Prospective Students
Doctoral Program
Admissions and Application
If you have outstanding academic credentials, with or without a master's degree, we strongly encourage you to apply. To be admitted to the School of Labor and Employment Relations, you must meet the general entrance requirements to the Graduate College. You can read more about Graduate College admissions requirements at www.grad.uiuc.edu. To complete your application package, please provide the following:
- Completed application form submitted online. All supporting materials must be uploaded and submitted online with the application.
- Application fee: $70 domestic and $90 international
- Transcripts of all academic work submitted online with application
- Three letters of recommendation from faculty who can speak to your potential for conducting research - submitted electronically
- GRE scores (no subject test required) reported electronically to Institution Code 1836 OR request your GMAT scores be sent to code VKR-TK-83
- TOEFL scores if necessary (590 PBT, 243 CBT, and 96 iBT score minimums) reported electronically to Institution Code 1836. IELTS also accepted.
- Declaration of Finances (international students only) with Program Code 10KS0364PHD on the form
Please complete the online application. All required documents including transcripts and letters of recommendation must be uploaded and submitted with the online application. In addition to the required application materials, you should submit evidence of research and writing ability, such as a master's or undergraduate thesis, special reports, or published articles. This should be uploaded with the application as a Program Specific Question.
You must complete an undergraduate course in statistics -- we strongly recommend that this course be completed before enrolling at the School. (It may be taken without graduate credit during the first semester at the School, but doing so may delay completion of the program because of course sequencing.)
Application deadline is January 7 for fall admission. An exception is made for students who are enrolled at LER in the master's program, and they may submit an internal application to the doctoral program by November 1 for spring admission. Applicants will be notified by April 1 for fall admission, and December 15 for spring admission.
For information concerning the dates and places for taking the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), contact Computer Based Testing year-round at 1-800-GRE-Call. For test preparation materials, contact 1-800-537-3160. To prepare for the online test, see their website at www.gre.org