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
  By January 15^th if funding is requested.
  Funding for those who submit materials after January 15^th will be considered only as funding permits.
  
  Applications are accepted until:
  July 15^th for domestic students
  April 15^th for international students
   
• Spring admission
  By November 1, 2020 if funding is requested.
  
  Applications are accepted until December 1^st

Apply online and upload all supporting materials:

• Three letters of recommendation
• A statement of purpose
• Resume or CV
• Unofficial academic records/transcripts
• GRE scores (encouraged but 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.
• All students requesting funding must also complete and upload the Funding Application/Award Form.

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 will benefit 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 is 04.0301-- City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning. The recent approval changes our associated code to 30.3301-- Sustainability Studies. This will apply 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 .

If you have questions regarding admissions, please contact us:

Anne Nessa
Admissions Coordinator
Telephone: 319-335-0041
E-mail: anne-nessa@uiowa.edu

School of Planning and Public Affairs
The University of Iowa
347 Jessup Hall
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1316
Telephone: 319-335-0032
Fax: 319-335-3330