How to Apply: Master of Science in Human Factors

NOTE: We will NOT be accepting any graduate applications for FALL2012 admission term.

Admission Criteria and Limits on Number of Admissions

Completed application files for all prospective students are first evaluated by a screening committee composed of faculty members within the Human Factors Division. Our criteria for admission include the quality of your undergraduate work, your undergraduate grade-point average for the last 60 completed hours of undergraduate work, test scores on Graduate Record Examinations (verbal and quantitative tests are required), quality of recommendations contained in three required letters of reference, your background in mathematics and research, your personal statement of goals and interests, your program of undergraduate studies and your performance in special parts of that program (e.g., in particularly demanding courses, in independent work, etc.).

However, the number of admissions to graduate study in human factors is limited, so we must always deny admission to many applicants who not only meet our minimum requirements, but indeed are very excellent students.

One's chance of admission is neither enhanced nor hindered by prior study beyond the undergraduate degree. Students with advanced study and Master's degrees may be admitted, but advanced work is not required.

How to Complete Your Application

Who May Apply

Applicants with at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in the United States or a comparable degree from a recognized institution of higher learning abroad. A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (A=4.0), or comparable GPA for an international applicant is a minimum requirement for admission.

Applicants enrolled in the final year of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in the United States or a comparable degree program from a recognized institution of higher learning abroad, and who meet the GPA requirements stated above.

Admission requirements for domestic students:

• Minimum 1200 GRE score (Verbal + Quantitative); if more than one GRE score is submitted, the scores submitted will be averaged. Other credentials may offset a lower GRE score.
• Minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA at the time application is submitted.

Admission requirements for international students:

• Same four requirements listed above for domestic students plus
• TOEFL score
• TSE score (if seeking Teaching Assistantship)
• Evidence of Financial Resources

Current or Previous UIUC Students

Applicants previously enrolled in the Graduate College and current graduate students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign should not submit an application or pay the application fee. Contact your proposed program of study regarding re-entry or a change of curriculum via the Graduate Student Petition process. More information on the petition process, including re-entering UIUC, can be found at http://www.grad.illinois.edu/admissions/apply/reentry.htm.

Application Materials
Where do I send my application?

1) The application process requires you to complete and submitt on-line Application for Admission, and application fee.

2) All other materials must be sent directly to Institute of Aviation, Graduate Admissions Office, One Airport Road, Savoy, IL 61874.

Complete all steps listed below. Incomplete applications will not be considered for admission.

Step 1. Complete the Application for Admission.

• Online: Go to http://www.grad.illinois.edu/admissions/apply/ to complete the application and submit the fee by credit card.

Application Deadlines

Applications will be accepted starting November 1 for the following Fall admission. The deadline for receipt of application materials is February 15. All of your materials must be received at UIUC by that date.

It is suggested that at least two weeks before the application deadline; you contact the Institute of Aviation Graduate Admissions Office to ensure that your file is complete. Graduate Admissions Office does not send reminder notices indicating your file is completed or has missing information. You should also contact the Graduate College to ensure that your application and fee have been received.

APPLICATION MATERIALS SHOULD BE MAILED WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE DEADLINE (AT LEAST 5 WORKING DAYS) TO AVOID DELIVERY PROBLEMS.

Admissions for Spring Semester

We typically do not accept applications to begin study in the spring. Although some applications are occasionally considered because of special conditions, few if any of these applicants will be admitted.

Which application fee should I submit?

The non-refundable application fee amount is determined by your citizenship and/or visa status. Please review the following applicant definitions to determine which fee is appropriate and which application sections you should complete. Payment may be made by check or money order, drawn from a U.S.-affiliated bank, payable to the University of Illinois. Include your name, as it appears on the application, and your birth date or U.S. Social Security Number on the check or money order. Credit card payments are only accepted when submitting the application online (http://www.grad.illinois.edu/admissions/apply/). Your application will not be processed until the application fee has been received.

Note: Certain domestic applicants (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Staff, Civil Service,Academic Professionals, Faculty, Graduate Assistants, Employees of Allied Agencies, or applicants to designated programs) may be eligible for a fee waiver or exemption. Please contact the Office of Admissions and Records at grad@illinois.edu for information.

Domestic applicants are citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States, or have been granted Asylee, Refugee or Paroled in the Public Interest status by the United States government. If you can answer yes to ALL of the following three questions, you may also complete the domestic application as a "Non-citizen, status identified" citizenship type: 1) I am not a U.S. citizen, but I did or will graduate from an Illinois high school or attain a GED in Illinois; 2) I did attend school in Illinois for at least 3 years during kindergarten through high school; and 3) I did live with my parents while I attended school in Illinois. Domestic applicants complete the "Domestic Applicant" section of the application and are required to submit a $60.00 application fee. If you have submitted an application for United States Permanent Residency, please see the instructions for International applicants below.

International applicants are citizens or permanent residents of a country to which they intend to return other than the United States. International applicants may be in the United States on an educational, worker or visitor visa, or be residing in their home country. International applicants complete the "International Applicant" section of the application, and are required to submit a $75.00 application fee (U.S. dollars) by check, money order or credit card (credit card payment option for online applicants only). Checks must be drawn from a U.S.-affiliated bank, payable to the University of Illinois. International applicants who are requesting F-1 or J-1 visa eligibility documents are also required to provide evidence of financial support by completing the "Declaration and Certification of Finances Form" with accompanying bank statements, and evidence of English proficiency. For a list of required documents, please see the "International Applicant" instructions. Please note: International applicants who have filed an application for United States Permanent Residency are considered International applicants and should complete the "International Applicant" section of the application, but are not required to provide financial documentation.

Transcripts/Educational Credentials

International Applicants: Applicants for graduate study must submit official or attested copies of academic credentials from all universities and colleges attended, in a sealed envelope, with a certification stamp across the seal. Academic credentials include mark sheets, certificates, transcripts, and examination results and must include all coursework, grades and degree information. For each college or university attended, provide a credential in the original language, and an attested English translation. DO NOT SUBMIT ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS; all submitted documents become the property of UIUC and will not be returned. Questions about financial aid, graduate appointments, degree requirements, courses, curricula, and programs should be addressed to the appropriate program of study office.

Domestic Applicants: Use the transcript request labels (http://www.humanfactors.illinois.edu/teaching/forms/TranscriptRequestLabelsAVI.pdf) to request that an official transcript of your academic record from each U.S. community college, senior college, university, or graduate and professional school you have attended be sent to your proposed program of study office. It is not necessary, however, to submit a transcript covering work completed at the Urbana-Champaign campus of the University of Illinois. When completing the application form, be sure to list all of the institutions you have attended, including the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Applying to More Than One Program of Study

Applicants who wish to be considered for admission to multiple programs of study should submit an application, fee, and appropriate supporting materials to each program of study office. Students may be enrolled in only one program of study at a time, unless enrolled in an approved joint program of study.

Instructions for International or Non-citizen Applicants

English Proficiency Requirement TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

All applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit the results of the TOEFL as evidence of English proficiency. Official scores are required to be submitted directly from TOEFL/ETS (please see instructions below for Submitting Official Scores regarding our institution code and program number).

• Graduate applicants may be exempt from the TOEFL if one of the following criteria is met:

• Completion of at least two years of post-secondary full-time study, as defined by the home institution, in a country where English is the primary language and at an institution where English is the primary medium of instruction, within five years of the proposed term of initial enrollment at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
  
  OR
  
• Completion of a graduate degree in a country where English is the primary language and at an institution where English is the primary language of instruction, within five years of the proposed term of initial enrollment.

The TOEFL score must be less than two years old at the proposed term of entry in order to be valid. A minimum score is required. Please note: Individual academic programs may require a higher score; contact your proposed program of study office for the minimum TOEFL requirement for admission.

If the scores on the TOEFL are acceptable, but indicate the need for further English study, an English Placement Test (EPT) will be required upon arrival at the University. On the basis of the EPT results, applicants are generally required to enroll in non-credit "English as a Second Language" courses and take a reduced academic load beginning the first semester at the University.

A free information bulletin is available for each of the testing programs from the TOEFL web site at www.ets.org/toefl/ (download or order online).

Submitting Official Scores: Applicants who have already taken the TOEFL should request the Educational Testing Service send scores to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign using our institution code number 1836, and department code 00.

TSE (Test of Spoken English)

This test is required for nonnative speakers of English who wish to be considered for teaching assistantships and must be taken in addition to the TOEFL. Applicants who have already taken the TSE should request the Educational Testing Service send scores to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign using our institution code number 1836, and department code 00.

IMPORTANT!
Latest information and updates to TOEFL and English Language Testing Requirements are posted here.

Evidence of Financial Resources

All international applicants are required to demonstrate that they have adequate financial resources to cover the cost of their education while in the United States. Official financial documentation is required as part of the application process in order for entry documents (I-20 or DS-2019) to the U.S. to be issued.

International applicants should submit the following documentation along with other supporting application materials directly to the proposed program of study office:

Visa Information

The Certificate of Eligibility Form I-20 will be issued to the admitted applicants who request, and are eligible for an F-1 visa. F-1 students may not hold appointments that total more than 20 hours per week when school is in session, and full-time during vacation period provided the student intends to register in the following semester. Twelve months of optional practical training in a study program may be authorized. Dependents of F-1 students cannot be employed. A DS-2019 Form will be issued to the admitted applicants who request and are eligible for a J-1 visa.

Applicants sponsored by their governments, international foundations, or agencies, who receive at least 50 percent of their funding from any source other than personal or family funds, or who are part of a university exchange will receive this form. Entry into the U.S. is only for the total period of the study program as specified on the DS-2019. J-1 students may work on or off campus only with written approval from their sponsor. Students may participate in up to 18 months of academic training and up to 36 months of postdoctoral training. Changing visa category is very difficult and may not be allowed. J-1 visa holders may be subject to a 2-year home country residence requirement. Dependents on J-2 visas may seek employment. A student may not enroll or pursue studies while on a B1/B2 or F-2 visa.

Information regarding the SEVIS Visa fee may be obtained at the following U.S. Department of Homeland Security web site: www.ice.gov/sevis/index.htm.

Information for All Applicants

Notification of Admission

In order to be admitted to the Graduate College at UIUC, applicants must meet admission requirements of both their proposed program of study, and the Graduate College. Your proposed program of study office will evaluate your application, and recommend a decision for admission to the Graduate College. An official Notification of Admission will be mailed to you from the Office of Admissions and Records.

Financial Aid

All graduate students enrolled in good standing in the Master of Science Program of the Human Factors Division, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, are eligible for financial support. However, support is not guaranteed and depends upon the availability of funds.

Research assistantships may be offered by principal investigators of specific research grants to students whose areas of interest and experience are particularly fitting for the research program from which the assistantship is funded. These usually range from a quarter-time (10 hours per week) to a half-time (20 hours per week) appointment, and carry an obligation of those specific hours to work each week on the research grant. Both quarter-time and half-time assistantships carry a stipend plus tuition and partial fee waiver (waives service fee only).

Teaching assistantships are not typically offered by the Human Factors Division. However, if provided, these assistantships are usually one-half time appointments (20 hours per week) and carry a stipend plus tuition and partial fee waiver (waives service fee only).

Even though students often complete the Master’s program in two years, the Human Factors Division does not guarantee financial support for both years. Students who receive support during their first year are not guaranteed support for the second year, if funding is not available or they are no longer in "good standing" within the program. However, students who do not receive support during their first year may receive support their second year if it becomes available and they continue to be in "good standing" within the program.

Please note: For non-native speakers of English to be considered for a teaching assistantship, the TSE must be taken, and the score submitted to your proposed program of study office (please see the English Proficiency Requirement section for details).

International students are eligible for assistantships and other University monetary awards but must also meet the financial requirements for academic and living expenses while in the United States for academic training before their visa will be issued.

HOW TO APPLY FOR UIUC DEPARTMENTAL AND UNIVERSITY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Your completed APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO THE GRADUATE COLLEGE
(http://www.grad.illinois.edu/admissions/apply/) insures consideration for all tuition waivers and assistantships administered by the Human Factors Division or the Graduate College (your order of preference may be indicated on the application form).

After considering your application, a departmental committee, may nominate and recommend you to the Graduate College for a fellowship (http://www.grad.illinois.edu/fellowships) or tuition waiver. The Graduate College makes the final selection. The Graduate College administers most of the fellowships available, including many from outside agencies, and the tuition waivers.

Each department appoints its own teaching or research assistants, with the approval of the Associate Chancellor.

FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID

Domestic graduate students may submit the FAFSA obtained directly from the Financial Aid Office of any college or university to apply for federal monies available to graduate students.

Additional information

Domestic Applicants:
http://www.grad.illinois.edu/admissions/apply/begin/domestic
International Applicants:
http://www.grad.illinois.edu/admissions/apply/begin/international

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