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Clemson University Graduate School

Select Your Program and Start Term

Before you apply, make sure that the program that you’ve found will meet your educational and future career goals.

You’ll also select the term you wish to start your graduate studies. Term choices are Fall, Spring or Summer, but start terms may vary based on the program you’ve chosen — some programs only offer their first-semester courses for new enrollees in Fall. If you’re uncertain about which term to select, ask the contacts for the program you’re applying to.

See all doctoral degrees or master's and specialist's degrees.

Smiling students look towards the stage at their doctoral commencement.

Review Application Deadlines

Deadlines vary for domestic and international students and also by department, so contact your program for specific application deadlines and support materials requirements. You can find the contact information on the program's website, or use the Degree Finder to locate your program; when you click on the search result, you'll see contact information at the bottom of the page.

In general, applications for degree seekers should be completed and submitted no later than five weeks before the first day of class. However, some programs have earlier deadlines.

See International Student Deadlines

Deferring Your Start Term

Your application will remain active for one calendar year beyond the initial entrance date you’ve selected on your application. However, departments and programs reserve the right to deny deferred admission because of limited space and/or resources. If you want to defer enrollment to a later term you must request and receive approval for such action from your department or program.

Faculty and Staff Deadlines

Admission for faculty, staff and employees of Clemson University is subject to the same deadline requirements and department approval as all other applicants. No member of the faculty or staff who has a rank higher than instructor or its equivalent may be considered as a candidate for an advanced degree in the academic department where they’re employed.

Review the Minimum Requirements for Admission

Applicants are required to meet two sets of minimum requirements for admission: those of the Graduate School and those of the specific graduate program.

Clemson University Graduate School’s Minimum Requirements

Admission to any of Clemson’s graduate programs requires that prospective students hold at least a bachelor’s degree from an approved institution whose scholastic rating is satisfactory to the University or an equivalent degree from an institution operating under the Bologna process whose scholastic rating is satisfactory to the University. Prospective students must have the approval of the appropriate department chair or program coordinator to be recommended for admission.

Requirements for Non-Native English Speakers

Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate competency in written and spoken English. Competency may be demonstrated by presenting one of the following:

  1. A satisfactory score on the TOEFL exam.

  2. A satisfactory score on the IELTS exam.

  3. A satisfactory score on the PTE Academic exam.

  4. Documentation of having received a previous undergraduate or graduate degree from a U.S. institution or an institution where the language of instruction was English.

  5. Completion of an approved ESL program. Any waiver on language proficiency must be approved by the dean of the Graduate School. See Guidelines for English language proficiency.

Graduate Program Requirements

Requirements vary by program, so contact your program’s coordinator to determine minimum requirements. Some programs allow new graduate students to take undergraduate courses to better prepare for graduate coursework. Contact your program of interest to see if this would be an option or requirement.