Admissions Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Use this link to access the application management page. You can also track your application's progress online once it has been submitted. We will send you an e-mail supplying instructions on how to check your application status.

You can request a paper application if submitting an application online is not possible. You may download a paper application (US & Permanent Resident Student Application, International Student Application) or make a request by:

• Mail:

Graduate School

Graduate Life Center at Donaldson Brown (0325)

155 Otey Street

Blacksburg, VA 24061

• Phone: (540) 231-8636
• Fax: (540) 231-2039
• Email: grads@vt.edu

Please visit here for fee waiver information.

No, you do not need to send a Virginia Tech transcript to the Graduate School. Click here for more information.

You should contact your proposed academic department for specific application deadlines; however, we encourage you to submit your application as early as possible. Mid-December is the preferred date to process fall applications. You should also consider financial aid deadlines that may impact your decision to attend Virginia Tech. Spring application dates also vary by department. For more details check with your proposed department or visit the Graduate School admissions page.

International students must meet stringent admission deadlines because of the time it takes to process immigration paperwork and complete the visa process.

We do not pre-review applications. We will evaluate your application materials once you officially apply to the Graduate School.

The minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) for admission is 3.0 or better, but that requirement may be waived depending on the applicant's professional experience and accomplishments as identified through a holistic review of your application. Please contact the department to which you wish to apply for additional information.

Yes, you may apply to more than one department. Applicants must complete an application for each department and pay the application fee for each department applied to.

You can visit our Colleges and Degrees page as a gateway to specific departmental web pages. We also have a page of contact information for department graduate program directors and coordinators. You may also choose to browse the catalog.

Application processing time depends on the department. Some departments hold applications and process them all at one time; in such cases the processing time may be longer. With the department's recommendation, the Graduate School will make the final decision, and a letter from the dean of the Graduate School will be sent to inform you of the decision.

After we receive your application, you will be sent an e-mail with instructions on how to check your application status on the Web. Please allow for processing time as you are monitoring the status. Please do not contact the Graduate School through social media to check on the status of your application as those platforms may not be secure and we do not want your information compromised.

The checklist on the application describes each component that is required by the Graduate School, such as test scores or transcripts. Once we receive your application, you will receive an e-mail with instructions on how to check your application status. Due to the large volume of applications received, we kindly request that you utilize the online tracking system.

Recommendation letters are handled by individual departments. Please contact the department to which you have applied to check on the status of your recommendation letters.

Your application undergoes a thorough holistic review by the Graduate School and by your proposed department. After the review committee meets, a recommendation is sent to the Graduate School. You will be notified by postal mail of the final decision. The Graduate School is unable to release admission decisions over the phone or by email.

Admission can be denied for several reasons. Some of the most common reasons:

• The applicant's TOEFL scores are lower than the minimum of an overall 90 with all sub-scores of at least 20.
• The applicant is not competitive with other candidates due to the outstanding pool of applications that we have received.
• The applicant's academic background/goals do not fit the objectives of the program.
• The applicant's previous academic record does not meet minimum standards.
• The program is full to capacity and no other applications are being accepted.
• Application materials were incomplete (Applicant submitted materials past program deadline)

The Graduate School will hold denied applications for one year. If you wish to be reconsidered within this period, you must contact your academic department. The Graduate School can only honor requests from the department for an application decision to be appealed. You also will need to supply any additional information you can to strengthen your application (new test scores, reference letters, statement of purpose, etc.).

You can apply to another department if you are not accepted to your first choice, but students are advised not to "shop" for departments that will accept them. Instead you should set definite educational goals and seek a way to fulfill them. Students submitting an application to more than one department will be charged an application fee for EACH department to which they are applying.

If you are accepted to Virginia Tech and do not enroll, you can request a deferral until a later semester. This request must be made to the Graduate School from your academic department. If permission to defer is granted, you then will be eligible to enroll for the agreed upon academic term. Your application fee is good for up to one year. If you defer your admission for more than a year, you will have to pay the application fee again.

Financial/funding information and documentation may be submitted through the IntlHokies portal after you have been admitted into a degree program and created your VT PID. 

For questions about your I-20, visit the Cranwell International Center's Immigration Services Portal.

You can visit the visit the Cranwell International Center's Immigration Services Portal. There you will find the latest regulatory information, access to forms that you may need to complete for our office, and questions most frequently asked by international students.

You will need to complete and submit a Transfer-In Form. Once the international student advisor at your current school signs the form, upload it in the IntlHokies portal along with your financial and immigration documents. Visit the New International Student Guide webpage for more information.

Your test scores should be sent to the Virginia Tech Graduate School, institution code 5859. Do not enter a department code.

GRE (Graduate Record Examination) or GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) requirements vary for both international and domestic students by department. Check the department listing for requirements. Be aware that ETS provides a GRE Fee Reduction Program for individuals with demonstrated financial need and for national programs supporting underrepresented groups. 

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores are required of all international students whose first language is not English, except those applicants who have graduated from an accredited university where English is the language of instruction. The university-wide minimum requirement is 90 for Internet and 550 for paper. However, some departments require a higher score. TOEFL scores are not required of US permanent residents and US naturalized citizens.

See the Graduate Catalog for specific department requirements.

The Graduate School does not publish minimum GRE/GMAT scores. Please contact your individual department for more specific requirements.

Test dates vary by location and can be found on the Educational Testing Service website. This site is a great resource for anyone planning to attend Graduate School.

Now that almost everything is computerized, so are the GRE General Test and the GMAT. We no longer administer the paper tests at Virginia Tech. The closest testing centers to Virginia Tech are in Roanoke. To find a testing center near you, visit these sites:

GRE: http://www.gre.org
GMAT: http://www.mba.com

Virginia Tech does administer the GRE Subject Test on campus. For more information contact Cook Counseling Center at 540/231-6557 or visit their website.

The TOEFL ensures that students enter the university with sufficient English skills. These skills are necessary for students to function in a graduate program.

This varies by department. We suggest you check with your proposed academic department to determine their specific TOEFL requirements. The TOEFL exam requirement can only be waived by the Graduate School, upon recommendation by the academic department or documentation submitted by the applicant.

The GRE provides a basis for comparing the student's academic ability with that of all other students who have taken the GRE examination. It is used with other application materials to help evaluate the student's potential for success in graduate study. ETS provides a GRE Fee Reduction Program for individuals with demonstrated financial need and for national programs supporting underrepresented groups. Those who receive a fee voucher also receive free access to some test preparation materials.

No. Unfortunately some fraudulent test scores have been submitted in the past. Requiring an original increases our certainty that the test score submitted is accurate.

There are several reasons why this can happen:

• Your application has not been matched up correctly with your test scores
• Your names may be reversed on TOEFL/GRE/GMAT scores from how they appear on your application
• Test scores arrive frequently, however there may be a delay in receipt during non-peak times (generally May through September).

We can tell prospective students whether or not their scores have arrived, and that is the only information we can release. In order to protect your privacy, we cannot divulge test scores over the phone because we cannot verify the identity of the caller.

For more information on your privacy rights click here.

We can tell prospective students whether or not their scores have arrived, and that is the only information we can release. In order to protect your privacy, we cannot divulge test scores over the phone because we cannot verify the identity of the caller.

For more information on your privacy rights click here.

We no longer print copies of the Graduate School Catalog. The full Catalog may be found online for your reference.

How do new students register for classes and pay fees?
Students may register for classes online from any computer through Hokie SPA. Bills are paid at the first floor Cashiers Window in the Student Services Building or online (see Bursar's webpage).

All applications and application materials become property of the University when they are submitted. Unfortunately, we are not able to honor requests to return transcripts or provide transcript copies. Students should contact the institution where they were enrolled to obtain new transcripts.

The Graduate School can only honor requests for an application to be sent to a second department if it is made by the prospective student. Keep in mind that prospective students must pay an application fee for EACH department to which they apply.

Visit our graduate program directors and coordinators contact list for email addresses for your department's director and communicators. You also may bisit the webpage for the department you wish to reach. If you cannot find a contact email or phone number, call Virginia Tech Information at 540-231-6000.

Access to student health services in Schiffert Health Center is included in your comprehensive fee. The Schiffert Health Center provides services comparable to that of a family doctor. To learn more about medical insurance offered through Virginia Tech, visit the graduate health insurance pages of this website or contact the Student Medical Insurance Office (540/231-6226).