Graduate School Admission

Admission to the Graduate School

Thank you for your interest in Fort Hays State University Graduate Programs. 

Operational changes brought about as a result of COVID-19 have made email the most effective mode of communication with the Graduate School. 

The Graduate School Email:  gradschool@fhsu.edu

**Note: If possible, when you request your transcripts please have them sent electronically to help speed up the application process. Sending transcript via physical mail will still be accepted, however, there will be a delay in processing. Thank you for your patience! 

1. Submit an Application for Graduate Admission at the appropriate website. Please view our admission tutorials page for detailed instructions on completing the application.

• Master’s
• Advanced Professional Studies (EdS) 
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) 
• Graduate Non-degree

2. Pay the $40 domestic application fee or $50 international application fee.

3. Provide the Graduate School with an official bachelor's degree transcript and master's degree transcript (if applicable) from a regionally accredited institution. The bachelor's transcript must include a minimum of 60 hours of graded credit. Official transcripts are transcripts sent directly from the institution's registrar to the Graduate School at Fort Hays State University. Transcripts mailed or brought in by the applicant are not official and, therefore, are not acceptable. Previous or current FHSU undergraduate students do not need to request official transcripts from FHSU, as these will be obtained by the Graduate School on your behalf.

Non-degree students must provide a copy of a bachelor's or master's degree transcript from a regionally accredited institution. 

For institutions outside the United States and Canada, a World Education Service (WES) International Course-by-Course Transcript Evaluation is required for translation. The WES evaluation must show that the degree earned is equivalent to a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited university. 

*All nursing courses/transcripts from outside the United States, require additional evaluation by the Commission of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS). A course-by-course evaluation is required to confirm degree, course credit, and grades including grade point average. 

4. Provide entrance examination scores as required by individual departments.

5. Provide letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation must be submitted on letterhead and contain the signature of the author. Letters should be addressed to the Graduate School (600 Park Street Hays, KS 67601) or emailed ( gradschool@fhsu.edu). 

6. Provide any other documents required by specific departments, such as a personal statement or vita, background check release, writing sample, or digital art slides.

7. International students must provide evidence of their ability to speak English. Such evidence may be in the form of examinations given by recognized examining boards or in another form approved by the Graduate Dean. (For the specific statement on the language requirement, see  International Students Checklist. ) 

For on-campus international applicants, the following deadlines will apply. You must be accepted to the program of study and have required immigration documentation on file with the International Student Services Offices prior to the deadline.

• October 1st for Spring Semester Start
• June 1st for Fall Semester Start
• Summer Starts Not Permitted

International students must provide the following immigration documents:

• Information Form
• Financial form/ statement
• Copy of passport ID page

8. Virtual international students will be required to complete their applications by the individual
program deadlines. Please see our programs page for information regarding program deadlines
( https://fhsu.edu/academic/gradschl/programs/index).

• A financial statement will not be required for online international students.

9. For Non-Citizen domestic residents, a version of the international application is required. Applicants in this category will be required to submit documentation of their resident status. Additional documents may be required. 

10. All application materials become the property of the Graduate School; they may not be copied or returned to the student.

When the above materials have been added to the applicant’s file in the Graduate School, the file is forwarded to the department for review, the departmental graduate committee or its delegate will evaluate the file. This evaluation is to determine the type of recommended admission to the departmental program or recommended rejection of the application.

The department will follow these regulations:

• show a minimum grade point average of 2.50 (C plus) on the last 60 hours of undergraduate credit. (Departments may have a higher minimum grade point requirement average, so an applicant must check departmental admission requirements.);
• have adequate preparation in the area of specialization in the area of proposed study; and
• hold a degree from a regionally accredited institution.

The department will evaluate the documents, make a recommendation, and return the application to the Graduate School. The Graduate Dean reviews the recommendation and makes a determination of acceptance or rejection. Acceptance may have conditions regarding additional academic course work needed, professional standards and or certificate/licensure criteria, etc that must be met as part of the admission requirements. Applicants not enrolling for the semester in which they are admitted may be required to reapply; check with your program for specifics. International applicants may defer admission for a maximum of two semesters unless otherwise restricted by individual programs.