PhD in Geography, Planning, and Design Admissions

Application Information

Admission to the PhD in Geography, Planning, and Design program is competitive and based on merit. We do not admit students directly into research groups; all prospective students go through a single application process. If your background and qualifications are a good fit to the current needs and interests of the program’s faculty, they may accept you with funding from one of their research projects. In your statement of interest, please be sure to describe your research interests and skills, as they will be important for determining whether you receive an offer of admission. GRE scores are not required for admission.

Consistent with the University requirements, applications are evaluated on previous work/life experience, research interests and abilities, prior academic success, and, where applicable, Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores. Applicants whose native language is not English must take either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam, or have a graduate degree from a university in the U.S. or another English-speaking country.

For more information, please visit our International Admissions office.

Application Requirements

• Online Application
• Application Fee
• Three Letters of Recommendation: You will submit the contact information in your application for three instructors or other professionals who can attest to your potential for our PhD program. They will receive an email from CU Denver with a link to upload their letters directly to your application.
• Examples of previous research and written works
• Transcript(s):
  • Domestic transcripts: Transcripts from each institution you have attended, except for study abroad courses, should be sent to the following:
    • Electronic Transcripts: cap-admissions@ucdenver.edu
    • Mailing Address:
      College of Architecture and Planning
      University of Colorado Denver
      Campus Box 126
      P.O. Box 173364
      Denver, CO 80217-3364
  • International transcripts: An International Credential Evaluation Report is required for any applicant who attended one or more academic institution(s) located outside the United States. All international credentials from the academic institution(s) located outside the United States will need to be verified for authenticity and evaluated by CU Denver or an external evaluation provider (ECE or WES). If you have questions about international transcript reviews, please contact our International Admissions office at intldocuments@ucdenver.edu or visit their website for more information: CU Denver International Admissions Office.
    • Applicants for the Fall 2024 term will have the option of choosing: CU Denver to authenticate and evaluate your credentials in-house. ECE or WES to authenticate and provide a credential evaluation report directly to CU Denver. (Applicant will pay the cost of the evaluation fee. 
      
    • Students who are admitted and enrolled in the program will be required to subsequently submit official college transcripts to the International Admissions office at intldocuments@ucdenver.edu.
• Statement of Personal and Professional Goals (Statement of Purpose)

To help the Doctoral Admissions Committee identify a prospective faculty advisor, please indicate in your Statement of Purpose at least one professor with whom your work has some synergy.  Here is a list of all of our PhD faculty members. Although it is not necessary, you may reach out directly to a prospective faculty advisor. You do not need to ask permission to list one of us as your preferred committee member or advisor. Note that faculty members are normally less interested in your previous GPA, class ranking, or where your undergraduate university ranks in international tables. Instead, they appreciate discussing your specific research interests and how your existing background, skills, and knowledge can help you succeed in a research-intensive doctoral program like ours.

• Scores of Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for non-U.S. residents whose native language is other than English. For more information, please visit our International Admissions office 
• Students admitted into this program must have completed a Master’s degree before they will be able to begin this program. An official conferred degree transcript is required by the university.

Meet Our PhD Students

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