Graduate Application Instructions and Process

The RIT online graduate application includes sections that will ask you to provide us with personal/biographical information, contact information, citizenship details, your past or current college/university and major/degree details, and test score data (if required by your degree), in addition to other profile data. If letter(s) of recommendation are required for your degree, you will be able to enter the names and contact information for each recommender. You will also be able to upload any supporting materials to your application. You may upload supporting documents while completing your online application or after you have submitted your application in your admissions portal. RIT prefers all supporting documents be submitted electronically.

1st Choice Program

While completing your application, you will need to select the 1st choice program (i.e. major, degree) you want to apply to.

2nd and 3rd Choice Program

At RIT, you can submit one application and indicate up to 3 program choices. We encourage you to indicate a 2nd and 3rd choice program. If you are not accepted to your 1st choice program, we will automatically facilitate a review for your other choice(s). We will contact you if additional materials are required for 2nd and 3rd choice programs. 

Start Your Application

RIT requires a $65 application fee (excluding current RIT students and alumni). Your application fee can be paid within your admissions portal after you submit your application.

RIT requires transcripts from all colleges and universities that you have attended, including transcript grading keys. 
 International students should provide transcripts (or mark sheets) and degree certificates from all post-secondary institutions.

To submit your transcript(s) for application review:

1. Upload copies or official transcript(s) with the submission of your online application, or
2. Upload your transcript(s) through your admissions portal after you have submitted your application

Upon enrollment at RIT, you will need to contact your prior college or university and request that your official, final records be sent directly to RIT. Documents you upload are not considered official.

RIT does not require a WES evaluation or other academic credential review. If we are unable to determine your bachelor’s degree equivalency or need further information our admissions office will contact you.

All applicants to RIT’s graduate programs must hold—or currently be completing—a four-year baccalaureate degree, or the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree, granted by an accredited college or university.

If you have not yet completed your undergraduate coursework, your admission will be contingent upon submission of your final transcript showing the degree granted and the date of the degree.

3-Year Degrees from International Universities
RIT will review applicants with 3-year degrees from international universities. Students with 3-year degrees from India must meet all of the following conditions:

• The college or university is  WHED recognized, and
• The college or university is  NAAC accredited with an "A" grade, and
• You have passed in the 1st Class (or equivalent).

If you do not meet the above requirements, you may request a WES evaluation or you would need to complete (or be in the process of) postgraduate study.

If your 3-year undergraduate degree is currently in progress, you may be admitted contingent upon obtaining your degree in the 1st class or equivalent.

Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) from Nigeria or Ghana
RIT considers Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) from Nigeria or Ghana to be comparable to US bachelor’s degrees under the following conditions: the HND is a 2-year program that followed a 2-year National Diploma (ND) or Ordinary National Diploma (OND) program, for a total of at least 4 years of post-secondary study.

Upload a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) to your online application. Your resume or curriculum vitae (CV) should include details about your education, employment, and internship history. Pertinent research experience should be included as well.

Please upload a personal statement describing your educational objectives. The goal of the personal statement is to introduce yourself to the Admissions Committee. There is no minimum or maximum page length or word count.

The format is open-ended, but you may wish to address: 

• Why you are applying for the program, such as your goals and your passion as it relates to the program of interest
• How your degree program will relate to your long-range career objectives
• What personal or “non-academic” qualities you will contribute to the learning environment in your program
• What prior academic or research experience you have with respect to your chosen program
• Specifically why you want to attend RIT

Students applying to a doctoral program must upload a statement of purpose for research to your online application that will allow the Admissions Committee to learn the most about you as a prospective researcher. 

Each program has specific guidelines for the statement of purpose for research. Find your program's guidelines

One or more letters of recommendation are required for admission to all RIT graduate programs except those offered by the College of Business. Recommendations should come from members of the academic community and/or workplace professionals who know your qualifications for graduate study.

Submit Letter(s) of Recommendation

Within the online application, you are able to enter information for your recommenders and submit an email request for letters. Recommendation letters should be submitted directly to RIT from the referee/person writing the letter for you. 

The preferred method for the submission of recommendation letters is to use the functionality within the online application. If your recommenders are unable to submit their letters using the above method, then letters may be emailed directly by recommenders to gradinfo@rit.edu or sent by postal mail to the Office of Graduate Enrollment Services.

Test Score Requirements

Only some degrees require a GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test) or GRE (Graduate Record Examination).

Find a degree's test requirements

Submit Test Results

You must arrange for the testing agency to send your test results directly to RIT’s Office of Graduate Enrollment Services. Uploaded copies of your test score reports are not considered official and will not fulfill the application checklist requirement.

RIT's code for ETS reporting is 2760. You may choose any department code. All test scores will be sent to Graduate Enrollment Services in a test score file within 10-14 days regardless of the department code selected.

 Ensure that the email address used for your application matches the email used with your testing agency.

Troubleshooting
Q: I sent my test scores. Why has my application checklist not been updated?
A: If the email address or name used on your application is different than the email address or name on your score report, your test score checklist may not update to “received.” Please email gradinfo@rit.edu with this concern and note the name difference.

You have the option to submit a writing sample as part of your application. View the admissions requirements section on your degree page to determine if a writing sample and/or essay is required by the program to which you seek admission.

Find your degree's page

View the admissions requirements section on your degree page to determine if a portfolio is required by the program to which you seek admission. Find your degree's page

If a portfolio is required, locate your degree on the portfolio requirements page and follow the guidelines for submitting your portfolio.

English Language Test Requirements

An official score report for the TOEFL, IELTS Academic, PTE Academic exam, or RIT English Language Proficiency Test is required of all international applicants who do not meet the requirements outlined in the waiver section below.

1. View the overall minimum score requirement for your intended program in the graduate admission deadlines and requirements table.
2. In addition, each program requires balanced sub-scores when determining an applicant’s need for additional English language courses. For example, a minimum overall score of 88, will require sub-scores of 22 for Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening.
3. Deaf and hard-of-hearing test takers do not need to take the listening and speaking sections for the TOEFL and IELTS. Scores from these sections will not be considered in the review of application materials because the listening/speaking components of the TOEFL and IELTS sections are not relevant for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.

Exams Accepted

• TOEFL iBT® and TOEFL iBT® Home Edition (except for MyBest Score)
• IELTS Academic and IELTS Academic Online
• PTE Academic
• RIT English Language Proficiency Test

Exams NOT Accepted

• Duolingo
• TOEFL Essentials
• IELTS General
• TOEFL MyBest Scores
• IELTS One Skill Retake
• Letters from your college or university indicating "English proficiency" or letters indicating courses were taught in English in place of official English language test scores.

Submitting Test Scores
You must arrange for the testing agency to send your test results directly to RIT’s Office of Graduate Enrollment Services. Only official exam results received this way will be considered. Uploaded copies of your test score reports will not update your checklist item to “received.”

RIT's code for ETS (TOEFL) reporting is 2760. You may choose any department code. All test scores will be sent to Graduate Enrollment Services in a test score file within 10-14 days regardless of the department code selected. Allow an additional 3 - 5 days from the date RIT should receive the official scores for processing and checklist updates.

IELTS score reports may be sent to us electronically or in paper format from the testing agency. If you have concerns about your IELTS score report, please email gradinfo@rit.edu.

 Ensure that the email address used for your application matches the email used with your testing agency.

Troubleshooting
Q: I requested my official test scores to be sent to RIT through the testing agency. Why has my application checklist not been updated?
A: If the email address or name used on your application is different than the email address or name on your score report, your test score checklist may not update to “received.” Please email gradinfo@rit.edu with this concern.

English Test Requirement Waivers 

International Applicants may be considered for a waiver of the RIT English Language Proficiency Test, TOEFL, PTE-Academic, or IELTS Academic exams if:

• They have worked or studied in the U.S. for the last two years, and/or
• They have completed bachelor’s or master’s degree from an English-medium university from the territories on the list below, and/or
• They are citizens of the territories below and have completed secondary school at an English-medium school.

RIT has determined those countries/territories to be the following:

• American Samoa
• Australia
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Bermuda
• Canada
• Commonwealth Caribbean
• England
• Guam
• Ireland
• Kenya
• Mauritius
• New Zealand
• Scotland
• Singapore
• South Africa
• Virgin Islands
• Wales

Deaf or hard-of-hearing students must submit an unaided audiogram to be considered for the reduced tuition rate.