Graduate degrees and certificates for the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Informatics are awarded by the UI Graduate College.  Applicants must meet the admissions requirements of both the Graduate College and the department.  

Requirements for the M.S. and Ph.D. include:

  • A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited American college or university, or an equivalent degree from another country as determined by the Office of Admissions. Students applying to the PhD program need not have a master's degree prior to admission. Those who do may apply for transfer credit of those courses towards the PhD program requirements.
  • A minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.00, or the foreign equivalent as determined by the Office of Admissions. Note that accepted PhD applicants tend to have a GPA significantly higher than 3.00.
  • GRE General Test scores GRE General Test scores from the Educational Testing Service (the University's Institutional code is 6681) are now optional for applicants. Applicants currently being admitted to our program generally have both Quantitative and Verbal GRE scores in the 155-160+ range.
  • The PCAT or MCAT from the Educational Testing Service (the University's Institutional code is 6681) are other exams that are optional, but that the admissions committee will consider in case students submit them.
  • The Graduate College requires a minimum TOEFL score of 81 for Internet-based testing or a minimum IELTS score of 7.0 (with no section score lower than 6.0) for international applicants whose native language is not English. There is also the option of DuoLingo (DET) that has been added during the pandemic (see details https://grad.admissions.uiowa.edu/graduate-programs/english-requirements-admission-graduate-college). However, students with TOEFL scores below 100 on Internet-based testing are generally not admitted to this program. Exceeding these scores does not guarantee admission, and average scores of students who are awarded financial aid are significantly higher. All students submitting DuoLingo scores and students submitting TOEFL scores under 100 or IELTS scores under 8.0 must also take an on-campus English Proficiency Evaluation prior to registration.  For more information about English proficiency testing, please visit the Graduate College webpage: http://www.grad.uiowa.edu/manual-part-1-section-I-admission-to-the-graduate-college

Click here for International Student Admission Requirements to the Graduate College.

Application deadlines for M.S. and Ph.D.*

We accept applicants for the fall semester only.  The application deadline is January 1st.

Admissions decisions are typically announced within two months of the program admission deadline.  

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all materials have been received by Graduate Admissions.

Application Information (M.S. and Ph.D.)

Graduate Application Process

  1. Submit an online application to the Graduate College - https://apply.admissions.uiowa.edu/admissions/login.page

Required Documents:

Transcripts

Unofficial transcripts will be accepted during the Graduate College Application process only.  These transcripts should verify that you hold an undergraduate degree with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and will be accessible by the Informatics Admissions Committee for review. Official transcripts showing your baccalaureate (or higher) degree(s) will be required if you are admitted.

Statement of Purpose

Your Statement of Purpose should be at least one page in length but no more than two pages, with a font no smaller than 10 pt.

Current Curriculum Vitae or Resume

Letters of Recommendation (three required)

You will indicate the contact information for your three letter writers during the application process.  Your three letters of recommendation should come from people who can assess the scope and quality of your past academic or professional work. At least one should be an academic reference. There are no special forms for these letters, however, they are to be written on the recommender's letterhead and indicate the writer's name and his or her association with you (e.g., instructor, employer, supervisor). All letters must be signed.

Application Review

Each candidate's application, along with the University of Iowa application form, official transcripts, test scores, and letters of recommendation, will be evaluated by a committee of program faculty, who will then make an admissions recommendation to the Graduate College. If approved, the IGPI Director will notify the Office of Graduate Admissions of the admissions action.

Questions? Please contact the Informatics program office at igpi@uiowa.edu