Individuals who have applied for admission to a graduate program at James Madison University will see an admission letter on their Activity Page. For some students, there will be a supplemental letter on this page from your graduate program that can be viewed as an item on your “checklist.”

If there is anything you need to do to be “unconditionally admitted,” the conditions will be listed in your admission letter.

Most students will receive an email that will prompt you to go to your Activity Page to view your decision. If you were not recommended for admission at this time, that decision will appear on your Activity Page as well.

If you were accepted to a Graduate Program at James Madison University, we encourage you to accept your offer of admission on your Activity Page. If you would like to attend but you are not sure if you can because you need a graduate or doctoral assistantship offer or other financial aid, please accept your offer of admission. You will qualify for more financial aid options after you accept your offer of admission. We can help international students with visa applications only after they accept admission offers.

Once you have accepted your offer of admission, you will be officially matriculated approximately one month before class registration begins. At that time, you will receive an email to the email address listed on your application with instructions for setting up your Dukes email account, if you have not previously been a student. For enrollment dates and deadlines, please refer to the Registrar’s website Registrar: Dates and Deadlines - JMU

The Council of Graduate School’s April 15th Resolution is an agreement among graduate schools to allow students who receive fall-term admission offers that include financial support to postpone their decision regarding acceptance of offers until April 15. This agreement allows students to compare admission and financial support offers before making a decision. If you receive an offer of admission with financial support for the fall term from any institution listed on the agreement document with an expectation that you reply prior to April 15, please send a copy of your offer letter to JMU’s graduate school at grad@jmu.edu. On your behalf, JMU’s Graduate Dean will speak with the Dean of the school that is violating this agreement to ask that you be granted the time needed to make an admission decision. The April 15 resolution does not apply to admission offers without financial support, or any admission offers for spring or summer terms.

If you are not sure you can begin as planned, please contact the director of your graduate program and Director of Graduate Admissions (gradadmission@jmu.edu), and ask if your admission can be deferred to a future term.

International students who are not citizens of the United States will need a visa to participate in an in-person graduate program. Students needing a visa (F-1) should calculate their anticipated Tuition and Living Costs to assist in processing your visa application. If you need assistance, please contact ISSS@jmu.edu. Graduate assistantship awards substantially contribute to the funds needed to cover your expenses and should be included in your calculations. Consult your program for a possible graduate assistantship positions or apply for assistantship position on campus at JMU Jobs.

Once you are matriculated as a graduate student at JMU, you will be able to set up your MyMadison account. If you are currently an undergraduate student at JMU, your graduate career populates in MyMadison when registration opens. For enrollment dates and deadlines, please refer to the Registrar’s website Registrar: Dates and Deadlines - JMU

After matriculation, you are considered a student as defined in the JMU Student Handbook and are subject to notifications and disciplinary action deemed appropriate by the Office of Student Accountability and Restorative Practices (OSARP). OSARP will provide all notifications via your JMU email address, as required by university policy.

Review the JMU Student Handbook which is available online at: JMU Student Handbook - JMU.

Admitted students are required to submit official transcripts from institutions where a degree was earned, before registration for their second semester.

Official transcripts will be accepted if:

• They are sent directly from the university awarding the degree
• They are in English
• They list the courses completed with grades
• The grading system is explained (if non-US institutions)
• A date of degree conferral is listed

When these conditions are not met, the student must submit a credential evaluation.

Please have official conferred transcript(s) sent directly from the institution to JMU Graduate School or gradtranscripts@jmu.edu. If the documentation must be sent through postal mail, please see the address below. Degrees awarded by JMU do not have to be submitted. 

Graduate school success starts early at JMU! An abundance of support is available to not only excel in your studies but also to get comfortable with your new surroundings or manage your education from afar. We provide multiple orientation sessions tailored to meet everyone’s needs—Graduate School Orientation for all students and International Student Scholars Orientation for international students. Make sure to check with your program for details about orientation sessions specific to your needs.

Arriving on campus to participate in orientation and being prepared to begin classes as scheduled is important for a successful graduate career. We understand some international students may face a delay in arriving on campus due to circumstances beyond their control. Students who may be experiencing a brief delay and not able to arrive before August 10th, should complete the International Graduate Student Late Arrival Form 30 days prior to the beginning of classes.