Graduate Admission

Applications and Admission

graduate applications

All applications for graduate study at the University of Kentucky must be submitted online.  Instructions and online forms are provided here. Applicants should be prepared to supply several pieces of information, as outlined below, and the application fee must be paid before the application will be processed. Failure to follow these directions exactly will result in a delay in the application process. The Departmental Academic Program Committee evaluates applicants only after the Graduate School has accepted them provisionally.  The department makes admissions decisions by the following dates:

  • Fall applicants -- by April 15
  • Spring applicants -- by September 15.

We strongly recommend that prospective students familiarize themselves with potential research faculty in our department.  Applicants should specify in their application materials the particular programs they would be most interested in joining for their graduate research .  Students are strongly encouraged to contact individual faculty members with programs of particular interest by e-mail.  

Application Deadlines

Domestic Applicants

Domestic students must submit all application materials (including all transcripts and official scores) so they are received no later than one month prior to the start of the term in which the applicant intends to begin graduate work.  However, because funding and space for new students is limited, we highly recommend that domestic applicantions be completed according to the deadlines listed below for international students.

   

International Applicants

The following deadlines are required for international students and are necessary to allow time for processing necessary visa paperwork. The Graduate School must receive applications for admission by international students by the following deadlines.

  • Fall Semester - March 15
  • Spring Semester - August 15
  • Summer Terms - Students can no longer be admitted during the summer term. 

Admission Documents Required

Be prepared to supply the following information along with the Online Application (complete instructions):

  • Application fee
  • Official Transcripts from undergraduate and graduate institutions*
  • Official GRE score*
  • Official TOEFL or IELTS score (for international applicants) *

*Initially applicants will be asked to upload scanned copies of transcripts. If offered admission, the applicant must arrange to have official transcripts sent directly to the UK Graduate School by their undergraduate and graduate institutions, and to have official test scores sent by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to the UK Graduate School (Institution Code #R1837).

  

In addition, the Department of Plant Pathology requires the following information submitted with the online application:

  • 3 Letters of recommendation**
  • Statement of purpose
  • Curriculum Vitae or resume

**Candidates will be asked to supply contact information for three references. Once the application has been submitted, the system will contact each person identified. Individual letters of recommendation must be on professional letterhead with official signature, and submitted directly to the Director of Graduate Studies in Plant Pathology by official institutional e-mail and/or by regular mail. References will need to provide information about how long and in what capacity they have known the candidate, as well as their evaluation of the candidate’s potential for success in graduate school and in the profession of Plant Pathology. Applicants can check back into their online application account at any time to see who has submitted a recommendation. 

Useful Admission Links & Information

UK Graduate School

  

Department of Plant Pathology

Dr. Rick Bennett, Director of Graduate Studies
Plant Pathology Department 
201F Plant Science Building
1405 Veterans Drive
University of Kentucky 
Lexington, KY 40546-0312 
U.S.A. 
  
(859) 257-3901 (Dr. Bennett's office) 
(859) 257-7445 (Department office)
(859) 323-1961 (FAX) 
e-mail: rick.bennett@uky.edu

  

International Visitor Information