Applying to Graduate Studies at Lehigh

If you're ready to join a vibrant intellectual community where your passion for learning research fuels infinite possibilities, you’re ready to apply to Lehigh for graduate school.

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Application Requirements, Deadlines & Process

Applications for Fall 2026 and Winter 2026 (limited program list) must be submitted through our graduate admissions portal. If you’re a first-time user, make a new account with your email and password.

If you are a current Lehigh undergraduate student accessing the graduate application for the first time, select the “Forgot Your Password?” link to reactivate your account using your Lehigh email address.

If you are planning on applying for the Spring, Summer, or Fall 2027 academic term, we will be opening a new graduate application by September 1. Please check back soon.

Important Information

  • Uploaded transcripts are not considered official. All applicants who accept an admissions offer must submit final, official transcripts through past educational institutions.
  • Most of our programs are GMAT/GRE-optional. If you are unsure whether you need to take either test, please refer to your program’s admissions page.
  • International students whose native language is not English must demonstrate their English language proficiency by providing an official letter showing completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited college or university where the primary medium of instruction was English. This can also be fulfilled by reporting your unofficial TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo test scores and later sending your official test report to Lehigh.

After you submit your application, a confirmation email will be sent to the email address you provided in your application.

If you’re having issues logging in or submitting your application, please check our FAQs below or contact us via graduateadmissionshelp@lehigh.edu. In your email, please include your full name, address, and date of birth as provided in your application.

Application Tips

  • Begin the process early to allow yourself enough time to navigate the program selection and application.
  • Verify your application for accuracy and completion, ensuring all necessary items have been included. Upon submission of your application, graduate admissions staff will do a preliminary review of your application. Contact information can be found in your application portal.
  • Admissions to Lehigh’s graduate programs are coordinated by each college, but a summary of the university’s criteria and related admissions information can be found in the course catalog.
  • Keep track of deadlines and consider sending in your application days or even weeks ahead of time.
 
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Application Deadlines

Graduate program deadlines vary based on the department and program. Please refer to your college’s website for program-specific details.

English Proficiency Requirement for Graduate Studies at Lehigh

To empower students to be successful, both during their academic journey at Lehigh University as well as during their future careers, Lehigh requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English.

See information for prospective students

AI Use in Graduate Program Applications

Lehigh University is committed to fostering an environment of intellectual honesty and academic integrity. As generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) continues to evolve, our Guiding Principles for the use of AI is applicable to guide prospective graduate students.

See AI Guidance

Frequently Asked Questions

Program of Study Questions

Lehigh University has more than 85 programs to choose from, including research-based doctoral programs, professional and research-based master's degree and certificate programs. For many programs, we offer both residential and online options, as well as full-time or part-time courses, to meet students’ needs. There are many ways you can learn more about the different options available.

If you know the type of program you are interested in, you can begin to find information about it on our Graduate Programs page.

If you know which of Lehigh’s five colleges you are interested in joining, you can begin on our Graduate Admissions page.

Lehigh offers online and hybrid options in many programs:

Hybrid and online programs in the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science can be seen on the Master's Programs in Engineering page, or inquire at engineering@lehigh.edu.

If you are interested in fully online programs in the College of Education, please visit the College of Education Degree & Certification Explorer page.

For the College of Health, inquire by contacting cohgrad@lehigh.edu or checking out the College of Health Graduate Programs page.

Hybrid and online programs in the College of Business can be found on the College of Business Graduate Programs page, or inquire at business@lehigh.edu.

Yes, students may apply to more than one program and/or more than one college. However, for each separate program, a new application (and application fee, as applicable) will be required.

General Application Questions

The Lehigh graduate application can be found on the Graduate Admissions page.

Please email graduateadmissionshelp@lehigh.edu. Note that the turnaround time for a response to your question may be 24-48 hours, depending upon the time of year and email volume.

Once your application has been submitted, contact the College to make any updates or correct any errors.

If your application has not yet been submitted, you may log into the application portal and change the information directly. If you have submitted your application, you are not able to edit this information yourself. Please contact the department and/or college office for assistance. In the case of updated test scores or transcripts, have these sent directly to Lehigh.

Yes, students are allowed to defer their admission to a graduate program at Lehigh for up to one year. If your program requires a deposit, the deposit must be paid to request deferral. You should request deferral prior to the 5th day of the academic semester you originally applied for (2nd day of Summer II for Summer start programs). See the academic calendar for the specific dates. Contact your college office for your deferral options.

Each college has their own application requirements. In most cases, the following minimum requirements are needed:

  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
  • Academic Transcripts
  • English Language Proficiency
  • Resume
  • Personal statement
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Some programs require entrance exams (GRE, etc.)

For more information, see the following pages:

If a program doesn’t provide specific prompts, your personal statement should tell a cohesive story that connects your past achievements to your future goals. Focus on the four core pillars of a strong graduate statement:

  • Your "Why": Explain your motivation for pursuing this specific field. What sparked your interest, and how has that passion evolved?
  • Your Preparation: Highlight relevant academic background, research experience, internships, or professional work that proves you are ready for graduate-level rigor.
  • Why This Program: Demonstrate fit. Mention specific faculty members you want to work with, unique labs, or curriculum features that align with your goals, whichever is appropriate to the type of program you are pursuing.
  • Future Goals: Clearly state what you plan to do with this degree after graduation and how this specific program acts as the launchpad for those career aspirations.

Each college has their own processing timelines, which are often closely linked to the application deadlines.

Most PhD applications are processed between December and February for fall admissions.

Master’s applications in the College of Business, the College of Health, and the College of Engineering are often processed on a rolling basis. Some Master’s applications in the College of Arts & Sciences are processed on a rolling basis as well.

We do not refund application fees.

Recommendation Letter Questions

First, we suggest that the recommender check their spam folder. It is not uncommon for recommendation requests to be flagged as spam. If the message is not visible, you may contact gradadmissionshelp@lehigh.edu, and they can resend the reminder directly or provide you with alternate instructions on how to ensure your recommendation is properly received and filed.

Yes. Your recommender should receive an automated notification from the graduate application system. As with many application systems, these notices can occasionally be identified as spam. If your recommender does not receive it, please ask that they check their spam filter. If they continue to experience issues, please contact your college at the address below.

If your application has not yet been submitted, you may log into the application portal and change the information directly. If you have submitted your application, you are not able to edit this information yourself. Please contact the department and/or college office for assistance.

If your application has not yet been submitted, you may log into the application portal and change the information directly. Please note that recommenders are contacted as soon as you click “Send request”. As such, if you choose to change your recommender, there may be some confusion. If you have submitted your application, you are not able to edit this information yourself. Please contact the department and/or college office for assistance.

If your application has not yet been submitted, you may log into the application portal and change the information directly. Please note that recommenders are contacted as soon as you click “Send request”. As such, if you choose to change your recommender, there may be some confusion on the part of the recommender who has already received the request. If you have submitted your application, you are not able to edit this information yourself. Please contact the department and/or college office for assistance.

Recommendation forms should be submitted by individuals qualified to evaluate the applicant’s academic achievements and potential for graduate studies. In most cases, recommendations from professors are preferred. However, letters from employers, supervisors, or professional associates are accepted, especially if your program of study requires work experience.

Test Score Questions

We encourage all applicants to submit application materials by the application deadline. However, there is a short grace period allowed within each college. If your materials are not immediately available, please try to submit them within seven business days of submitting your application.

Arts & Sciences: We encourage all applicants to have all application materials submitted by the applicable deadline. Please be aware that we accept unofficial transcripts and test scores in order for an application to be considered ready to review. Typically, applicants will have one to two weeks after the application deadline for remaining materials to arrive. This may vary depending on the program.

Lehigh Business: While we encourage all applicants to have all application materials submitted by an application deadline, typically COB applicants will have around seven to ten days after the application deadline for remaining application materials to arrive, such as GRE, TOEFL, Duolingo, etc. This may vary depending on the program and if an applicant is applying from outside of the United States.

Education: While we encourage all COE applicants to have all application materials submitted by an application deadline, typically COE applicants will have five to seven days after the application deadline for remaining application materials to arrive, such as TOEFL, IELTS, etc. This may vary depending on the program.

Rossin College: We encourage all applicants to have all application materials submitted by the applicable deadline. Please be aware that we accept unofficial transcripts and test scores in order for an application to be considered ready to review. Typically, applicants will have one to two weeks after the application deadline for remaining materials to arrive. This may vary depending on the program.

Health: Applicants are strongly encouraged to have all their application materials submitted by the listed application deadline. Please be aware that we accept unofficial transcripts and test scores in order for an application to be considered ready to review. Typically, applicants will have one to two weeks after the application deadline for remaining materials to arrive.This may vary depending on the program.

Most programs at Lehigh do not require a GRE or GMAT for admission consideration. It is best to review the policies of the specific college and/or program to determine the application requirements for the program of interest.

In some programs, students may be admitted to the program of interest with additional requirements. Students might be required to complete StepUp prior to matriculation or take EAPC courses during their first year. In some cases, we will ask that students complete StepUp prior to full matriculation. In some cases, we will require ESL (English as a Second Language) courses during matriculation as a student. These decisions are program specific. If you have questions about your individual qualifications, we encourage you to contact the college you are applying to.

All applicants must exhibit English language proficiency.

Please review our English Proficiency Requirements.

Yes, self reported scores can be submitted. Official scores will be required for your application to be complete.

Different tests have different submission processes. We have provided some details below, but do not hesitate to contact college office if you have questions.

Lehigh’s school code for ETS (TOEFL and GRE) standardized test results is 2365.

Lehigh’s code for GMAT is 6ZB-FN-50.

For Duolingo, start with the link below.
Order a Duolingo English Assessment to Lehigh University

For Cambridge, start with the link below.
Order Cambridge English Results to Lehigh University

Lehigh University Graduate Admissions​ downloads IELTS scores that have been transmitted to our e-download account. We do not accept paper IELTS test report forms. Please contact your test center and​ request that your scores be sent to ​the following IELTS e-download account:

Lehigh University Graduate Admissions
27 Memorial Drive West
Bethlehem, PA 18015

Lehigh’s school code for standardized test results is 2365.

Transcript Questions

You can submit an application without an official transcript. Official transcripts will be required if you are admitted to Lehigh.

If you have access to a current version of your unofficial transcript(s) from your prior institution(s), you may upload them to your application and they may be used to review your application. All applicants that accept an offer of admission are required to submit final, official transcripts prior to beginning coursework.

All applicants who accept an offer of admission are required to submit final, official transcripts to maintain enrollment. Applicants must provide transcripts from all institutions from which a degree was earned. Official transcripts are those in a sealed envelope with a degree conferred date and sent directly from the issuing institution to the college mailing address or via e-transcript services to the college.

Arts & Science: incasgrd@lehigh.edu
Lehigh Business: incbgrad@lehigh.edu
Education: coe-admissions@lehigh.edu
Rossin College: engineering@lehigh.edu
Health: cohgrad@lehigh.edu

Mailing addresses can be found:

College of Arts & Sciences
College of Business
College of Education
P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science
College of Health

International applicants must hold an American bachelor’s degree or the equivalent from a foreign institution of higher education. International applicants applying for regular graduate student status must submit all documents required for that status, as outlined in the respective college’s admission policies. Some colleges may require evaluation.

Other Admissions Requirements Questions

In some cases, an admissions interview may be required. If so, the college office will contact you for scheduling.

There are a limited number of fee waivers offered each year. You must start an application in the system to be considered for a fee waiver.

Some general guidelines for fee waivers are as follows:

College of Arts & Sciences: Fee waivers are issued on a limited basis. Please inquire directly with your program of interest.

College of Business: Fee waivers are issued on a limited basis. Contact the college for more information.

College of Education: Fee waivers are issued on a limited basis. Please contact the College of Education to inquire.

P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science: Fee waivers are issued on a limited basis. Please contact the Rossin College to inquire.

College of Health: Fee waivers are issued on a limited basis. Please contact the College of Health to inquire.