CUPPA | UPP | Prospective Students

MUPP Application Procedure

Applicants for the MUPP and PhD programs who wish to enroll in the GSAV certificate program should briefly indicate their intention in the personal statement required as part of the application process.

Please read through all instructions carefully. A checklist is available to assist you in ensuring that your application packet is complete and properly formatted for submission.

STEP 1

All applicants must complete the online application for Graduate Admissions and pay the $60.00 application fee (international application fee is also $60) on the Office of Admissions and Record's Graduate and Non-Degree application page. (Go to the bottom of the page).
Official transcripts in sealed envelopes from all institutions where you earned degrees and transcripts from all other colleges and universities attend should be sent directly to Office of Graduate Admissions (address below). You are also asked to send electronic copies as part of your application packet, but original transcripts sent directly from the college/university attended are required for an admissions decision.

Official documents are those which have been issued by the university and bear an original attestation. In the United States, sealed transcripts issued directly from the Registrar's office are considered official. The university may issue transcripts directly to UIC or to the student. As long as the seal is not broken, the transcripts will be considered official. We will not accept transcripts printed off the web.

From foreign institutions, copies of original documents which have been attested by the Registrar or Controller of Examinations and sealed by the same individual will be considered as official. Each document should be attested.

There is no guarantee that documents attested by another official will be accepted.

Attested/university issued transcripts or marksheets for all undergraduate work in the original language.

Attested/university issued transcripts or marksheets for all post-baccalaureate work in the original language.

Proof of all degrees awarded. Attested degree certificates or diplomas should be submitted.

Certified English translations of all credentials.

Preferred address:
Office of Graduate Admissions (MC 018)
University of Illinois at Chicago
Box 7994
Chicago, Illinois 60680-7994

For carriers requiring a street address (UPS, FedEx, etc.):
Office of Admissions and Records (MC 018)
University of Illinois at Chicago
1200 W Harrison St, Suite 1100
Chicago, IL 60607-3349

STEP 2

All materials must be submitted electronically by emailing directly to upp@uic.edu Subject line must read (Program) (Semester of Application) (Last Name, Student First Name). Example: MUPP Fall 2012 Doe, John.

Items 2-7 from the numbered list below (as well as TOEFL scores for international applicants) should be submitted in one email as word documents or pdf attachments in the following order, per labeling instructions below (note the inclusion of the number after applicant's first name):

Doe, John 1PS
Doe, John 2WS
Doe, John 3TRANS1 [Note: this is a copy – original sent directly from college/university to UIC]
Doe, John 3TRANS2 [Note: this is a copy – original sent directly from college/university to UIC]
Doe, John 4GRE [Note: this is a copy – original sent directly from testing center to UIC]
Doe, John 5TOEFL [Note this is a copy- original sent directly from testing center to UIC]
Doe, John 6AGA
Doe, John 7RES

Three letters of reference from instructors familiar with your academic training or supervisors familiar with your professional experience must be emailed directly from the recommender to UPP@uic.edu. Only pdf or word documents will be accepted. Subject line must read:
(Program) (Semester of Application) (Last Name, Student First Name)
Example: PhD Fall 2012 Doe, John.
Personal Statement should be one to two pages that includes information on the applicant's educational and career goals detailing relevant academic and employment experience and identifying an area of concentration that the applicant is interested in studying. Applicants are required to submit a plan of study during the second semester in the program so it is possible to change concentrations after enrolling in the program. Personal statements must be emailed to upp@uic.edu with subject heading (Program) (Semester of Application) (Last Name, Student First Name) Example: MUPP Fall 2012 Doe, John. Only pdfs or word documents will be accepted saved as: LastName, First Name1 PS Example: Doe, John 1PS
A writing sample of the applicant's work, i.e. a recent paper, essay or project of which the applicant is the sole author. This submission may be of an academic, professional, or personal nature, and must be at least 1,000 words in length. The writing sample must be emailed to upp@uic.edu with subject heading (Program) (Semester of Application) (Last Name, Student First Name) Example: MUPP Fall 2012 Doe, John. Writing Samples cannot be more than 10 pages long (they can be taken from a larger work). Only pdfs or word documents will be accepted, labelled as LastName, First NameWS. Example: Doe, John 2WS
It is required that you submit electronic copies of transcripts that you also have officially submitted by the educational institutions issuing the transcripts. Electronic copies should be emailed directly to upp@uic.edu with subject heading (Program) (Semester of Application) (Last Name, Student First Name) Example: MUPP Fall 2012 Doe, John. (They will be verified against the official transcripts mailed directly to UIC Admissions.) Electronic copies of transcripts should be labeled: LastName, First Name 3TRANS. Example: Doe, John3 TRANS. If multiple transcripts are emailed please submit as above with 3TRANS1, 3TRANS2, etc., and note that all transcripts will begin with 3TRANS.
If you wish to be considered for merit based financial assistance awarded by UPP in the form of a research assistantship you must submit official GRE scores sent directly from the GRE testing center to UIC. Use code 1851. This is a general code, UPP does not have a specific program code for GRE. Your score will be matched based on your name, we can access it directly through the UIC admissions system. Electronic copies of scores should be emailed directly to upp@uic.edu with subject heading (Program) (Semester of Application) (Last Name, Student First Name) Example: MUPP Fall 2012 Doe, John. (They will be verified against the official score mailed directly to UIC Admissions.) Electronic copies of scores should be labeled as LastName, First Name 4GRE. Example: Doe, John 4GRE
Submit Application for Graduate Appointment [downloadable pdf file] to be considered for financial assistance. The form should be emailed directly to upp@uic.edu with subject heading (Program) (Semester of Application) (Last Name, Student First Name) Example: MUPP Fall 2012 Doe, John. File should be labeled as LastName, First Name 6AGA Example: Doe, John 6AGA
Copy of your resume emailed directly to upp@uic.edu with subject heading (Program) (Semester of Application) (Last Name, Student First Name) Example: MUPP Fall 2012 Doe, John. File should be labeled as LastName, First Name 7RES Example: Doe, John 7RES

International Applicants

The following information is required only of international applicants: TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). The minimum acceptable score is 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based). IBT scores are Writing: 21; Speaking: 20; Listening: 17; Reading: 19; Total score: 80. IELST scores are Listening: 6.0; Writing: 6.0; Reading: 6.0; Speaking: 6.0; Total score: 6.5.

It is required that you submit electronic copies of TOEFL (or IBT or IELST) scores that you also have officially submitted by the testing agency. Electronic copies should be emailed directly to upp@uic.edu with subject heading (Program) (Semester of Application) (Last Name, Student First Name) Example: MUPP Fall 2012 Doe, John. (They will be verified against the official scores mailed directly to UIC Admissions.) Electronic copies of scores should be labeled: LastName, First Name 5TOEFL. Example: Doe, John 5TOEFL.

For more information about admission prerequisites for international students on the Graduate FAQ page. Additional information can also be reviewed on the Graduate International FAQ page. (Note: Your application and all materials, including letters of reference MUST be in by Jan. 1).

Checking Application Status

Application materials submitted electronically and received before the deadline will not be acknowledged; the date and time of submission is contained in the email and it will be noted in your application file that the deadline was met. All UIC administrative offices and the CUPPA Hall building, including the Department of Urban Planning and Policy office, will be closed December 26, 2011 through January 3, 2012. Please do not attempt to contact anyone in UPP to confirm receipt of your materials. Directions for completing your application are on this page

Applicants will be updated regarding the status of credentials received by February 1, 2012.

Happy Holidays!

Because of the volume of applications received, the UPP Program cannot respond to individual inquiries regarding credentials. Please do not contact us about your application unless you receive an email from the UPP Program office (not UIC's Office of Admissions and Records) asking for additional information.

Phone calls with requests for status updates will not be returned. The department will regularly update applicants on the status of their application.

For additional information please contact:

memi@uic.edu

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