Admission to graduate study is a two-fold evaluation process. The Office of Admissions determines eligibility for admission to the University, and the academic department or college determines admissibility to the degree program. Final admission to the University is subject to approval by the Office of Admissions.

Minimum University Admission Requirements

In order to meet minimum University admission requirements, an applicant must have:

• A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or a comparable degree from an international institution, with a minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average (GPA) in all coursework attempted while registered as an upper-division undergraduate student working towards a bachelor's degree; or
• A graduate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or a comparable degree from an international institution; and
• Test scores from a nationally standardized graduate admission test that are acceptable for the academic program to which the applicant is applying.

In addition to the above, all students must be in good academic standing at the last institution in order to be considered for graduate study.

Individual academic departments or colleges may impose more restrictive admission requirements. Program requirements may be based on other factors, such as research interests of the prospective student, letters of recommendation, personal statement, interviews/portfolios/auditions, or other factors specified by the program.

Transcripts

Applicants must submit an official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college and/or university attended to either the Office of Admissions at Florida State University in Tallahassee or in Panama City. Transfer credit posted on the records of other institutions is not accepted in lieu of transcripts from the original institutions. Official transcripts for these credits must also be submitted. Transcripts are considered official when they bear an official seal and signature and are sent from the issuing college or university directly to Florida State. FSU transcripts or official transcripts already on file will be obtained by the Office of Admissions.

Original documents or signed, officially certified photocopies of original documents may be submitted by the student only when institutions outside the United States will not send academic records to other institutions. The verifying signature should be that of an officer of the institution attended. All academic records that are not in English must be accompanied by certified English translations. Certified documents should be true copies that are signed and dated by an educational official familiar with academic records. Documents signed by a notary or other public official with no educational affiliation will not be accepted.

The addresses for submitting transcripts are:

*As a reminder, official transcripts are not required to be sent to both campuses. Official transcripts for graduate admissions may be sent to either the Office of Admissions in Tallahassee, FL or the Office of Admissions in Panama City, FL campus.*

Test Requirements

Official test results are required from a nationally standardized graduate admission test, such as the Graduate Record Examination revised General Test (GRE), the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), the Miller Analogies Test (MAT), or an equivalent test that is acceptable for the program to which the applicant is applying. These scores are considered official only when they are sent directly to the Office of Admissions from the testing agency. Examinee copies are not considered official.

Each degree program has specific requirements, and applicants should consult with the appropriate department for the admission testing requirements.

The Educational Testing Service (ETS), Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), and the Psychological Corporation do not retain scores longer than five years. If your test scores are older than five years, you must retake the test to have official scores sent directly to FSU from the testing agency.

The GRE revised General Test and the GMAT are offered year-round at testing centers worldwide. GRE subject tests are offered several times a year at numerous testing centers in the United States and abroad. The MAT is given at various colleges and universities approved by the Psychological Corporation. Advance registration for tests is required.

Graduate applications to Florida State University Panama City are first reviewed at Florida State University’s campus in Tallahassee, Florida for the minimum University admission requirements. Then, applications are reviewed by the specific academic department or college to determine admissibility to the degree program.

You are encouraged to explore this webpage for general University admission information, and the academic program website of your intended major for specific admission requirements.

Deadlines

The University deadlines are listed below; however, most academic programs have earlier deadlines than those established by the University, or may admit only for a specific term. Prospective applicants must contact the academic program for program application deadlines.

The Process

The graduate application is available online. It is recommended that the application be submitted nine to twelve months prior to the proposed term of enrollment.

To complete the process in the Office of Admissions, applicants must submit the following:

• An official transcript from each college or university attended.
• Official nationally standardized graduate admission test scores.
• The residency form (pdf), if applicable.

Graduate applications and all supporting documents should be submitted well in advance of the program deadline, especially for those applicants who are interested in being considered for University fellowships, assistantships, tuition waivers, or other special funding.

Monitor Your Application Status

The Online Status Check (OSC) allows you to monitor the status of your application and required materials 24/7. Most of our communications, including our admission decisions, will be available on your Online Status Check account. It is your responsibility to check your email account and the Online Status Check on a regular basis. Please ensure that we always have your most up-to-date email address, and include graduateadmissions@fsu.edu in your address book.