Admissions

Official Admission

Official admission is extended to all applicants who meet all Graduate School requirements and are recommended by the program for admission. Some applicants may be admitted to programs with a stipulation that they meet additional requirements in order to remain enrolled. The Graduate School describes these additional requirements as:

Denied Admission

Denied admission refers to applicants who do not meet the Graduate School, program admission requirements, or both. Students denied admission must reapply to be considered again for the same program or a different program. There are no appeals of denied admission. Denied admissions are final.

Document Requirements

Applicants may be admitted pending submissions of required documents specified by the Graduate School (i.e., transcripts showing degree conferred) before the end of their first semester of graduate coursework. No student will be permitted to register for an additional semester, receive financial aid or take the comprehensive examination or its equivalent unless the specified requirement(s) is met. Failure to meet the condition(s) within the specified time frame will result in the closure of the student's program by the Graduate School.

Applicants admitted based on the requirement to complete a degree in progress must still provide an official transcript within the first semester of enrollment at UNC showing their degree conferred and a GPA of at least 3.0. If the transcript showing degree conferred reports a cumulative GPA less than 3.0, applicants will be given additional academic requirements, defined by the program, which must be met within one calendar year, to remain enrolled at UNC.

Program Requirements

When a program recommends an applicant for admission who does not meet UNC’s Graduate School standards, the program faculty must provide specific requirements in writing to the Graduate School. These requirements include a list of measurable academic and professional/behavioral requirements the student must attain in the timeframe specified by the program, but not to exceed the first calendar year of enrollment in order to remain in the program. All recommendations for admission for applicants with a GPA below the 3.00 must be reviewed and approved by the Graduate Dean or their designee. In addition, the program recommending admission for such students may also be expected to submit a letter of justification, which is a rationale detailing the factor(s) considered in recommending the student, such as GPA in the discipline, maturity, letters of recommendation, applicant work samples, GRE scores or other compelling factors.

If the Graduate School officially admits an applicant who does not meet the minimum academic standards for admission, the admitted student must complete measurable requirements stipulated by the program and approved by the Graduate School. The program must specify a timeframe for the student to complete the requirements, not to exceed one calendar year (e.g., the first semester of enrollment). The successful completion of these requirements is monitored by the program faculty, who report attainment/non-attainment to the Graduate School.  Students are not permitted to register for an additional semester, receive financial aid or take the comprehensive examination or its equivalent unless the specified provisions(s) is/are met in the timeframe determined by the program.  If program faculty need to change the additional requirements, they must submit a petition for exception to policy to the Graduate School.

Failure to complete the requirements within the specified time frame will result in the termination of the student's program by the Graduate School.

Post-Admissions Changes

Program Changes

Changing Academic Programs, or Adding/Removing a certificate, license, endorsement, or second program

Currently enrolled students may request to change their program from one graduate program to another, or from one concentration to another, with the approval of both departments and final approval by the Graduate School. Students should utilize the "Graduate Program Change" form to facilitate this process. If the form is submitted before add/drop date, changes will take effect in the current term. If the form is submitted after drop date the changes will take effect in the next term.

The "Graduate Program Change" form can be used to change your degree level to a lower level, e.g., from doctorate to masters or masters to certificate only. If you wish to move up in degree level, you must reapply to the Graduate School. If the change is to be treated as a new program, the time limit for completion of the degree begins with the term that the request form is processed for, either the current term or the next available term. None of your previous work will be applicable to the new major. If the change is not to be treated as a new program, the time limit to complete the new program remains the date at which you initiated your original program of study.

Please note that your admission to a new degree program is contingent on the approval by the program's faculty and is not automatic. If you are denied admission into the requested program, you will remain in your current program unless you notify the Graduate School to close your file.

Change of Site

A student admitted to attend classes at a specific program site can submit a change of site request if they desire to be enrolled in classes for the same program but at a different location. Examples would include students who wish to move between Extended Campus cohorts e.g., Denver Lowry to Loveland, or a Greeley campus student who wishes to switch to the same program in an online format. Students who are considering making this change should contact the Bursar's office, Financial Aid, and the Financial Awards Specialist (regarding any previously offered assistantships or scholarships) to determine how such a change may have impact on these areas before submitting this form. The form requires the signature of the program coordinator for the old site and the program coordinator of the new site. If the form is submitted before add/drop date, changes will take effect in the current term. If submitted after the drop date, changes will take effect in the next available term.

Deferral of Admission

If a student is unable to begin classes during their admitted term, they can request to defer their start term for a period of time. Upon approval of the program, admitted students who have not yet attended classes towards their program are allowed to change their start term only ONE time by submitting the Change of Term Post Admission request form on their Admission Portal. An admitted student who has already registered for classes must be completely withdrawn from all classes prior to submitting the Deferral/Change of Term Post Admission request form.

The Deferral/Change of Term Post Admission request form must be submitted in the student's initial admission term, no later than close of business on the Friday two weeks before registration opens for the next term (calendar for opening of preregistration at https://www.unco.edu/registrar/registration/preregistration-schedule.aspx) . If approved by the program, the Graduate Admissions office will change the start term of admission and notify the student.

A student can only defer admission up to one year from their initial admission term. However, if the program has a specific start term (fall only, spring only or summer only), with approval of the program, applicants are allowed to defer their admission to the next term the program is offered even if that is past the one year mark. Students who are unable to enroll after the initial deferment and wish to defer a second time, must submit a request to the program coordinator in writing no later than 2 weeks before registration opens for the first deferred start term. There is no guarantee of a second deferral and students may be required to complete a new application with a new application fee. If a student has been offered funding for a prior admission term, funding is not guaranteed for a deferred admission term.

A student's file will be closed if they have not enrolled in classes during their initial term of admission or have not requested and been granted an admission deferral during their initial term of admission. In order for a student to begin classes, they will have to reapply and be admitted to the program. Readmission is not guaranteed upon reapplication to the program.