Graduate Admissions
The application for Fall 2025 is now open!Ìý
Deadlines
Fall ApplicationÌýDeadline: December 1, 2024 by 11:59Ìýp.m. MST.Ìý
Letters of Recommendation must be received by December 10.
Please read the information below for a detailed walk through of our application material requirements and material deadlines.Ìý
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To be accepted into the MS or PhD programs, a faculty memberÌýmustÌýbe willing to accept you as an advisee andÌýadvocate for you during the admissions process. Interested applicantsÌýmustÌýcontact faculty members with whom they would be interested in working.Ìý
We recommend reviewing our faculty research interestsÌýand contacting potential advisors as early as possible. Each year, faculty members receive more inquiries than there are spots in their projects so it is advantageous to reach out early.Ìý
You must apply throughÌý.ÌýReview theÌýPrepareÌýto ApplyÌýinformation before starting the process. International applicantsÌýmustÌýfollow the directions on theÌýInternational Admissions website.
The following tabs provide prospective students with a step-by-step walk through of theÌý.Ìý
This section of the application asks applicantsÌýto input information like your name, address, biological information, military status, citizenship, etc.Ìý
Applicants must select the following from this section's drop down menus:Ìý
- Department/Program (required): "Environmental Studies"
- Degree (required): "Environmental Studies - MS" or "Environmental Studies - PhD"
- Entry Term (required): "Fall 2025"
An unofficial transcript from each institution attended (including work that appears as transfer credit on a later transcript) should be uploaded to your online application.ÌýTo ensure review, transcripts must be submitted to CU Boulder by the deadlines listed above.
Please make sure that allÌýpost-secondaryÌýinstitutions you have attended, including institutions you are currently attending, are included. This includes community colleges, summer sessions, and extension programs. List them in order of attendance, starting with the most recent.ÌýFor all international academic work, you must provide the original, native language version of both the transcript and, separately, the degree document, as well as a certified English translation of those documents.
*Missing and/or incomplete transcripts must be submitted by January 11, 2025. After this, your application will be withdrawn.Ìý
GRE: The ENVS DepartmentÌýdoes not consider the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) as part of its review process. After extensive review, the admissions committee has decided that the GRE, although a useful indicator for some graduate programs, does not accurately predict the success of a student pursuing aÌýprogram such as the ENVS program.Ìý
TOEFL: International students whose native language is not English must take the TOEFL exam.ÌýYou are not required to submit a score for the TOEFLÌýif:Ìýyour native language is English or you have completed at least one year of full-time study at a U.S. institution, or at an institution in a country where English is the native language at the time you apply, and within two years from your desired admission term.ÌýScore minimums are: internet based TOEFL score of 100; IELTS score of 7.0; Duolingo score of 120.ÌýYou can learn more about theÌýEnglish Proficiency Requirement here.
In addition, official test scoresÌýmust be reported by the testing service directly to the university.ÌýPlease request that the appropriate testing service report scores directly to the University of ColoradoÌýBoulder.ÌýThe institution code forÌýTOEFL examÌýis 4841.
*Missing English Profeciency Test ScoresÌýmust be submitted by December 10, 2025. After this, your application will be withdrawn.Ìý
Three letters of recommendation are required. References should be requested from individuals qualified to judge your potential for success in graduate school. As the number of required letters varies by department, please check the appropriate department’s website for specific guidelines.ÌýPlease only submit information for the required number of referees.
Online submission as part of the application is strongly preferred. Once you begin your on-line application, you will be prompted to enter e-mail addresses for your recommenders, and after you submit your application, they will receive instructions about uploading their letters.
If you must use a paper letter, have each person submitting a paper recommendation forward the form and letter to the appropriate address by the appropriate deadline:
International Applicants
Office of Admissions, University of Colorado at Boulder
Regent Administrative Center 125, 65 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309-0065
Domestic Applicants
Graduate Admissions, University of Colorado Boulder
553 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309-055
Express/overnight mailÌý
Graduate Admissions, University of Colorado Boulder
3100 Marine Street, Building RL3, Suite A122
Boulder, CO 80303-1058Ìý
*Missing letters of recommendations must be submitted by December 10, 2025. After this, your application will be withdrawn.Ìý
The personal statement portion of your application is your opportunity to communicate with the admissions committee directly. Please upload a document briefly describing your past work in your proposed or allied fields of study, including non-course educational experiences, teaching, or other relevant employment, publications, theses, research in progress, other scholarly activities. Also, please describe your motivations and plans for graduate study and also your plans for work or study following your proposed graduate work.
This information is in regards past research experience, the name(s) of one or more ENVS faculty members who you would like to advise you if you are admitted to the program,Ìýif you are applying to our dual degree programs, etc.Ìý
This section asks applicants to either invidually enter any nonacademic, industrial, or professional experience from start of undergraduate work to present.Ìý
If you prefer, you may skip this section and upload your C.V./Resume.Ìý
You must upload a C.V./Resume regardless of completion of the section above.ÌýPlease include all relevant education, training,Ìýskills and professional experience that make you a good candidate for the ENVSÌýprogram.
The answer to this section helps figure out if you are elegible for in-state tuition classification.Ìý
See theÌý.Ìý
A non-refundable application fee of $60 USD is required of all domestic applicants ($80 USD for international applicants). You must pay via credit card when submitting your online application.
*Started and unpaid applicationsÌýmust be submitted by December 7, 2025. After this, your application will be withdrawn.Ìý
*"Pending Payments" applicationsÌýmust be submitted by December 14, 2025. After this, your application will be withdrawn.Ìý
Applicants are responsible for submitting all the required materials by the deadlines listed above.ÌýIncomplete applications and applications not received by the respective admission deadlines will not be considered for that enrollment period.