Graduate applicants

Resumes/CVs can be submitted only once with your online application as we do not accept updated versions later.

The admissions committee requires all applicants to submit a personal statement. Be sure to put your name on your personal statement. Statements can be submitted only once. Your statement should be sincere, direct, and most of all, written by you. Be sure to follow the instructions provided in the online application as to what you should include in your personal statement as each program may have different requirements. You may also use your statement to explain any anomalies in your academic record. Personal statements have no word limit. Statements are typically one-three pages long and often include an explanation of:

• Why our program is the right fit for your academic/career goals
• Why you want to be part of the program
• A description of your academic goals and your abilities
• A discussion of your plans after completion of the degree
• Information on the area of research you would like to pursue, if applicable

We require three (3) letters of recommendation. You may enter a maximum of five recommenders. Recommendations should be from academic and/or professional references who can attest to your abilities, accomplishments, strengths, knowledge, and experience. If you have experience as a teaching assistant, consider asking your teaching supervisor to write a recommendation. Once you have saved recommendation information, an email request will be sent automatically to the recommender on your behalf. Please advise your recommender to look for this email in their inbox, as well as their spam or junk-mail folder.

The submission of GRE scores is optional. If you wish to submit test scores, please use 1324 for the institution code and 0000 for the department code. GRE scores must have been earned within the past five years.

All non-native English speakers must be proficient in English. Many of our students score 100 or above for TOEFL; 7.0 or above for IELTS; and 130 or above for Duolingo.

You must submit your official test scores by the application deadline. It can take a few weeks for your scores to be sent and processed, so please plan accordingly

You must also submit scanned copies of your score sheets for your self-reported scores to be validated and for us to consider your application. We will use these test scores as unofficial until the official scores arrive.

On your application, you must enter current TOEFL or IELTS scores in the Academic History section of your application. You can submit your application before my TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo scores are sent. Scores will not attach to application until it is submitted.

Note about Duolingo scores: You cannot enter your scores in the Academic History section of the application. You can also upload scanned copies of your scores, and we will use these as unofficial scores until the official scores arrive. These scanned copies should be uploaded in the Program Materials section of your application.

For TOEFL, our School Code is 1324. For the department codes go to https://www.ets.org/s/toefl/pdf/dept_code_list.pdf. If the program is not listed, use the department code of 99. For IELTS, you will select “Indiana University Bloomington” in the dropdown menu. For Duolingo, you will send your scores to "Indiana University - Undergraduate/Graduate."

English proficiency

If you are applying to an M.S. program you are required to submit current IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo test scores unless they have completed all their undergraduate education in a US education institution. However, if you have earned a bachelor's degree from a U.S. university, the English proficiency requirement will be waived for M.S. applicants.

All international PhD applicants are required to provide a current IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo to be considered for funding, regardless of undergraduate or previous graduate education.  

Scores must be submitted electronically. Be sure to upload your scoresheet into any empty portal in the application.

You must scan and upload copies of your transcript(s), mark sheet(s) and degree certification(s) in the Program Materials Section of the IU Graduate CAS application. Scanned copies are marked as unofficial.

Supporting materials include:

• CV/Resume
• Personal Statement
• Letter of Recommendation, at least one recommendation is required
• Transcript, a scanned copy

The Program Materials Section of the IU Graduate CAS application system is specific to the program to which you are applying. You will need to complete the Program Materials Section for each program you apply to at the Luddy School. In this section, you should upload the following:

• Statement of purpose (also known as personal statement) (required)
• Resume/CV (required)
• Scanned copies of your academic records (required)
• Scanned copy of your TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo score sheet, if a non-native English speaker (required)

Optional documents may include, but not limited to, the following:

• Achievements (Awards, Honors, Presentations, Publications, Scholarships)
• Bibliographic citations for each paper/publication that has been submitted for publication noting the status of each paper/publication as (1) “In Review;” (2) “Accepted;” or (3) “Published.
• Writing Sample
• Research paper
• Essays

Applying to the Human Computer Interaction M.S. and the Informatics Ph.D. Human Computer Interaction Design programs allows you to submit an optional portfolio. Your portfolio should show your best work. An applicant with a software engineering background might submit a system; one with a literature background might submit a critical essay; one with a business background might submit a business plan. Focus on quality, rather than quantity. Portfolios can be submitted only once. No revisions or updates will be allowed. For additional information about the portfolio, visit our portfolio guidelines page. Any portfolios that are submitted must follow the portfolio guidelines.