Frequently Asked Questions

When is your application deadline?

Domestic applications are considered on a continuous basis. However, because both slots in the entering class and financial awards are limited, you should apply as early as possible for the subsequent fall semester. The department's admissions committee begins reviewing applications on December 1.

International applicants should also apply early. However, international applicants must submit all materials by January 15 to be considered for fall admissions.

How do I apply?

Access an online application through the Graduate College. We prefer you to submit Part I of the application and the fee online, and then mail your supporting materials to the Department of Urban and Regional Planning.

What supporting materials do I need to include with my application?

• Three letters of recommendation, either on the official forms or letterhead.
• Official academic transcripts.
• Departmental statement of purpose.

Exceptions: If your reference letters are uploaded to the Graduate College online site, you do not need to mail copies to the Department. Additionally, you do not need to send transcripts for any coursework at the University of Illinois, as long as you have listed UIUC as a school attended in your online application. The Department can access those materials internally. All applicants do need to send the Department's statement of purpose, which differs from the online statement.

Where should I send supporting application materials?

Please send them directly to the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, addressed to:

Ms. Peggy Zachary
Department of Urban and Regional Planning
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
111 Temple Buell Hall
611 Taft Drive
Champaign, IL 61820

What test scores do I need to send?

All applicants must submit scores for the verbal, quantitative and analytical writing components of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Test. You should direct the Educational Testing Service (ETS), which administers the GRE exam, to send your scores to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (code 1836), program code 00.

International students must submit TOEFL scores from ETS. We also recommend TWE, and, if possible, TSE scores for students requiring financial aid. For TOEFL scores, direct ETS to send them to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (code 1836), program code 00. If you have earned a graduate degree from an English-speaking institution abroad, or are from an exempted country, you may not need to submit TOEFL scores. Please see the Graduate College TOEFL requirements for further information.

Do you offer admission for the spring semester?

Very rarely. We design our program for full-time students to begin each fall. Occasionally we offer spring semester admission to applicants currently living in Champaign-Urbana or to recipients of our Bachelor of Arts in Urban Planning degree.

Should I include a portfolio?

It is not necessary, because the MUP degree is not a design degree. Your carefully crafted Statement of Purpose is sufficient. If you have a piece of professional work of which you are particularly proud, however, you may feel free to include this with your application. Note that we cannot return any materials to you.

When will you complete your admission decisions?

We begin reviewing applications on approximately November 15th. Most offers of admission are made in December and January, with offers of financial awards following several weeks later. Students should have their applications in no later than December 15th for full consideration for admissions and financial awards. As a general rule, submit your application as early as possible in the fall.

What types of financial aid do you provide?

We do not offer need-based financial aid. Rather, we offer merit-based fellowships and research and teaching assistantships. Assistantships typically require ten hours of work per week and include a waiver of tuition and most fees. Information on need-based financial aid (grants and loans) is available from the Graduate College (read more).

Are international students eligible for financial awards?

Yes.

What is the minimum GPA you will accept?

The University has a grade point average (GPA) cutoff of 3.0 (B) for admission to the Graduate College, based on the final 60 hours of your undergraduate degree. Occasionally we admit students with lower undergraduate GPA's if they have significant professional experience, a strong statement of purpose, outstanding recommendations, or other extraordinary qualifications. The median GPA of entering MUP students is 3.5.

The Graduate College evaluates the transcripts of international applicants for the purposes of determining a GPA equivalent to U.S. university records. They use a conversion formula specific to the international university.

What is the minimum GRE score you will accept?

We have no minimum GRE score. In recent years, median percentile scores of entering MUP students have about 75 percent for the verbal component of the exam, 70 percent for the quantitative component, and 75 percent for the analytical writing component. We consider an applicant's full set of qualifications in making admissions decisions, and occasionally admit students with lower GRE scores if they are strong in other areas (e.g., experience). Please see the discussion of admissions criteria for additional information on how we make admissions decisions.

What is the minimum TOEFL score you will accept?

Our official minimum is 590 (243 for the computer-based exam). However, we prefer scores to be much higher: at least 610 to 620 (253 to 260).  More importantly, the TWE score should be at least 4 to be considered for admission. More information on Graduate College TOEFL score requirements are found on their website for international applicants.

Do you make exceptions to the minimum GPA and TOEFL requirements?

Yes, though infrequently. To do so requires that we submit a detailed request to the Graduate College.

Do I need to submit a separate application to be considered for a financial award?

No. All applicants are automatically considered for financial awards in the form of assistantships and fellowships.

What are my chances of receiving a financial award offer at the time of admission?

We offer awards to our very best domestic and international applicants each year. Only the top 15 to 25 percent of our applicants will receive financial aid offers, depending on the number of applicants and our resources in any given year. Applicants with exceptional professional experience and academic records stand the best chance of winning an award. Test scores are also considered, though they have proven to be less reliable predictors of an applicants abilities. Therefore, they are emphasized less than experience and academic record in the awards process.

What are the most important factors in determining whether I get admitted and receive a financial award offer?

Please see the discussion of our admissions criteria.

What are my chances of finding a teaching or research assistantship after enrolling, if you do not offer me an assistantship upon admission?

Quite good, though it may take you one semester to get to know the faculty and find projects requiring assistants. In recent years, about half of MUP students enrolling without assistantships were subsequently able to obtain an assistantship and tuition waiver for at least one semester of the MUP program.

Do you offer awards specifically for minority students?

The University has a fellowship program for domestic students from traditionally underrepresented groups. We nominate two outstanding applicants each year for this highly competitive program. Our nominations for minority student fellowships must be submitted to the Graduate College by no later than January 15th. Therefore, to be considered, you should submit all of your application materials no later than December 15th, to provide use with sufficient time to consider all candidates. Include a note that states your interest in the minority fellowship program.

How many applications do you receive each year, and how many students do you admit?

We receive approximately 150 applications each year and make admissions offers to slightly less than half of those. We aim to enroll 25-30 students in our MUP program each year.

Whom should I ask to send letters of recommendation?

The primary purpose of the letters of recommendation is to help us to determine your ability to successfully complete our program, your potential to make significant professional contributions, and your commitment to the field of planning. At least one of your letters should be from an academic sources. Applicants with extensive professional experience are likely to have their remaining letters from colleagues or supervisors; applicants with less experience may have all three of their letters from academic sources. Most importantly, your letters should be from references who know you well enough to say specific things about your abilities, accomplishments, and professional potential.

Is my undergraduate major adequate preparation for an urban planning degree?

Yes. In recent years our new students have come to us with bachelor's degrees in over 25 different fields, from architecture to zoology.

Are there any courses I should take to prepare for the MUP program?

We require that all incoming students have had at least introductory courses in microeconomics and statistics. If you have not had those courses, or have taken them many years ago, you may have difficulty completing some of our core courses, especially if your quantitative skills are limited. For students who have not had these courses or feel rusty in the subject matter, we strongly recommend taking them at a local college or community college before enrollment in the fall.

Do you offer online or distance learning courses?

Very few, and only to students enrolled in our program.

How many students are in the MUP program?

Our entering MUP class each year is typically between 25 and 30 students.

What does it cost to live in Champaign-Urbana?

It is a very affordable community. Housing accessible to campus is readily available, and rental vacancies exist throughout the year. Students can usually find acceptable housing ranging from $250 to $700 per month. The average cost of a one-bedroom apartment is about $500 to $600 per month. Although you can find apartments as late as August, you can find better, less expensive places if you line them up in May or June or even earlier. Graduate dormitory rooms and university apartments from are also available from University Housing, for prices similar to those above. If you must live more than a mile or two from campus, the bus system is excellent, and your student fees cover unlimited bus use. For additional information see the Guide to Graduate Life at Illinois as well as the University's guide to the community page.

What are some of the other resources and facilities for students on campus?

The University Library is one of the largest public university libraries in the country, holding more than ten million volumes, more than 90,000 serial titles, and more than six million manuscripts, maps, slides, audio tapes, microforms, videotapes, laser discs, and other non-print material. The Krannert Center for Performing Arts maintains a busy schedule of events throughout the year. Campus recreation and exercise facilities are extensive, and include, among many others, the new Campus Rec Center-East and newly renovated (in progress, with completion in spring 2008) Intramural Physical Education (IMPE) building. There are also scores of clubs and interests groups on campus. See the Guide to Graduate Life at Illinois for more information.

Can I visit the Department?

Of course! The best times to visit are during Fall Visiting Days or our Open House Weekend in March. With sufficient warning, we can also schedule a visit for you on most weekdays. It is important that you contact the the department well in advance to arrange a visit so that we can be sure that you meet the faculty pertinent to your areas of interest.