Domestic Degree Seeking

Important:these requirements are for domestic applicants; if you are an international applicant please see the international degree seeking tab.

All students seeking admission into a graduate degree program should submit the Graduate Studies application and all supporting materials (i.e., official transcripts, GRE/GMAT, teaching certificate, etc.) to Graduate Studies with sufficient time to allow departmental review prior to admission. Documents can be submitted via the Document Upload Portal or by email to graduate.school@wku.edu. 

Some graduate programs (such as Speech-Language Pathology and Psychology) have earlier dates by which applications and supporting documents must be submitted to WKU. Some graduate programs (such as Psychology) also require a department application form and other supporting materials in addition to the Graduate Studies application form. Please contact the department that offers the graduate program for exact dates for application submission and information about additional application materials that may be required.

Please note: To be eligible for any type of financial aid or a graduate assistantship, you must be admitted in good standing to a degree program. Non-degree seeking students are ineligible for financial aid and graduate assistantships. Students applying for a graduate assistantship should follow the dates indicated for graduate assistantship applications.

Applicants for a degree program must have:

• Application and Fee: Students seeking a graduate degree must complete the online Application for Admission and submit a one time application processing fee of $65 (non-refundable) to Graduate Studies;
• Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university;
• Any additional application requirements (GRE/GMAT scores, or other items; varies by program);
• Adequate academic preparation in the field of specialization
• Transcript Record: Graduates of accredited institutions other than Western Kentucky University must request one official transcript showing the completed degree be sent to Western Kentucky University (as well as official transcripts for any postsecondary coursework where credit [but no degree] was earned). Official transcript(s) must be forwarded from the college or university registrar electronically or directly to Graduate Studies, and official transcripts can be provided by the applicant.  Applicants who have not completed the undergraduate degree are required to submit one official transcript at the time of application and one official transcript showing the degree is completed.  Transcript records must be submitted for any graduate and undergraduate courses taken at any institution other than WKU.  While electronic transcripts are strongly preferred, any paper transcripts must be received in Graduate Studies in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution.  Transcripts sent to Graduate Studies become the property of the University and will not be returned to the student under any circumstances nor will a copy of the transcript be given to the student.   Please have the issuing institution send them electronically to graduate.school@wku.edu or via mail to:
  
  Western Kentucky University
  Graduate Studies
  1906 College Heights Blvd #11010
  Bowling Green, KY 42101-1010

GRE Scores

The GRE may be required for admission to a graduate program. Please inquire with the specific program or consult the Graduate Catalog. If a student has a master’s degree from an accredited institution in a field of study related to the desired program, the student may request that the completed master’s degree be considered as a substitute for the GRE General Test. Each department has the discretion to approve this exception to the GRE requirement.

As of October 1, 2002 the GRE General Test includes the verbal and quantitative sections and an analytical writing assessment. If required by the program the student is applying to, standardized test scores must be received by Graduate Studies prior to admission. In these cases, the admission decision will be based upon the undergraduate transcript, the GRE score, and other materials required by the program to which the student is applying. Registration materials for the GRE are available at http://www.ets.org/gre, or by calling 800-473-2255.

GMAT Score

Some programs may accept the GMAT score.  Registration materials for the GMAT are available at http://www.gmat.org, or by calling 800-473-2255.

International Degree Seeking

All students seeking admission into a graduate degree program should submit Graduate Studies application and all supporting materials (i.e., official transcripts, GRE/GMAT, teaching certificate, etc.) to Graduate Studies with sufficient time to allow departmental review prior to admission.  Applicants should also keep in mind the time necessary to obtain immigration documents and/or visas.  If you have any questions, please contact the Graduate Studies.

Requirements:

• Application and Fee: Submit an application with a $95 non-refundable application processing fee;
• Bachelor degree from an accredited college or university;
• Original copy/copies of transcripts/marksheets in English for evaluation by Graduate Studies (must be supplied by the institution; international transcripts cannot be sent via email)
  
  • Transcripts are evaluated by Graduate Studies
  • NOTE: any international transfer work requires an external evaluation by a NACES member institution; students are responsible for having this evaluation completed (only needed if the students wants to transfer graduate credit from a non-US institution)
  • Academic programs may require an approved third-party evaluation
  • WKU reserves the right to require an evaluation from an approved third-party evaluation service in the case of transcript irregularities
• Evidence of ability to communicate in English
  
  • TOEFL: 79 iBT (including the Home Edition and Paper Edition tests)
  • IELTS: 6.5
  • Successful completion of ESLi at WKU
  • Completion of ELS Level 112
  • Note: English proficiency scores are not required if the applicant's country of citizenship in on this list
• Adequate academic preparation in the field of specialization

The following items are not required for admission decisions, but must be submitted to the university in order for students to receive an I-20:

• Evidence of adequate financial resources (completed copy of the Affidavit of Support)
• A copy of your passport

Please do not provide any of the following materials:

• High school transcripts
• Intermediate transcripts
• 10+2, 10+1, or 10 transcripts
• Curriculum vita or resume
• More than 3 letters of reference
• Any certificates / awards or achievements
• Any physical data media (DVDs, USB drives, etc.)

Non-Degree Seeking

Important: If you are an international student you must apply to a degree program if you need immigration documents (such an an I-20 form); please see the international degree seeking tab.

Application and Fee

Students seeking a graduate non-degree status must complete an online Application for Admission and submit a one time application fee of $65 (non-refundable) to Graduate Studies.

Transcript Record

Graduates of accredited institutions other than Western Kentucky University must request that one official transcript showing the completed degree be sent to Western Kentucky University. The transcript must be forwarded from the college or university registrar electronically or directly to Graduate Studies at 1906 College Heights Blvd., #11010, Bowling Green, KY 42101.  Applicants who have not completed the undergraduate degree are required to submit one official transcript at the time of application and one official transcript showing the degree is completed. Transcript records must be submitted for any graduate and undergraduate courses taken at any institution other than WKU.  Any paper transcripts must be received in the Graduate School in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution.  Transcripts sent to Graduate Studies become the property of the University and will not be returned to the student under any circumstances nor will a copy of the transcript be given to the student.

Specialist in Education (EDS)

• Completed application, along with a $65 (non-refundable) application fee by the admission deadline;
• Earned bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative 2.75 undergraduate GPA;
• Because of the individual nature of each degree program, please consult the WKU graduate catalog for more specific information

• WKU student loans
• Student employment
• Federal Perkins Loan
• Federal Stafford Loan
• Certificate programs eligible for federal financial aid

The graduate assistantship program at WKU provides graduate students the opportunity to earn an excellent salary and fringe benefits while advancing their career.  Assistantships are available for qualified applicants -- please read the graduate assistantship overview to learn about qualifications, how to apply, potential benefits, and more.

The College Heights Foundation provides financial assistance to graduate students, mainly in the area of Teacher Education and Family Science. Apply through WKU Student Financial Assistance.

Travel grant funding is available for graduate students to travel to present at professional meetings and conferences and to support research project travel.

Western Kentucky University is approved by the Kentucky State Approving Agency and the U.S. Department Veteran's Affairs (VA) for veteran's educational training. There are several categories of educational benefits for eligible students including Montgomery GI Bill, Chapter 30 (active duty) and Chapter 1606 (reserve/national guard), Chapter 1607 (REAP), Chapter 33 (Post 9/11), Chapter 35 (Dependents Educational Assistance Program), and Chapter 31 (Vocational Rehabilitation).

Learn More

The Office of Sponsored Research can assist graduate students in their search for grants and other sources of funding.

Kentucky residents who are 65 years of age or older on or before the day the semester begins are granted tuition waivers for any college class in which they enroll for credit or to audit in accordance with KRS 164.284. A senior citizen who holds a bachelor’s degree may be admitted as a non-degree student or may pursue admission to a specific degree program. Please contact the the Office of Student Billing and Account Services at (270) 745-6381 or billing@wku.edu for additional information.