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PhD Program

The UCLA Department of Art History offers a two-stage graduate program toward the PhD. Students are not admitted for a terminal master’s (MA) degree. The MA is awarded in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the PhD and is granted with the successful completion of the first stage of the program, typically at the end of the second year, 6th quarter, in residence. Normative time to degree for the PhD is seven years from the term of admission. For students entering with a MA in hand, the normative time to degree is five years from the term of admission.

All students are required to complete the M.A. requirements in the department. The Graduate Review Committee may waive the M.A. requirements, at the time of admission, for students matriculating with a M.A. degree in Art History or adjacent discipline from another institution. Following Academic Senate policy on duplication of degrees, a student who enters the program with a M.A. degree in Art History from another institution is not eligible to receive a second M.A. degree in Art History from UCLA.

Please see here for the official UCLA Art History Graduate Program Requirements published on the Graduate Division website.

• The student is assigned a faculty mentor upon admission to the program. The mentor is responsible for the student’s course of study and must be consulted at least once each quarter. A change of faculty supervision and/or change in field(s) must be approved by the Graduate Review Committee.
• The Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) offers intellectual guidance, approves any exceptions to the program requirements, and adjudicates disputes between a student and his/her faculty mentor. The DGS further serves as Chair of the Graduate Review Committee, which governs the admissions process.
• The Student Affairs Officer (SAO) assists students with all the administrative aspects of moving through the program.
• Each spring quarter, the entire faculty reviews the status of each graduate student to ensure appropriate time-to-degree progress.

Toward the MA

Requirements for the MA

• Satisfaction of the first language requirement.
• Successful completion of AH 200 with a grade of “B+” or better.
• Nine graduate and upper division courses (36 units) completed while in the program. At least six of those courses (24 units) must be at the graduate level, including four graduate seminars. AH 200 may be counted towards the required six courses.
• Successful completion of a qualifying paper (approximately 30 pages) according to the standards and procedures outlined below.

* Typically the above requirements are completed within the first two years of study (6 quarters).

Distribution of Coursework

The nine required courses must include at least two courses from Group A and two courses from Group B noted below.

Qualifying Paper for the MA

• The qualifying paper is a revised and expanded version of a paper written for a class from the first year of coursework. It should be approximately 30 pages in length (excluding footnotes, images, and bibliography) and should demonstrate the student’s ability 1) to formulate a thesis, 2) to present an extended argument, and 3) to conduct original research. Quality of the writing will also be evaluated.
• By the end of the fall quarter of the second year, student selects a class paper from the first year in consultation with his or her advisor to revise and expand as the qualifying paper.
• In the following winter quarter, student enrolls for 4 units of 598 (RSRCH-MASTER THESIS) to work on the paper under the supervision of advisor.
• Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) will contact each student during the winter quarter (usually early February) to appoint a committee of three faculty readers for the qualifying paper, one of which is the student’s advisor. At least one of the faculty readers will have had no classroom contact with the student. All students may suggest potential readers; however, the DGS will balance the student’s request against equity of faculty workload.
• On the first day of instruction of the spring quarter, students submits three copies of the qualifying paper to the Student Affairs Officer (SAO) along with a list of the three readers assigned to review the paper.
• The qualifying papers will be distributed to the three assigned faculty readers and each reader will complete an evaluation form and submit it to the SAO within three weeks of receipt of the paper.
• By the fourth week of the spring quarter, the SAO will make available the papers with reader’s comments to the student and these papers will be added to the student’s permanent file.
• The Graduate Review Committee, taking into consideration the faculty reader evaluations, will determine whether the student will be awarded the MA and permitted to proceed into the PhDprogram. In some cases, the Committee may recommend that the student receive the MA degree but discontinue further graduate study. It is also possible (although very rare) that the student’s work may not be judged adequate to receive the MA.

Completion of the MA

• Prior to the third week of the spring quarter in the second year, the student should complete the “Petition for Advancement to Candidacy for the Master’s Degree” (provided by and returned to the SAO).
• Once the Department has accepted the qualifying paper, the student must file it with Graduate Division by the Monday of the tenth week of the spring quarter, formatted as a thesis.
• Graduate Division guidelines for formatting MA theses are available  here . Workshops on thesis formatting are offered at the beginning of each fall and winter quarters. See the Grad Division website for more information.
• Following the Department’s annual spring review of graduate students, the student must submit a completed form for transfer from the MA to the PhD program (provided by and returned to the SAO).

Toward the PhD

Upon the completion of the MA or starting with a MA from another institution, the student begins the PhD program having chosen a major field of study within art history, often known at the time of application. By the end of the second quarter of residence at the PhD stage, the student also selects a minor field, which may be outside the department (e.g. Architecture, History, Anthropology, Comparative Literature, Archaeology, etc.). The major and minor advisors are responsible for the student’s course of study and completion of requirements within the selected field. Graduate Review Committee must approve any change of advisor(s) or the major and minor fields.

Requirements for the PhD

• Satisfaction of language requirements (minimum 2, including 1 from MA stage; more may be required depending on field of study)
• Completion of 8 graduate and upper division courses (32 units)
• Written comprehensive exams in major and minor fields
• Dissertation prospectus and oral qualifying exam
• Doctoral dissertation

• A total of 8 graduate and upper division courses are required, of which at least 4 must be art history courses at the graduate level.
• Of the nine courses (36 units) required for the MA, students may use a maximum of two of these (8 units) to count towards Ph.D. coursework. Students may also apply courses taken in excess of MA requirements towards fulfilling Ph.D. course requirements. (This does not apply to students who received their MA from other institutions/departments.)
• 5 courses in one field are required to claim it as the major field; 3 courses in one field are required to claim it as the minor field. The minor can also be from outside the department (e.g. Architecture, History, Anthropology, Comparative Literature, Archaeology, etc.).
• Students entering the PhD stage deficient in Art History 200 (Art Historical Theories and Methodologies) or its equivalent must add this to the total requirements. In some cases, Art History 201 (Topics in Historiography of Art History) may be required by faculty/advisor recommendation. Any additional coursework required by the Graduate Review Committee at time of admission must be completed during the first two quarters of residence and may not count toward the minimum course requirements for either the MA or PhD degree.

Written Comprehensive Examinations

• Upon completion of coursework and fulfillment of language requirements, the student takes the PhD written comprehensive examinations in the major and minor fields of study, designed and evaluated by the student’s major and minor advisors respectively.
• The purpose of the examinations is to test the student’s breadth and depth of knowledge in his/her fields of study. If a student fails to pass the examination or part thereof, the failed portion may be repeated once no later than the subsequent quarter of residence. No further repetition will be allowed. The written comprehensive examinations may be taken during any two-week period of the Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters. Typically, students take these exams during the winter quarter of the second year in residence, 5th quarter, in the PhD program.
• The Department offers two formats for the major and minor written exams, the details of which must be worked out in advance between the student and the examiner. Format A: Take-home. 2-3 essay questions to be completed in 1 week (for the minor exam, 1-2 questions to be completed in 3 days). Format B: Sit-down. 2-3 essay questions to be completed in 6 hours (for the minor exam, 1-2 questions to be completed in 3 hours). Many faculty incorporate designing of a syllabus as an exam question and the formats above do not preclude this possibility. Such an assignment would count as one question/essay.
• The specific format and dates for the major and minor exams must be submitted to the Student Affairs Officer at least three weeks in advance using the appropriate departmental form.

Doctoral Committee

• Upon passing the written comprehensive examinations in major and minor fields of study, the student selects a dissertation topic and nominates the members of his/her Doctoral Committee in consultation with his/her advisor.
• This committee minimally consists of the major advisor, now serving as committee chair, two additional members of the art history faculty (normally, but not necessarily, including the student’s minor advisor), and one member from another UCLA department. For details on the acceptable status of these members and for minimum university standards of the doctoral committee,  please see page 14-17 in the Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study manual .
• The student and committee chair must agree on all committee members. Any changes in committee constitution after formal nomination must be reported to and approved by the Graduate Division; replacing the committee chair can only occur by consent or if the faculty member leaves UCLA.
• Please note that the Graduate Division generally approves Committee nominations within 2-3 weeks, and the oral qualifying exam may not be taken before official approval has been received.

Dissertation Prospectus and Oral Qualifying Examination

• The dissertation topic should be identified in discussions with the advisor. These discussions usually evolve organically through the course of study and are highly individualized. Typically, the oral examination is scheduled during the quarter following the successful completion of the written examinations.
• Once the Doctoral Committee has been officially approved by Graduate Division, and after having conducted considerable exploratory research and preparation for his/her dissertation, the student submits to each member of the Doctoral Committee a dissertation prospectus. The prospectus should not be distributed to the full committee without the approval of the student’s committee chair.
• The dissertation prospectus should not exceed 20 pages and include a statement of purpose regarding the art historical topic/problem being addressed (what is at stake in the study), tentative chapter outlines, working bibliography, research plan, methodological strategies, and preliminary schedule for completion.
• Students should submit the prospectus to committee members 2-3 weeks before the oral examination date to allow sufficient time for the prospectus to be reviewed. If any member of the Doctoral Committee finds the prospectus inadequate, he or she must notify the committee chair at least one week prior to the oral examination date. In some cases, the prospectus must be revised and/or the examination date postponed.
• The student is responsible for scheduling the oral exam, consulting with committee members well in advance regarding the date and time of availability of each faculty member. The SAO helps the student reserve an appropriate space for the exam.
• The purpose of the oral examination is to assess the validity and feasibility of the proposed dissertation topic and its methodologies, as well as the soundness of the student’s projected approach to completing the project.
• At the end of the examination, each committee member reports the examination as “passed” or “not passed.” A student may not pass and may not be advanced to candidacy if more than one member votes “not passed” regardless of the size of the committee, or if the major advisor so votes. Upon majority vote of the committee, the oral qualifying examination may be repeated once. Students upon passing the oral examination are formally advanced to candidacy by the Graduate Division.
• At the time of the exam, the Doctoral Committee decides, by unanimous agreement, whether or not to waive the final oral examination (not normally required) and selects, again by unanimous agreement, a minimum of three members, two from the art history faculty and one from an outside department, who will read, approve, and certify the final draft of the dissertation. For details regarding the acceptable status of these certifying members, consult the publication, Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.
• Upon passing the oral examination, the student is officially Advanced to Candidacy (ATC).

Dissertation and Final Oral Examination (if required)

• After advancing to candidacy, the student works on the dissertation in consultation with his/her advisor, committee chair, as well as Doctoral Committee certifying members according to the rules laid out in the above named publication. Upon completion of the dissertation or individual chapters thereof, and with  approval  of the committee chair, the student circulates a copy of the dissertation  in Week 1 of the quarter  for comments and suggestions from the certifying members of the Doctoral Committee.  Each  reader is allowed  four  weeks in which to read it and make corrections and comments, and the student is allowed  three  weeks in which to respond and revise the dissertation. It is incumbent upon the student to communicate in a timely manner with all certifying members of the Doctoral Committee to ensure adequate time for review. Committee members must be consulted as each reader may require more time.  PLEASE REVIEW the timeline for dissertation completion  which clearly outlines the schedule for submission during the student’s final quarter.
• After incorporating into the final draft of the dissertation the recommended changes, the student will circulate the dissertation again among the certifying members of the Doctoral Committee. This draft should be circulated sufficiently in advance of the deadline for filing the dissertation so that each reader is allowed at least two weeks in which to reread it (see quarterly Schedule of Classes for filing deadlines).
• Each certifying member of the committee then decides whether or not to approve the dissertation. In cases where less than the entire committee acts as certifying members, approval of the dissertation must be unanimous. If the entire committee acts as certifying members, the dissertation is considered approved with one negative decision so long as that negative decision is not that of the committee chair. After final approval by the Dean of the Graduate Division, the student files the required number of copies of the dissertation with the Manuscript Advisor of the Office of University Archives. Deadlines for filing the dissertation fall approximately two weeks before the date the degree is to be awarded.
• Note: A final oral examination is not normally required for Art History, but in some cases it may be requested by the Doctoral Committee (determined at the oral qualifying exam), and is held prior to filing the dissertation. All members of the committee must attend and vote. A student may pass with one negative vote so long as that vote is not that of the committee chair. In case of failure, the Doctoral Committee decides, by unanimous agreement, whether or not the candidate may be re-examined.
• Upon filing the dissertation, the student receives the Ph.D.

Language Requirements

The completion of the PhD requires reading knowledge of a minimum of two foreign languages relevant to the student’s field of study (more than two may be required in some cases and must be determined in consultation with the faculty advisor). Applicants are expected to already possess reading proficiency in at least one of the two languages for which they will be responsible. New students shall sit for at least one language exam upon arrival at UCLA.

Students at the MA stage are expected to satisfy their first foreign language requirement by the end of the 3rd quarter in residence. It is highly recommended that they complete the second language requirement by the end of the 6th quarter in residence.

Students at the PhD stage are expected to satisfy their second foreign language requirement by the end of the 1st quarter and any additional languages by the end of the 3rd quarter in residence (or in consultation with the major advisor).

Fulfilling the Language Requirement

Option 1: Pass the Departmental Foreign Language Exam.

The language exam consists of translation of a text of 300-700 words chosen by the examiner to be translated into English in three hours (use of a non-electronic dictionary is allowed). Specific qualities of the language and expected level of proficiency in the field will impact the choice and length of the selected text. The Department expects accurate rendition in English rather than a strict translation, word for word, and values the quality of the translation over the completion of the exam.

Language exams are scheduled four times a year, approximately three weeks prior to finals week during the regular academic quarters. Entering students must sit for the first language exam in the first week of the fall quarter. Exam results will be sent out by email within three weeks of the exam date. If feedback on the exam is desired after the results have been announced, students are welcome to contact the examiner. If a student fails the exam and wants to appeal, he or she should contact the Chair of the Language Committee or Director of Graduate Studies.

Option 2: Complete UCLA courses  French 6, German 6, Italian 6, Spanish 25, or other relevant language classes with a minimum grade of “B”.

The following is a general guideline for language requirements in relation to specific fields of study. The final selection and number of languages is to be determined in consultation with the primary advisor.

African Indigenous African languages, Arabic, French, German, Portuguese Ancient/Mediterranean/Near East Akkadian, Sumerian, Egyptian, Greek, Latin Chinese/Korean/Japanese Two East Asian languages, for pre-modern studies additionally literary Chinese or Japanese Byzantine/Western Medieval French, German, Greek, Latin, Italian, Slavic Languages, Turkish, Spanish Indigenous Americas One European language, one indigenous language (e.g., Quechua, Nahuatl, Maya), one other language (depending on topic) Islamic Arabic, Turkish/Ottoman, Persian, French, German Latin America Spanish (mandatory), French, German, Portuguese Modern & Contemporary Europe & America French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian Renaissance/Baroque/Early Modern Italian, French, Spanish, German, Latin, Dutch, Slavic Languages, Latin and/or Greek (depending on topic) South Asia Sanskrit, Hindi/Urdu, Persian Southeast Asia Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian

Art History Ph.D. Candidate Crystal Rosenthal awarded the 2024–2025 Arthur Ross Rome Prize

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Grad School Requirements: Everything You Need

At The Grad Cafe, we understand grad school requirements. Programs have different prerequisites, and you’ll need to know what to include when you submit your application. Here’s what you need to know about graduate school requirements.

Table of Contents

Grad School Requirements: What You Need

Some institutions may ask you for fewer requirements, while others may ask you for  everything  you could think of. Despite the different grad school requirements from school to school, chances are you’ll still need some if not all of the things in the list below.

This article includes the most common things requested from prospective graduate students.

So what do you need to apply to a graduate program? Here’s where to start.

1) Application Form

While the undergraduate application process involves submitting the Common Application, every grad school has its own application form. So you’ll need to submit a distinct form for every graduate program you apply for.

In most cases, you’ll submit this through an online portal. Though the exact information required varies from school to school, most include contact detail, basic academic history, proof of legal residency, and the names of your references.

2) Your Transcripts

Even though the requirements for graduate school won’t always be the same everywhere you apply to, one thing will remain constant: each will always ask you for your transcripts. There’s no denying that  official transcripts  are a requirement you can’t skip when trying to get into graduate school.

By official transcripts, we mean the ones you get from undergrad and any other graduate institutions you’ve received your degrees. It’s worth noting that you might not always need a master’s degree to get into a doctorate program . If you haven’t completed a master’s degree, you don’t need to submit your grad school transcripts. But you’ll almost always be asked for your undergrad records.

Most grad schools will require you to submit transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate programs you’ve attended. The selection committee will typically review all transcripts, though if you  do  have a grad school transcript, chances are your grad school GPA will be weighted more than your undergrad average. After all, your grad GPA is a more accurate depiction of your recent academic performance.

On occasion, you may be asked for other transcripts if you’ve acquired some during your non-degree programs. Some  secondary transcripts  you may be asked for are the ones you get from language-immersion schools, study abroad programs, and summer programs.

The main reason you’ll be asked for your transcript is that educational institutions are looking to gauge your aptitude and past academic performance. High grades and a high GPA show that you’re a dedicated student, and you have the potential to perform well if accepted to graduate school.

For this reason, there are often some GPA requirements for grad school. Some competitive programs will prefer you to have a higher GPA (minimum 3.2), though most other programs only require a minimum of 3.0.

If you don’t necessarily meet grad school GPA requirements, there’s no need to lose hope! It’s possible to contact admissions offices ahead of time to see whether they are willing to look past your GPA and make an exception. However, you should be prepared to address GPA dips and deficiencies in your application and during your interview.

2) Your Standardized Test Results

When you’re trying to get into grad school, your standardized test scores are often required. It’s a good idea to find out as much as you can about any tests you’ll need to take so that you can prepare as best you can ahead of time. Although some tests are repeatable, others should only be taken once — so it’s best to be ready!

We recommend a service like  Magoosh  to help prepare for these types of tests. They offer subject-matter expertise, and practice tests, and guarantee an improvement in your scorecard. Many graduate programs rely on standardized test scores for applicant evaluations.

That’s why you’ll need to include them with your graduate school application.

Here’s a deeper dive into the specific standardized tests you’ll need for admission to graduate programs.

GRE and Subject GREs

The  GRE or Graduate Record Exam  is a common requirement in many educational institutions. However, some graduate programs have started veering away from requiring your test results. In some cases, schools will not  require the GRE , but they’ll still recommend you take it. If you can take a recommended test and provide high scores, do it anyway — as having high scores will boost your grad school applications.

Beyond providing your scores for your  general  GRE, in some cases, a  subject GRE  is a requirement for graduate school. GRE subject tests may be required on their own or as supplementary to your general GRE.

There are six subject GREs, namely:

• Literature in  English
• Mathematics

Specialized Standardized Tests

There are some special standardized tests that you may need to take for graduate school. These apply if you’re looking to go into a specialized field.

Specialized tests for graduate programs include:

• GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)
• LSAT (Law School Admission Test)
• MCAT (Medical College Admission Test)

Related:  The Ultimate Grad School Test Guide: Which Exams Do You Need?

3) Recommendation Letters

Letters of recommendation can surprisingly carry a lot of weight in your grad school application. They are so important that you’ll have to submit anywhere between two to four recommendation letters in some cases.

If you don’t know how many you’ll need, it’s a good idea to check with the admissions committee at your preferred school or program to be sure.

It’s also a good idea to remember that not all recommendation letters are created equal. Letters you acquire from current or former professors and mentors with whom you have strong professional relationships are often seen more favorably by admissions officers.

Unfortunately, if you have been out of school for a long time, it may be difficult for you to acquire this type of recommendation letter.

Beware, if you ask a professor who doesn’t remember you well or with whom you don’t have a strong relationship, you may end up with a lukewarm letter of recommendation. Lukewarm recommendations mention your grades and talk a little bit about your overall academic performance, but will most likely not say anything enlightening, appealing, or unique about you.

This isn’t necessarily bad, but this type of letter does nothing to make you more attractive to an admissions officer. In some cases, it might even reflect poorly upon you as a lack of effort to establish academic or professional relationships with your mentors.

Also, watch out for recommendation letters prepared with  AI tools . These can be time-savers for busy professors, but they can also lead to less-than-perfect results for applicants. While recommendation letters may not seem like official documents, you’ll need to treat them as such. They’re a major admission consideration for some programs.

Other Types of Recommendation Letters

If you can’t ask your professors for letters of recommendation, an alternative is to ask your coworkers, employers, advisors, and any other mentors for them instead. Admission requirements may necessitate a specific type of recommendation letter, so be sure to check before you make your request.

Once you’re sure you know who can ask, it’s important to remember to observe proper etiquette when requesting a letter of recommendation.

Here are a few quick tips to help:

• Ask for the letter  in person , if possible. If you are unable to meet in person, ask through a phone call, or an e-mail.
• Once they agree, you can then  send your formal request .
• Remember to provide as much information as possible, but don’t overload your recommenders with irrelevant info.
• Ask early to give your references  enough time  to compose their letters. Two to three months is often enough.
• Waive the right to see the letter. Not doing so makes it difficult for recommenders to be unbiased, which raises a red flag for grad schools. In some cases, your references may even back out of writing you a recommendation.
• Have a few backups in mind in case one or more of your recommenders end up having to back out at any point.
• Send a thank-you letter or token to show your appreciation.

Related:  How to Ask a Professor for a Letter of Recommendation for Grad School

4) Your Personal Statement

When you were trying to get into undergrad, you probably had to write admissions essays and  personal statements . It should come as no surprise that you’ll most likely also need to put a personal statement together for your grad school applications.  Your personal statement carries a lot of weight , since it’s your best opportunity to demonstrate who you are and to show the school why you’re an ideal fit for admission.

You’ll need to compose a personal statement that’s one to three pages long, double-spaced.

Sometimes, the personal statement can also be called your “statement of purpose.” But, sometimes, a statement of purpose and a personal statement can be two different essays — so it’s always a good idea to clarify this with your program.

If two separate essays are requested, your personal statement should focus more on  who you are , while your statement of purpose should focus more on  your academic career and goals.

You can also use your personal statement as a platform to address major deficiencies you may have in your application, such as a dip in your GPA, unimpressive standardized test scores, problems or failures you’ve encountered, and more.

You can address these deficiencies and discuss how you intend to convert these negative experiences into possible successes when you’re a graduate student.

Some programs ask for a letter of intent in place of, or in addition to, a personal statement. Your letter of intent should focus more on your academic history and professional goals, rather than your personal background and passions.

Don’t forget to proofread your letters since your personal statement is most likely your only chance to showcase your writing abilities. It can be a good idea to ask someone else to read it over, too.

5) Resume or Curriculum Vitae — Which is Better?

Going into grad school, you’ll often be asked for your CV or resume. CVs and resumes are vital parts of any grad school or job application since they summarize your academic and professional careers. You might also want to list relevant experiences, achievements, activities, and awards or accolades in them.

Although they generally serve similar purposes, CVs and resumes are different. Resumes usually only have one page and are more geared toward job applications. Curriculum vitae, on the other hand, have multiple pages and are more geared towards displaying your academic career and related experiences. Because of this, it might be a better idea to use your CV when applying for grad school.

You can include things such as:

• Your education history since high school, including any non-degree academic programs you’ve attended
• Employment experience, including part-time, highlighting any notable awards and accomplishments
• Research and lab work experience
• Teaching experience, whether tutor, TA, or teacher
• Extracurricular activities and volunteerism
• Publications
• Skills and certifications

6) Your Portfolio

Many graduate programs don’t require you to submit a portfolio. However, if you want to join an MFA or art-related doctorate program, your portfolio will be the  most important  part of your grad school application. In some cases, if your portfolio is incredibly well-received, admissions officers might even overlook your other grad school requirements, GPA included.

Ask your school or program about the type of content most desired in a portfolio before putting yours together.

Related: When to Apply to Grad School

Requirements to Get into Grad School: Masters vs PhD Admissions

Graduate admission requirements can vary depending on whether you’re applying to a master’s or doctoral program. Both types of programs aim to give students in-depth knowledge in their field and prepare them for expert roles. PhD degrees focus on advanced research, while master’s programs are generally based around coursework, though they may have a research component.

Given the greater focus on research, PhD applications often require a research proposal. Similarly, selection committees for doctoral programs will likely put greater emphasis on teaching experience, as well as research projects. On the other hand, your professional experience is usually more highly valued when seeking admission to a master’s program.

Doctoral programs are typically even more competitive than master’s programs. You’ll need a minimum GPA of around 2.5 to get into many master’s degrees, but many PhD programs are even tougher, demanding a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher.

What do Grad Schools Look for in Applicants?

Beyond the actual requirements, other things can also make your application stand out more from the crowd. Considering how competitive some graduate programs can be, your main goal should be to make your application as appealing as possible.

Not all grad programs or schools will be looking for the same kinds of people. But, they’ll most likely want one or all of the below qualities in a candidate.

Certain Skills and Attributes

While graduate program requirements vary depending on the specific program, there are some general skills, as well as personal characteristics, that grad schools look for when admitting students.

Almost without exception, grad school selection committees look for applicants who are:

• Excellent at writing: Not matter the field, all grad students need to complete written assignments, so this skill is crucial.
• Strong at research: Graduate programs almost always have some kind of research component, so selection committees look for applicants with excellent research skills.
• Skilled at building relationships: Interpersonal skills are another essential area for graduate students, as they need to work closely will their fellow students, supervisors, and other faculty members .
• Motivated: Successful applicants can also demonstrate that they’re highly motivated. This is important, as graduate students need to be more independent and self-directed compared to undergrads.
• Disciplined: Graduate schools also want students who will stick with the program to the end, and they know that this requires discipline.

Passion and Interests Aligned with the Program

Your passion for the specialty or field you want to study should be apparent. Passion demonstrates that you are motivated and have enough drive to become successful in grad school and in your career.

Likewise, showing that you have interests that align with the program is a great way to show that you’re a good candidate for admission.

Your  personal statement  is a great way to show your passion and interests in this regard. Additionally, having a high GPA, strong recommendation letters, and relevant work experience can all help demonstrate this.

Related: How to Apply to Grad School

Academic Success

Aside from your passion and interest, grad schools will still want to look for a proven record of good academic performance. This is where  GPAs  come in — and why  your transcripts  are important.

Grad schools will look at your previous academic success and use it to judge whether you’ll succeed during your graduate studies. And, truthfully, grad school classes can often be a lot more challenging when compared to undergrad-level classes.

Relevant Experience You May Have

When you’re trying to get into grad school, any relevant work or research experience you have might just increase your chances of getting an acceptance letter. Consider all your experience. This includes your first job (or any employment history), volunteer work, and participation in select extra-curricular programs.

That goes well beyond your bachelor’s degree and other academic achievements. Relevant experience is a great way to show real-world proof of your interest and passion for your field. It shows that you are committed enough to integrate this specialty into your day-to-day life.

If you’re not quite sure what relevant experience is, here’s what counts:

• Internships
• Research projects
• Fellowships
• Part-time employment
• Full-time employment
• Other certifications or classes you may have attended related to the field

Essentially, anything you’ve experienced or done that’s relevant to your chosen field counts for prospective students.

Having a clear picture of your academic and professional goals might help you be more appealing to admissions committees. When you’re applying to grad school, it might be a good idea to be as upfront as you can about your plans and how a graduate degree can help you to achieve them.

Your goals also differentiate you from students with a similar academic history. They speak to your academic interests, certainly, but they also help express your passion for a particular program.

Test Requirements for Graduate School Admission

Though GRE scores are most commonly required, there are a few different tests that can be a part of graduate school admissions, including:

• Graduate Record Exam (GRE): The GRE is a standardized exam conducted by Educational Testing Service (ETS) and tests students in math, vocabulary, problem-solving, and critical analysis.
• Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT): This test is used by many business schools to assess applicants to MBA and other graduate business programs. It covers quantitative, verbal, and integrated reasoning, as well as including an analytical writing assessment.
• Medical College Admission Test (MCAT): The vast majority of medical schools in the US and Canada use the MCAT, a test created and administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges .
• Law School Admission Test (LSAT): The LSAT is used by many law schools, including all programs accredited by the American Bar Association. It’s designed to test students’ skills in logic reasoning, analytical reasoning, and reading comprehension.

To learn more about these test and how you can ace your entrance exams, take a look at our ultimate grad school test guide .

Final Thoughts

Grad school requirements might seem confusing, but with enough research and preparation, you should be able to put your applications together easily enough. These applications can be time-consuming, especially when talking with multiple schools at once. Task-tracking tools can be extremely helpful for the application process – we particularly like  ClickUp for email tracking .

The best part is, once you’ve gotten one application done, you can adapt it for other programs and schools to save time!

Want to learn more about admissions to your dream school?  Search up-to-date admission results to more than 120 graduate schools here.  With over 740,000 admission results submitted, TheGradCafe helps millions of grad students each year with their admissions journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do i need to take a graduate school entrance exam.

Most grad school admissions require applicants to take some kind of independently-recognized entrance exam. The GRE is the most common test for grad school, but others require the GMAT or another type of standardized testing.

However, increasing numbers of grad schools are adopting a test-optional model, so you may not need to take a grad school entrance exam, depending on the schools you apply to. Be sure to check each program’s requirements with the admissions office, allowing plenty of time to prepare to prepare for the relevant exam.

Even if an entrance exam isn’t mandatory, sitting one can help to strengthen your application.

Are Graduate School Letters of Recommendation Required?

All grad school application requirements can vary depending on the school and the program, and this is also true when it comes to letters of recommendation. Most grad schools ask for two or three letters of recommendation as part of the application process, so be sure to check this well in advance of the deadline.

Typically, selection committees want to see letters of recommendation from professors, supervisors, and other academic or professional mentors. When asking for a letter of recommendation be sure to give your recommender all the info they’ll need to prepare a strong letter, such as the program requirements and things you’d like them to mention.

What if my GPA is Too Low for Grad School?

Most grad schools look for a minimum GPA of 2.5 for master’s programs and 3.0 for doctorates. However, these requirements vary from program to program. Furthermore, some programs may not have a set minimum GPA, but instead will consider any score along with the other part of the application.

Therefore, by applying to the right program and optimizing the other aspects of your application (such as having strong test scores and winning letters of recommendation) you may be able to overcome a lower GPA.

Read more in our guide to getting into grad school with a 2.5 GPA .

Chriselle Sy

Chriselle has been a passionate professional content writer for over 10 years. She writes educational content for The Grad Cafe, Productivity Spot, The College Monk, and other digital publications.  When she isn't busy writing, she spends her time streaming video games and learning new skills.

• Chriselle Sy https://blog.thegradcafe.com/author/chriselle-sy/ When to Apply for Grad School: Easy Monthly Timeline [2025-2026]
• Chriselle Sy https://blog.thegradcafe.com/author/chriselle-sy/ Best Laptop for Programming Students in 2024
• Chriselle Sy https://blog.thegradcafe.com/author/chriselle-sy/ The Best Academic Planners for 2024/2025
• Chriselle Sy https://blog.thegradcafe.com/author/chriselle-sy/ Graduate Certificate vs Degree: What’s the Difference? [2024 Guide]

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