How to apply
To apply online, go to the UI Graduate and Professional Admissions website.
The application has two parts. After you submit your initial application and pay the application fee, 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, to complete the rest of your application. All supporting materials can and should be uploaded through your Admissions Profile. 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 as well as the department offering the degree program. See the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College on the Graduate College website for additional information.
Important deadlines
Application Deadline: Jan. 7 (all materials must be on file with the department for consideration for assistantships/fellowships)
Requirements for admission
You must meet all normal admission requirements to be considered for admission. GRE is optional–no longer required. All applicants must submit:
- Transcripts from all previous universities (unofficial is fine)
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited university is required.
- Undergraduate grade-point average of at least 3.3 on a four-point scale (or its equivalent for foreign applicants)
- For applicants who have done graduate work elsewhere, we require a graduate grade-point average of at least 3.5.
- Three letters of recommendation from persons who can comment upon the applicant's academic ability and motivation
- Statement of purpose (no more than 500 words)
- For more guidance, reference the FAQ
- CV/resume
- One or more samples of original writing that show their ability to pursue graduate work in political science (an honors thesis, term paper, seminar paper, or other course papers) is highly recommended.
- GRE scores are NOT required. If you wish for your GRE scores to be considered, you may include them. The University of Iowa's school code is 6681.
Students whose native language is not English must achieve a TOEFL iBT score of at least 100 or an IELTS score of 7 with no subscore lower than 6. English proficiency waiver eligibility can be found on the English Proficiency Requirements page of the Graduate College. Non-native English speakers should also note the English proficiency requirements associated with serving as a Teaching Assistant and the requirement to take the Spoken Proficiency of English in the Classroom (SPEC) test before they are assigned assistantship responsibilities.
Because of the structure of our curriculum, new doctoral students must enter the program at the beginning of the fall term.
FAQ
Do I need an undergraduate degree in political science to be considered for admission?
No, an undergraduate degree in political science is not required.
How long should my statement of purpose be and what should I talk about?
The Statement of Purpose is one of the most important pieces of your application to graduate studies. It serves as your first introduction as an academic and it contextualizes the other pieces of your application for the admissions committee. The admissions committee will read your Statement of Purpose to assess if our program is a good fit for you. By fit, we mean that we search for potential graduate students who study topics in which our faculty specialize.
Your Statement of Purpose should elaborate on your area(s) of interest. Tell us what you’re interested in studying in graduate school, with specific examples, and tell us why it’s interesting to you. You might consider classes, readings, research, or personal experiences that sparked your interest. Please know that this is not a firm commitment: as their studies continue, most graduate students shift and refine their focus. We’re looking for a sense of where you’ll be starting from. If you have completed any related work (as an undergraduate student, graduate student, employee or volunteer) or have any skills (research, languages, programming, etc.) that you’re interested in utilizing in your studies, be sure to mention those. If there’s any context we need to understand your academic records, please note that in your Statement of Purpose. Lastly, we want to know why the Political Science Department at the University of Iowa is a good fit for your interests. Be sure to mention which faculty members in our department you’re interested in as teachers and mentors.
Your Statement of Purpose should be no more than 500 words—approximately two pages double-spaced in a standard, 12 point font.
Are there additional requirements for international students?
Foreign students whose native language is not English must achieve a TOEFL iBT score of at least 100 or an IELTS score of 7 with no subscore lower than 6.
When can I expect to hear about an admission decision?
Our admissions committee meets in late January or early February and initial decisions are announced shortly thereafter.
Can I begin the graduate program in a semester other than the fall?
No. New doctoral students must enter the program at the beginning of the fall term due to the structure of our curriculum.
How many students apply each year? How many are admitted?
The PhD program receives about 60-80 applications each year. Of these, 6-8 are admitted.