How to Apply to Graduate School
Exceptions to Applying
Important things to note
How to Update an Application to a Different Program or Term
If you need to update your submitted application to a new term, please use this update form.
International Student Assistance
If you are an International Student, and have questions concerning the application process, you can contact the Office of International Admissions at global@westga.edu or 1 (678) 839-1391 before beginning the application process.
Make Sure Your Program is Available to You - This Could Depend on Your State
Online Degree and Certificate Programs may not be available in all states. If you are an out-of-state student, please contact Distance Education, at online@westga.edu, to confirm that the program is available in your state.
Steps For Graduate Program Application
- Step 1 - Fill Out the Online Application
- Step 2 - Official Transcripts and All Required Documents
- Step 3 - Graduate Entrance Exam
- Step 4 - Program Specific Requirements
- Step 5 - Verification of Lawful Presence
- Step 6 - Proof of Immunization
- Step 7 - Check the Status of Your Application
Fill Out the Online Application
Complete this online application for admission. Once you submit your application, you will receive an email confirming that your application has been submitted.
After you submit your online application, you will then be directed to pay the $39.99 non-refundable application fee by credit or debit card to the University of West Georgia. Contact the UWG Graduate Admissions Office if you need help.
Email: graduate@westga.edu
Phone Number: (678) 839-1394
Note: If you are a McNair Scholar, please check the waiver option at the end of the application to waive the application fee and then email our office at graduate@westga.edu with the completed McNair Program Participation Form, signed by your school's McNair Official.
Please also inform us at graduate@westga.edu if you are using the application waiver for Georgia residents age 62 and over.
These are the only two application fee waivers we offer.
Official Transcripts and All Required Documents
Official electronic transcripts are preferred where available, and may be sent from the issuing institution directly to graduate@westga.edu or by choosing 'University of West Georgia-Graduate Admissions' in the recipient list. Please ensure it says 'Graduate Admissions' next to the university's name.
Do not send official electronic transcripts to colleges, departments, or program directors.
Please note, it may take 24 to 48 hours for us to process electronic transcripts.
If an electronic transcript is not available, contact the institution you have attended and request that they mail an official copy of your transcript directly to the UWG Graduate Admissions Office. If hard copies are mailed, send transcripts and all supplemental items to the following address:
UWG Graduate Admissions
Mandeville Hall
1601 Maple Street
Carrollton, GA 30118
Phone: (678) 839-1394
If a transcript is mailed to you instead of to Graduate Admissions, do not open it. Mail the transcript in its original, sealed envelope directly to the Graduate Admissions Office.
Graduate Entrance Exam
Graduate programs vary in their requirements for entrance examinations. Not every program will require a Graduate Entrance Exam. If you have questions about your program's requirements, please go to your program's page, then review the 'Admissions' tab for your individual program of study's requirements.
If your program requires an entrance exam, your next step is to schedule the graduate entrance exam. Take the exam 6 weeks prior to the application deadline to ensure adequate time for processing. Exam scores will be reported directly to the UWG Graduate Admissions Office.
Note: Use the University of West Georgia institution code #5900 for the GRE, GMAT, and TOEFL.
A photocopy of your personal exam results may be submitted to the UWG Graduate Admissions Office to verify that the exam was taken; however, official test results must be received from the testing agency (e.g., Educational Testing Service, Psychological Corporation, or Graduate Management Admissions Council) before your application will be considered complete.
If your program requires the GACE Ethics for Educators (test #360) or the GACE Ethics for Educational Leadership (test #380), please send the certificate noting that you passed the required assessment to graduate@westga.edu or you can send a screenshot from your MyPSC account showing all assessments you have completed/passed that also includes your name and ID# within the same screenshot.
Program Specific Requirements
Each graduate program has specific requirements that you must meet in order to enroll. Please review the 'Admissions' tab on your program's page to find your individual program of study's requirements. Go to this page in order to find your program's page.
You may upload certain documents to your file by logging into Begin West. Otherwise, send all program specific documents to the Graduate Admissions Office for processing at: graduate@westga.edu
Once your admissions file is complete, it will be forwarded to the department for review.
Verification of Lawful Presence
Students who want to qualify for in-state tuition rates must verify their lawful presence in Georgia. Review UWG Admission's page about Verification of Lawful Presence for instructions on verifying lawful presence. It should prompt you to submit this during the application process.
Because online students pay eTuition rates, which are neither in-state nor out-of-state, they are not required to verify lawful presence. This means that for fully online programs, the tuition rate remains the same in every state - there is no in-state or out-of-state tuition for fully online programs.
Proof of Immunization
After you are admitted, you will be required to show proof of immunization.
Send your Certificate of Immunization (PDF, 127K)) to immunize@westga.edu, or mail it to:
Office of Student Health Services
University of West Georgia
Carrollton, GA 30118-4700
This requirement is a Georgia Board of Regents policy; however, there is one exception. If you will never travel to a UWG campus or site, you may apply for an Immunization Exemption. Contact the Immunization Clerk with your request by calling Health Services at (678) 839-6452.
Students admitted to 100% online graduate programs do not need to submit this requirement.
Check the Status of Your Application
You can monitor the progress of your application and track the submission of your supplemental items via Begin West by going to your 'Status' page. This is also where you can upload some of your required supplemental items.