Application Fee Waiver Programs

Diversity Program Participation Waiver

The Diversity Program Participation Waiver aims to increase the enrollment of applicants from underrepresented minority U.S. populations who intend to pursue careers in academia and research.

Unfortunately, international applicants are not eligible for this waiver. Also, this waiver is not granted due to financial hardship.  To be eligible for this application fee waiver, you must meet the following criteria:

  • U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residency
  • An Application for Admission to a Ph.D. Program at UIC
  • A Bachelor’s Degree by the August preceding Enrollment in the Graduate Program
  • A Cumulative Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (4.0 scale)
  • Belong to one of the above-mentioned underrepresented minority groups in the chosen field of study
  • Have participated in one of the following programs within the last 5 years:
    • Amgen Scholars Program
    • Big 10 Alliance – Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP)
    • California State University Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholarship Program
    • DuSable Scholars Program
    • Gates Millennium Scholarship Program
    • GEM Fellowship Program
    • Harvard University Psychology’s Prospective PhD and RA Event in Psychology (PPREP)
    • Howard Hughes
    • L@S GANAS Program
    • Leadership Alliance
    • Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation
    • Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program
    • Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) Scholars Program
    • Minority Biomedical Research Support (MBRS)
    • Morehouse College Hopps Scholars Program
    • National Name Exchange (NNE)
    • NIH (MARC or RISE)
    • NIH ENDURE Initiative
    • NIH-Funded Post-baccalaureate Research Education Programs (PREP)
    • NIMH-COR
    • Northwestern University Causeway Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program
    • NSF (LSAMP or REU)
    • PhD Project
    • Posse Scholars
    • Project 1000
    • Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow (SURF)
    • TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) Program
    • UIC Pathways to Success Program
    • UIC Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP)
    • University Maryland-Baltimore County Meyerhoff Program
    • University of Minnesota Next-Gen Psych Scholars Program (NPSP)
    • University of Virginia Bridge to the Doctorate

In order to be considered for this waiver, please select “Diversity Program Participation Waiver” from the waiver drop down menu on the Fee Assessment page at the end of the UIC Graduate Application. Note that a letter drafted and signed by the appropriate Program Director is required and must be uploaded into the application to verify participation in one of the above programs.

Some UIC Graduate and Professional Degree Programs may choose to pay the application fee for applicants. Please contact the UIC program to which you are applying to inquire.