ADMISSIONS


Application material received after each program's deadline will not be reviewed for admission. The School of Art + Design Graduate Committee will finalize all admission decisions by mid-March 2008, and applicants will be notified in writing of their decision.

Fall 2009 MFA Studio and Design Programs

Ceramics, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Metals, New Media, Painting, Photography, and Sculpture

Deadline: January 2, 2009, applications are not reviewed for Spring Semester 2009

The GRE or GMAT exams are not required.

Fall 2009 MA and PhD Art History Programs

Deadline: December 15, 2008

The GRE or GMAT exams are not required. However, if submitted, the scores will be reviewed by the Art History review committee.

Fall 2009 Art Education Programs

MA-Masters and PhD-Doctoral

Deadline: December 15, 2008, Art Education will consider applications through March 15, 2009, however, financial aid may not be available for consideration for applications submitted after December 15, 2008. The GRE or GMAT exams are not required.

Suggestions for preparing the Graduate Application for Admission

  1. The application process is online. The application fee of $60.00 for domestic applicants and $75.00 for international applicants is required before the application can be considered for review. The fee is paid by credit card. Please review the site information and note that applications cannot be submitted past the deadlines indicated. Late applications are not considered.

  2. Letters of reference: Three letters of reference are you required for all applicants. All letters may be submitted online by the references and the instructions for this process are included with the on-line application. Those asked to write letters should provide information regarding the applicant's maturity, dependability, and potential for teaching, in addition to evaluating the applicant's creative and scholarly achievement. All letters of reference submitted on-line are available for view by the School of Art + Design Graduate Office and will be forwarded to all review committees with all application material.

  3. Statement of Intent: This statement should be approximately 1000 words or less. It should review how your goals, academic background, and experiences have helped you in choosing your area of study. Statement may be submitted with the on-line application and the statement will be assessable by the School of Art + Design. The Statement of Intent submitted on-line will be available for view by the School of Art + Design Graduate Office and will be forwarded to all review committees in the school for review will all application material.

  4. Official Transcripts: For masters candidates: An academic record of all undergraduate course work, For PhD candidates: Academic records of both undergraduate and graduate course work. Official transcripts must be requested by the applicant and sent directly to:

    Marsha Biddle
    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    Specialist in Graduate Academic Affairs
    School of Art + Design
    408 E. Peabody Dr. Room 138
    Champaign, IL 61820

    Please note that if the undergraduate or graduate degree is not yet complete at the time of application, an official final transcript listing the degree and conferral date will be required of all applicants that are accepted and planned to enroll at this university for Fall Semester 2008. The final transcript should be mailed directly to Marsha Biddle at the above address, and the document will be forwarded to the appropriate campus office prior to the first month of the first term of enrollment.

  5. Vitae or Resume: Include work and teaching experience, awards, exhibition record, and publications. This information will assist in consideration for graduate appointment positions and may be submitted with the on-line application.

  6. International Applicants: International students are required to submit a Declaration of Finance Form. This form must be signed by the sponsor or person providing funding for the applicant. This form is sent directly to:

    Marsha Biddle
    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    Specialist in Graduate Academic Affairs
    School of Art + Design
    408 E. Peabody Dr. Room 138
    Champaign, IL 61820

  7. Application Materials for the Art Education and Art History Programs only: The Art History Program and Art Education require a sample of academic writing for both Masters and Doctoral applicants. The writing sample should be a recent example of the applicant's writing and research ability. A portfolio of creative work is not required. The writing sample is sent directly to:

    Marsha Biddle
    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    Specialist in Graduate Academic Affairs
    School of Art + Design
    408 E. Peabody Dr. Room 138
    Champaign, IL 61820

  8. The Portfolio Requirement for all MFA Design and Studio Programs only: A creative portfolio is required for the MFA Programs in Ceramics, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Metals, New Media, Painting, Photography, and Sculpture. Submit work on a CD. The portfolio should consist of 15 to 20 images submitted on a CD/DVD, video tape, and should represent the applicant's recent interests and capabilities. Do not submit original work or printed material. Please send all material to:

    Marsha Biddle
    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    Specialist in Graduate Academic Affairs
    School of Art + Design
    408 E. Peabody Dr. Room 138
    Champaign, IL 61820

    Submitting work on a CD, videotape or other media: Label all materials with the applicant's full name and chosen area of study. A paper copy list should accompany the work with the applicant's full name and program listed at the top of the page, followed by a description of each work, including the dimensions, medium, and date that the work was completed. Please size all images to a maximum resolution of 640x480@72DPI and format can be PDF or Powerpoint presentations. This information is important for the committee's review and return postage must be included to guarantee the return of all creative work.

  9. Information on Financial Aid: The School of Art + Design offers several opportunities for financial support for graduate students, in the form of fellowships or graduate appointments. There is no additional application to be considered for a graduate application. An applicant may indicate interest in a fellowship or graduate appointment by checking the appropriate boxes on the Graduate Application A vitae or resume be submitted with all application material as this information will assist the review committee in determining the qualifications of a candidate for a graduate appointment. Submit the vitae or resume to:

    Marsha Biddle
    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    Specialist in Graduate Academic Affairs
    School of Art + Design
    408 E. Peabody Dr. Room 138
    Champaign, IL 61820

    1. Graduate Fellowships: A competitive award granted to degree candidates who have demonstrated high scholar and merit and awards. The Graduate Review Committee in the School of Art + Design and the University of Illinois Graduate College determines the candidates for all fellowship awards. A fellowship does not require service and the stipends range from $6000 to $17,000 for the academic year. All fellowships include a waiver of tuition and a partial wavier of university student fees.

    2. Graduate Appointments: Teaching Assistant, Graduate Assistant (often technical support), and Research Assistant positions are available each academic year. The Graduate Review Committee in the School of Art + Design determines the candidates for all positions. As with fellowships, all positions are competitive, and they are awarded to candidates that have demonstrated high scholar and merit. Currently a nine-month 25% graduate appointment offers a stipend which is currently $6501.00 for the academic year. The appointment requires ten hours a week of service and a waiver of tuition and partial waiver of university student fees. Please note: An additional application is not required by the School of Art + Design when applying for a graduate appointment. However, a vitae or resume should be submitted with all application material as this information will assist the review committee in determining the qualifications of a candidate for a graduate appointment.

  10. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Exam: International Applicants or Domestic applicants whose second language is English are required to receive a TOEFL score of 550 (on the paper-based exam) or 213 (on the computer-based exam), and 79 on the TOEFL iBT exam to be considered for admission to the University. Applicants may be exempted from this exam when they have completed at least two academic years of full-time study in a U.S. institution, or in a country where English is the primary language of instruction. A valid TOEFL score must be sent to the Office of Admissions and Records by the application deadline, in order for an applicant to be given full consideration for admission to a graduate program.

  11. Graduate Appointments for Non-Native English Speakers: If admitted, each candidate must be prepared to meet the University's Oral English Proficiency requirement. All instructors whose second language is English must be orally proficient in English to be eligible to teach. To prepare you for a teaching opportunity, you will be asked to take the Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit (SPEAK) exam in the second semester of your first year of study. The University offers study guidelines to help you prepare for the SPEAK exam; a score of 50 or higher is required. In addition, campus policy requires those who pass the assessment to: (a) attend both the All-Campus International Teaching Assistants' Orientation and the All-Campus Teaching Assistants' Orientation, and take part in microteaching; (b) attend two of the follow-up workshops. You may contact Marsha Biddle if you have questions regarding this information.

    Please note: Minimum iBT speaking scores have also now been established as an alternative to the TSE and the UIUC SPEAK examinations to satisfy the oral English proficiency requirement in order to receive a teaching assistantship. The minimum score of 24 on the speaking section of the TOEFL-iBT and the Continuation of a Minimum TSE score of 50 or a minimum UIUC SPEAK score of 50.