2024 Application Deadlines and Requirements Doctoral

Fall Priority Deadline: Applicants who plan to enroll full time in a degree program and who wish to be considered for university fellowships or assistantships should apply by January 15 (or earlier if your program has a deadline prior to January 15).

General Information: For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.

Admissions Test: If the GRE or GMAT is required, the specific test will be explicitly stated in the “Admissions Requirements” section of the program. Information on UCF’s English Language Proficiency Requirements (TOEFL/IELTS) can be found in the International Students section of the Graduate Catalog.

Institution Codes
GRE: 5233
GMAT: RZT-HT-58
TOEFL: 5233

Program Prerequisites: Many program may require prerequisites. If required, they will be listed in UCF’s Graduate Catalog page for your specific program/track.

International Applicants: Information regarding UCF’s English Language Proficiency Requirement as well as International Transcripts/Evaluations can be found in the International Students section of the Graduate Catalog.

Questions? Our Graduate Admission Team is here to help! Email us today at gradadmissions@ucf.edu

Aerospace Engineering PhD

Application Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering or closely related discipline.
• The GRE is not required for admission to this program.
• Résumé.
• Statement of educational, research, and professional career objectives.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• Applicants to this program, except those that have earned or will earn a Masters or Doctoral degree from an accredited U.S. institution recognized by UCF, who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.

Faculty members may choose to conduct face-to-face or telephone interviews before accepting an applicant into their research program.

Additional courses may be required to correct deficiencies. Students should contact the graduate program director for further information.

Big Data Analytics PhD

Application Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in statistics, data analytics or a related field from an accredited U.S. institution recognized by UCF or its equivalent from a foreign institution.
• The GRE is not required for admission to this program.
• A current curriculum vitae.
• A personal statement identifying the area of research interest and a description of the applicant’s academic and professional experiences.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• The student should have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all bachelor’s level work completed.
• Applicants to this program, except those that have earned or will earn a Masters or Doctoral degree from an accredited U.S. institution recognized by UCF, who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.

Big Data Analytics PhD, Statistics Track

Application Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in statistics, data analytics or a related field from an accredited U.S. institution recognized by UCF or its equivalent from a foreign institution.
• The GRE is not required for admission to this program.
• A current curriculum vitae.
• A personal statement identifying the area of research interest and a description of the applicant’s academic and professional experiences.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• The student should have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all bachelor’s level work completed.
• Applicants to this program, except those that have earned or will earn a Masters or Doctoral degree from an accredited U.S. institution recognized by UCF, who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.

Biomedical Engineering PhD

Application Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering or closely related discipline.
• The GRE is not required for admission to this program.
• Résumé.
• A written statement of experience and research, areas of current and future potential research interests, and future career goals.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• Applicants to this program, except those that have earned or will earn a Masters or Doctoral degree from an accredited U.S. institution recognized by UCF, who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.

Faculty members may choose to conduct face-to-face or telephone interviews before accepting an applicant into their research program.

Additional courses may be required to correct deficiencies. Students should contact the graduate program director for further information.

Biomedical Sciences PhD

Application Requirements

• The GRE is not required for admission to this program.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• Statement of research interest and purpose, including a summary of relevant work or research experience.
• Résumé or CV.
• A personal or telephone interview.
• Applicants to this program, except those that have earned or will earn a Masters or Doctoral degree from an accredited U.S. institution recognized by UCF, who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.

Biomedical Sciences MD/PhD Track

Application Requirements

• Official, MCAT score taken within the last five years. To send MCAT scores electronically, please use the AAMC score reporting system.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• Statement of research interest and purpose, including a summary of relevant work or research experience.
• Résumé.
• A personal or telephone interview.
• In addition to the above requirements, students must also meet the requirements for medical school admission: https://med.ucf.edu/admissions/
  Admission is based on an overall assessment of the qualifications submitted and the interview. All admissions to the MD/PhD program are competitive and based on availability of faculty for sponsoring research.

Interested applicants must first apply to the UCF medical school through AMCAS and indicate on their medical school application that they are applying for MD/PhD.

Students interested in pursuing a combined MD/PhD degree must apply and be accepted into medical school and the Biomedical Sciences PhD program. Separate applications are required, and students wishing to pursue this joint degree program should indicate this and state their reasons on both applications.

AMCAS Application

Applicants must complete an application through the online American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) at www.aamc.org. AMCAS is the national application service that processes applications for M.D. Programs throughout the nation. Through AMCAS, an applicant may apply to most M.D. programs by completing one application and paying the appropriate fees. AMCAS provides the college with applicant information immediately upon completion of AMCAS transcript verification process.

The AMCAS application period begins in late May and terminates on or before December 15 prior to the year in which the applicant anticipates enrollment. The AMCAS Application deadline is the date when students must submit the application, all fees, original transcripts, and associated data to AMCAS.

Applicants who are selected for medical school interviews at UCF will be invited to apply through the Graduate School portal for the PhD portion of the combined program. Please note that applications that do not come through AMCAS will not be considered for MD/PhD track.

Business Administration PhD, Accounting Track

The next available term for admission will be Fall 2025, with applications opening in September 2024.

Application Requirements

• One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended.
• Official, competitive GRE or GMAT score taken within the last five years.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• Goal statement.
• Résumé.
• Other: Previous publications and/or other relevant supporting documentation.
• Test of English as a Foreign Language for Non-U.S. Citizens: A TOEFL or IELTS is required of all applicants who do not have a degree from a U.S. institution or English instruction institution. A minimum score of 577 paper-based; 233 computer-based; 91 Internet-based; or 7.0 IELTS is required. For more information on exams and locations, go to www.ets.org/toefl.

Business Administration PhD, Finance Track

The next available term for admission will be Fall 2025, with applications opening in September 2024.

Application Requirements

• One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended.
• Official, competitive GRE or GMAT score taken within the last five years.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• Goal statement.
• Résumé.
• Other: Previous publications and/or other relevant supporting documentation.
• Test of English as a Foreign Language for Non-U.S. Citizens: A TOEFL or IELTS is required of all applicants who do not have a degree from a U.S. institution or English instruction institution. A minimum score of 577 paper-based; 233 computer-based; 91 Internet-based; or 7.0 IELTS is required. For more information on exams and locations, go to www.ets.org/toefl.

Business Administration PhD, Management Track

The next available term for admission will be Fall 2025, with applications opening in September 2024.

Application Requirements

• One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended.
• Official, competitive GRE or GMAT score taken within the last five years.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• Goal statement.
• Résumé.
• Other: Previous publications and/or other relevant supporting documentation.
• Test of English as a Foreign Language for Non-U.S. Citizens: A TOEFL or IELTS is required of all applicants who do not have a degree from a U.S. institution or English instruction institution. A minimum score of 577 paper-based; 233 computer-based; 91 Internet-based; or 7.0 IELTS is required. For more information on exams and locations, go to www.ets.org/toefl.

Business Administration PhD, Marketing Track

The next available term for admission will be Fall 2025, with applications opening in September 2024.

Application Requirements

• One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended.
• Official, competitive GRE or GMAT score taken within the last five years.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• Goal statement.
• Résumé.
• Other: Previous publications and/or other relevant supporting documentation.
• Test of English as a Foreign Language for Non-U.S. Citizens: A TOEFL or IELTS is required of all applicants who do not have a degree from a U.S. institution or English instruction institution. A minimum score of 577 paper-based; 233 computer-based; 91 Internet-based; or 7.0 IELTS is required. For more information on exams and locations, go to www.ets.org/toefl.

Chemistry PhD

Application Requirements

• A Bachelor of Science degree in the Chemical Sciences or a closely related field.
• The GRE is not required for admission to this program.
• Three letters of recommendations.
• A statement of purpose.
• Résumé.
• Applicants to this program, except those that have earned or will earn a Masters or Doctoral degree from an accredited U.S. institution recognized by UCF, who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.

Meeting minimum UCF admission criteria does not guarantee program admission. Final admission is based on evaluation of the applicant’s abilities, past performance, recommendations, match of this program and faculty expertise to the applicant’s career/academic goals, and the applicant’s potential for completing the degree

Civil Engineering PhD

Application Requirements

• Master’s or bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Official, competitive GRE score taken in the last five years.
• Résumé.
• Statement of educational, research, and professional career objectives.
• Three letters of recommendation.

Faculty members may choose to conduct face-to-face or telephone interviews before accepting applicants into their research program.

Clinical Psychology PhD

Application Requirements

• The GRE is not required for admission to this program.
• Curriculum Vitae.
• Three letters of recommendation, with at least two furnished by college or university professors who are acquainted with the applicant.
• A clear statement concerning the type of research the applicant wishes to pursue as a graduate student, and the Clinical Faculty member the applicant believes would be best suited to serve as the applicant’s major professor and mentor.
• Applicants to this program, except those that have earned or will earn a Masters or Doctoral degree from an accredited U.S. institution recognized by UCF, who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.

If the baccalaureate degree does not include a major in Psychology, students must have completed at least 18 credit hours of Psychology courses at the undergraduate level or above. These courses must include Intro/General Psychology, Research Methods/Statistics, Abnormal Psychology, and Personality Theory/Psychology. The following courses are strongly encouraged: Social Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Biological/Physiological Psychology, and Developmental Psychology. The program requires that History and Systems of Psychology is completed at the undergraduate level with a grade of at least a “B.” This can either be completed prior to starting the program or as an undergraduate course during the program. Applicants who enter with a Master’s degree may be eligible to waive or transfer up to 30 credit hours for credits earned from a completed Master’s degree from an accredited institution recognized by UCF (as long as this number does not exceed 50% of the program’s requirements). In these cases, each applicant’s situation will be reviewed individually based on program standards and requirements.

Meeting minimum UCF admission criteria does not guarantee program admission. Final admission is based on evaluation of the applicant’s abilities, past performance, recommendations, match of this program and faculty expertise to the applicant’s career/academic goals, and the applicant’s potential for completing the degree.

Due to the competitive nature of the application process, strong candidates are likely to meet criteria that are more stringent than those listed here. Strong candidates are also likely to have both research and clinical experience. A department admissions committee reviews the applicants’ credentials and may invite a group of candidates for an interview. Final selection is based on both submitted credentials and the interview.

In 2020, the Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology received 230 applications for admission, and eight students were offered admission to the Ph.D. program. Accepted students had, on average, between 1.5 and 2 years prior research experience and were well matched with the Clinical Faculty’s research and training interests.

Previous graduate work will be considered on a case-by-case basis (including acceptance of a previously completed Master’s Thesis). Graduate students may be eligible to waive up to 30 credits earned from a completed Master’s degree from an accredited institution. Each graduate student’s situation is considered individually by the Clinical Faculty. Graduate students should submit a request to the Director of Clinical Training and provide a course catalog description, course syllabus, and other relevant information to enable the Clinical Faculty to make a determination of equivalence with a course in the PhD curriculum. The waived hours must come from graduate-level course work (e.g., numbered 5000 and above in the Florida SUS approach). No courses with grades less than “B” will be considered for waiver.