How to apply

Apply online via the UI Graduate and Professional Admissions website:

• Apply to the MA or PhD Program in Mass Communication
• Apply to the MA in Strategic Communication

After you submit your application, you will receive email instructions on how to establish your HawkID and password in order to access your Admissions Profile on MyUI, our online portal for students. All supporting materials can and should be uploaded through your Admissions Profile. If your academic program requires letters of recommendation, you will be asked to provide the contact information of your recommenders on your profile. The recommender will then receive an email from the Office of Admissions instructing them on how to upload a recommendation letter and/or recommendation form.

Applicants for admission to the graduate program must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College and the department offering the degree program (review the General Catalog for departmental requirements). See the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College on the Graduate College website for additional information.

Requirements for admission

Applicants for fall semester whose application materials are received by Jan. 1 have the best chance to be admitted and receive financial aid. All applicants must submit:

• Academic transcripts
  • Applicants to our Doctor of Philosophy in Mass Communication program should have completed a master’s degree by the time they enroll.
  • Applicants to our Master of Arts in Mass Communication program should have completed a four-year bachelor’s degree by the time they enroll.
  • Applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants to the School of Journalism and Mass Communication do not need to submit scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).
• Letters of recommendation from three persons familiar with their past academic work
• A statement of purpose
• One or more samples of original writing (one of which should be in journalism and mass communication) that show their ability to pursue graduate work in journalism and mass communication (an honors thesis, term paper, seminar paper, or other course papers)
• International students must also submit TOEFL, or IELTS or Duolingo, scores according to the English Proficiency Requirements of the Graduate College