Admissions
We thank you for your interest in the School of Information Sciences. There are different admission processes and requirements for each of our degree programs. Please select the degree program in which you are interested from the list below.
Library & Information Science
The School of Information Sciences offers graduate programs in Library & Information Science:
- Application Process for the MLIS degree(Term of Entry: Fall)
- Application Process for the MLIS Online degree(Terms of Entry: Fall)
- Application Process for the CAS
- Application Process for the Ph.D. degree in Library and Information Science(Term of Entry: Fall)
Information Science & Technology
The School of Information Sciences offers aB.S. in Information Science. Admissions to the School of Information Sciences' undergraduate program are processed by University of Pittsburgh. Find out more about theUniversity's undergraduate admissionsand application information.
The School of Information Sciences offers several graduate programs in Information Science & Technology:
- Application Process for the MSIS degree(Terms of Entry: Fall, Spring, Summer)
- Application Process for the CAS(Terms of Entry: Fall, Spring, Summer)
- Application Process for the Ph.D. degree in Information Science(Term of Entry: Fall)
Telecommunications and Networking
- Application Process for the MST degree(Terms of Entry: Fall, Spring, Summer)
- Application Process for the CAS(Terms of Entry: Fall, Spring, Summer)
- Application Process for the Ph.D. degree in Information Science with a concentration in Telecommunications(Terms of Entry: Fall, Spring, Summer)
Application Fee
The application fee is $50 for all applicants and must be paid when you submit your application. The fee will not be waived, deferred, or refunded. Applications will not be considered until the fee has been received. Receipt of payment will be acknowledged by email from Apply Yourself.
Admission Deadlines for Domestic Applicants
| Degree Program | Fall Term | Spring Term | Summer Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| MLIS* | January 15th | ||
| MLIS Online* | July 1st | ||
| PhD LIS | January 15th | ||
| MSIS* | July 15th | November 1st | March 15th |
| PhD IS | January 15th | ||
| MST* | January 15th | September 15th | January 15th |
| PhD Tele | January 15th | September 15th | January 15th |
For International Students Only
In order for your student visa document (Form I-20 or DS-2019) to be issued in time for your studies, you will need to provide additional financial informationdirectlyto theOffice of International Services (OIS) at the University of Pittsburgh.
Please access and read theInternational Graduate Student Financial Information formto determine what you need to prepare.PLEASE NOTE: you will not be able to submit your financial information unless you have been admitted to our Schoolandyou accept that offer of admission.
At that point,OIS will contact you directlyvia the email address you have provided to us in your application, and they will share a link to use to submit your financial information.You must accept any offer of admission you receive by the deadlines stated belowin order for your visa to be processed in time. OIS will then give you a deadline by which to submit your financial information as well.
Deadlines for International Applicants
| Term of Admission | iSchool Admission Application | Deadline by which you must accept your offer of admission in order for your visa to be processed on time |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | January 15th | Between April 15thand June 15th |
| Spring | June 15th | By November 1st |
| Summer | December 15th | By March 1st |
English Language Proficiency
Graduate students must possess sufficient knowledge of English to study without being hindered by language problems, to understand lectures, and to participate successfully in class discussion.
International applicants must submit either the TOEFL or the IELTS (taken withintwoyears of the date of application). Contact Educational Testing Services directly to request that an official score report be sent to the School of Information Sciences. The institution code for the University of Pittsburgh is2927and the department code for all applicants is 90.
A minimum score of 550 (paper-based) or 80 (Internet-based) on the TOEFL is required for admission to the MSIS, MST, MLIS, PhD IS & TELE programs. Students may choose to take theInternational English Language Testing System exam(IELTS) in place of the TOEFL. Students should receive a minimum result of Band 6.5 on the IELTS.
A minimum score of 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based) or 100 (Internet-based) on the TOEFL is required for admission to the PhD in Library and Information Science program. Students may choose to take theInternational English Language Testing System exam(IELTS) in place of the TOEFL. Students should receive a minimum result of Band 7.5 on the IELTS.
Exceptions:International students who completed a degree at a regionally accredited college or university in the United States are not required to submit a TOEFL/IELTS score. Students from certain English-speaking countries are also exempt (seehttps://oafa.pitt.edufor a list of exempt countries). Permanent residents are exempt. However, the School reserves the right to ask for TOEFL scores if deemed necessary for the evaluation of the application. Please note: degrees where anything less than the entire degree was completed in-residence within the English-speaking country will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Students in these circumstances may be required to complete the TOEFL or IELTS with the required minimum score upon review.
Prior to registration, students with TOEFL scores of less than 100 (Internet-based), 600 (Paper-based) or less than Band 7.5 on the IELTS must take this additional test of English language proficiency:English Language Proficiency Test. If remedial courses in English as a foreign language are recommended, the student must complete the remedial course during the first two terms of study.
Transcript Evaluation
All degrees obtained outside of the U.S.will beevaluated for equivalency to U.S. educational standards by the iSchool/University of Pittsburgh. Therefore, all international applicants must provide an official English-language translations of all pertinent transcripts. All transcripts from non-U.S. institutions, for undergraduate and graduate study, will be reviewed by the iSchool/University of Pittsburgh in terms of: the U.S. degree to which your degree is equivalent - Bachelor's, Master's, etc., the overall grade point average for your studies (converted to a U.S 4.0 scale), and a course-by-course grade equivalency evaluation for every class taken.
If you completed your degree in the U.S. but also took coursework outside of the U.S., you do not need to have an evaluation by an external agency. However you need to provide a certified English translation of the coursework taken outside of the U.S. if the record was issued in a language other than English.
PLEASE NOTE:the Admissions Committee may request an external review of your transcript, the cost of which is the responsibility of the applicant.
Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination Policy
The University of Pittsburgh, as an educational institution and as an employer, values equality of opportunity, human dignity, and racial/ethnic and cultural diversity. Accordingly, the University prohibits and will not engage in discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or a veteran of the Vietnam era. Further, the University will continue to take affirmative steps to support and advance these values consistent with the University's mission. For complete policy, clickhere.
