Admissions Requirements
The graduate admission requirements for the University of Connecticut are given at the following site: https://grad.uconn.edu/admissions/admission-requirements
Regarding your personal statement, you may refer to the UConn Center for Career Development, which recommends personal statements to be 2-3 pages or about 750-1000 words. See https://cdn.uconnectlabs.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2018/12/Writing-a-Personal-Statement-Supplement-2018-12.pdf
Three letters of recommendation are required.
The GRE is not required.
International students note: If English is not your primary language, you may be required to submit evidence of your proficiency in English. Please see the Graduate School’s information on English Proficiency for Admission at https://grad.uconn.edu/admissions/requirements/#englishtest
Application Deadlines
The departmental deadlines for applications for Fall admissions are:
December 15: For consideration for university fellowships.
January 31: For consideration for departmental graduate assistantships.
After January 31: Applications received after January 31 will be reviewed but may be less prioritized for departmental funding. Students seeking admission without the need of financial assistance departmental funding can request the application be reviewed outside the normal cycle.
Link to the graduate school application page: https://grad.uconn.edu/admissions/apply-to-uconn
How we fund our students
Funding for graduate students in the geography program is a top priority. Our goal is to provide students with up to four years of funding as part of their PhD degree work. There are several primary sources of funding and financial aid for graduate students in the program, including departmental teaching assistantships (TAs) and research assistantships (RAs), research assistantships in other departments, and university fellowships.
Admission & Funding Decisions
The Geography Department reviews applications for fall admissions as soon as possible after application deadlines. Admissions decisions are independent of funding decisions.
Funding decisions are based on availability of funding through the University and other sources. Please note we provide funding primarily to students applying to the PhD program.
Graduate Program Description
The MA and PhD program descriptions are in the Graduate Catalog (https://catalog.uconn.edu/graduate) for which there are University level requirements and Departmental requirements (https://catalog.uconn.edu/graduate/degree-programs/geography-ma-phd/#requirementstext).
GIS Graduate Certificate
Students who have completed a bachelor’s degree are welcome to complete the graduate coursework for the GIS Certificate. Coursework from the MA and PhD programs can be used for the GIS Certificate, where applicable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is funding available for graduate studies in GSCU at the University of Connecticut?
Yes. That funding can take the form of either research assistantships, teaching assistantships, or a combination of both.
For how many years are graduate studies funded?
The department has a strong record of funding students for four years of graduate studies.
Can I apply to the PhD program in GSCU at the University of Connecticut without already holding a MA/MS?
Yes.
Are MA students funded?
Yes. At the same time the department prioritizes admittance and funding of PhD students.
Should I contact prospective advisor(s) in GSCU in advance of preparing and submitting my application?
Yes.
What if I have not heard back from my targeted prospective advisor(s)?
Please resend your email message up to three times. If you are still having trouble receiving a response, please contact the graduate coordinator.
I am an international student but completed my bachelor’s/master’s degree at a U.S. college. D o I need to provide English test scores (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS) in my application to the master’s/PhD program in the Department of GSCU?
No. The English test is waived for international applicants who have completed one year or more of full-time coursework at a post-secondary institution in the United States (30 credits undergraduate level work or 18 credits graduate level work). The total amount of academic work completed must be officially graded by the registrar of that institution and have a cumulative GPA value of 3.0 or higher.