Frequently Asked Admission Questions
What items are necessary to complete my admission application file?
Where do I send these items?
What items do I need to send to the UO Office of Admissions?
Where do I send these items?
Can I contact someone to learn about my chances or the possibility of being admitted or receiving a GTF award?
How long does an admission decision take once I have submitted all materials?
How much does a GTF award cover, and how many applicants receive an award each year?
When would I hear about financial assistance?
What items are necessary to complete my admission application file?
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores: Our Graduate Admissions and Awards Committee would like to see GRE scores at or above the 70th percentile in the quantitative and analytical sections for admission to either the masters or doctoral program. However, to be competitive for admission to the doctoral program and for a Graduate Teaching Fellowship, you should have GRE scores at or above the 80th percentile. The mean general test quantitative score has been in the 88th percentile for recently admitted doctoral students and in the 82nd percentile for recently admitted masters students. Average scores on the verbal portion have been in the 72nd percentile for doctoral admissions and 71st percentile for masters admissions. The code to select to have your GRE scores sent to the University of Oregon is 4846 and to the Department of Economics is 1801.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score: If you are an International Student applying to either the masters or doctoral program and have not received a degree from an institution in an English speaking country, it will be necessary for you to provide the TOEFL, TOEFL iBT, or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test score. The minimum TOEFL score for admission into either program is 575 (paper based test) or 232 (computer based test). The minimum score for the TOEFL iBT test is 88. The minimum score for IELTS is 7.0.
Test of Spoken English: If you are a non-native speaker of English and wish to apply to our doctoral program, please read the admission requirements carefully. Some applicants do not notice that either the TSE (test of spoken English), SPEAK (Speaking Proficiency in English Assessment Kit), or TOEFL iBT is an admission requirement for the doctoral program, even if the applicant holds permanent residency in the U.S. or a degree from an institution in an English speaking country, and therefore fail to complete the application process. Not having been accepted into the doctoral program prior to the February 15 deadline, those applicants are then unable to compete for full consideration of a fellowship award, our only type of financial assistance. The deadline for admission without funding, however, is April 15. There is no minimum for the TSE or SPEAK test. However, the committee would like to see scores at or above the 50 mark. The corresponding score for the TOEFL iBT speaking sub-score is 26. The requirement to take a test of spoken English is never waived.
Grade Point Average (GPA), Prior Coursework, and Transcripts: The committee would also like you to have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0, and if you have graduate level work, a 3.5 GPA at that level. At minimum, applicants should have a knowledge of intermediate economic theory, micro and macro, calculus I, II, III, several or multi-variable calculus, elementary linear algebra, and introduction to mathematical methods of statistics. Strong grades in economics and mathematical courses will obviously be important to the committee. Transcripts from all colleges attended are required in order to make an admissions decision. Please arrange to have official transcripts sent to the Department of Economics
Personal Statement and Vitae: A personal statement and curriculum vitae (or academic resume) are very helpful to the admissions committee.
When sending the items listed above to the Department of Economics, please use the following address:
Graduate Programs Coordinator
Department of Economics (435 PLC)
1285 University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon 97403-1285
U.S.A.
What items do I need to send to the UO Office of Admissions?
Only one set of official transcripts from all colleges and universities are required by the UO Office of Admissions for an admission evaluation. If you are admitted by the department and plan to attend the University of Oregon, please arrange to have a second set of official transcripts sent to the UO Admissions Office after the degree has been posted. Once the degree transcripts are received by the UO Admissions Office, they will issue a formal admission notification. This notification can take approximately four to six weeks. The earlier you supply their office with degree transcripts, the sooner you will receive the notification. Transcripts from foreign countries should have an English version and also a certificate of degree attached. The UO Admissions Office will also require a bank statement and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT) score if you are a non-native speakers of English without a degree from an institution in an English speaking country. Be sure to use the University of Oregon code of 4846 when routing the TOEFL test score.
Where do I send these items?
When sending the items listed above to the UO Office of Admissions, please use the following address:
Office of Admissions
1217 University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon 97403-1217
U.S.A.
Can I contact someone to learn about my chances or the possibility of being admitted or receiving a GTF award?
Sorry, but we are unable to evaluate such requests. Only complete applications can be evaluated for admission and that too by the entire departmental admissions committee. It will be necessary for you as an applicant to read through our admission requirements carefully and decide to apply to one of our programs.
How long does an admission decision take once I have submitted all materials?
Once all application materials have been received, your file will be sent to our department’s admissions committee. A decision usually takes two to three weeks.
How much does a GTF award cover, and how many applicants receive an award each year?
Our department is able to fund approximately five to seven graduate teaching fellowship (GTF) awards each year to entering doctoral students. The awards carry a tuition waiver and a stipend of approximately $14,000 for a nine-month academic year. Fellowships are awarded to admitted doctoral students based on the strength of academic qualifications and potential, as documented in the admissions file and GTF application. For full consideration of an award for the following fall term, all admissions materials must be received by February 15 of the fall term. We are unable to financially assist students in our masters degree program.
When would I hear about financial assistance?
Applicants to the doctoral program who meet the February 15 deadline will be informed of an award decision no later than May 15. However, most award decisions are made and communicated prior to April 15.
