Applying
Please read carefully -- two-part application!
Graduate applications at the University of Minnesota involve two steps -- applying to the Graduate School and applying to the Program (in this case, Political Science). The Department Admissions Committee will read the application that is sent to the Program. The Graduate School application is used by the University to maintain the standards of the overall graduate program. The Graduate School has final approval over who is admitted, but it has never been the case that someone admitted by the Political Science Department's Admissions Committee was refused admission by the Graduate School.
If you have any questions about any part of the application process, please send an email to papply@umn.edu
Please DO NOT send your Department materials such as letters or transcripts to the Graduate School address. They receive so much mail that it may be 4-6 weeks before they can forward your mail to the department. Thanks.
Application deadline is January 1st for all application materials. (Technically, the first business day after the 1st.)
Part I: Graduate School
Send Materials to:
University of Minnesota
Graduate School
309 Johnston Hall
101 Pleasant Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
- One complete set of OFFICIAL transcripts
- Graduate School Application (begin the online application), including application fee. This is a separate application from the Department Application. Both must be submitted.
- English Proficiency Exam (TOEFL or IELTS). This is required for non-native English speakers who have not spent at least one year at a college in the United States.
- Three Letters of RecommendationLetters of recommendation will now be processed electronically through the online Graduate School application system. The letters will be forwarded to the department after they are submitted to the Graduate School. The link to the "Recommendation" section is on the left under the "Application for Graduate Admission" section. If any of your letter-writers do not want to submit their letters electronically, they can send a letter directly to the Political Science Department address.
Part II: Department
Send Materials to:
Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Political Science
1414 Social Sciences Building
267 - 19th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55455
- A complete set of transcripts This is in addition to the set that go to the Graduate School. The transcripts you send to the Department do not need to be official.
- Official GRE scores. Institution Code 6874; Department Code 1901, 1902, or 1999.
- Department Application. This is a separate application from the Graduate School application -- Both applications must be submitted.
- Option 1: Download Department Application (PDF) Use this version if you wish to print the application and mail it into the department.
- Option 2 : Download Department Application (MS Word) Use this version if you wish to email the application to the department as an attachment.
- Statement expressing your interests in political science and your purposes in pursuing graduate work. Typically 1-2 pages, but no length requirement. This is a separate statement from the one required as part of the Graduate School application, but may include the same text.
- One or more samples of your written work, preferably a paper from a political science or related course. No length requirement. Must be single-authored.
Materials may be mailed to the above address or emailed to papply@umn.edu. If you email materials, please be sure to include your name on every document.
Some of the application information requires Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Reader to view. You can download it for free.