Application FAQ’s

When is the application deadline?

The application deadline for Fall 2013 is December 15th, 2012.

Is is possible to receive an information packet in the mail for your program?

The best source of information on our PhD program is our department website www.psch.uic.edu, since everything is now listed on our website we no longer print hard copy materials. Under the 'Divisions' portion on the main website you can learn more about our 5 different areas of study, if you click on a specific division you can learn more about the curriculum and our faculty members research interests.

Can I schedule an appointment with an Admissions Counselor or Academic Advisor to discuss the program and my specific goals?

Due to the large amount of applications we receive we do not offer pre-admissions advising appointments, please visit our website for additional information on the program. If you have questions after reviewing the website please email our admissions team at pschinfo@uic.edu.

How difficult is it to get into UIC's Psychology PhD program?

Admission to this department is quite selective, each year we receive many more applications than we have openings. To be competitive, applicants should have excellent grades, GRE scores, recommendations, and must have research interests that are compatible with the faculty members in the division they are applying to. Last year we received 650 applications, the department offered admission to 22 applicants, and we have 12 students in our incoming class.

Do I need to have a Psychology undergraduate degree in order to apply?

No, as long as you have a BSc or BA and have met the course prerequisites we look forward to reviewing your application.

What are the course prerequisites and can I take them at UIC?

The course prerequisites are 18 hours of Psychology coursework (including 1 behavioral statistics class and 1 experimental lab class) 1 year of college level math, and 1 year of college level lab science. Many of our undergraduate level classes are reserved for our current undergraduate majors and minors; it may not be possible to take all of the prerequisite courses at UIC.

What information should I include in my personal statement?

You should include information about yourself, your research experience, your current research interests, what you would like to do as a research psychologist, and who you would like to work with as a faculty advisor. While there is no minimum or maximum length for the personal statement, the statements we receive are typically around 2 pages in length.

What is the minimum/average GPA and GRE score?

The minimum GPA is 3.2 and on average our accepted students have a GPA around 3.7. The average combined verbal/quant GRE score is typically around 1250. The General GRE exam is required for all applicants and the GRE Subject exam is options, but strongly recommended.

How important is prior research experience?

We are particularly interested in receiving applications from persons with a strong commitment to research, scholarly work, and a scientific perspective. Previous research experience or the completion of an undergraduate reserach project is seen as particularly positive.

How do I know which faculty members are eligible to mentor students and what their research interests are?

Here is a list of faculty members who are eligible to mentor students by division. For additional information on individual research interests please visit the division webpages.  (PDF)

How do I apply to UIC’s Psychology PhD program?

For instructions on how to apply to the UIC PhD program please visit the following website http://portal.psch.uic.edu/Prospective/application.aspx

After you complete the online application and it is processed by the Office of Admissions and Records they will send you a link where you can upload your application materials. Please note that this can take up to 5 days.

I’m an international student, am I eligible to apply to your program?

Yes, we have a diverse student population and currently have several international students in the department. To ensure you are submitting the correct documents along with your application please visit the website for the Office of Admissions and Records http://www.uic.edu/depts/oar/grad/index.html and the website for the Office of International Services http://www.ois.uic.edu/

I’m an international student but am fluent in English. Do I need to take the TEOFL exam?

Some international students are eligible to be waived out of the TEOFL requirement. Please visit the website for the Office of Admissions and Records for additional information on obtaining a waiver. http://www.uic.edu/depts/oar/grad/index.html

What supporting documents do I need to submit along with my application?

Starting in September 2012 applicants will need to complete a single application that will be reviewed by both the UIC Office of Admissions and Records and the Department of Psychology. To start the application and view official instructions please visit the Office of Admissions and Records website http://www.uic.edu/depts/oar/grad/index.html

Please note that as part of the application you will need to upload unofficial copies of all transcripts, unofficial GRE scores (even if the official scores are sent to the Office of Admissions and Records - the code for UIC is 1851), a copy of your personal statement, and a CV through the online application. Official transcripts are not required for the application, only students who have been admitted to the program need to submit official transcripts. Three letters of recommendation are required, the application will ask you to type in the names and email addresses of the three faculty members who will be submitting letters for you and the system will send them an email with a link where they can upload the letter. International applicants may need to provide additional documents, please refer to the Office of Admissions and Records website.

The Department of Psychology ONLY accepts documents that are submitted electronically through our online application system. Hard copy materials that are mailed to the department are not accepted. Please contact the Graduate Studies Coordinator with any questions or concerns regarding the application.

I've submitted my application, how do I confirm if all of my documents have been received or if my stuatus has been updated? What are the next steps in the application process?

To check the status of your application, view if a decision has been made, or to confirm that all required doucments have been received please log back into the application that you submitted and review the 'Application Summary' page. Faculty members start reviewing applications right after the December 15th deadline, the interviews for select applicants are typically held in late February, and admissions decisions are made March through the end of April. Once a decision has been made on your application your status will be updated online and the UIC Office of Admissions and Records will send you a letter in the mail. No admission decision information will be given out over the phone.

Are there any funding opportunities for incoming students?

Yes, the Department of Psychology offers Teaching Assistantships or Research Assistantships to the students who are accepted into our program. Students who accept a 25-67% TA or RA position are provided with a tuition waiver, a waiver of some fees, and a stipend. UIC also offers several fellowship opportunities.