are the basic steps for an application to a degree program for students who will hold an F-1 (student) or J-1 (exchange visitor) visa. Your application materials are reviewed by both Graduate Studies and the Graduate Committee of your intended degree program.

For application information related to other visa types, contact Graduate Studies.

These steps, which are very similar to those for U.S. students, are expanded to cover international considerations such as degree equivalency, deadlines, financial resources, English proficiency, and immigration.

1. Submission of Application and Materials

   Submit materials required by Graduate Studies and by your department as described on your department's graduate program summary.

   Upload transcripts to MyRED; see Transcripts for requirements and instructions.
   
   Additionally, many of our graduate programs use GAMES (the Graduate Admissions Management and Evaluation System) for online submission of departmental application requirements.

2. Preliminary Graduate Studies Review

   After we have your online application, application fee, and uploaded transcripts, an admissions evaluator will review your file. If additional information is needed for our preliminary review, we will contact you. Once the preliminary review is complete, we will notify your academic department of your eligibility for admission. You can monitor your application's progress in MyRED under UNL Admissions.

   Once all materials have been received, allow 3 to 5 business days for this step.

3. Departmental Review

   Each department has a Graduate Admissions Committee that decides whether a student will be accepted into their program. Your application will be reviewed by the department only after you have submitted all program-specific materials that they require. We recommend verifying receipt of all materials before the department's stated deadline — via GAMES if your program uses GAMES, otherwise by contacting your department directly.

   The frequency of department graduate committee meetings varies; contact your academic department for information regarding your application status.

4. Final Graduate Studies Review

   As soon as the department notifies Graduate Studies of their admission recommendation, Graduate Admissions conducts a final review of your file, checking that all eligibility, English proficiency, and funding requirements have been met. If you will be self-funded, you will need to submit Part II of the Financial Resource Certification form with documentation.

   If all materials have been received, allow 2 to 3 business days for this step.

5. Admission

   If you are accepted into the degree program, Graduate Studies will notify you by email and ask you to complete the Visa Data Form to verify information for the Form I-20 or Form DS-2019. We will express mail your Certificate of Admission, your I-20 or DS-2019, and important information for new students.

   Upon arrival on campus, you will be eligible to enroll for the entry term indicated on your Certificate of Admission. Enrollment beyond the first term requires submission of official transcripts. We encourage you to either mail the documents to us at the time of admission or bring them to our office when you arrive on campus. The deadline for submitting official documents is the end of the first week of classes. Admission may be rescinded if discrepancies exist between unofficial and official documents.

   Our online resources — After You're Admitted, Relocating to Lincoln, and Arriving in the US — will also help you prepare for your journey.

These are the steps for an application for non-degree admission for students who are interested in taking classes but are not in a degree program.

Non-degree admission allows students to:

• Pursue a graduate certificate — see Grad Cert for steps to admission
• Obtain educator certifications or endorsements — see Nebraska Teacher for steps to admission
• Fulfill prerequisites for degree programs
• Explore graduate programs
• Start coursework while awaiting formal admission to a degree program

1. Submission of Application and Materials

   Submit the following to the Office of Graduate Studies:
   
   • Application for Graduate Admission
   • $50.00 non-refundable application fee
   • One transcript showing the receipt of a bachelor's degree or another higher post-secondary degree, uploaded to MyRED — see Transcripts for requirements and instructions
   • Official verification of English proficiency, if your native language is not English

2. Graduate Studies Review

   When the online application, $50 application fee, and official transcripts have been received, your file will be reviewed by an admissions evaluator. You will be contacted if additional information is needed by Graduate Studies.

   Once all materials have been received, allow 3 to 5 business days for this step unless you have requested Express Admission.

3. Admission

   You will be notified by email and mailed your Certificate of Admission along with other important information for incoming students.

   You will be eligible to enroll for the entry term indicated on your Certificate of Admission. Enrollment beyond the first term requires submission of official transcripts. The deadline for submitting official transcripts is the end of the first week of classes. Admission may be rescinded if discrepancies exist between unofficial and official documents.

   Register for classes through MyRED. Consult the Academic Calendar for registration dates, the Graduate Bulletin for course descriptions, and the Schedule of Classes for course times and locations. Our Arriving on Campus and Relocating to Lincoln may also help you prepare for your journey.

Students seeking Nebraska Department of Education certifications and endorsements should read the Nebraska Teacher steps to admission.

These are the basic steps for an application to a graduate certificate program. Your application materials are reviewed by both Graduate Studies and the academic department for your intended certificate program.

1. Submission of Application and Materials

   Submit materials required by Graduate Studies and by your department as described on your department's certificate program summary.

   Upload transcripts to MyRED; see Transcripts for requirements and instructions.

2. Preliminary Graduate Studies Review

   When the online application, $50 application fee, and uploaded transcripts have been received, an admissions evaluator will review your file. You will be contacted if additional information is needed by Graduate Studies. Once this review is complete, your academic department will be notified of your eligibility for admission. You can monitor your application's progress in MyRED under UNL Admissions.

   Once all materials have been received, allow 3 to 5 business days for this step.

3. Departmental Review

   Each department reviews applications to decide whether a student will be accepted into their certificate program. You should be aware of and understand application deadlines. Your application will be reviewed only after you have submitted all required program-specific application materials. We recommend contacting your department to confirm receipt of materials before the department's stated deadline.

   The frequency with which departments review certificate program applications varies; contact your academic department for information regarding your application status.

4. Final Graduate Studies Review

   As soon as the academic department notifies Graduate Studies of their admission recommendation, admissions evaluators will conduct a final review of your file.

   If all materials have been received, allow 2 to 3 business days for this step.

5. Admission

   If you are admitted into the certificate program, Graduate Studies will notify you by email and mail your Certificate of Admission along with other important information for incoming students.

   You will be eligible to enroll for the entry term indicated on your Certificate of Admission. Enrollment beyond the first term requires submission of official transcripts. The deadline for submitting official transcripts is the end of the first week of classes. Admission may be rescinded if discrepancies exist between unofficial and official documents.

   Register for classes through MyRED. Consult the Academic Calendar for registration dates, the Graduate Bulletin for course descriptions, and the Schedule of Classes for course times and locations.

Non-degree visiting admission enables students to take a few classes at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln while continuing to be a degree-seeking student at their home institution. For example, an MS student at a university in Kansas may want to take one semester of courses at UNL and then finish the MS in Kansas.

This type of admission is limited to two academic terms.

1. Submission of Application and Materials

   Submit the following to the Office of Graduate Studies:
   
   • Online Application for Graduate Admission
   • $50.00 non-refundable application fee
   • Letter of good standing from your faculty advisor, graduate college, or registrar
   • If your native language is not English: verification of English proficiency

2. Graduate Studies Review

   When the online application, $50 application fee, and letter verifying good standing have been received, your file will be reviewed by an admissions evaluator. You will be contacted if additional information is needed by Graduate Studies.

   Once all materials have been received, allow 3 to 5 business days for this step.

3. Admission

   You will be notified by email and mailed your Certificate of Admission along with other important information for incoming students.

   Register for classes through MyRED. Consult the Academic Calendar for registration dates, the Graduate Bulletin for course descriptions, and the Schedule of Classes for course times and locations.

Teaching and administrative certifications and endorsements are granted by the Nebraska Department of Education, not by UNL. Upon your completion of the course of study, your UNL transcript will state that you are eligible to be recommended to the Department of Education for one of the following credentials:

• Teaching Certificate - Initial
• Teaching Certificate - Renewal
• Administrative Certificate - Initial
• Administrative Certificate - Renewal
• Adding endorsement(s) to one of the above certificates

Alternatively, if none of the Department of Education options above fit your current objective, you may want to apply for admission in the basic Non-Degree, Post-Baccalaureate category and/or consider the Teach Nebraska program.

1. Submission of Application and Materials

   Submit the following to the Office of Graduate Studies:
   
   • Online Application for Graduate Admission
     Select "Nebraska Department of Education Certification" and your specific objective.
     If renewing a certification and adding endorsements simultaneously, select the renewal option.
   • $50.00 non-refundable application fee
   • One transcript showing the receipt of a bachelor's degree or another higher post-secondary degree, uploaded to MyRED — see Transcripts for requirements and instructions
   • Official verification of English proficiency, if your native language is not English

2. Graduate Studies Review

   Your file will be reviewed by an admissions evaluator. You will be contacted if additional information is needed by Graduate Studies.

   Once all materials have been received, allow 3 to 5 business days for this step.

3. Admission

   You will be notified by email and mailed your Certificate of Admission along with other important information for incoming students.

   You will be eligible to enroll for the entry term indicated on your Certificate of Admission. Enrollment beyond the first term requires submission of official transcripts. The deadline for submitting official transcripts is the end of the first week of classes. Admission may be rescinded if discrepancies exist between unofficial and official documents.

   Register for classes through MyRED. Consult the Academic Calendar for registration dates, the Graduate Bulletin for course descriptions, and the Schedule of Classes for course times and locations. Our Arriving on Campus and Relocating to Lincoln may also help you prepare for your journey.

Students enrolled in a graduate program at one University of Nebraska campus (UNL, UNO, UNK, or UNMC) may wish to take a few classes at another NU campus while remaining a student at the original campus. Those students should complete the online Intercampus Enrollment application.

This type of enrollment is valid for one academic term at a time. To continue taking classes at the visiting campus, repeat these steps for each new term.

1. Submission of Intercampus Enrollment Request

   Make sure the classes you plan to take at the visiting campus have been approved to fulfill a requirement of your program of study at your degree campus. Then complete the Online Request for Intercampus Enrollment.

2. Review by Degree-Granting Campus

   The home campus which admitted you and will confer your degree will review the request.

   Allow 3 to 5 business days for this step.

3. Review by Visiting Campus

   The visiting campus, the campus where you will enroll for the term, will review the request.

   Allow 3 to 5 business days for this step.

4. Approval

   You will be notified by email. If you will enroll in UNL courses, use MyRED to do so. Consult the Academic Calendar for registration dates, the Graduate Bulletin for course descriptions, and the Schedule of Classes for course times and locations.