The University of Kentucky defines international applicants as those with citizenship other than the United States of America.
Exception: Permanent Residents of the United States should complete a domestic application.
Admission Requirements
Freshman Admissions
For applicants who have not attended a college or university upon completion of secondary school AND who have met all requirements including English proficiency as noted below.
1. Complete UK International Application for Undergraduate Admission or Common Application
2. $60 Application processing fee (non-refundable)
3. Official transcripts in English
4. English proficiency directly from testing center:
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TOEFL: 71 iBT, 543 IPT (UK administered)
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TOEFL Essentials: 7.5
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IELTS: 6.0
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Duolingo: 105
Click here for a list of countries exempt from English language proficiency testing
5. Optional tests: ACT / SAT (M+CR) Scores
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ACT school code: 1554 | SAT school code - 1837
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Required for engineering programs
Priority Deadline:
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December 1 for Fall semester (August start)
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October 15 for Spring semester (January start)
*Scholarship deadline for freshmen international undergraduate students is December 1.
What's next? After you are admitted, ISSS will send you an email with the subject, “ISSS Application & Determining I-20/DS-2019 Eligibility” directing you to begin the “New Student Information Checklist” in icat.uky.edu.
Transfer Admissions
For applicants who have attended a college or university upon completion of secondary school AND met all requirements including English proficiency as noted below.
1. Complete UK International Application for Undergraduate Admission
2. $60 Application processing fee (non-refundable)
3. Official transcripts in English
- 23 College Credit hours or fewer
- 2.0 GPA
- College transcripts
- High school transcripts
- 24 College Credit hours or more
- 2.0 GPA
- College transcripts
4. English proficiency directly from testing center:
- TOEFL: 71 iBT, 543 IPT (UK administered)
- TOEFL Essentials: 7.5
- IELTS: 6.0
- Duolingo: 105
Click here for a list of countries exempt from English language proficiency testing
Applicants who successfully completed English 101 and 102 courses (or equivalent) at a U.S. higher education institution may qualify for a TOEFL waiver.
Deadline to Apply
- May 15 for Fall semester
- October 15 for Spring semester
Apply Here!
UK accepts up to 67 hours of college-level credit from two-year institutions and an unlimited number of college-level credits from four-year institutions. See International Transfer Equivalencies for details.
What's next? After you complete the admission requirements, ISSS will send you an email with the subject, “ISSS Application & Determining I-20/DS-2019 Eligibility” directing you to begin the “New Student Information Checklist” in icat.uky.edu.
Non-Degree/Exchange Admissions
For applicants who are exchange or visiting students.
An individual attending the UK for a prescribed program of academic activity which does not lead to a degree from UK may get a J-1 visa as a non-degree student and can stay on J status up to 2 years.
The Office of Education Abroad offers students from our partner universities the opportunity to come to UK as a visiting exchange student for one or two semesters per year. If you are interested in applying to study for short-term as an exchange student from a partner institution, please visit the international exchanges program at your home university for application materials.
Graduate Admissions
Applying the be admitted to a graduate program? Apply using UK's Graduate Application.
Sponsored Students
Students may engage in either for-credit or non-credit courses as defined by their government or University of Kentucky departmental sponsor. Prospective students will need to ask the UK faculty member to contact the Office of International Student and Scholar Services to begin the process of obtaining the proper DS-2019 form, if applicable. Government sponsored students must contact their respective government representatives to gain permission and ensure that they are approved for study at the University of Kentucky.
Below is a list of government partners and sponsors:
ESL Admissions
Apply at UK's ESL Admissions page.