Undergraduate Admission

Admission Philosophy

The Office of Undergraduate Admission supports the mission of the University of Kentucky. Consistent with the University’s mission of research, service and teaching, the university seeks to enroll and retain an academically talented student body that enriches the learning community and is representative of the diverse society it serves. The following admission policies reflect this philosophy.

General Information

The Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and Chief Enrollment Officer authorizes the admission of all undergraduate students to the University. Students should direct all admissions inquiries to:

Office of Undergraduate Admission
100 W. D. Funkhouser Building
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0054
859-257-2000
admissions@uky.edu

Undergraduates at UK enroll in one of thirteen colleges. Each college is supervised by an academic dean and is usually made up of several academic departments that offer different major fields of study.

The applicants meeting the appropriate academic requirements shall be considered equally for admission to the University or to any college or academic program regardless of economic or social status and will not be discriminated against on the basis  of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.

Freshman Admission to the University

The University of Kentucky subscribes to a selective admission policy. Admission for freshman applicants is based on a holistic review including high school grades, national college admission test results, successful completion of precollege curriculum, essay and an optional academic letter of recommendation. Applicants may submit official scores from either the ACT Assessment or the SAT I (please refer to test optional policy below). Official test scores must be sent directly from ACT or SAT (College Board).

Minimum Eligibility Requirement

All students who have completed the pre-college curriculum (see below) as prescribed by the Council on Postsecondary Education and have a 2.0 high school grade-point average are encouraged to apply to the freshman class at UK. Enrollment in the freshman class is limited. Within the limits of space availability, the Office of Undergraduate Admission will endeavor to accommodate all eligible applicants. However, the number of freshman applications far exceeds the number of spaces available in the entering class. For this reason, the selective and competitive admission requirements often exceed the minimum eligibility requirement.

Selective Admission

The University of Kentucky has a selective admission policy. A faculty committee establishes the academic criteria. A holistic review is based on factors such as cumulative high school grade-point average, completion of the pre-college curriculum, ACT or SAT I score results, essay, special talents and abilities and an optional academic letter of recommendation. Applicants are offered admission on a competitive basis, with those meeting the University’s selective admission criteria receiving first offers.

Test Optional Policy

The University of Kentucky implemented a test optional policy extended for students applying for admission through the 2028-29 academic year. This allows most freshman applicants, as well as transfer applicants with fewer than 24 credit hours, the option to be considered for admission without submission of ACT or SAT scores. The Office of Undergraduate Admission is able to evaluate most applicants for admission without the use of test scores reviewing the rigor of high school course work, activities and engagement outside the classroom as well as a written essay.

Deferred Decisions

Freshman applicants who have completed the pre-college curriculum, but do not have the requisite grade-point average, test scores or both for selective admission, may have their admission decisions deferred.  A portion of the freshman class may be admitted from this group of applicants. If, after the application deadline, spaces in the class remain to be filled, admission will be offered to deferred-decision applicants on a competitive basis. Admission will be offered first to those applicants with the strongest records and offers will continue until the class is filled.

Strength of record is a relative term and refers to an applicant’s record in comparison with those of all other freshman applicants. Strength of record may be determined by a number of different factors beyond selective admission criteria. While grades and test scores are important in this assessment, course selection, senior year schedule, honors and Advanced Placement courses, extracurricular and leadership activities and a student’s potential to benefit from or contribute to the learning community may also be considered. The overriding concern will always be for the student’s potential to be successful in meeting the academic expectations at the University.

Pursuant to the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (13 KAR 2:020) Guidelines for Admission to state-supported postsecondary education, applicants admitted with a cumulative unweighted high school GPA between 2.00-2.49 on a 4.0 scale will be required to enter into a learning contract with the University of Kentucky prior to enrollment.

Special Admission Colleges and Programs

Some colleges and programs within colleges at UK have admission standards and criteria that are higher than those for general admission to the University. Also, some programs have deadlines and application procedures that differ from those for general University admission. Refer to Special Application Dates and Procedures for information on procedures and deadlines for special admission programs. Detailed information on admission criteria is provided in the college sections of this Catalog.

Matriculation Into a Degree-Granting College

All undergraduate degrees are conferred by the college offering the program of study (major). Upon admission to the University of Kentucky, all students will be enrolled in a specific college.

Application Procedures for Freshmen

Prospective freshmen are encouraged to apply as early as possible in their senior year. The early action deadline to be considered for competitive scholarships and the Lewis Honors College is December 1. The Regular Decision Deadline is February 15.

All freshman applicants should submit the following:

1. the application for admission;
2. a non-refundable application processing fee;
3. official high school transcript;
4. optional official test scores from either the ACT or the SAT I. “Official” scores are reported directly from the testing agency to the Office of Undergraduate Admission. Test scores appearing on the high school transcript as well as applicant self-reported scores are not considered “official” reports; and
5. an optional academic letter of recommendation.

If a student intends to apply with test scores to UK, they are encouraged to take the ACT or SAT I late in their junior year and again early in their senior year. When registering for the test, please request scores to be sent to UK. It is a mistake to withhold test scores as this can cause added expense and possible delay in the processing of the application. Please request scores from all test administrations so that the Office of Undergraduate Admission can work with the complete test history. High school counselors can provide students with registration forms, information about registration deadlines, test dates and locations.

High School Equivalency Certificates

The University considers admission from freshman applicants who are not high school graduates but who present a valid High School Equivalency Certificate and General Education Development test scores. Applicants may also take the ACT Assessment (or SAT I) and have the results sent directly to the Office of Undergraduate Admission from the testing agency.

Transfer Admission to the University

Students at other colleges or universities, including community colleges, are eligible to transfer to UK if they:

1. have completed 24 credit hours or more and achieved a higher education GPA of 2.00 or higher are admissible to the University.
   or
2. have completed 23 credit hours or fewer must meet both freshman and transfer admissibility requirements to gain admission to the University. The University office responsible for undergraduate admissions will review both final high school cumulative GPA and postsecondary GPA in order to make a decision about admission.

Please note that grade-point averages are computed by the Office of Undergraduate Admission and reflect the grade and credit for each course attempted, regardless of the practice of the offering institution of waiving the low grade for a repeated course.

Refer to the 2024-2025 Academic Calendar for general University admission deadlines.

Special Admission Colleges and Programs

Some colleges and programs within colleges at UK have additional admission standards and criteria beyond those for general admission to the University. Also, some programs have deadlines and application procedures that differ from those for general University admission. Refer to Special Application Dates and Procedures for information on procedures and deadlines for special admission programs. Detailed information on admission criteria is provided in the college sections of this Catalog.

Application Procedures for Transfer Students

Applicants must submit the following to the Office of Undergraduate Admission:

1. an application for admission;
2. an official transcript from each college or university attended, containing a complete record of all courses completed at the time of application regardless of whether the applicant wishes to receive credit;
3. a final official college transcript of any additional work completed before entering the University;
4. a non-refundable application processing fee; and
5. an official high school transcript reflecting proof of high school graduation for any student transferring in 24 or less credit hours and/or any transfer student transferring in less than 60 hours and intends to utilize financial aid.

Refer to Special Application Dates and Procedures for admissions process information. Candidates tentatively admitted at the time of application should be aware that the University will cancel the admission and/or the early registration of an applicant whose final official record, after completion of a current semester, shows ineligibility because of suspension, dismissal, or a drop in grade-point average below the required 2.0.

Transfer of Credit

General Transfer Policies

Students transferring to UK are required to submit official transcripts from all previously attended institutions as part of the admissions process. Most colleges and universities have electronic transcript sending services which can be directed to UK. Please visit you previous college or university Registrar page for more information. Send transcripts to this address:

Office of Undergraduate Admission
100 W.D. Funkhouser Building
Lexington, KY 40506-0054
email: documents@uky.edu

• Credits earned at a fully accredited institution may be transferred to UK and applied toward a degree. There may be cases when general academic credit is awarded. A fully accredited institution is one in good standing and a member of one of the six regional academic accrediting associations.
• Credit for remedial level college course work will not be transferred.
• UK does not accept transfer grades toward the UK grade-point average. A UK grade-point average is established after the first term of classes. However, all transfer grades in all courses are included and counted in the admissions process regardless of the practice of the offering institution of waiving the low grade for a repeated course.
• A minimum grade of D- is required for a course to be accepted by UK. Colleges and departments may require a higher grade in order for the course to apply toward degree requirements. Refer to the major sheets at www.uky.edu/academics/ to determine the specific requirements for each major.
• All work from any four year regionally accredited institution is posted to the UK transcript except for remedial level college course work.
• Regardless of the number of hours accepted for transfer, all candidates for an undergraduate degree must complete 30 of their last 36 hours toward their degree at UK.

Kentucky General Education Transfer Policy

The General Education Transfer Policy facilitates the transfer of credits earned in general education requirements for students moving from one Kentucky public college or university to another Kentucky public college or university. Under this agreement, a student may satisfy the general education discipline requirements at their current college and have that requirement completion accepted at the university or college to which they may transfer.

Students that are “Fully Certified” are considered to have completed UK’s baccalaureate general education requirements known as the UK Core.

Students may also transfer to UK and be Category Certified in up to 5 areas. Students who are Category Certified in each of the 5 areas will be considered “Fully Certified” at UK. The five categories are:

1. Arts and Humanities (AH)
2. Written Communication (WC) and Oral Communication (OC)
3. Natural Sciences (NS), plus Science Lab (SL)
4. Quantitative Reasoning (QR)
5. Social and Behavioral Sciences (SB)

The sending institution will indicate, either on the transcript or as an attachment to the transcript, whether the student is Fully Certified, Core Certified, or Category Certified in general education, or if they have completed any of the coded general education courses (i.e., AH, NS, OC, QR, SB, SL, and WC) at their institution.

Fully Certified - All general education requirements are completed (AA and AS degrees guarantee full certification.)

Core Certified - The 30 hours of core general education is completed and remaining general education requirements of the receiving institution are still required.

Category Certified - One or more of the above categories is complete (e.g., AH Category certification means no additional courses are required in the AH category.)

Course Certified - The category is not complete, but a course will partially fulfill a given category.

For more specific information about GETA, contact Transfer Admissions, 100 Funkhouser Building, (859) 257-2000.

Transfer Students with Bachelor’s, AA or AS Degrees

Students who have completed a Bachelor’s degree, an AA (Associate of Arts) or an AS (Associate of Science) degree from an accredited institution automatically fulfill the UK Core general education requirements.

Transfer Admissions

The Office of Undergraduate Admission serves as a hub of information for the undergraduate transfer student population at UK. Staff collaborates with other on-campus units to provide the necessary resources for successful progress toward graduation. Students can utilize services to:

• Discuss transfer course equivalencies prior to admission.
• Resolve specific transfer related issues by connecting with a UK staff member.
• Discuss transfer planning strategies prior to enrolling at UK.

For more information, contact us at:

Office of Undergraduate Admission
100 Funkhouser Building
859-257-2000
email: UKTransfer@uky.edu
https://admission.uky.edu/transfer

Other Categories of Admission

Readmission

Former University students who have not been enrolled for one semester or more, and who are in good standing are required to apply for readmission. Applicants must submit the following to the Office of Undergraduate Admission:

1. an application for admission;
2. official college transcripts from all regionally accredited institutions attended since last attending UK; and
3. a non-refundable application processing fee.

In order to be eligible for readmission, former UK students must have been in good standing at the time they left the University. Those who have been enrolled elsewhere must be eligible as transfer students on the basis of grade-point average and be in good standing at the institution most recently attended. Please note that grade-point averages are computed by the Office of Undergraduate Admission and reflect the grade and credit for each course attempted, regardless of the practice of the offering institution of waiving the low grade for a repeated course. Students under suspension from UK are not eligible for readmission, regardless of their status at another institution, until they have been reinstated to the University. If the suspension is for academic reasons, reinstatement should be requested from the dean of the college in which they intend to enroll by the stated deadline; if the suspension is nonacademic, reinstatement should be requested from the appropriate University official. Reinstated students also must file an application for readmission in the Office of Undergraduate Admission by the stated deadline.

Readmission candidates should submit an application as early as possible. This allows the Office of Undergraduate Admission adequate time to prepare the necessary forms for registration. Refer to the 2024-2025 Academic Calendar for general admission deadlines. Information on selective college and program deadlines and procedures appears at the end of this section.

Nondegree Students

The goal of the University of Kentucky policy for nondegree students is to provide appropriate access to academic courses for students desiring to continue their education without seeking a degree. Although degree-seeking students should have top priority with respect to University resources, the University does wish to provide access to these resources on a space-available basis to nondegree seeking students. This policy will provide reasonable access to a broader range of students without unnecessarily limiting University resources for degree-seeking students.

Nondegree status affords an opportunity for individuals to pursue lifelong learning without the structure of degree-seeking status and is consistent with the educational mission of the University.

Most nondegree students are considered “Lifelong Learners” and include the following groups: Donovan Scholars, students who have already earned degrees and non-traditional students who wish to begin their studies as nondegree students in order to be considered for degree-seeking status later. Other students eligible to enter the University in a nondegree status include visiting students from other colleges and universities, high school students seeking dual enrollment, and other students in special circumstances as determined by the chief enrollment officer.

Rules Governing Admission of Nondegree Seeking Students

To be admitted as a non-degree student, an applicant must meet the following criteria: the high school class of a non-degree applicant must have graduated at least two years prior to the applicant’s anticipated semester of enrollment unless:

1. The applicant will be on active military duty during his/her tenure as a non-degree student, or the applicant has been admitted by exception according to Administrative Regulation, Academic and Student Affairs,  4.2.1.1.1.2;
2. The applicant is a visiting student or;
3. The applicant is seeking high school dual enrollment or;
4. The applicant possesses a bachelor’s degree; or;
5. The applicant is enrolling in the University’s Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary (CTP) program.

There are three types of non-degree students at the University of Kentucky. The first two types, visiting and high school dual enrollment students, are degreeseeking at other institutions. The third type is not seeking a degree from any institution at the time of enrollment.

1. Visiting Students - A visiting student is a student that is currently enrolled at another institution of higher education who intends to earn credit at UK that will be applied to degree requirements at his or her home institution. Visiting students must meet the same admission requirements as regular transfer students. Applicants will be asked to self-certify that they are in good standing at their home institution.
2. High School Students Seeking Dual Enrollment - Students currently enrolled in high school who desire to enroll in courses at UK must submit a high school transcript and provide a signature from a high school counselor or principal. Students must have a minimum 2.50 unweighted GPA and must meet the Council on Postsecondary Education’s college readiness indicators.
3. Other Non-Degree Students - These students are not currently enrolled in a degree program at a high school, college or university, but wish to take undergraduate course work at the University of Kentucky without pursuing a formal degree. Applicants will be asked to self-certify that they have obtained a high school diploma, GED or meet the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education college readiness indicators, or are applying to participate in the University of Kentucky Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary program. Students wishing to change to degree-seeking status at the University of Kentucky after enrolling as a non-degree student must apply using the same application process as those who are degree seeking.

Applicants who have been denied admission as degree seeking students may not in turn be enrolled as non-degree seeking students unless approved by the established undergraduate admission appeals process. [US: 10/11/93; US: 4/13/98]

Former University of Kentucky degree seeking students generally will not be enrolled as non-degree students without having earned an undergraduate degree. [US: 10/11/93]

University students under academic or disciplinary suspension at any higher education institution may not be enrolled as non-degree students. [US: 10/11/93; US: 4/13/98]

Students currently under suspension at other institutions may not be enrolled as non-degree students at UK. Failure to disclose a current suspension may result in forfeiture of eligibility for future enrollment. [US: 10/11/93; US: 4/13/98]

4. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit transcripts of prior colleges at the time of application in order to facilitate advising about appropriate coursework.

International students applying as a non-degree seeking student whose primary physical residence will be UK, will apply using the same application process as those who are degree seeking.

Rules Governing Enrollment of Non-Degree-Seeking Students

Non-degree-seeking students must meet course prerequisites or obtain the consent of the instructor to enroll in a course.

Non-degree students (except Donovan Scholars) who complete 9 credit hours or more, with less than a 2.00 GPA will not be allowed to continue enrollment.

No student may continue to enroll as a non-degree-seeking student after earning 24 semester hours in this status without the special permission of the dean of the college in which the student is registered.

Credit earned as a non-degree-seeking student will be evaluated for applicability toward a degree by the dean of the college in which the student will be enrolled. Successful completion of course work as a non-degree-seeking student does not ensure admission as a degree seeking student. No graduate or professional credit is awarded for courses taken while a student is enrolled as an undergraduate non-degree-seeking student.

Changing Status from Non-Degree to Degree Seeking

Applicants who earned fewer than 24 semester credit hours at UK must meet the University’s standards for automatic admission as first-time freshmen. Students who have earned 24 semester hours at UK may apply for degree-seeking status and will be considered as transfer students for admission purposes. Students who have earned 24 semester hours at UK may apply for degree-seeking status and will be considered as transfer students for admission purposes.

High school students who have enrolled continuously at the University and who have earned more than 24 semester credit hours in total in the course of a UK dual credit program (including credit for prior assessment) will be considered as first-time freshmen when first changing their status from non-degree- to degree-seeking. [US: 3/19/2012; 3/20/2023]

The dean of the college the degree-seeking student enrolls in determines how credit earned as a non-degree student is applied toward a degree.

Nondegree students applying for degree-seeking status must submit to the Office of Undergraduate Admission:

1. an application for admission;
2. a non-refundable application processing fee;
3. optional official scores from the ACT or SAT (if fewer than 24 semester hours earned); and
4. an official transcript from each college or university attended, containing a complete record of all courses completed at the time of application regardless of whether the applicant wishes to receive credit.

Refer to the 2024-2025 Academic Calendar for general admission deadlines.

International Applicants

UK is authorized under federal law to enroll qualified nonimmigrant international applicants.

International applicants should apply and submit all required documents by May 15 for fall semester admission and October 15 for spring semester admission. International applicants must submit to the Office of Undergraduate Admission:

1. an international application for admission;
2. a non-refundable application processing fee.
3. *official academic transcripts and English-translated course descriptions of all college-level work completed;
4. **acceptable score on an English proficiency test such as TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo or other English proficiency test;
5. optional ACT or SAT results for freshmen applicants wishing to apply for academic scholarships or selective colleges;
6. copy of government issued passport; and,
7. additional information may be requested by admission officer.

Admission is competitive and preference is given to applicants who are best qualified academically. All documents relating to academic records and competency in the English language must be received prior to admission review. All documents must be official or certified as such.

Undergraduate international applicants who are otherwise admissible, but who have not yet demonstrated English proficiency, may be conditionally admitted to the University of Kentucky. Conditionally admitted students will be academically admitted to UK as full-time degree-seeking undergraduates upon demonstration of English proficiency, as defined below.

Students enrolled in Level 5 or Level 6 of CESL course work may, upon meeting criteria set forth by the CESL program, enroll for one semester as non-degree seeking students in a pre-matriculation bridge program (half-time enrollment in non-credit CESL course work and 6-8 hours of credit-bearing undergraduate course work), constituting full-time enrollment in English preparation for immigration purposes. Completion of the bridge program with grades of A or B in all classes will constitute demonstration of English proficiency for full admission to the University of Kentucky; however, some UK academic colleges and/or majors may require a TOEFL/IELTS score for admission to their programs.

All international applicants are required to have university-approved health insurance.

*Official transcript from each institution attended (high school, college or university). Applicants from non-English speaking countries must provide an official literal English translation of their official school records. Students who wish to transfer credit to UK should submit course descriptions, course syllabi, and any other materials that can help determine course equivalencies. It is recommended that applicants additionally have their transcripts evaluated by a NACES member organization.

**Students whose native language is other than English must score at least 527 (paper-based) or 71 (internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), 105 on Duolingo, or comparable English language metric to be eligible for general admission to UK. Students may also satisfy the requirement by providing an IELTS score of 6 or better. “Native language” is defined as an individual’s first acquired language and the language of educational instruction.

For students with marginal scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Center for English as a Second Language at UK offers an intensive English program. Successful completion of this program satisfies English language proficiency for admission to UK; however, other conditions for admission must still be met, as outlined above. For complete details about the program, visit http://esl.as.uky.edu

The Office of Undergraduate Admission may require additional documents in order to process an application.

Questions Concerning Admission Decisions

All applicants to the University of Kentucky have the right to question or appeal admission decisions. Applicants desiring to appeal a decision should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admission to obtain information on the appeal process as well as deadlines.

Orientation to UK

Big Blue Nation Orientation is the first step in a student’s transition to enrolling as a student at the University of Kentucky. At BBN Orientation, students will meet other new students, hear from campus offices and organizations, meet with advisors and register for classes.

Registering for BBN Orientation is how students confirm their spot at UK. First-time freshmen beginning in the fall semester must pay an orientation fee and enrollment prepayment at the time of registration; all other students will be assess their orientation fee on their first tuition statement. The deadline to register for orientation for first-time freshmen beginning in the fall semester is May 1. Any deadline extensions will be communicated broadly.

K Week

K Week is the official Wildcat welcome week, designed to help new students transition smoothly to the University of Kentucky campus! This event-filled week offers programs, activities, and events aimed at helping students meet new people, learn about UK traditions, connect with their college, and identify resources essential for creating a strong foundation of success and belonging as they embark on their collegiate journey.

By participating in K Week, new students begin their transition to campus life and set themselves up for success. K Week starts just before fall classes begin and features a variety of academic, informational, and social programs and activities. These events are tailored to familiarize students with the University of Kentucky’s community expectations, resources, and opportunities, as well as to encourage engagement in campus life and help them forge new connections.

Information about K Week is provided to students during the summer, and all new and transfer students are expected to attend. For more information, visit kweek.uky.edu or download the UK Guides mobile app. You can also contact the Office of Student Organizations and Activities (SOA) at the Gatton Student Center, room A154, call 859-257-8867, follow us on Instagram and X at @ukgetinvolved and @UK_KWeek, or visit studentsuccess.uky.edu/student-organizations-and-activities. Send email inquiries to k-week@uyk.edu.

UK 101 Academic Orientation Course

UK 101 - ACADEMIC ORIENTATION  

UK 101 is an academic orientation course for first-year students that significantly promotes a successful transition to college life. The class is taught by a faculty or staff member and an upperclass student. Topics addressed included academic expectations, time management, academic integrity, campus resources, campus involvement, and wellness.

UK 201 Transfer Orientation Course

UK 201 - ACADEMIC ORIENTATION FOR TRANSFERS  

This course is designed to assist transfer students with prior academic or military credit in adjusting to the academic life at the University of Kentucky. Through lectures, discussions, exercises and out-of-class assignments, students will gain a better understanding of the challenges which they will encounter and, thus, will learn how to make effective use of the University’s resources. Considerable attention will be directed to graduation and career planning.

Special Application Dates and Procedures

^†Law school applications are processed through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), online at: www.lsac.org.