All applications are submitted using the Online Admissions Application (OAA) system. Applicants will then use the Gateway for UAMS Students (GUS) to track their admission application, and receive up-to-date information on the admissions process. GUS also serves as the main portal for student information throughout the duration of your studies at UAMS.
Spring 2025 and Summer 2025 admission applications will be submitted in GUS.
Apply for a program in the Graduate School
UAMS is transitioning to Workday Student, a new student information system. Applications for the Fall 2025 will open in Workday on August 5th. Candidates will apply to the Graduate School using the new admissions application in Workday.
Link to Apply for Fall 2025 in Workday Student
Please contact your Program for additional admission requirements that might not be listed in this application. Program information can be found here.
Things to Keep in Mind When Filling out the Admission Application
- Make sure you hit the ‘submit application’ button when you complete your application. There is no application fee. You can have all of the green check marks completed and your application can still not be actually submitted to the Graduate School. After clicking the ‘Submit Application button and completing the required screens, you will receive an email that will let you know that your application has been submitted. If you do not receive this email, your application has not been submitted.
- When entering previous education in OAA, please only use the “Can’t Find my College” option ONCE when listing your previous institutions. If you cannot find more than one of your institutions, please list those in a Word document and upload that document when submitting your application.
- Once you have submitted an admissions application, you cannot change any information included. It is very important to make sure that all information included in your application is complete and correct. If you need to make any changes, please email graduateadmissions@uams.edu.
- To find out what application materials have not been received, you will log in to GUS. Materials that have not been received will be listed in your “To Do” items.
Documents to Submit in the Online Admissions Application (OAA)
Contact information for Letters of Recommendation – Please include the name and correct email address. Your recommenders will be notified by email after you submit your application. The email will contain instructions for submitting their recommendation.
CV and Statement of Purpose – Please attach this information in the documents section of OAA when applying.
Documents to Submit to the Graduate School: Electronic or Paper Copy
Official transcripts from each university attended even if listed as transfer credit on another transcript.
The Graduate School requires a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.70 (A=4.00) or better on all undergraduate coursework attempted at a regionally accredited institution of higher education (regardless of any modifications to the academic record by the undergraduate institution on the basis of academic clemency or grade forgiveness policies). If the school you attended does not use the standard U.S. 4.0 grading scale and/or if the transcript is not in English, a transcript evaluation is required. UAMS Graduate School does not have a forgiveness policy for evaluation of transcripts. However; should an applicant fail to meet this requirement, the program may petition the Dean of the Graduate School to consider an exception to this requirement on behalf of the applicant. Any decisions by the Dean to grant exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. For all international applicants, official test results of the TOEFL or IELTS test must be sent directly to UAMS by the Educational Testing Service.
A photocopy of the scores sent to the student, who in turn forwards the scores to UAMS is not sufficient. No action will be taken on an application containing a photocopied test score. There is no exception to this policy. The code for the UAMS Graduate School is 6901. If selecting by institution name, please select the following: U AR Med Sci Graduate School English Proficiency Certification.
Any international applicant whose native language is English must provide a document identifying their country which notes the native language is English. Any applicant whose native language is not English and who does not have a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution is required to submit a TOEFL score with the suggested minimum score of 79 (computer-based). The institution code is 6901 for the TOEFL.
As of November 21, 2019, the IELTS test score will be accepted. The suggested minimum score on the IELTS test is 6.5. Please note that departments have the prerogative of setting higher score requirements. The TOEFL and IELTS tests must have been taken within the two years immediately preceding the requested semester of admission.
An official copy of the TOEFL or IELTS score, issued by the Educational Testing Service must be sent directly to UAMS by the testing service. A photocopy of the scores sent to the student is not sufficient. No action will be taken on an application containing a photocopied test score. There is no exception to this policy.
Ownership of Submitted Documents
All credentials and documents submitted become the property of the Graduate School. The originals or copies of the originals will not be returned to the applicant or forwarded to another institution, agency, or person.
Finances and Expenses
All international students attending UAMS must have sufficient resources to meet all educational and living expenses until their program of study is completed. The estimated annual budget for an international student is currently $33,000 U.S. dollars per year. Your Affidavit of Support must show a total amount for two years ($66,000 USD). This documentation will be requested after you accept admission to one of our programs. This figure includes non-resident tuition, books, fees, required health insurance, etc., as well as basic living expenses for a student residing in campus housing. Doctoral applicants may be eligible for an assistantship that will cover educational and living expenses. There is no other type of financial aid, such as student loans or grants, available to international students through this institution.
Proof of Financial Support can be shown in the following ways:
- Personal bank statement or savings account
- A personal bank reference on bank letterhead from a bank official verifying that you possess the funds for estimated cost of attendance
- A sponsor’s bank reference letter verifying that he/she possesses the funds and an affidavit from your sponsor verifying his or her intent to sponsor your education
- Government financial guarantee – Submit the original form or official copy of your award as evidence of financial support
The statement of financial support must be in English and must specify the sponsoring organization, academic term(s), billing address, and level and field of study for which it is valid. It must also specify the U.S. dollar amount you will receive and how the funds will be paid.
Additional amounts for dependents per year are $4,500 (spouse) and $2,500 (children).
Life insurance policies, investments, non-liquid assets, and screen shots from an online bank account are not acceptable forms of documentation.
These documents will be requested after you accept admission to a UAMS program.
Immigration Processing
To allow sufficient time for departmental consideration and processing of required immigration documentation, international applicants should make sure all of the above items are submitted no less than four months prior to the applicant’s anticipated initial enrollment. If any of the above items are not submitted the application will not be considered.
Under no circumstances will UAMS issue the Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant (F-1) Student Status (Form I-20 A-B) until the applicant has been admitted to the University.
Change of Status
If you want to change your status while in the United States, you (or in some cases your employer) must file a request with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on the appropriate form before your authorized stay expires.
In general, you may apply to change your nonimmigrant status if you were lawfully admitted to the United States in an eligible nonimmigrant status, your nonimmigrant status remains valid, you have not violated the conditions of your status and you have not committed any crimes that would make you ineligible. Until you receive approval from USCIS, do not assume the status has been approved and do not change your activity in the United States.
USCIS recommends that you apply as soon as you determine that you need to change to a different nonimmigrant classification. If USCIS denies your application, be prepared to leave the United States when your current status expires.
If your nonimmigrant status is unexpired at the time of filing the application to change status to F-1 nonimmigrant, and you otherwise remain eligible for a change of status, you are not required to obtain status all the way up to the date that is 30 days before your program start date (“bridge the gap”). Even if USCIS processing times cause a delay in your program start date and your DSO must defer your start date until the next academic term or semester, you are not required to file any additional applications to maintain your status. If approved, your change of status to F-1 will be effective as of the date of adjudication.
You must wait until the change of status to F-1 application is approved and you are within 30 days of the new program start date to engage in F status-specific activities, such as on-campus employment and practical training. For more information, please visit the Study in States website.
Please contact graduateadmissions@uams.edu or call 501.686.5456 if you have any questions or need assistance.