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Graduate Admissions

The Department of Political Science believes that professionalism is best pursued in an educational environment that places value on both academic merit and social diversity. We evaluate each application as a whole, using all of the information we have to assess whether each applicant is both a good fit with our department and has the capacity to succeed in a rigorous graduate program. No one factor is deterministic, but a weakness in one component should be offset by strengths in other parts of the application. The application process is competitive, and some fields and programs are more competitive than others. A complete application will include

Undergraduate and Graduate Transcripts that demonstrate a high level of academic achievement as an undergraduate or in previous graduate studies. The Political Science Department considers all applicants regardless of undergraduate major, but some work in political science, or another social science, is preferred.

  • We may begin our assessment with unofficial transcripts, which applicants upload with other application materials.
  • Applicants who receive an offer of admission will need to arrange to have official transcripts sent to the UF Office of Admissions from each postsecondary institution attended. Official transcripts may be sent electronically or by mail.

Three letters of recommendation from faculty members attesting to the academic abilities of the applicant.

  • Students who are applying to the MA program in Political Campaigning may (but are not required to) substitute one academic letter with a letter that speaks to the applicant’s relevant experience in an internship, public service, professional work environment, or a political campaign.
  • Applicants who have been out of academic settings for many years and have difficulties finding three academic references should explain that in the statement of purpose, and provide letters that speak to work habits and the potential to succeed in a rigorous graduate program.

A statement of purpose, which should be a concise, sharply focused and well-crafted essay of a page or more that conveys intellectual ambitions, indicates how the program of study satisfies the student’s interests, and how the student would contribute to the program.

Ph.D. applicants are also required to submit a Writing Sample, which should be an academic research paper or scholarly essay that demonstrates the applicant’s capacity to do doctoral level work.

The Department of Political Science no longer requires Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores.

Pursuant to Florida Statute, your application requires inclusion of all post-high school education and employment, as well as information about ongoing international affiliations and research funding. Please ensure this information is included on your curriculum vitae (CV) or résumé.

Application Deadlines

Ph.D. Program (Fall admission only): All materials must be received by December 15 of the preceding year. Our target date for release of decisions is February 15. We generally do not offer Spring or Summer admission for the PhD program.

M.A. Program (Fall admission): Complete applications for the MA programs are due by March 15. Our target date for release of decisions is April 5.

  • International students (who are not permanent residents of the U.S.) must complete their applications by February 1.
  • March 15 is a hard deadline for the general MA and MA in International Relations
  • Applications for Political Campaigning may be considered after March 15 on a space available basis.

M.A. Program (Spring admission):

We generally do not offer Summer admission for the PhD or MA program.

How to Apply

  • Click here to complete the online application, upload your statement of purpose, unofficial transcripts, writing sample (Ph.D. applicants only), and provide names, affiliations, and email addresses for three letters of recommendation. Please direct any questions to our Academic Assistant, Erica Williams, 352-392-0262 or ericashawn@ufl.edu
  • The $30 application fee is required for all international and all US applicants, other than McNair Scholars.
  • PhD and general MA applicants: when asked for “Program Specialization,” please indicate your major field (American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Theory, or Methodology).  If you wish, you may also indicate particular interests or regions within those fields.
  • Applicants for the combined MA/JD program should check the “Joint degree program” box on the application.

 

Funding

Most PhD applicants are considered for Graduate Assistantships, which include a stipend and a tuition waiver (though Graduate Assistants are still responsible for fees).

The Department does not provide Graduate Assistantships for MA students.

Some PhD students who do not have Department funding and some MA students have found employment in other units on campus, or financed their education through loans.  The Student Financial Aid office provides information on estimated costs and other types of aid that are available.  The Bursar’s Office provides information on tuition and fees.

We welcome applications from international students with support from Fulbright or their home governments.

Additional Instructions for International Students and US students with degrees from Foreign Universities

Our international students are valued members of our academic community, and contribute much to the vitality of our department. Presently, we have graduate students from Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Mauritania, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam.

International students (who are not permanent residents of the U.S.) applying for the Ph.D. program must complete their applications by December 15, and those applying for the M.A. program (fall admission) must complete their applications by February 1.

Applicants with degrees or coursework from foreign universities will also need to upload with their application materials:

  • A copy of the degree certificate (in both the native language and with a certified, literal (exact) English translation)
  • A copy of all transcripts (in both the native language and with a certified, literal (exact) English translation) from each university or college attended

International students from non-English speaking countries are required to submit scores from the TOEFL or IELTS. We require that candidates seeking admission score 80 or better on the TOEFL (internet), or 6 or better on the IELTS.

  • TOEFL Institution Code is 5812, Department code 89
  • IELTS Applicants should contact the IELTS test center where they took the IELTS to request their official test results be sent electronically to our account name: The University of Florida. An institution code is not required.

International students are exempt from the TOEFL or IELTS requirement if enrolled for one academic year in a degree-seeking program at a recognized/regionally accredited university or college in a country where English is the official language prior to your anticipated term of enrollment at UF. For a list of those countries, see https://admissions.ufl.edu/apply/international/countries.html

Proficiency in spoken English is a separate requirement for consideration for Department funding. Florida law requires all non-U.S. students who are going to be graduate teaching assistants– even if exempted from the TOEFL requirement — to prove adequate command of the English language. International students who seek Department funding should demonstrate proficiency in spoken English by

  • 23 or higher on the TOEFL speaking test, or
  • 7 or higher on the IELTS speaking test, or
  • 45 or higher on the SPEAK test, which is administered on the UF campus before the start of the semester, or
  • Letters of recommendation or other evidence that speaks directly to proficiency in spoken English.

More information for international students at the University of Florida is available from the Graduate School, the Admissions Office, and the International Center.

 

FAQ on Graduate Admissions

Is the GRE required?

  • The Department no longer requires the GRE for applications to the MA or PhD programs.

Does UF Political Science accept applications for the spring semester?

  • No, for the PhD program.
  • No, for the MA in International Relations and the general MA in Political Science.
  • Yes, for the MA with a specialization in Political Campaigning.

Should PhD applicants identify and contact a prospective faculty supervisor prior to applying?

  • No, applicants are not required to contact a prospective faculty supervisory chair prior to applying, but are welcome to mention in their statement of purpose faculty members with whom they have compatible research interests.  Applicants should identify their primary field of interest (American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Theory, or Political Methodology) in the “Program Specialization” box on their application or in the statement of purpose.  Faculty review applications in their field, and make recommendations to the Department Graduate Admissions and Stipends Committee, which makes admissions and funding decisions.  Students who are admitted are expected to choose a supervisory chair and committee in their second or third year in the program.

Does UF require an MA for admission to the PhD program?

  • No, in most years, about one-third of students admitted to the PhD program have only a BA degree. Both BA and MA students can strengthen their applications by noting their research experience in their statement of purpose and resume. Research experiences can include writing a BA Honors or MA Thesis, presentation of research at a conference, publication, and assisting a professor in research.

 

Are official transcripts required for the Department to consider my application?

  • No, we can evaluate applications with unofficial transcripts which can be uploaded during the application process.
  • If the transcript is not in English, we will need the transcript in the native language and with an English translation.
  • However, UF Admissions will require official transcripts (and English translations) after acceptance.

Does the University of Florida provide application fee waivers?

  • The University of Florida only waives the application fee for McNair Scholars   and FAMU Feeder applicants.  The $30 application fee is required for all international applicants and all other US applicants.

Should all three letters of recommendation come from faculty? What should they say?

  • Letters of recommendation should attest to the academic abilities of the applicant and likelihood of success in a rigorous graduate program.
  • Students who are applying to the MA program may (but are not required to) substitute one academic letter with a letter that speaks to the applicant’s relevant experience in an internship, public service, professional work environment, or a political campaign.
  • Applicants who have been out of academic settings for many years and have difficulties finding three academic references should explain that in the statement of purpose, and provide letters that speak to work habits and the potential to succeed in a rigorous graduate program.

Are applicants who graduated from a university where all courses were taught in English required to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score for admission?

  • No, if the applicant is a citizen of an English-speaking country or if the university where they received a degree is in an English-speaking country.
  • Yes, if the applicant is not a citizen of an English-speaking country and the university is not in an English-speaking country.
  • However, there is a separate spoken English proficiency requirement for funding PhD applicants who are not citizens of English-speaking countries. A TOEFL score, IELTS score, or other evidence of proficiency in spoken English is required for funding.

Are students with foreign transcripts required to convert their GPA to a standard 4.0 US scale?

  • No, students must submit unofficial transcripts (in both native language and with English translation), but are not required to convert GPAs.

Are applicants automatically considered for Department funding?

  • PhD applicants are considered for department assistantships, unless they indicate that they have an external source of funding (such as a Fulbright fellowship or a grant from their home government).
  • Some PhD applicants may be admitted without a funding guarantee, and would have the option of self-funding or seeking external support.
  • The Department generally does not provide assistantships for MA applicants.

When are admission decisions made?

  • The Department begins its review process shortly after the application deadlines for each program.  The application deadline for the PhD program is December 15, and the application deadline for the MA program is March 15.
  • For PhD applicants, we hope to let applicants know their status around the second week of February.
  • For Fall MA applicants, we hope to let applicants know their status around the beginning of April.
  • Applicants who are not applying for Department funding and have external funding deadlines may request an expedited decision.

Does the Department provide tuition waivers?

  • For PhD students, Graduate Assistantships include tuition waivers, but students are still responsible for about $750 per semester in student fees.
  • UF may provide tuition waivers for Fulbright applicants whose funding does not include the costs of tuition.
  • PhD students who are not offered funding and MA students will generally be responsible for tuition and fees.

What is UF’s policy on Health Insurance?