Readmission and Changes to Master's or Doctoral Degree Objectives

• Updated: May 2012
• Primary Contact : Dean Tsantir

Graduate programs make all decisions about readmission, change of degree objective, or addition of degree objective. Programs have the discretion to require a full admissions application from a student requesting a new or additional degree objective.

1. Readmission

   Students whose active student status has lapsed and who wish to resume graduate work must seek readmission to their graduate program or to another graduate program. Readmission is not guaranteed, and colleges and programs may add conditions to the readmission (e.g., course grades older than a specified number of years may not be included in the degree plan).

2. Change or Addition of Degree Objective within the Same Program

   Currently enrolled graduate students who wish to change or add a degree objective (e.g., add the doctoral degree in the same program in which they are completing a master's degree) must request the change or addition of degree objective. The student's graduate program must either approve or deny the request.

   • If the change is to a lesser degree (e.g., to a master's degree from a doctoral degree) in the same program to which the student was admitted, the student must still request a change of degree objective (see Procedures for Readmission/Change or Addition of Degree Objective and Associated Requirements ).
3. Change or Addition of Degree Objective within the Same College

   Currently enrolled graduate students who wish to change to a different program, or add another degree objective in a different program, in the same college in which they are already enrolled must request a change of degree objective. The graduate program offering the new degree must either approve or deny the request (see Procedures for Readmission/Change or Addition of Degree Objective and Associated Requirements ).

4. Change or Addition of Degree Objective in a Different College or Campus

   Currently enrolled graduate students who wish to change to a different program in a different college, add a degree objective in a different college, or change their campus of enrollment must complete and submit an application for admission. The graduate program offering the new degree must either approve or deny the application.

5. Exceptions

   This policy does not apply to first professional degrees. (The first professional degrees are the J.D., M.D., Pharm.D., D.V.M., D.D.S, and L.L.M. degrees.)

Decisions on readmission, and the addition or change of a degree objective, should ensure that students admitted to a program have appropriate preparation for graduate work in a particular discipline and at the intended degree level.

• Use of the Central Graduate Admissions Application System

• UM 1768: Request for Exception: Use of the University's Central Graduate Admission Application System for Admission, Readmission and Changes to Master's or Doctoral Degree Objectives (DOCX)
• UM 1772: Request for Express Readmission: Post-Baccalaureate Certificates, Master's and Doctoral Degree Programs (DOCX)

• University of Minnesota Central Graduate Admission Application System

There are no definitions associated with this policy.

Colleges and Programs

Publish the requirements for readmission, and to add or change a degree objective.

• Procedures for Readmission or Change to Master's or Doctoral Degree Objective

• Readmission and Changes to Master's or Doctoral Degree Objectives FAQ

• Administrative Policy: Leave of Absence and Reinstatement from a Leave: Graduate Students - Twin Cities, Rochester
• Administrative Policy: Admission for Master’s and Doctoral Degrees

Effective:

May 2012 - New Policy. Establishes the University's minimum readmission and change of status requirements for master's and doctoral degrees, which help ensure that students are sufficiently prepared to succeed in obtaining their degree. Consolidates information that was previously contained in the Graduate School catalog and on the Graduate School website.