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Application and Admission

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Deadlines

Applications are invited from candidates that intend to pursue a M.S. or Ph.D. degree. In order to receive full consideration, application materials should be received by February 1 for fall admission.  Admission is competitive, and applicants that receive offers for fall admission must notify the Department of their decision by April 30th.

In order to receive full consideration for Spring admission, application materials should be received by October 1. Students who receive an offer for spring admission should notify the department of their decision by January 1st.

Minimum Requirements for Admission

  • A U.S. bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university, or an equivalent degree from another country as determined by the Office of Admissions.
  • A minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.00, or foreign equivalent as determined by the Office of Admissions.
  • Official GRE scores are not required for our MS and PhD degrees.
  • For International Applicants: a minimum TOEFL score of 81 on the Internet-based test (iBT) or 550 on the paper-based test (PBT); an IELTS score of 7.0 with no section score lower than 6.0; or a minimum DuoLingo (DET) score of 105.
    [The on-campus English Proficiency Evaluation (EPE) will be required unless you submit a TOEFL overall score of 100 or higher, or an IELTS overall score of 8.0 or higher.]
    [All students admitted using DuoLingo (DET) test scores will be required to take the EPE when they arrive on campus.]

How to Apply

Step 1: For degrees that require thesis research, most successful applicants identify potential research mentors prior to submitting an application. Potential mentors can be identified by viewing individual faculty research webpages.   Please note that not all mentors accept students in any given year. Contacts with potential thesis mentors should be included in your personal statement, if applicable.

Step 2: Fill out the University of Iowa online application through the admissions office. After this process is complete, an email will be sent to you about establishing your HawkID and password (if you do not currently have one).   Warning: It could take some time to receive your ID (e.g., up to 24 hours). Please be patient and feel free to check in with us if you have questions or do not receive your ID. 

Step 3: When you have created your HawkID, you will be able to log into MyUI and submit your program-specific materials. These materials will include:

A) your personal statement.  In your personal statement, please tell us about how your past experiences have prepared you to pursue a graduate degree in HHP and how pursing graduate education in HHP will contribute to your long-term goals. Include information on potential research mentors in your personal statement, if applicable.
B) your transcript (unofficial is fine at this stage)
C) a current curriculum vita or resume
D) the names and contact information for three letters of recommendation (letter writers will submit their letters electronically through the Office of Admissions application, a process that you will be able to monitor)
E) a set of questions about specific program interests, including the identification of one or more potential faculty mentors, and a choice of  training area.

International Students

International student applicants whose native language is not English must take and pass either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), unless they have received a degree from an accredited college or university in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada (except Quebec), Australia, or New Zealand. In addition, a non-native speaker who seeks employment as graduate teaching assistant must pass a test of spoken English proficiency.  Once recommended for admission, international students must send a Financial Statement. The $60 application fee ($100 for international students) is payable by Visa, Mastercard, or Discover.