Admission Requirements
Freshmen Admissions
1. Complete UK International Application for Undergraduate Admission or Common Application
2. $60 Application processing fee (non-refundable)
3. Official transcripts in English
4. English proficiency directly from testing center:
- TOEFL: 71 iBT, 543 IPT (UK administered)
- TOEFL Essentials: 7.5
- IELTS: 6.0
- Duolingo: 105
Click here for a list of countries exempt from English language proficiency testing
5. Optional tests: ACT / SAT (M+CR) Scores
- ACT school code: 1554 | SAT school code - 1837
- Required for engineering programs and scholarships
Priority Deadline:
- December 1 for Fall semester (August start)
- October 15 for Spring semester (January start)
*Scholarship deadline for freshmen international undergraduate students is December 1.
What's next? After you are admitted, ISSS will send you an email with the subject, “ISSS Application & Determining I-20/DS-2019 Eligibility” directing you to begin the “New Student Information Checklist” in icat.uky.edu.
Transfer Admissions
UK accepts up to 67 hours of college-level credit from two-year institutions and an unlimited number of college-level credits from four-year institutions. See International Transfer Equivalencies for details.
1. Complete UK International Application for Undergraduate Admission
2. $60 Application processing fee (non-refundable)
3. Official transcripts in English
- 23 Credit hours or fewer
- 2.0 GPA
- College transcripts
- High school transcripts
- 24 Credit hours or more
- 2.0 GPA
- College transcripts
4. English proficiency directly from testing center:
- TOEFL: 71 iBT, 543 IPT (UK administered)
- TOEFL Essentials: 7.5
- IELTS: 6.0
- Duolingo: 105
Click here for a list of countries exempt from English language proficiency testing
Applicants who successfully completed English 101 and 102 courses (or equivalent) at a U.S. higher education institution may qualify for a TOEFL waiver.
Deadline to Apply
- May 15 for Fall semester
- October 15 for Spring semester
What's next? After you complete the admission requirements, ISSS will send you an email with the subject, “ISSS Application & Determining I-20/DS-2019 Eligibility” directing you to begin the “New Student Information Checklist” in icat.uky.edu.
Graduate Admissions
1. Complete UK Graduate Application
2. $75 Application processing fee (non-refundable)
3. Official transcripts in English
4. English proficiency directly from testing center:
Deadline to Apply
- April 15 for Fall semester
- August 22 for Spring semester
- Some programs have earlier deadlines - check here for details.
What's next? After you have satisfied the admission requirements, ISSS will send you an email with the subject, “ISSS Application & Determining I-20/DS-2019 Eligibility” directing you to begin the “New Student Information Checklist” in icat.uky.edu.
ESL Admissions
To apply for admission, you will need to:
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Completed the Application Form.
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Submit the $100 application fee paid online.
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Email a copy of the biographical information page of your passport.
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Email a bank or scholarship letter which is no more than 120 days old that verifies financial support of one year of study. The letter should be in English and in U.S. dollar amounts.
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Email a completed 2019 Declaration of Support signed by your sponsor. Your sponsor is the person who provides the money for your education.
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Email an educational summary, resume, or transcript.
* Applications typically close 30 days before the start of the term, however exceptions can be made.
Undergraduate Admissions
The University of Kentucky defines international applicants as those with citizenship other than the United States of America. Permanent Residents of the United States should complete a domestic application and include a photocopy of their Permanent Resident card.
- Freshman Admission: Applicants who have not attended a college or university upon completion of secondary school AND who have met all requirements including English proficiency as noted below.
- Transfer Admission : Applicants who have attended a college or university upon completion of secondary school AND met all requirements including English proficiency as noted below.
- Non-degree Admission: Applicants who are exchange or visiting students.
- Conditional Admission: Applicants who meet UK’s academic requirements for admission but do not meet the minimum language proficiency requirement or the departmental specific requirements (such as certain SAT/ACT math scores for Engineering and Nursing).
- Students who are offered conditional admission because of English may either resubmit a higher TOEFL/IELTS score or enroll in UK's Center for English as a Second Language program. The duration of these courses will depend on placement test results and individual student progress. Upon successful completion of the English language course(s), the student will move seamlessly into a degree program at UK. This means no TOEFL/IELTS scores will be required if students complete CESL.
- Students who require a higher math score for Engineering may submit a higher score or switch their intended major to a program that does not have specific requirements.
- No additional application is required for Conditional Admission.
Note: Applicants who meet all academic admission requirements will receive admission to the university. However, according to U.S. laws, in order to be issued an I-20 form required for your student visa interview, you will need to provide the financial documents. Students can use the admission letter to seek more funding such as loans in their home country.
Priority deadline is December 1. You must apply for admission first in order to be eligible for scholarships.
Non-Degree Seeking Admissions
An individual attending the UK for a prescribed program of academic activity which does not lead to a degree from UK may get a J-1 visa as a non-degree student and can stay on J status up to 2 years. There are two types of students who may wish to use this category to study at the University of Kentucky:
Exchange Student with Partner University.
The Office of Education Abroad offers students from our partner universities the opportunity to come to UK as a visiting exchange student for one or two semesters per year. If you are interested in applying to study for short-term as an exchange student from a partner institution, please visit the international exchanges program at your home university for application materials.
Sponsored Students
Students may engage in either for-credit or non-credit courses as defined by their government or University of Kentucky departmental sponsor. Prospective students will need to ask the UK faculty member to contact the Office of International Student and Scholar Services to begin the process of obtaining the proper DS-2019 form, if applicable. Government sponsored students must contact their respective government representatives to gain permission and ensure that they are approved for study at the University of Kentucky.
Below is a list of government partners and sponsors: