General Advice on Applying  |  Application Checklist  |  Admissions Timetable  |  Spring and Summer Admissions

As of December 1, 2018, the Rubenstein School no longer requires a GRE exam for admissions.

General Advice on Applying

Student holds up water sample bag on boat on lake

The key to having a great experience in graduate school is finding a project that you are truly passionate about and a faculty mentor with whom you would like to work. Do some internet research to learn more about a faculty members' current research, papers they are publishing, and grants they have received.

First, identify which program and specific area of research interests you. As you complete the application process, the most important thing is to identify and cultivate a relationship with a faculty member who will agree to serve as your advisor should you be accepted by the Graduate College. Having an advisor on-board is not a pre-requisite for applying to the program; however, a faculty member must have agreed to be your advisor before you can be accepted into our program.

View a list of RSENR graduate faculty >>

If you are a current UVM undergraduate in ANY program, consider adding a natural resources component to your education through an Accelerated Master's Program (AMP) in Natural Resources. It is a great way to maximize your time as an undergraduate while working toward an advanced degree at the same time.

Learn more about our AMP in Natural Resources >>

Faculty advisor with two students

Once you have identified potential graduate faculty, contact our Graduate Program coordinator at rsenrgc@uvm.edu or the Rubenstein School at 802-656-2911, to get more information on their availability and the process for connecting with them.

Prior to contacting a potential advisor, read a few of their published papers and email a copy of your resume. Once you are connected, ask each faculty member questions about his or her work and be ready to tell something about yourself and your preparation for working in that specific field of research. Getting into graduate school is a competitive process, so the better the fit between your academic record and work/research experience, the more likely it is that a professor will consider your application.

Bikers on wooden bridge

We encourage you to visit the Rubenstein School to get a sense for the school and to meet with faculty members who specialize in your area of interest, members of our Rubenstein Graduate Student Association, and our Student Services staff who coordinate the application process. Being here helps you decide if the program and people are a good fit for you. It also gives your prospective advisor a way to know you as more than an application file. Also, talking with other graduate students helps you get their perspectives on the program. And, tour the Burlington area...you'll be spending a few years of your life here.

Graduate student uses soil core in chip pile

For questions regarding the general University of Vermont admission process, see Graduate College Admissions.

Be sure to indicate your interest in any particular concentration or faculty member in your Statement of Purpose when you apply. That helps us get your application to the proper faculty for review.

International Students: If your native or first language is not English, you must submit proof of English proficiency. See the UVM Graduate College International Student Admissions webpage for more detailed information.

The Gund Institute for Environment

The Gund Institute for Environment offers an Ecological Economics Graduate Certificate. This certificate program provides students with opportunities to venture beyond academia and into a new world of solution-oriented learning even as they continue their concentrated studies in a traditional discipline. This certificate is open to any graduate student who is interested in this transdisciplinary and contemporary field.

Person working on a map on computer

Most of our graduate students are provided with some funding. The resources below may be helpful in the quest to fund your graduate education.

View a list of RSENR Assistantships >>

View the UVM Graduate College funding page >>

 

Application Checklist

  • Application form (online only at: Graduate College Application Information)
  • Transcripts sent to Graduate College
  • Applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit proof of English proficiency. Please see the UVM Graduate College International Student Admissions webpage for information regarding English proficiency exam scores and waivers.  
  • Three recommendations sent to Graduate College (This most frequently holds up the application review process; start early to make sure your application is reviewed on schedule.)
  • Review of several faculty research profiles to find a common interest and communicate your interests to them.
  • The Rubenstein School does not require a writing sample or GRE exam.

 

 

Admissions Timetable

DateFor Fall Admissions
October-DecemberGood time to visit and develop relationships with potential advisors
January 1Deadline for consideration for School assistantships
late-JanuaryGraduate College admissions and first round of funding offers made to students
mid-March/MayAdditional acceptances made (second round of funding offers)
JuneLast acceptances are usually made at this time.

 

Apply Now

 

Spring/Summer Admissions

Graduate students sitting in circle on lawnWhile most of the School's funding and admissions to the Master's and Ph.D. programs take place for fall admissions, the Rubenstein School admits a few students at other times of the year. These off-cycle admissions occur as a result of grant opportunities that faculty receive at different times of the year. There is no guarantee that any funds will be available in any particular year, but it never hurts to ask specific faculty about funding opportunities.

 

 

We welcome your inquiries and visits. Please contact the Graduate Program coordinator at rsenrgc@uvm.edu for more information.