School of Education Admission Requirements

All Master’s and Doctoral Applicants must submit:

  1. An application
  2. An application fee
  3. A statement of purpose
  4. Letters of recommendation
  5. Official transcripts
  6. Resume
  7. Writing Sample/Artifact (Ph.D. programs only)

Note: All required materials must be received before the application package can be evaluated. If you need to introduce new references or add other supporting documents, log on to your application, click on “Program Materials” to update your application. Leadership in Schooling applicants must submit supporting documents directly to graduate admissions. Please note the new documents and references will be considered only if your application has not been reviewed for admission.

Ed.D. Applicants: The Ed.D. is a cohort program that begins each year in May. Applications are accepted from January - November 30th the year before the start of the program.

International Students: please see the additional application requirements.

Bachelor's to Master's Students: Visit the Bachelor's-to-Master's page to learn about the process to transition to your desired master's program.


1. Online Application

Applications are only accepted using the online process. Instructions are included in the online application link.

Tips for accessing and completing the online application:

  • Capitalize your proper name.
  • Once the form is submitted, changes can only be made by calling the Office of Graduate Admissions at 978-934-2390.

Apply for Trimester (Summer) 2025 Leadership in Schooling

Apply for Spring 2025 Other Programs

Apply for Summer 2025-Spring 2026 Other Programs

Within 45-72 hours of submission of your online application, you will receive an email acknowledgement, along with a link that will allow you to track the progress of your application.


2. Application Fee

The application fee is $50 for each application and is non-refundable. Applications will not be processed until this fee is received or application fee waiver has been approved and delivered to the Office of Graduate Admissions.


3. Statement of Purpose

For applicants to M.Ed. and Ed.S. programs: In a separate document, submit a brief statement indicating your immediate and long-range goals, relevant work history, academic honors/awards received, any teaching experience and/or research conducted/published that may be pertinent to your graduate program. Two-page recommended maximum.

For applicants to Doctoral programs:

Leadership in Education Ph.D. and Research & Evaluation in Education Ph.D. - Candidates should submit a statement of no more than 1,500 words, that responds to two questions:

  1. What are you interested in researching during your doctoral studies, and why?
  2. How would doctoral studies at UMass Lowell advance your career goals?

Leadership in Schooling Ed.D. - A two-page statement of purpose in which the applicant describes their understanding of equity-based educational problems and identifies and articulates the reasons to address a contextually relevant, equity-based problem (for STEM applicants should have a STEM focus).

Submit Supporting Documents for Leadership in Schooling


4. Letters of Recommendation

Two (2) letters of recommendation are required for all programs EXCEPT Leadership in Education Ph.D. and Research & Evaluation in Education Ph.D., which require three (3) letters. You will be asked to provide (names and email addresses) referees during the online application process and an automated request will be sent out after the completion of your application. Alternatively, you may use the graduate admissions recommendation form (pdf) to request letters of recommendations.

Recommendations should be from instructors who have taught you, ideally in the field to which you are applying. Recommendations may also be from employers or supervisors who are in a position to compare your performance to that of your peers. Please use the recommendation form for these.

Submit Supporting Document for Leadership in Schooling


5. Official Transcripts

Provide a complete and official transcript from the institution(s) that awarded or will award you a bachelor’s degree and, for doctoral programs, a master's degree. You may also include transcripts from other institutions at which you have taken relevant coursework. Please note that waiting for additional transcripts may delay review of your application.

If you received your degree from UMass Lowell, it is not necessary for you to request a transcript, we are able to provide one for you.

Please request official transcript delivery by email to: graduate_admissions@uml.edu. If electronic delivery is not available, official transcripts should be sent in sealed and signed envelopes by mail to:

University of Massachusetts Lowell
Graduate Admissions - Graduate and Professional Studies Center (GPS) Center
839 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor
Lowell, MA 01854-3941

For international transcripts that do not clearly indicate to the Office of Graduate Admissions that you have received a four-year bachelor’s degree, the equivalent of an American bachelor's degree must be demonstrated before an application will be processed. Please note, the Office of Graduate Admissions reserves the right to have any application credential evaluated.

Baccalaureate verification may be obtained for a fee from an NACES member agency, such as Center for Educational Documentation, Inc. or World Education Services.


6. Resume

A resume is required for M.Ed. Higher Ed., M.Ed. and Ed.S. Language Arts and Literacy, and doctoral programs.


7. Writing Sample / Artifact (Ph.D. Programs Only)

  • Leadership in Education Ph.D. and Research & Evaluation in Education Ph.D. - Please submit a writing sample that demonstrates the applicant's ability to present a cohesive, focused and persuasive response to an education issues of his or her choice. The writing sample should be accompanied by a brief note explaining the context in which it was written and identifying the kinds of support received by the applicant producing it.

Submit Supporting Documents for Leadership in Schooling

All others, if you need to introduce new references or add other supporting documents:

  • log in to your application portal (links vary),
  • click on “Program Materials” to update your application.

Please note the new documents and references will be considered only if your application has not been reviewed for admission.