• 37 Graduate Programs at UPRM
• General Admission Requirements
  
• Special Admission Requirements
  • Table of Special Admission Requirements
  • Tests for Admission to Graduate Studies
    
• Application for Admission
  • Law 203
    
• Additional Documents Required for Admission
  
  • Transcripts
  • Degree Certificate
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Transcript/Certificate of Conduct 
• Deadlines
• Application Status
• Application Follow-up
• Frequently Asked Questions

37 Graduate Programs at UPRM

Agricultural Economics (M.S.)
• Agricultural Education (M.S.)
• Agricultural Extension (M.S.)
• Agronomy (M.S.)
• Animal Industries (M.S.)
• Biology (M.S.)
• Business Administration (MBA)
  • General Program (no concentration)
  • Concentration in Human Resources
  • Concentration in Industrial Management
  • Concentration in Finance
• Chemical Engineering (Ph.D., M.S., M.E.)
• Chemistry (Ph.D., M.S.)
• Civil Engineering (Ph.D., M.S., M.E.)
• Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering (Ph.D.)
• Computer Engineering (M.S., M.E.)
• Crop Protection (M.S.)
• Electrical and  (M.S., M.E.)
• English Education (M.A.)
• Food Science and Technology (M.S.)
• Geology (M.S.)
• Hispanics Studies (M.A.)
• Horticulture (M.S.)
• Industrial Engineering (M.S., M.E.)
• Management Systems Engineering (M.E.)
• Marine Sciences (Ph.D., M.S.)
• Mathematical Sciences (M.S.)
  • Pure
  • Applied
  • Scientific Computation
  • Statistics
• Mechanical Engineering (M.S., M.E.)
• Physical Education (M.A.)
• Physics (M.S.)
• Soils (M.S.)

General Admission Requirements

Those interested in applying to graduate school must hold a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent), be fluent in Spanish and English and have the following minimum grade point average from undergraduate studies (on a A=4.0 scale):

1. 2.5 or more general grade point average
2. 3.0 or more grade point average in main subject
3. 3.0 or more grade point average in a minimum of 60 credits approved over the last four semesters of undergraduate studies

The Graduate Studies Office will evaluate the grade point average of transcripts from universities using different grade point scales. Equivalencies are based on various publications and are not calculated by arithmetic proportion.

Special Admission Requirements

In addition to the aforementioned requirements, some departments have established special requirements for admission. For example, some departments may require a grade point average in general studies or an area of specialty above the minimum required by the university, a Bachelor’s degree in a particular area of study, courses approved in specific areas or entrance exams such as GMAT, GRE, TOEFL, EXADEP. The following table specifies those special requirements which have been established to date. Those programs that are not included in the table have not established any special requirements.

Applications for Admission

The applications for admission to graduate studies at UPRM are available via links below. The applicant must use the version required for their requested application type, according to the following definitions:

 

Instructions for requesting  admission deferment as per Certification Number 26 (2003-04) of the Board of Syndicates of UPR.

• COMMON Paper Application for Admission as Visiting, and Exchange Student

Professional development student – Applicant is not enrolled at another university and wishes to take some graduate courses at UPRM. Apply through the campus Registrar Office.

Additional Documents Required for Admission

In addition to completing the application form in its entirety and paying the corresponding fees, the Graduate Studies Office requires:

• One (1) official transcript including all university level approved courses.
• Three (3) letters of reference.
• Transcript /certificate of conduct.  
• Degree certification (see below).
• In some cases, results of entrance exams must also be submitted (see “Special Admission Requirements”).

All documents submitted during the application process belong to the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez and will not be returned.

Transcripts

A transcript is a document issued by the university that awarded the Bachelor’s degree which lists all completed courses with their corresponding grades. For a transcript to be considered official, it must be printed on official paper and be sealed and/or signed by the Registrar of the issuing institution. Official documents must arrive at the Graduate Studies Office in an envelope sealed by the university. If the institution hands the transcripts to the student, the student must deliver it to the Graduate Studies Office in the same sealed envelope in which it was received.

Universities generally issue official transcripts in their native language. If the transcript is not in English or Spanish, the applicant must submit an exact, clear, legible and precise translation of the document in English, in conjunction with the official transcript in its original language. To obtain an English translation please contact University Language Services, Inc. (ULS) through the Internet at (http://www.alsintl.com/university.htm) or call 1-800-419-4601 (outside of the US call 212-766-4111).

Degree Certificate

If the transcript does not include the awarded degree, the applicant must also submit a degree certificate (that is, an official document confirming that the applicant has fulfilled all academic requirements and has been awarded the degree or title). The transcript or degree certificate must indicate the applicant’s academic average (a final numerical average calculated by the university that awarded the degree based on all the grades obtained by the candidate). If an applicant submits an application during his/her final semester of undergraduate studies, conditional admittance may be awarded on the condition that final evidence that the degree was completed is presented. We recommend that international students apply for admission after completing their Bachelor’s degree or equivalent studies.

Letters of Recommendation

Every graduate program requires three (3) letters of recommendation as part of the documents required for admission. The letters of recommendation will need to be submitted exclusively using the "Apply Yourself" system.

Transcript/Certificate of Conduct

A student's certificate of conduct from an institution where you completed your bachelor's or master's degree containing information on aspects of academic integrity.  (Note:  The student's certificate of conduct isn't a Criminal Record Certificate).

Generally, the certificate of conduct is granted by the Dean of Students at your university. Applicants from the University of Puerto Rico- Mayaguez Campus can obtain the form to request the document by accessing the following link: http://www.uprm.edu/decestu/Decanato/documentos.html 

Please communicate with your respective Office of the Dean of Students for more details on the procedure to follow to request the certificate of conduct. 

Applicants from universities that do not have an equivalent form to request the certificate of conduct can access the following forms:

Authorization to provide information & Certificate of conduct.

Where should I send the required documents?

After you have submitted your admission application along with the application fee, you must send the requested documents, as required by your graduate program of study, by regular postal mail (postal address) or express service (physical address) to the following address:

 

Deadlines

Applicants are requested to comply with established deadlines.  Any application to be submitted after the late deadline requires authorization from the Director of the Department and the Director of Graduate Studies.

Application Status and Follow-up

The most common reasons applications are not processed in time are that a required document (official transcript, degree certificate, letter of recommendation, entrance exam, transcript/certificate of conduct, course schedule, etc.) was not received by the Graduate Studies Office or the payment of application fees was not completed.

Application Follow-up

After you have submitted your application you can follow up on its status, including the final decision, by periodically accessing your account.  There is no need to call the office or send emails frequently.

Each complete application (see “General Admission Requirements”) is submitted to the Graduate Committee of the relevant department for evaluation. Once the Departmental Committee reaches a final decision, the Graduate Studies Office will post the decision on the student's Apply Yourself account.  For more detailed information on the criteria used by each department to evaluate candidates, as well as information on financial aid, the applicant must contact the administrative staff listed in the following table.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Admissions Process

1. What is the deadline to apply for Graduate Studies? February 15th (for entrance in August) and September 15 (for entrance in January).

2. Can I apply after the deadline? Applications may be accepted up to three weeks late (for entrance in January) and up to four weeks late (for entrance in August) by paying a late application fee of US $10.00.

3. Can I send the application form and letters of recommendation by regular mail? No, the application form and letters of recommendation must be submitted electronically through the online system. The only documents accepted by regular mail are those sent directly by the applicant's university.

4. Can I apply before completing my degree? Students pursuing undergraduate studies can apply for admission during their last semester of studies and if admitted, will need to submit an official academic transcript with awarded degree or degree completion certificate as evidence of completing the degree.

5. Do I need an electronic address? Yes, all communication with the applicant takes place through e-mail. It is the applicant's responsibility to check e-mail frequently, and ensure their account is configured to properly accept messages from our office, so they are not deposited in junk mail.

6. Is there a difference between the terms city, state, country and postal city, postal state, postal country? The first terms apply to the applicant's physical address, where they reside. The second term refers to the address where they receive their mail. In most cases, both addresses are the same, but in some cases people live in one place and receive mail somewhere else, such as the home of a family member. Residents of Puerto Rico and the US will not received correspondence by regular mail. International applicants will only receive documents required to process their visa applications.

7. What documents do I need to submit in addition to the application form? Two official university transcripts that include all completed university-level courses must be submitted. A transcript is a document issued by the university that awarded the Bachelor's degree which lists all completed courses with their corresponding grades.  If the transcript does not include the awarded degree, the applicant must also submit a degree certificate.  The transcript or degree certificate must include a grade point average.

8. What is a degree certificate? An official document confirming that the applicant has fulfilled all academic requirements and has been awarded the degree or title.

9. What is the academic index or grade point average? The final numerical average calculated by the university that awarded the degree based on all the grades obtained by the applicant.

10. The minimum grade point average for admission to UPRM is 2.5, but a different grade point scale is used in my country. How is this evaluated? The Graduate Studies Office will evaluate the grade point average of transcripts from universities using equivalency reference tables prepared by recognized institutions, such as World Education Services. Equivalencies are not calculated by arithmetic proportion.

11.  What is a Transcript/Certificate of Conduct?   A student's certificate of conduct from an institution where you completed your bachelor's or master's degree containing information on aspects of academic integrity.

12. What is an "official" document or copy? Official copies or documents must be printed on official paper and be sealed and/or signed by the Registrar of the issuing institution. Official documents must arrive at the Graduate Studies Office in an envelope sealed by the university. If the institution hands the transcripts to the student, the student must deliver it to the Graduate Studies Office in the same sealed envelope in which it was received.

13. Must I submit an English translation of my official transcript? Universities generally issue official transcripts in their native language. If the transcript is not in English or Spanish, the applicant must submit an exact, clear, legible and precise translation of the document in English, in conjunction with the official transcript in its original language. To obtain an English translation please contact University Language Services, Inc. (ULS) (http://www.alsintl.com/university.htm) or call 1-800-419-4601 (outside of the US call 212-766-4111). This information is included for your convenience. All arrangements must be made through ULS according to the services required.

14. Must I take special exams before applying for admission? The application form includes a list of departments that require special exams. Applicants must become aware of the dates exams are offered to ensure results will be available to the Graduate Studies Office on or before the application submission deadline.

15. What is the minimum score to pass these exams? Minimum scores, if applicable, are determined by each graduate program. The university does not set an overall minimum score.

16. How many letters of recommendation are required and how are they submitted? Three letters of recommendation are required from professors and/or professionals who know the applicant's character, academic training and professional achievements. Letters of recommendations from family and friends will not be accepted.

17. How do I pay the application fee? The fastest and most efficient method of payment is by credit card as deposits are made instantly and the applicant receives a receipt immediately. Payment is the last step in the application process, and can only be done once the application is completed. Payments can also be made directly on campus at the Finance Office, in which case the applicant or his/her representative must take the receipt of payment to the Graduate Studies Office.

18. What are the most common reasons my application will not be considered on time? The two most common reasons applications are not processed in time are that a required document (official transcript, degree certificate, letter of recommendation, entrance exam, course schedule, etc.) was not received by the Graduate Studies Office and the graduate program was unable to evaluate the application within the established time frame.

19. Can I recover the documents I submitted and the application fee if my application is denied? No. Documents submitted during the application process belong to the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez and will not be returned. The application fee is also not refundable.

20. How do I apply for a student assistantship at UPRM? Assistantships are requested by filling in the appropriate box during the application process. The department will evaluate your application and determine if an assistantship will be awarded.

21. How can I obtain more information on programs I am interested in? Click on the link on the right side of this page for access to the various departments. You can also consult the graduate catalogue.

22. Can another person act on my behalf at the Graduate Studies Office? Yes, as long as we receive a letter identifying this person and authorizing them to represent you at the university. However, we cannot send them immigration forms or transcripts.

23. What happens after I submit my application? Once an application is submitted, the Graduate Studies Office waits for your three letters of recommendation and transcripts to arrive. Each complete application is then submitted to the relevant department for evaluation. Once the department reaches a final decision, the Graduate Studies Office informs the applicant by posting the decision on the student's Apply Yourself account.

24. How can I monitor the status of my application? The Graduate Studies Office will post the decision in the student's Apply Yourself account.

25. Who awards admissions and assistantships? Decisions are made by each department. The Graduate Studies Office does not interfere in this process.

26. Can I postpone my admission? Yes, the admission to graduate studies can be deferred for one year; however, you can apply only once more without having to pay the application fee again. Please review the outlined procedure.

27. If my application is denied, can I apply to have the decision reconsidered? No, you will have to reapply. If the application is denied again you will have to wait two years to reapply.

28. Can international students receive admission documents and I-20 forms after the established deadline? For each application period the Graduate Studies Office establishes a deadline to send I-20 forms and admission documents to the applicant's home. The Graduate Studies Office will not send these documents after the deadline. The applicant will have to reapply for admission the following semester and pay the applicable fees. Transcripts, letters of recommendation and other documents that were included in the first application will be transferred to the new application. Any changes to documents previously submitted to the Graduate Studies Office must be notified in writing.