How do I apply for graduate study at Louisiana State University? 

Select one of several applications available on our website.

If you are applying for admission to the Graduate School, it is highly recommended that you complete the ONLINE application form, as this will significantly speed the processing of your application. 

You may request a paper application from our Prospective Student Information Form page. Your name and address will be sent to the appropriate department so that they may send you all relevant department information. 

You may also request department information by visiting the department web page or writing directly to the department at:

Graduate Advisor
Department of (fill in department or program name)
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA 70803

How does the application process work?

Please read carefully the Application for Admission to Graduate Degree Program form and the information you received from the graduate program to which you are applying. You will return some materials to our office (Office of Graduate Admissions) and some materials directly to the department.

As soon as we receive your application, it is processed and entered on the computer. Our office will collect all required documents including transcripts from each college or university attended and required test scores.  When we determine your file is complete, we forward it to the department you've applied to. The department will look at this file as well as the supporting documents you've sent directly to them and make a recommendation on admission to the Graduate School. Once a department recommends an applicant to the Graduate School, a final evaluation of the application is conducted by the Admissions staff. If a student meets the general requirements for admission and the department or program recommends admission, the student is admitted.

Note: Applicants who meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School are not guaranteed admission, because some graduate programs set higher standards and many have limited space and facilities.

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What is the deadline for applying to Graduate School?

There are usually two deadlines to note.  One, the Graduate School has a deadline for application fee purposes (listed below).  Two, each program has their own deadline that may or may not be the same as the Graduate School deadline (they are usually much earlier).  Consult the Graduate Adviser in your program to find out when the department deadline is. You are strongly urged to begin the application process 10 months before the semester for which you want to apply.

Note: The department generally decides upon financial awards early in the calendar year. If you are seeking financial aid, you are strongly urged to apply early.

Graduate School Deadlines and Fees:

Semester:	Fee:	Fee deadline:	Fee after deadline:
Fall	$50	May 15	$75
Non-Immigrant Applicants	$70	May 15	n/a*
Spring	$50	October 15	$75
Non-Immigrant Applicants	$70	October 15	n/a*
Summer	$50	May 15	$75
Non-Immigrant Applicants	$70	May 15	n/a*

Fees are effective as of May 16, 2009.

Note:  There are no application fee deadlines for non-degree seeking application.  See the application form for complete details.  The non-degree program is restricted to U.S citizens and permanent residents only.

*International non-immigrant applications received after these deadline dates will be processed for the following semester and no late application fee will be charged.

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What are the requirements for degree-seeking admission? 

• A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. 4-year institution (or the International equivalent).
• A satisfactory score on the GRE/GMAT.
• A score of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based) or 79 (internet-based) on the TOEFL or a score of 6.5 on the IELTS (required for certain international applicants).
• Official transcripts from each college or university you have previously attended.
• A completed Application for Admission to Graduate Degree Program form.
• The application must be accompanied by the application fee or it will not be processed.
• Additional supporting documents as required by your department.

What is the minimum grade-point average (GPA) required for admission?

The LSU General Catalog provides detailed information about GPA requirements.  For regular admission, applicants should have at least a 3.00 GPA on undergraduate and graduate coursework already completed.  Certain programs require higher admission standards than those of the Graduate School. 

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What's a "satisfactory score on the GRE/GMAT?" 

It depends upon the department to which you are applying. Consult the graduate advisor in your department to find out what they expect from applicants.  

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What are "additional supporting documents?" 

Resumes, letters of recommendation, personal statements, writing samples, portfolios, and so on. Again, it depends on the department to which you apply.

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Can I apply if I haven’t taken the GRE/GMAT yet?

You may apply at any time, but you cannot be admitted until test scores have been submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions.  Also, most departments will not review a file until they have received the appropriate scores.  You should schedule and take the exam as soon as possible.  Once you take the exam, call with your score results or fax the score report form to the Office of Graduate Admissions at 225/578-2112. The ETS institution code for LSU Graduate School is 6373.

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Do I have to take the TOEFL/IELTS?

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) test scores are required of any student whose native language is not English. A TOEFL score of 550 on the paper based exam, 213 on the computer-based exam, or 79 on the internet-based exam or better is required for admission. The ETS institution code for LSU Graduate School is 6373. A minimum IELTS score of 6.5 is required for admission.

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What are "official" documents?

Test scores (GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, IELTS):  Test scores are official ONLY if they are sent directly by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) or the IELTS. The ETS institution code for LSU Graduate School is 6373. We will NOT accept test scores that are student copies, notarized copies, or scores that appear on another school's transcript as OFFICIAL. 

Transcripts:  To be official, a transcript must be sent in a sealed envelope directly by the Registrar or other appropriate official from the school.  We do not accept notarized copies.

Submitting photocopies of score reports and transcripts, though considered unofficial, may speed the processing of your application. 

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Do I need to have my transcript translated (International Applicants)?

Yes. We need the original transcript in the original language, and an English translation certified by an appropriate authority.

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How can I check on the status of my application?

You may call the Office of Graduate Admissions at 225/578-1641 between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm (CST) or visit the Graduate Admissions Web page.

You may also contact the graduate advisor in the program to which you are applying.

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When will I find out the decision on my application?

Once your file has been referred to the department, it is up to that department to make the recommendation on your application.  Some departments have a specific timetable regarding decisions, others do not.  Most departments make decisions on financial awards in March or April for the Fall semester.

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When can I schedule courses?

U.S Applicants:  One you have been formally admitted to the Graduate School, you may schedule courses using PAWS.  Your admission packet will include information on scheduling and paying for courses.

International applicants:  You must attend an orientation session hosted by the International Services Office before scheduling courses. 

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When will I receive my I-20 documents (International Applicants)? 

Once the Graduate School and the department have approved admission, the International Services Office (ISO) is notified.  ISO will then verify sufficient financial responsibility and prepare and issue the appropriate immigration documents to you. You may visit the ISO at their web site (http://www.oip.lsu.edu).

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I don't know if LSU offers the program I'm interested in. How do I find out? 

Visit the web page “LSU Departments Offering Graduate Degree Programs” . If you do not see your program of interest, but you can narrow it down to a few programs, you may wish to write or call those programs.  

If you still cannot find a program, look at the LSU General Catalog. It has detailed descriptions of all the graduate programs at Louisiana State University, as well as other information about the Graduate School.

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I just want to take a couple of graduate courses. Do I still have to complete the Application for Admission to Graduate Degree Program?

No.  You must complete the Application for Admission to Graduate Non-Degree Program form instead.  The application contains information about the program including documents required for admission and limits on the number of hours one can take in this classification.

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How can I become a Louisiana resident for tuition purposes?

Read the information on the Application for Louisiana Residency forms.

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What kind of financial support can I expect as a graduate student?  

The department determines most financial support.  Contact the graduate advisor in your program for additional details regarding teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and other employment. Beginning Fall 2005, full time graduate students appointed to a full time (20 hr/week) graduate assistantship will no longer pay resident or non-resident tuition. They will still be required to pay applicable fees.

Certain fellowships entitle the student to in-state tuition rates. The percentage of graduate students receiving funding varies widely from program to program, depending on the resources available. Applicants who wish to be considered for assistantships should let the graduate adviser in their program know as soon as possible. You may also call the Office of Student Aid & Scholarship (225-578-3103) for information about loans, employment, and work-study programs.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS:  International students should not plan to support their studies through on- or off-campus employment, unless they are graduate students who have been offered a specific departmental award. There is considerable competition for on-campus jobs, and off-campus employment is strictly regulated by the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

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