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General Admission Information

Eligibility

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university, or the international equivalent, prior to beginning graduate study.

Categories of Admission

  1. Unconditional.  Applicants must have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework to be eligible. Otherwise, a graduate coursework GPA will be used for an admission decision if an applicant has completed a minimum of nine (9) graduate credit hours. program.
  2. Conditional. Applicants with at least a 2.5 GPA may be considered on the basis of a combination of other factors including, but not limited to, scores on standardized tests, preparation at the undergraduate level, quality of work, recommendations, and other relevant factors. Students admitted conditionally will be informed in their admission letter of the conditions they must satisfy in order to continue their enrollment in the program and to become eligible for scholarships.
  3. Non-degree-seeking Graduate Student. This admission status is for a student who has a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, wishes to register for graduate or undergraduate courses, and is not currently seeking a graduate degree from Bradley University. The student must have met the GPA requirements as listed for unconditional and conditional admission.
    • At the time of application, a non-degree-seeking graduate student must provide an Application for Graduate Admission, application fee, and official transcripts. Students who have met the prerequisites may enroll in most graduate courses. Students who enroll in courses for which they are not qualified may be dropped from the course.
    • Admission as a non-degree-seeking graduate student does not constitute admission to a degree program. Should the student wish to apply to a degree program, all requirements for admission to that program must be met. A maximum of 9 semester hours with grades of B or better earned as a non-degree-seeking graduate student may be applied to a degree or certificate program, with approval of the program’s graduate coordinator.
  4. Bradley Seniors Taking Courses for Graduate Credit. Bradley seniors who are within 6 semester hours of graduation, or who are registering for the semester during which they will complete their bachelor’s degree requirements, may register for graduate courses for graduate credit provided they also have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or greater. They must also have the approval of: 1) their undergraduate advisor, 2) the instructor of the course who determines if the course is appropriate for graduate credit, and 3) the graduate program director/coordinator if the course is part of a graduate program, or the department chairperson if the department does not house a graduate program. The senior may not take more than 9 semester hours of courses for graduate credit while registering as a senior. These hours will not be counted toward the baccalaureate degree. The student must secure the approval signatures on the form, Application for Graduate Credit for a Senior, and file it with the Registrar. Forms may be obtained from the Registrar’s Office and Graduate Education. 

Former Students

Students who have received an undergraduate or graduate degree from Bradley must reapply for admission if they wish to register for additional coursework.

Admission Requirements

Applicants requirements are listed below. Individual programs may require additional application materials and may have more selective admission requirements than those of graduate admission; please refer to the program pages for specific information. Copies of all official documents can be used for admission purposes. Note: official documents are required at a later date if not originally provided.

Before being considered for admission, degree-seeking students must submit the following materials. Some departments have additional requirements. Be certain to check individual programs for admission requirements. All components are included as part of the online.

  1. Application Form. All applicants must submit an online application through Graduate Education.
  2. Application Fee. A non-refundable application fee of $40 may be paid by credit card in the online application. Applications will not be processed until the fee has been received.
  3. Transcripts.
    1. Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended are required. To be considered official, transcripts must be sent directly from the institution electronically or by mail:

      Office of Admission
      Bradley University
      1501 W. Bradley Ave.
      Peoria, IL 61625

      Documents submitted by mail cannot be returned to the applicant.

    2. International Applications:
      1. In the U.S., a transcript is the name given to the official university report listing the subjects, grades, dates of attendance, and other information reflecting a student's academic performance at a specific institution. A transcript is considered official only when prepared by the registrar's office and submitted in a sealed envelope to Bradley University.
      2. One set of official copies of transcripts, academic records, or university mark sheets should be sent directly from the academic institution (normally the registrar's office) to Bradley’s Office of Admission. Transcripts should reflect subjects and examination results on a year-by-year or semester-by-semester basis. Transcripts in a language other than English must be accompanied by an official translation. An explanation of the grading system should be included, if not noted on the document. Certification of the degree and the date the degree was awarded is required.
      3. Applicants from countries using statements of marks, memorandum of marks, mark sheets, etc., are required to submit official (attested) copies of their annual and semester mark sheets from every examination session for all subjects passed, failed, and repeated. Consolidated mark sheets alone are not accepted.
  4. Experience and Objectives. Applicants must provide a short admissions essay on each of the following topics:
    1. Explain achievements and work experience that you consider relevant to your interest in and capacity for graduate study.
    2. Briefly state your career objectives and how the graduate program you have selected will assist you in attaining these goals.
    3. Some programs use a separate essay prompt. This information is included in the online application.
  5. Recommendations. A minimum of two recommendations must be submitted as part of the online application. Some programs require additional recommendations; please refer to the program pages for specific information. The recommendation requests are sent electronically after completing the online application.
  6. Resume/CV. The resume is not required by all programs. However, it’s very helpful in making admissions decisions and financial aid awards, so we recommend all applicants submit one.
  7. Standardized Test Scores.
    • If your program requires a standardized test score, the official score must be sent directly to the Office of Admission by the testing agency. Bradley's institutional code for score reporting is 1070.
  8. Language Proficiency.
    1. Applicants who are not U.S. citizens, with the exception of Legal Permanent Residents, are required to provide proof of English language proficiency. Acceptable exams and minimum scores are listed below:

      TOEFL iBT minimum 79 (paper-based minimum 550)
      IELTS minimum 6.5 overall band
      PTE Academic minimum 58
      E3PT minimum 68
      Bradley's institutional code for score reporting is 1070. All scores should be sent directly to Bradley University. Graduate and International Admission does not accept language certificates; letters from counselors, advisors, or professors; or other assessments not listed above as proof of English language proficiency.

    2. Applicants who are eligible for a waiver of English language proficiency must meet one of the following requirements:Citizenship of one of the following countries (copy of current unexpired passport as proof):
      Antigua and Barbuda
      Australia
      Bahamas
      Barbados
      Bermuda
      Canada (not including Quebec)
      Cayman Islands
      Dominica
      Grenada
      Guam
      Ireland
      Jamaica
      New Zealand
      Saint Kitts and Nevis
      Saint Lucia
      Trinidad and Tobago
      United Kingdom
      Virgin Islands
    3. Two (2) years or more of study at the secondary or tertiary level in the U.S. or one of the countries listed above within the last four (4) years — transcript from institution as proof
    4. Two (2) years or more of continuous full-time work experience in the U.S. within the last four (4) years — a current resume and an employment letter on company letterhead stating the dates of employment as proof

Applicants for an F-1 Visa

If you plan to apply for an F-1 student visa or are already in F-1 student status and will transfer your SEVIS record to Bradley University, the following documents must be submitted upon admission:

Copy of passport photo page
F-1 International Student Affidavit of Support
In order for an I-20 to be created, F-1 students are required to show proof of available funds to cover at least one year of study at Bradley. This includes the estimated full cost of living. All proof of funds must be dated within six (6) months of submission. All applicants must submit Bradley’s Affidavit of Support, completely filled out, and including required documentation (see form for details).

If you are currently in active F-1 status at another institution, it is necessary to have your SEVIS record transferred to Bradley University. Inform the International Advisor (Designated School Official) at the institution you are currently attending of your intention to transfer to Bradley University and complete any transfer out forms (if applicable). Notify us once your record has been transferred in SEVIS.

At this time, you will receive a “Transfer Pending” I-20. After you have reported in person by attending International Student Orientation, the transfer process will be finalized and you will receive a new “Transfer Complete” I-20. If you have questions about the transfer process, contact your current International Advisor or Bradley Graduate and International Admission at intladmission@bradley.edu.

Permanent Residents/Immigrants

Applicants who are permanent residents must submit proof of their immigration status along with their application if applying for an online program.

Application or Admission Deferral

Applicants or admitted students wishing to defer their application or admission to a subsequent semester must email Graduate Education prior to the start of the semester for which they intend to apply or are admitted.

Applicants may defer their application or admitted students may defer their admission to the next available semester (excluding summer and interim sessions) without reapplying. If the applicant wishes to defer to a semester further into the future or defers a second time, they must re-apply with a new application and fee to Graduate Education. Additional application materials may be required at the discretion of Graduate Education and the department.

Application Deadlines

Graduate Education processes applications on a rolling, or continuous, basis for most programs. The recommended dates by which applications and supporting materials should be sent to Graduate Education are: May 15 for fall, October 15 for spring, and April 15 for summer admission. For full consideration, applicants must submit a complete application and all supporting materials no later than two weeks prior to the beginning of any term to be reviewed for admission for that term. Beyond that time the review of applications cannot be guaranteed. Because some departments have specified deadlines, be certain to check individual programs for deadline information.

This is the official catalog for the 2021-2022 academic year. This catalog serves as a contract between a student and Bradley University. Should changes in a program of study become necessary prior to the next academic year every effort will be made to keep students advised of any such changes via the Dean of the College or Chair of the Department concerned, the Registrar's Office, u.Achieve degree audit system, and the Schedule of Classes. It is the responsibility of each student to be aware of the current program and graduation requirements for particular degree programs.