Rutgers University - Graduate Admissions

For most programs a complete application consists of an online form and a $60 application fee, two official transcripts, three letters of recommendation, a personal statement and required current test results. All requirements are specified for each program from http://gradstudy.rutgers.edu all catalogs, instructions, deadlines and any other published information can also be found here. In the absence of required credentials a review cannot be guaranteed.

At the graduate level you are encouraged to self-study and research policies and requirements as well as deadlines so that you can submit an application that shows you to your best possible advantage and is complete prior to the program’s stated deadline.

We do not publish specific GRE or GPA requirements because these data are only a part of your application and do not tell the whole story. Admissions committees play equally close attention to your personal statement and letters of recommendation as well as writing samples, resumes, auditions or portfolios (required of only specific programs). If you are required to submit tests for your program of interest successful candidates will have middle and upper-middle and above test score results as well as fine recommendations and a clearly written and compelling personal statement.

Application deadlines vary by department. Please use our online program tables available from http://gradstudy.rutgers.edu Click on programs and select yours from the list. All requirements and deadlines are clearly stated.

There are two types of financial aid: need and merit. Need-based aid is available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents only and is based strictly on income and need.

Need Based Financial Aid:
U. S. students and permanent residents may apply for grants, loans and part-time employment by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Need-based aid must be requested by March 15 for the subsequent fall term.

Merit-Based Aid in the form of teaching assistantships etc. is determined by the program and after admission has been offered. All you need to do to be considered is to check the box on the application that says “I want to be considered for4 academically based financial aid”. There are no additional forms for Merit-Based aid.

You must contact the academic program for permission (and/or special permission numbers) before applying.
Once you have permissions simply go to: http//gradstudy.rutgers.edu and apply and pay online. (Application fees are non-refundable) Registration information will follow the submission of your application. Use the regular application and check off non degree.
Nondegree study is not available for international applicants living outside the country and is not available to F-type visa holders in the U.S. International applicants must have a Test of English as a Foreign Language score (TOEFL)
Some academic programs may require special admissions documents but generally letters and GRE tests are not required. You will need to check with the academic program.
Courses taken on a nondegree basis will later transfer toward a degree if they are current and appreciate to the degree sought. There is however no guarantee of admission for degree because of nondegree course completion.

There are many factors in determining admissibility one of which is scores. GRE scores are weighed together with many other factors in our admissions decisions. There are no minimum scores but admitted students will have solid scores in at least the mid-range as well as an appropriate undergraduate preparation, a strong statement of purpose and recommendations. Also some programs will value high verbal scores more than high quantitative scores and the reverse are also true.

International applicants are required to report a current TOEFL no more than two years old. The TOEFL is waivable only if the applicant has completed a Bachelor’s degree in the US or an English speaking country. An older satisfactory TOEFL may be substituted if the applicant has completed at least one year toward a Master’s degree in the US.

Internet Based:
Writing       22
Speaking     23
Reading       21
Listening      17

For more precise details contact the individual academic program for which you are interested in.

Our website is http://gradstudy.rutgers.edu
Click on “Apply Now” and follow our user friendly directions. Be sure to send all follow-up credentials after you submit your online application to the Graduate Admissions Office on the campus for which you have applied.

Graduate Admissions - New Brunswick
18 Bishop Place
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
732-932-7711
Fax 732-932-8231

Graduate Admissions - Camden
406 Penn Street
Camden, NJ 08102
856-225-6104
Fax 856-225-6498

Graduate Admissions - Newark
249 University Avenue
Newark, NJ 07102
973-353-5205
Fax 973-353-1440

If you choose to Fax your credentials you are still required to send 2 original transcripts showing degree awarded.

International applicants have difficult accessing their status because they are using different name order and/or spelling from the name they used when completing the application or they are entering long first names. This results in an error that if not carefully read suggests that they did not pay the fee.

A complete application consists of an online form and $60 fee, submission of two official transcripts, three letters of recommendation, a personal statement and required test results. Decisions are made by individual committees in each program at Rutgers. This process is very detailed, time consuming, and often may take quite a long time.

Your most immediate status information is updated daily and is available to you from https://admissionservices.rutgers.edu/graduate/programStatusLogon.app. You need to enter your assigned student ID number (SSN if you provided it) your first and last name, gender and date exactly as you entered them on the application.

The status site works best for t hose that applied online and is only available to those who paid the required application fee.

Special caveats: international applicants may see information about Foreign Student Advisor reports and/or financial documentation. These data are not required until after admission is offered because they are time sensitive so disregard until that time. Nondegree applicants may disregard transcript , letters and personal statement information which are generally not required unless specified by your academic program.

The admissions process is extremely principled and time-consuming. It is not unusual for fall decisions to take place in March, April, May and even June depending on the program and number of applications. If you know your application is complete and you haven’t heard by mid April you may contact the program directly. Phone numbers and email addresses are available from our contact page.

I belong to a program that offers a fee waiver - how do I get credited? (top)

“We waive fees for certain scholars (i.e. McNair, Project 1000, etc) Apply online but do not pay the fee after you submit. Instead on the “Aid” page in the text box labeled “Academic Honors Awards or Publications” indicate that you are a scholar and therefore are eligible for a fee waiver. When you send in your credentials include the scholar certificate.

In most instances we do not waive fees. In extraordinary circumstances we may defer a fee but if admission is offered the fee is generally required. There are few exceptions to this policy. For a deferral please include a statement of need and supporting evidence of need such as a letter from a financial aid officer from your school or tax returns.

You may write us regarding your special circumstances at the Graduate Admissions Office.

My status indicates that official test scores have not been received, but I sent them over a month ago. Where are they?(top)

ETS requires several weeks to grade your results and then you must allow at least two weeks for a “match” to occur from the date of submission of your application to us. The scores are electronically submitted once a week . You must submit an application first for the match to occur.

You may fax a copy to the Graduate Admissions Office but it will be considered as self reported. For most programs official test scores are required once admission is offered

In order to apply to more than one program go to http://gradstudy.rutgers.edu. Select “Apply 3 easy steps” Click on “RESUME” an application and enter your login and password. Then select “apply to another program”.

You may apply to up to five programs. However each requires a fee and supporting credentials. Nondegree applicants typically do not need to show transcripts, letters or a personal statement (check with the program to be sure).

Applications may not be altered once submitted. Please submit any changes or corrections to the application in writing to our office with an explanation.

I have (or am currently) attending a graduate school. Will my credits transfer?(top)

There is no “transfer” from one university to Rutgers. You must first apply and be admitted. The transferring of credits is completely at the discretion of the program. Discussion will only occur after an offer of admission has been made. The program will want assurance that the course or courses in question are equal in quality to those that would have been taken at Rutgers. In the absence of complete assurance courses will not transfer toward a degree.

If you have completed a Master’s degree equivalent to a U>S> master’s degree from an accredited institution then you may apply for a Ph.D degree to continue required coursework.

I have applied to a graduate program at Rutgers in the past. How do I reapply?(top)

In order to reapply or reactivate an application submitted for the previous semester you need to submit a new online application, along wtih fee, resubmit letters (at least one new) an updated personal statement and a new fee. You must also submit a written statement indicating that you wish to reapply and have your credentials forwarded from your previous application. You are advised also to contact the program for their input. While one letter personal statement and fee are minimally necessary your goal is to improve any and all aspects of your application to get the most positve review possible.

In order to reapply or reactivate an application submitted for the previous year you need to submit a new online application, along wtih fee, resubmit letters (at least one new) an updated personal statement and a new fee . You must also submit a written statement indicating that you wish to reapply and have your credentials forwarded from your previous application. You are advised also to contact the program for their input. While one letter personal statement and fee are minimally necessary your goal is to improve any and all aspects of your application to get the most positve review possible.

Checking your status online is the fastest way for you to know what activity is taking place. Your record is updated nightly with new information. Enter your data EXACTLY as you did on the application. First names may not exceed 10 spaces. The most immediate status information is available to you from https://admissionservices.rutgers.edu/graduate/programStatusLogon.app you need to enter your assigned student ID number (SSN if you provided it) your first and last name, gender and date of birth exactly as you entered them on the application.

The status site is only available to those International students who paid the required application fee.

When I attempt to check my status I receive an error message telling me that I did not pay the application fee, but I did. What should I do?(top)

This is a generic error message that (in almost all cases) DOES NOT mean that your application fee was not received. You will receive this message if you did not enter your information EXACTLY as it was originally entered on the application. Any changes in punctuation or spelling will not be recognized on the status site. In addition, for first names with more than 10 characters, please only enter the first 10. Unfortunately, our system only recognizes the first 10 characters of your first name, and will return an error if any more are entered.

To resume an application not yet submitted go to http://gradstudy.rutgers.edu and select “Resume an Existing Application” found under the heading “Applying to Rutgers”. You cannot update submitted applications online. Write to us or fax changes to 732-932-8231. Include your name as it appears on the application and your RUID student id or (SSN).

Often students are unable to find their schools listed on our institution page. We work all the time to ensure our list is complete but technical reasons may prevent your school from appearing on the list.

If so please select UNKNOWN and proceed with your application. Do so will not impede your application review as your transcripts are what the committee uses in making its decisions. Having you list your institution on the application is for our data capture only

To make a late payment online go to http://gradstudy.rutgers.edu select “Apply Three East Steps” select “resume” select “Payment options for your last submitted application” select “online”. We urge you to pay by credit card online as mailing a payment may cause serious delays.

I am unable to complete the online application due to technical problems. How do I continue?(top)

The institution page of the electronic application returns an error when applicants do not have I>E> explorer 6.0 or better. Please leave the application, upgrade your browser and begin a fresh application under a new login and pin. You should not encounter this problem again.
Dates will not save unless you are using an English keyboard. Go into Control Panel/Regional setting and select English. Our server does not recognize foreign characters.
Bookmarked pages sent in emails from departments and links from department pages to the online application are often not maintained properly. Be sure to go to http://gradstudy.rutgers.edu and do not use an email link a back door or a bookmarked page.
User error: when you have entered your institution information please do NOT check the little box that says “Remove from our records”. Doing so wipes out what you just filled in.
User error: you may not type your program selections in. You must use our menu, select your program click on it then click on the semester you intend to begin. You will be returned to your application and must say what year you intend to begin and whether as a full or part-time student.
Our institution list leaves out many institutions. While we are working to repair this problem please select “UNKNOWN” if your institution is not listed. Your transcripts will clarify your academic achievement.
We only capture data for institutions from which you have already received or expect to receive a degree. Other transcripts are welcome but may not be entered on the application form.

If you are still unable to complete the application, you may call the Graduate Admissions office directly at 732-932-7712 for assistance.

TOEFL or IELTS is required of all applicants whose undergraduate education was completed in a non-English speaking country. Even if you hold a master's-level degree from a US or other english-speaking country you must still take the TOEFL or IELTS test. Scores must be current within 2 years of the applied semester.

The only exemptions are for US trained undergraduates and international applicants coming from english-speaking countries. An undergraduate degree from a U.S. 4-year college or university satisfies the requirement. Applications missing required scores may not be reviewed by the admissions committee.

The minimum Paper based TOEFL score is 550.
The minimum Computer based TOEFL score is 213

The minimum IBT-internet based TOEFL is as follows:
Writing 22
Speaking 23
Reading 21
Listening 17
The acceptable IELTS score is bandwidth 7.
Individual programs may have higher requirements for language intensive areas such as History English Psychology and others.

The minimum Paper based TOEFL score is 550.
The minimum Computer based TOEFL score is 213

The minimum IBT-internet based TOEFL is as follows:
Writing 22
Speaking 23
Reading 21
Listening 17

Individual programs may have higher requirements for language intensive areas such as History English Psychology and others.

My undergraduate institution did utilize 4.0 scale. How do I convert them?(top)

Do not attempt to convert your GPA. We use gpa information for statistical purposes only. Your transcripts will be evaluated based on your schoools scale when they are received. Simply leave the GPA field blank when applying.

If you wish, you may have your transcripts evaluated and or translated by a third party. This is not usually mandatory, but may help you in the application process.

I have not been offered full financial assistance - What documents are required to issue an I-20?(top)

Financial documentation is only required after admission has been offered on the New Brunswick Campus. The Newark Campus (including the Rutgers Business School) required documentation prior to admission. Graduate Admissions will send you additional information if full assistance is not offered.

I recently checked my application status and found that I was admitted. What should I do now?(top)

You will be receiving an admissions packet, along with a formal certificate of admission via U.S. mail within the next several days. In most cases, you should receive additional information from the graduate school and program that you have been admitted to.

Please seek the guidance of the graduate program that you were admitted to. Graduate Admissions does not advise on course selection.

You may register online at http://webreg.rutgers.edu . You need only your Rutgers Identification number (RUID) and PAC code to register. By default, your PAC code is your month and day of birth in MMDD format

You may view your statement of accounts at any time at http://studentabc.rutgers.edu. Please not that the term bill will not be available until mid July for students attending the fall semester.

Information regarding graduate housing is included in your admissions packet. In addition, you may wish to visit http://housing.rutgers.edu for more information.

Please visit http://health.rutgers.edu for more information. In addition, a packet of information is mailed to admitted students directly from the student health office.

I would like to be certified as a teacher in the State of New Jersey. Can I get certified at Rutgers?(top)

I am currently a Teacher in NJ and would like to earn an endorsement. What should I do?(top)

Several endorsements are available. Please visit: http://gse.rutgers.edu for a list / requirements.

Rutgers only offers teaching certification in conjunction with the completion of a Master’s Degree. For more information, please visit http://gse.rutgers.edu .

The Pharm. D. program for those who already hold a bachelor's degree has been suspended indefinately. Those wishing to earn an undergraduate degree in pharmacy, along with a Pharm.D. should visit http://admisions.rutgers.edu.

Tuition and fees vary by school program and full or part time status. To figure out exactly how much you will owe please visit the cashier’s web site at http://studentabc.rutgers.edu/tuition/tuitionpdf.html. Fee adjustments are schedule for mid July.

Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
18 Bishop Place
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Telephone (732) 932-7711

Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
249 University Avenue
Newark, N.J. 07102
973-353-5205

Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
406 Penn Street
Camden, NJ 08102
856-225-6104