Graduate Program
Application FAQ
What are the application deadline dates?
What methods of applying are available?
What fees are required?
Where and how do I apply for financial assistance?
How many official copies of my transcript will I need to send? Where do I send the official copies of my transcript?
Where do my recommenders send their Letters of Recommendation?
Where do I have ETS send my GRE and TOEFL scores?
I won't have my GRE scores until after the January admissions deadline. What should I do?
What English Proficiency Tests are accepted?
Where can I find additional resources?
What are the application deadline dates?
The application deadline for the Fall 2012 semester is Friday January 6, 2012.
Please note the department is closed December 24, 2011 - January 1 2012 and will re-open January 2, 2012 at 8:30 AM eastern standard time.
What methods of applying are available?
- Apply Online
- For more information on the application process, please contact:
(734) 764-3440
Or send an e-mail to astro.phd.inquiries@umich.edu.
Please include your name, address and the best way to contact you.
What fees are required?
- US students application fee: $60
- International students application fee: $75
We recognize that payment of the application fee could be an extreme hardship in some cases. US citizens can go through the usual application and apply to Rackham directly for a fee waiver on the Rackham website.
Foreign applicants with financial difficulties may contact the department at astro.phd.inquiries@umich.edu.
Where and how do I apply for financial assistance?
How many official copies of my transcript will I need to send? Where do I send the official copies of my transcript?
- One official transcripts is required. Have your school send one official copy of your transcript directly to the Rackham Graduate School. Photocopies of a transcript are not accepted, official copies are required.
Where do my recommenders send their Letters of Recommendation?
- Recommendations can be submitted online, by mail or, for U-M students/U-M Alumni through the U-M Reference Letter Service (RLS).
- For online and mail instructions click here.
- For U-M Reference Letter Service (RLS) instructions click here.
Where do I have ETS send my GRE and TOEFL scores?
- Institution Code 1839, University of Michigan Ann Arbor,
- For the GRE, Dept. Code 0801, Astronomy
- For the TOEFL, Dept. Code 0061, Astronomy
I won't have my GRE scores until after the January admissions deadline. What should I do?
- Many students have the same situation of scores arriving after the deadline. Please complete the online application by the deadline, and we will add your scores to your file when they arrive.
What English Proficiency Tests are accepted?
- Please see Rackham’s webpage"Instructions for First Time Enrollee Applicants Whose Native Language Is Not English" at http://rackham.helpserve.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=92
Where can I find additional resources?
Many resources are available from the Rackham Graduate School:
- The Graduate Program in Astronomy and Astrophysics: https://secure.rackham.umich.edu/academic_information/program_details/astronomy_and_astrophysics/
- New student Information: http://www.rackham.umich.edu/current_students/welcome//
- Prospective Student Information: http://www.rackham.umich.edu/prospective_students/
- Rackham main site: www.rackham.umich.edu
