Requirements & Deadlines

Admission to graduate study is a two-step evaluation process:

Below are the steps for the Application Evaluation Process. Please refer to your Application Checklist for required materials and contact your department for their specific requirements.

Step 1:

The Office of Graduate Admissions determines eligibility for admission to LSU. The Graduate School evaluation entails a review of:

Step 2:

The academic department or college determines admissibility to the degree program. Departmental evaluation may include a review of the items listed below; however, students should contact their department of choice for specific departmental requirements.

*Transcripts are required from each university attended.

** TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for two years after the test date. Applicants with expired scores will need to retest and provide updated scores.

Note:

Final admission to the University is subject to approval by the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Applicants who do not meet one or more of the Pinkie Gordon Lane Graduate School or Departmental requirements for regular admission may be admitted on probation, provided additional evidence of capacity to do satisfactory work is presented.

Minimum University Requirements

The following application materials must be submitted for Pinkie Gordon Lane Graduate School review; however, please refer to your graduate degree program for additional departmental requirements:

Applicants may upload application materials to the Slate Application Portal.

Applications missing any required Graduate School or Departmental materials will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed.

Submitting Documents

*Please submit transcripts to the LSU Pinkie Gordon Lane Graduate School and not the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Unofficial transcripts may be uploaded to the Slate Application Portal for review; however, it will be considered unofficial but can be used to process your application for admission. Applicants who qualify will be admitted on a provisional basis until official transcripts are submitted. The official transcripts will be compared to any unofficial documents used for admission. If discrepancies are identified, your admission may be rescinded.

Current or former students at the Louisiana State University and A&M College in Baton Rouge do not need to request transcripts. All other schools in the LSU System are required to submit official transcripts.

LSU reserves the right to require official transcripts at any time during the admission process and to rescind any offer of admission made if discrepancies between unofficial and official transcripts are found.

Official vs Unofficial Transcripts

Official Transcripts

An official transcript, whether a physical copy or a secure .pdf document, ensures authenticity and content accuracy. Official transcripts must contain the University's seal and the signature of the University Registrar, Principal, Controller of Examinations, or Minister of Education. You must provide transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions for us to process your application. A transcript is considered official if it is sent directly from the applicant's home institution to the Pinkie Gordan Lane Graduate School in one of the following ways:

Unofficial Transcripts

Applicants can submit unofficial transcripts to expedite the admissions process. Please note, these copies of transcripts are not considered official. All admitted students are required to submit official transcripts. Applicants may qualify for admission to the Graduate School on a provisional basis until official transcripts are received. All provisionally admitted students must submit official transcripts within 30 days after classes begin in the semester of entry. If official transcripts are not submitted 30 days after the first day of class, an admissions hold will be placed on the admitted student's academic record preventing future registration.

Unsealed transcripts submitted from prospective students to academic departments are not considered official. If a department submits an unsealed official transcript, the Office of Graduate Admissions must verify the transcript was sealed upon receipt.

Photocopies or other duplications of a transcript, such as notarized copies, faxed, or scanned documents are not considered official.

Please Note: The official transcript requirement will remain "Outstanding" on your Slate application checklist. However, this will not prevent your application from proceeding to "Departmental Review."

Official transcripts will be compared to any unofficial documents used for admission. If discrepancies are identified, your admission may be rescinded.

Admission Requirements for International Students

Please visit International Applicant Requirements section to learn more about international student admissions and other resources.

Admission Requirements for Non-Degree Seeking Students

LSU offers admission to students desiring to take graduate courses without pursuing a graduate degree. Minimally, the Graduate School requires non-degree applicants to meet the same admission requirements previously listed. We advise you to contact the specific graduate program for guidance on admission requirements and which courses are eligible for non-degree registration.

Currently, the non-degree seeking option is not available for LSU Online.

Please note that enrollment as a non-degree student does not guarantee subsequent admission to a degree program.

Readmission

Readmission only applies to students previously enrolled in a graduate program at LSU. Former students must apply for readmission if they do not enroll for three consecutive terms, including a summer term. All readmission applicants must meet the current admission requirements of the college or school they expect to enter. Readmission is not guaranteed and is subject to availability. Consult the graduate program’s admission requirements.

Please Note: If you are currently enrolled or have been enrolled within the past 12 months, in an LSU A&M graduate program, you are not required to submit an application for admission. You must submit a Request for Change of Degree Program Form located on our Forms Webpage. All application fees are non-refundable. Please email Academic Services at gradsvcs@lsu.edu.

Graduate Degree Program Requirements

Graduate degree programs have admission requirements, often more rigorous than those set by the Pinkie Gordon Lane Graduate School. Applicants can upload the required documents, such as; standardized exam results, letters of recommendation, a personal statement, a writing sample, or an application for a graduate assistantship in SLATE.

Standardized Exam Scores