University of Kentucky Admissions: Eligibility & Acceptance Rate

South Limestone KY 40506
Estd 1865

Updated on - Feb 09th, 2022 | 06:47 PM By Sathish

The University of Kentucky (UKY) admissions are open for international applicants in the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. Over 100 undergraduate programs and 80+ graduate programs are offered in various disciplines like management, engineering, medicine, etc. With an acceptance rate of 96%, UKY has a total international student population of 1,322 students.

University of Kentucky Admission Requirements

International students applying to the University of Kentucky are required to submit a score of 6.0 bands in IELTS for undergraduate and 6.5 bands in IELTS for postgraduate admissions. Applicants are required to submit official academic transcripts and other standardized test scores to study in the US.

Undergraduate Admission at the University of Kentucky

UKY offers 100+ undergraduate programs in various disciplines such as nursing, accounting, management, etc. Applicants can apply through the University of Kentucky Application Portal or Common Application along with a non-refundable application fee of $60.

Eligibility Criteria for International Students

  • Academic records of high school
  • English language proficiency test scores
  • ACT/ SAT score
  • Transfer applicants are required to submit their high school and college transcripts with a minimum GPA of 2.0 on 4.0 (73%-76%) having 23 credit hours or fewer
  • Transfer students having 24 credits hours or more can submit only transcripts with a minimum of 2.0 GPA
  • Candidates who have completed English 101 and 102 courses or equivalent in the USA may be considered for a TOEFL waiver
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Financial certificate

Graduate Admission at the University of Kentucky

UKY offers over 80 graduate programs in different fields of study such as computer science, engineering, medical science, and more. Interested candidates can apply online through the University of Kentucky Graduate Application Portal along with an application fee of $75.

Eligibility Criteria for International Students

  • Undergraduate degree from an accredited institution
  • Overall GPA of at least 2.75 and 3.0out of 4.0 (approx 83%-86%)
  • GRE/ GMAT scores if applicable
  • TOEFL/ IELTS scores if applicable
  • Letters of recommendation
  • CV/ Resume
  • Interview
  • Statement of purpose
  • Writing sample

University of Kentucky Application Process for International Students

The University of Kentucky applications are open in the Fall, Spring, and Summer intakes for international students. All required documents must be submitted along with the application before the deadline for the respective program. International students are required to submit standardized test scores to demonstrate their English proficiency.

Required Documents

  • Academic transcripts of the previous study translated into English
  • Verification of financial support
  • Letters of recommendation
  • English proficiency test score
  • Bank Statement with a balance of $47,000 if applying for Fall and Spring semesters
  • Sponsor guarantee form
  • Health insurance
  • I-20 or DS-2019 certificate
  • Copy of passport
  • Different standardized test scores such as ACT/ SAT
  • GMAT/ GRE scores
  • Statement of purpose
  • CV/ Resume

How to Apply?

  • Freshman applicants can apply for the University of Kentucky admission either through the Common App or the UK International Application for Undergraduate Admission
  • Students should first create an account to start a new application
  • SAT/ ACT scores are optional as UKY follows a test-optional option for admission
  • An application fee of $60 is applicable for undergraduate admission
  • Graduate students can apply for admission through the UK Graduate Application along with an application fee of $75
  • All candidates are required to submit official academic transcripts in English and other test scores demonstrating English language proficiency
  • All additional documents should be submitted along with the application before the respective deadline.

University of Kentucky Application Deadlines

Undergraduate admissions at UKY are accepted on a rolling basis. International students are advised to apply in the early action track to be considered for various competitive and academic scholarships and also to secure on-campus accommodation. Tabulated below are the University of Kentucky application deadlines for different types of applications:

Application Type

Application Deadline

Early Action

01 December 2022

Regular Action

15 February 2022

Admission Procedure of the University of Kentucky

Applicants can check the status of their University of Kentucky applications by logging into their respective portals. One can expect a decision four to six weeks after submitting the application and all required documents. Find below some of the important steps to be taken by admitted students at the University of Kentucky:

  • Selected students should first confirm their enrollment at UKY by paying their orientation fee and enrollment deposit, and then sign up for the Big Blue Nation Orientation
  • The next step is to activate their linkblue account to complete the confirmation process
  • The students can apply early for financial aid and also apply for on-campus housing
  • Finally, the candidate can register for the BBN orientation after confirming their place in the class

Acceptance Rate at the University of Kentucky

The University of Kentucky admissions are more selective with an acceptance rate of around 96%. Out of the total student enrollment of 31,536 students, 1,322 are international students. There are a total of 21,928 undergraduate students and 8,490 graduate students pursuing various academic programs at the University of Kentucky.