Admission to Iowa's Master of Urban and Regional Planning (M.S.) requires an undergraduate degree in any major and fulfillment of the minimum requirements of the Graduate College. Prospective students should submit complete materials to Graduate Admissions.
Application deadlines
Fall admission
Funding is considered on a rolling basis, as funds are available.
Completed applications received by January 15th have the best chance at receiving funding.
Applications are accepted until: July 15th for domestic students April 15th for international students
Spring admission
International students are strongly encouraged to apply for fall admission due to more funding available at that time compared to spring admission.
Funding is considered on a rolling basis, as funds are available.
Applications are accepted until: December 1st for domestic students October 1st for international students
Apply online and upload all supporting materials:
Three letters of recommendation
A statement of purpose
Resume or CV
Unofficial academic records/transcripts
GRE scores are not required
International students without a U.S. degree or whose first language is not English must submit official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or IELTS scores before admission and funding decisions can be made.
International students, in July 2018 our school received STEM-related designation under the U.S. Department of Education’s Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) coding. This change benefits international students who wish to work in the U.S. beyond graduation. Previously, international F-1 students were allowed a one year optional practical training (OPT) post-graduation. Students who have graduated from a STEM-related field have the option to extend the OPT to an additional 24 months, allowing them to work in the U.S. for three years.
The CIP code helps the federal government track enrollment trends in academic areas within colleges and universities across the country. The former CIP code for those with degrees from our school was 04.0301-- City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning and the change now makes our associated code 30.3301-- Sustainability Studies. This applies to current and future students studying urban planning at Iowa and cannot be applied retroactively to previous graduates. Information about the 24 month OPT extension can be found through the UI Office of International Students and Scholars Services.
Questions?
Answers to frequently asked questions about admission can be found on our admissions FAQ page. If you have additional questions, please contact: