Admission and Aid

Those admitted will start the program together in the fall semester.

That's hard to answer. There is no doubt that our program is very selective. We receive multiple qualified applications for every available spot in each year's class and the number of applicants – but not the number of places available – has been rising steadily. Indeed, the majority of applicants are qualified for admission and there are always students we cannot admit who we would have gladly welcomed into a larger program. The important thing is that admission is about far more than just GPAs and standardized test scores. Less competitive numbers here, compared to the class at large, may be balanced by other factors. Unique aspects of an individual's background – leadership or management experience, engagement overseas, demonstrated passion – can make all the difference. So too can luck – you might be the best in a subgroup of applicants interested in East Asia, who speak Arabic, or with a Latin American background; the only applicant this year from Australia or Brazil; or competing against just a few others from the American Southwest. No single factor is decisive.

We love them, but … Wikipedia® notes there are two kinds: (1) those continuing their education after a gap, most often time spent pursuing a career, and (2) those who require unconventional scheduling or instruction (usually studying part-time, attending school in the evening or taking classes on-line). Both are great but, because of the way our program is structured, we can accommodate only the former. About a third of each class falls into the first category. We believe the experience that these individuals bring to the table – be it Peace Corps, military service, government, or corporate work – enriches the learning environment for all our students.

Patterson School core classes are offered only during the day, with a wide range of complementary co-curricular activities throughout the academic year. Our program prides itself on close personal interaction between students, faculty, and staff. We believe the strong bonds and networks forged in this academic environment are priceless and contribute enormously to the success of our graduates. It would be impossible to mirror this superior educational experience through part-time or on-line study. 

The Patterson School has seen a steady flow of RPCVs. Many want to better understand the region where they have just served; others have discovered their calling and now seek the credentials to make it possible. Indeed, some say they only realized during their COS workshop that they simply had to get back overseas. The remarkable challenges RPCVs have faced and their accomplishments have enlivened classroom debate on topics ranging from microfinance and grassroots Islam to the nitty-gritty of cross-cultural communications. Our unique program can provide the academic background and professional skills that – when coupled with your "been there, done that" experience – yield the credentials required to pursue any international career. Many RPCVs leave our program headed for the Foreign Service, USAID, or international development NGOs and relief agencies.

Each year's entry class is purposely limited to about 35 students. Given the Patterson School's 18-month master's program, students will normally be on campus for two fall semesters and one spring. This means that there will typically be about 75 students attending classes each fall and only 40 in the spring. Students in dual degree programs and away on internships account for slight differences in numbers. Graduation for most Patterson School students is in the December following their year of admission.

Depending on whether it is spring or fall and whether adjunct faculty are counted, the ratio of students to core Patterson School faculty ranges during the academic year from about 4:1 to 10:1.

Because this size produces a superior learning dynamic. We know from experience that a cohort of around 35-40 offers the best prospects for effective interaction, outreach, and long-term networking. First, it guarantees that classes are always small and personal. Second, when the Patterson School visits corporations and government agencies, our intimate size makes it possible for ALL students to participate, regardless of specialization. Our group can be accommodated in both a boardroom and on a bus. Finally, the long-lasting bonds that are formed with colleagues and faculty are rock solid at this end of the quantitative spectrum and grow far more superficial as you move toward a student body of 500, let alone more than 1,000. Although our model (a full time, residential, focused masters program) is replicated at some of the best graduate programs in the United States, our intimate size is not. That does not mean they believe that bigger in this context means better. It is no accident that Harvard Business School divides its large program into "sections" of about 90 students each in an attempt to obtain a similar effect. Oxford University's Nuffield College (which similarly specializes in politics and economics) is the same size as the Patterson School.

Quite the opposite. Our close-knit, personal program could not accommodate cutthroat competition within our student cohort. Teamwork and collaboration are emphasized, encouraged and expected. After all, this is what your future employers seek. All students contribute to the education of their peers by virtue of their vigorous engagement, drawing upon their own unique backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

Yes... but.  We hold one application/admissions round each year, and to receive full consideration for admission and financial support, your complete application should be received no later than February 1st. However, we are flexible with respect to applications received after February 1. 

Is there any advantage to applying early?

None whatsoever aside from your own peace of mind.

No. Unlike some of our competitors, you do not need to apply to a specific major concentration. All Patterson School students are admitted into a common master's program. While we seek people interested in all four concentrations, we recognize that greater exposure to these areas in class or during site visits can lead students to change or modify their individual programs of study. If you know what you wish to study at the Patterson School, you should make this clear in your personal statement, but rest assured that you may change major and/or minor concentrations after you have started the program.

There is no formal requirement, but it certainly does not hurt. Since we are a school of “diplomacy and international commerce,” we value both private and public sector experience. Often 2-3 years of professional experience enables a candidate to develop leadership potential and firmly set a career direction. We have also observed a pattern of applicants who decide after several years of professional work to dramatically shift career directions. The quality and depth of formal work experience, particularly if it had an international dimension, can have a significant impact in the

Yes. We often have students in our entering cohorts who have already received a masters degree, an MBA or a law degree. Sometimes, even a PhD or an MD. What's important in this instance is how the Patterson program – in combination with your previous academic achievement – may make you a more competitive candidate in pursuing your intended career.

Not more than 500 words – professional writing in government and business places a premium on brevity and clarity (yes, academia is different, but our program is designed to prepare you for a non-academic career). Use your personal statement to illuminate your background, highlighting your career objectives and how the Patterson School program can help you attain them. Many of our students are drawn to international affairs to make a difference in the world and this passion is conveyed in their statements.

How many letters of recommendations should be submitted?

Enough to provide a clear picture of your academic performance and potential for a professional career in international affairs. Ideally, this would include letters from people acquainted with both your academic and professional accomplishments. We expect to see a minimum of two recommendations and a maximum of four.

Who should write my letters of recommendations?

Your academic letter(s) should be prepared by university/college professors and the professional letter(s) should be written by current or former employers, supervisors, or anyone else who has been in a position to judge your suitability for professional employment. You should ask for these letters well before the application deadline, ideally before the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

How should my letters of recommendations be sent?

People submitting reference letters on your behalf may upload them electronically into the application portal. Those recommenders who need to submit letters by mail can send signed letters directly to: Admission Committee, Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce, 455 POT, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA.

No decisions are made until the entire applicant pool is available and can be considered together. Decisions on admission are generally made by the end of February or in early March, with first notification letters sent to applicants around mid-March.

No. We will e-mail each applicant a personal letter notifying them of the decision of the Admissions and Fellowship Committee. The letters will indicate whether you are being offered a place in the next class, have landed on our wait list, or will not be able to attend the Patterson School that year. They may also detail financial assistance offers and next steps to complete your admission.

The Admissions and Fellowship Committee selects a small pool of applicants – who possess the broad cross-section of the backgrounds and interests we seek in each class – for a wait list to fill these openings. As accepted students respond to our initial offers, our enrollment needs change slightly and we draw upon the wait list to maintain the best possible balanced cohort. The list is not ranked, but is more a pool of individual skills and interests. Clearing the wait list is largely tied to someone with a mix of skills somewhat similar to your own not coming. Accordingly, it is impossible to assess the likelihood that any particular applicant will clear the wait list.

What should I do if I am put on the wait list?

If your admissions letter states that you have been placed on our wait list, we request that you respond briefly to let us know if you wish to remain on the list or be removed. We work quickly to finalize the composition of each class, but we are dependent upon applicants who may be weighing other professional opportunities or dealing with changed circumstances. Our wait list is select, short and real – it is not a consolation. Each year we draw upon it to ensure an exceptional class.

Maybe. Requests for deferral are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Students participating in joint degree programs automatically have the option of beginning their first year in the Patterson School, the Gatton College of Business and Economics, or the Kentucky School of Law. Furthermore, students accepted into the Peace Corps, receiving significant fellowships for study abroad (Fulbright, Boren), or who are called up for active military service may normally defer entry.

We look favorably upon reapplications, in particular from those students who were previously offered admission, but were unable to accept. Nevertheless, given the constantly changing mix of applicants each year, the Security and Exchanges Commission warning about mutual funds – "past performance does not guarantee future results" – holds for us as well. Previous acceptance is no guarantee of admission to a future class. Applicants who were not accepted on their first attempt are also welcome to apply a second time. Reapplicants are evaluated on the strength and merits of their new application – having applied previously is not considered a negative factor.

No. We cannot provide feedback on applications that were not accepted or suggest what specific candidates might do to improve their chances. As detailed above, our program is highly competitive, with far more qualified applicants than spaces. Furthermore, the application process can be very dynamic with the unique composition of each year’s applicant pool having a dramatic bearing on an individual’s admissions prospects.

No. Kentucky residence status only affects tuition cost and eligibility for some scholarships and fellowships.

The best time to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is before December 1st to ensure your scores are received by the February 1st application deadline. GRE scores must be less than five years old. If you have taken the exam more than once in the last five years, we will use the highest score provided.

No. Because we welcome Patterson School students from a wide variety of academic disciplines, there is no utility in requiring applicants to take a particular specialized exam. Only the general exam (verbal, quantitative, analytical) is required.

Applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit directly from the testing service either a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score to the University of Kentucky Graduate School. The minimum acceptable TOEFL score is 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 79 (Internet-based). The minimum IELTS score is 6.5. International students who receive college degrees from U.S. universities and universities in other English-speaking countries may be exempted from taking the TOEFL test. Inquiries about the TOEFL should be addressed to:

TOEFL - Educational Testing Service
Princeton, NJ 08540
1-609-771-7100
www.ets.org

For students coming from universities using the 4.0 scale, the average GPA of admitted students in 2023 year was 3.6. The range of the admitted class was 3.0 to 3.8.

All applicants are automatically considered for financial support by the Patterson School's Admissions and Fellowship Committee. Through the generosity of our donors, the Patterson School is able to provide some merit-based financial support for exceptionally competitive students. The committee places an emphasis on intellectual achievement and experience that indicates a genuine commitment to a career in international affairs.  Assistance may be awarded based upon merit, need, or a combination of the two. Aid normally takes the form of scholarships or fellowships.

Applicants may be considered for a variety of special sources of financial support. These include the Wethington, Matthews, Cralle Foundation, Lyman T. Johnson, and Singletary Fellowships administered by the university. Check out these pages for additional opportunities:

Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships

Graduate School Fellowships

According to Payscale.com, "Lexington, Kentucky's cost of living is 8% lower than the national average." Head to their site to compare where you live now, to Lexington.

Cost of living in Lexington

Competitors annual tuition-only:

• SIPA, Columbia $70,113;
• SAIS, Johns Hopkins $57,070;
• Walsh School, Georgetown $59,895;
• Korbel School Denver $41,679;
• MIIS, Monterey/Middlebury $44,766;
• Elliott School, George Washington $57,945.
   

We offer almost exclusively fellowships, grants, and tuition reductions, instead of loans and jobs. Our desire is to minimize both distractions during your studies and indebtedness upon graduation. The basic “string” that comes with these funds is a charge to study hard and perform well. The Patterson School does not offer teaching assistantships.

There are a variety of special sources of financial aid available to students who are UK graduates or Kentucky residents. These include the Wethington Fellowship, the Matthews and Singletary Fellowships, the Northern Kentucky Alumni Fellowship (for students from Boone, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, or Kenton counties) and the Lexington Herald-Leader Scholarship. Additional information can be found on the Graduate School website.

Yes. Currently students who are residents of eleven Southern states – Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia – qualify for in-state tuition under the Academic Common Market. This program, run by the Southern Regional Education Board, enables students to pursue unique majors offered at public institutions in states other than their own while paying in-state tuition. If your state is not listed above, it may still be possible to have your attendance certified as qualifying for in-state tuition by contacting your official state coordinator. View additional information about the Academic Common Market.

Each state determines which programs satisfy their independent criteria and sets rules for students to qualify. It is the student's responsibility to research these requirements and apply for their state's program. To date, prospective students have only had problems when they have missed their home state's application deadlines.

There are some. The Patterson School and Reedy Fellowships are designed to attract outstanding students. The James Still Fellowship is given to a student from a private college in Kentucky, Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia, or West Virginia, or a resident of an Appalachian area.