Graduate Application Instructions

Applying to RIT is quick and easy. Our online application will typically take you 15-20 minutes to complete, and you can get started and submit your online application with or without the required application fee and supporting documents.

Please note that there are additional requirements for international applicants (jump to link below)

Non refundable Application Fee

RIT requires a $65 application fee for applicants other than RIT alumni and current students within one school year of completing another RIT program. Your application fee can be paid within your application status page.

Electronic Submission of Documents

RIT prefers supporting documents be submitted electronically as part of your online graduate application. You also may upload supporting documents within your application status page after the submission of your online application.

Transcripts

RIT requires transcripts from all colleges and universities that you have attended, including transcript grading keys. International students should provide transcripts (or mark sheets) and degree certificates from all post-secondary institutions.

For application review, we will accept unofficial copies of your transcripts.
How do I submit my unofficial transcripts?

1. Upload copies of your transcripts with the submission of your online application.
2. You may also upload your transcripts through your Application Status page after you have submitted your application.

If you are admitted, and choose to enroll at RIT, you will need to provide your official transcripts. Official, certified translations must be provided for any documents not in English.

How do I submit official, original transcripts? Choose one of the following:

1. By mail – Original transcripts issued by your university and sent to RIT in a sealed envelope. (If they are mailed to you, they must remain in their original, sealed envelope.)
   1. Attention: Office of Graduate Enrollment Services
   2. Rochester Institute of Technology
   3. Bausch & Lomb Center, Bldg. 77, Room A-130
   4. 58 Lomb Memorial Drive Rochester, New York 14623-5604
2. Digital Copy - Some institutions allow you to request a digital copy. You can request a PDF official copy be emailed to [email protected].
3. In-Person - You may present them in-person in their original, sealed envelope.

Degree Requirements

All applicants to RIT’s graduate programs must hold—or currently be completing—a four year baccalaureate degree, or the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree, granted by an accredited college or university.

If you have not yet completed your undergraduate coursework, your admission will be contingent upon submission of your final transcript showing the degree granted, and the date of the degree.

3-Year Degrees

RIT will review applicants with 3-year degrees from international universities. Students with 3-year degrees from India must meet ALL of the following conditions:

• The college or university is  WHED recognized,
• The college or university is  NAAC accredited with an "A" grade, and
• You have passed in the 1st Class (or equivalent).

If you do not meet the above requirements, you may request a WES evaluation or you would need to complete (or be in the process of) postgraduate study.

If your 3-year undergraduate degree is currently in progress, you may be admitted contingent upon obtaining your degree in the 1^st class or equivalent.

Personal statement of educational objectives

Please upload a personal statement describing your educational objectives. You may wish to address: 

1. Why you are applying for the program
2. How your degree program will relate to your long-range career objectives
3. What personal or “non-academic” qualities you will contribute to the learning environment in your program
4. What prior experience you have with respect to your chosen program
5. Specifically why you want to attend RIT

Resume or Curriculum Vitae

Upload a resume or curriculum vitae to your online application. Your resume or curriculum vitae should include details about your education, employment, and internship history. Pertinent research experience should be included as well.

Letters of Recommendation

Two or more letters of recommendation are required for admission to all RIT graduate programs except those offered by the College of Business. Recommendations should come from members of the academic community and/or workplace professionals who know your qualifications for graduate study.

The preferred method for the submission of recommendation letters is to use the functionality within the online application. Recommendation letters should be submitted directly to RIT from the referee/person writing the letter for you. You will be able to enter information for your recommenders and submit an email request for letters through the online application.

If your recommenders are unable to submit their letters using the above method, then letters may be emailed directly by recommenders to  [email protected]  or sent by postal mail to the Office of Graduate Enrollment Services.

Graduate Admission Tests (if required by your program)

Check the Programs Offered page to determine which admission test, if any, is required by the program to which you seek admission.

The official results of graduate admission tests are the only parts of your application that you do not mail or upload to RIT. Instead, you must arrange for the testing agency to send your test results
directly to RIT’s Office of Graduate Enrollment Services.

RIT's code for ETS reporting is 2760. You may choose any department code. All test scores will be sent to Graduate Enrollment Services in a test score file within 10-14 days regardless of the department code selected.
Required tests may include:

• Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
• Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT)

 

Portfolio (if required by your program)

Check the  Programs Offered  page to determine if a portfolio is required by the program to which you seek admission.

If so, view the portfolio requirements and follow the guidelines for submitting your portfolio.

Writing Sample (if required by your program)

Check the  Programs Offered  page to determine if a writing sample is required by the program to which you seek admission.

 

Audiogram (deaf or hard of hearing students only)

Submit an unaided audiogram to be considered for the reduced tuition rate.

Official TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Scores

An official score report for the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Academic exam is required of all international applicants whose native language is not English. Please view the overall minimum score requirement for your intended program in the graduate admission deadlines and requirements table. In addition, each program requires balanced sub-scores when determining an applicant’s need for additional English language courses.

We accept TOEFL iBT® and TOEFL iBT® Home Edition, except for MyBest Score. We do not accept Duolingo as proof of English proficiency.

You must arrange for the testing agency to send your test results directly to RIT’s Office of Graduate Enrollment Services. Only official exam results received this way will be considered. Uploaded copies of your test score reports will NOT update your checklist item to “received.”

RIT's code for ETS reporting is 2760. You may choose any department code. All test scores will be sent to Graduate Enrollment Services in a test score file within 10-14 days regardless of the department code selected.

IELTS score reports may be sent to us electronically or in paper format from the testing agency. If you have concerns about your IELTS score report, please email  [email protected]  with this concern and note the difference.

Please note test scores are received by RIT approximately 2 weeks after the date you requested the scores to be sent to us. Allow an additional 3 - 5 days from the date RIT should receive the official scores for processing and checklist updates.

If your name on your application does NOT match the name on your score report, that may be the reason for your test score checklist item not being updated to “received.” Please email  [email protected]  with this concern and note the name difference.

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) 
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
• PTE-Academic

*International Applicants may be considered for a waiver of the TOEFL, PTE-Academic, or IELTS exams if:

• They have worked or studied in the U.S. for the last two years and/or
• They have completed bachelor’s or master’s degree from an English-medium university from the territories on the list below, and/or
• They are citizens of the territories below who identify as native speakers of English and have completed secondary school at an English-medium school.
  
  RIT has determined those countries to be the following:
  • American Samoa
  • Australia
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • British West Indies
  • Canada
  • England
  • Guam
  • Ireland
  • Kenya
  • Mauritius
  • New Zealand
  • Scotland
  • Singapore
  • South Africa
  • Virgin Islands
  • Wales

Passport Copy

International applicants are required to upload a scan of their passport to the online application.

Declaration of Finances & Official Bank Statement

The Declaration of Financial Support Form and an official bank statement is required for international students who plan to apply for student F-1 visa status. These documents are not required for admissions consideration, but will be required as soon as possible after an applicant learns of acceptance. Bank statements issued within the past six (6) months must be submitted before an I-20 can be issued. Bank statements must be marked with the official stamp and/or seal of the issuing bank - notarized copies cannot be accepted. Bank statements must show the equivalent of the total shown on the Declaration of Financial Support Form for the number of credit hours you will be taking, minus any assistantship and/ or scholarship monies you are awarded.

In order to apply for a student visa, U.S. government regulations require international students to demonstrate that they have sufficient financial resources to meet the costs of tuition, fees, supplies, and living expenses for at least nine months of full-time study. International students who need to apply for a student visa must submit to RIT an original bank statement showing the amount available for their education.

In addition, if the funds are not in the student's name, a letter of support from the person owning the assets is also required. In the case of support by a government agency or other organization, an original letter indicating the amount of funding and the period of time it is available is required. The applicant should request two original copies of these documents--one for RIT and the other set to take with them to the Visa interview. Once the student is admitted and these documents have been declared acceptable the appropriate form (I-20 or DS-2019) can be issued by RIT.

You may upload scanned copies of these documents to your online application or you may scan and email them to [email protected]

Note to International Applicants with F-2 Visa

If you currently hold an F-2 Visa, please note the following: Applicants for a change of status from F-2 to F-1 may not attend RIT until their change of status is approved by USCIS. You will find change of status information on the  International Student Services website.  RIT's ISS staff will assist you in applying for a change of status. Please contact the ISS office at 475-6943 as soon as possible to begin the process of changing your visa status.

Once the application is received and reviewed, your graduate enrollment counselor will contact you via email to acknowledge receipt of your application--and tell you if any necessary items are missing from your file. Each graduate department makes its own admission decisions on its own schedule. You will be notified of your admission status as soon as possible.

 

Graduate Department Contacts

Need to talk to someone about the program to which you seek admission? Find the program contact's name, phone number and e-mail address via the Programs Offered page.

 

Verifying Application Status

You will receive email acknowledgment that RIT has received your application. This notice also will tell you if any necessary items are missing from your file. Your admissions portal application checklist will tell you if we have received all of the required documents and forms necessary to make your application complete. Each graduate department makes its own admission decisions on its own schedule. You will be notified of your admission status as soon as possible. For information concerning the decision status of your completed application, or for further information about application procedures, contact:

RIT Office of Graduate Enrollment Services
phone: 585-475-2229
e-mail:  [email protected]

Rochester Institute of Technology
Bausch & Lomb Center, Bldg. 77, Room A-130
58 Lomb Memorial Drive Rochester, New York 14623-5604
Attention: Office of Graduate Enrollment Services

NOTE: Please be sure to use the same name and same spelling of your name on all forms, records and correspondence.