Apply to umaine graduate school

Whether you are ready to pursue a degree, certificate, or just a few graduate-level courses, the University of Maine has a large number of options available so you can make your mark on the world.

Navigate your application

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A bachelor’s degree is required to complete a graduate-level degree or non-degree study.

application checklist

Review the standard requirements and any additional per program.

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Additional supplementary application materials may be required for international applicants.

Applying to Graduate School is as easy as 1, 2, 3!

Step one

Complete Your Research

  • Take a look at what graduate studies at the University of Maine has to offer.
  • Determine the type of application you should submit.
  • Contact your intended program or review their website for additional supporting materials and requirements.
  • Confirm the deadline for your program of interest. The table below indicates when you may begin to apply for a specific term. Application deadlines vary and are set by the academic unit and can be found in the program description.
Application TermSpring 25Summer 25Fall 25Spring 26
Applications OpenFeb 1, 24July 1, 24Feb 1, 24Feb 1, 25
Search for application deadlines by department

step two

Apply Online

  • Prepare your essay, resume, recommendation letters, transcripts, test scores, and any additional application materials that may be required.
  • Create an account for the online application portal by entering your name and email address.
  • Pay the application fee or receive a fee waiver. Refer to the frequently asked questions section to see if you qualify for a fee waiver.
Apply Online

step three

Monitor Your Application

  • Log into your application dashboard to track missing supplemental materials and view your decision letter.
  • Please allow 1-2 weeks for credentials to be received and for the processing of your application. This time frame may be shorter if you submit a complete application and possibly longer during peak application periods (December – February).

Materials submitted become the property of the University of Maine and are not returned to the applicant.

What type of applicant are you?

Degree Certificate
Readmit Non-Degree
International Visiting Scholar

A complete degree application should include the following:

  • Completed online application
    • Including an essay & resume
  • Three letters of recommendation*
  • Official transcript of all previous college or university work
  • Official test scores if applicable
  • $65 application fee

*Required for most programs. Check with your department about admission requirements before starting your application.

Graduate certificate students are those whose interests are focused on professional preparation.  The certificate programs are between 9-18 credits in length, which may be applied to a graduate degree program.  A complete certificate application should include the following:

  • Completed online application
    • Including an essay & resume
  • Official transcript of all previous college or university work
  • A $35 application fee
  • Certain programs may require additional supporting materials.  Please contact the program coordinator for more information.
Click Here for More Information

Readmission to Graduate School

For students who have broken enrollment, a readmit application must be submitted before being allowed to continue working toward the degree. A complete readmit application should include the following:

  • A completed online application
    • Including an essay & resume
  • A $65 application fee
  • Official transcript of any college or university work completed since the last enrollment at UMaine.
    • We encourage readmission applicants to upload unofficial transcripts within the application to expedite the admission process.

Readmit applicants may be asked to submit a degree application if the time period since the last semester of enrollment has been more than 10 years. Students who submitted the original degree application before 2010 should contact the Graduate School to see if all supporting materials are still on file.

Non-Degree & Visiting Students

Graduate non-degree students are those whose interest in advanced study is not related to a degree program, or whose previous background or work does not immediately qualify them for admission to the Graduate School.  A complete non-degree application should include the following:

Click Here for More Information

A student in good standing in another recognized international graduate school who wishes to enroll for a limited number of course credits, and who plans to resume work at the school of original admission, may be admitted as a visiting graduate student.  A complete visiting graduate student application should include the following:

  • A completed application (paper)
  • A $35 application fee

Domestic visiting graduate students should complete a non-degree application.

International Applicants

In addition to the standard requirements for graduate study at the University of Maine, international students may be required to provide the following additional materials.

Students applying to UMaine who have previously attended an institution outside of the U.S.A. whose transcripts are not in English or have not been professionally translated into English need to contact a professional credential evaluation service to obtain a professional course-by-course evaluation of all university-level work from a professional credential evaluation service with NACES membership. Please note that departments reserve the right to request an evaluation of your transcripts at any time, even if they are in English. See the list of Credential Evaluation Agencies.

Official English proficiency examination scores are required unless you have received a degree from an English-speaking institution. Note: academic units may request English proficiency examination scores from those who received a degree from an English-speaking institution if graduate examination scores are below average. We accept the following score reports directly from the testing agency:

TOEFL – UMaine institution code: 3916

IELTS – UMaine institution code: 5775 Stodder Hall, Orono, ME 04469

PTE Academic – UMaine institution code: 5775 Stodder Hall, Orono, ME 04469

  • A copy of your passport or visa to aid in processing I-20 paperwork.
  • The Affidavit of Support is to be submitted through our online portal at the time of admission. An estimate of expenses can be found on the Office of International Programs website here. Note: the I-20 will not be issued until original bank statements, affidavits of support, or other current financial documents are received.
  • Indicate within the application any dependents that will be joining you.

PLEASE NOTE: Total processing time for I-20 paperwork is at least 6 weeks. Admitted international students seeking an I-20 should submit their completed paperwork no later than 6 weeks prior to the start of the semester to allow time for processing, completion, and shipping of documents.

Application termSpring 2025Fall 2025Spring 2026Fall 2026
Financial documentation due byNovember 15, 2024July 15, 2025November 15, 2025July 15, 2026
Admissions deferrals will only be granted if financial documentation has been submitted by the above deadlines.
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