What is the University of Maryland's institutional code, for GRE and TOEFL/IELTS/PTE?

Our institutional code is 5814.

Do you require GRE (Graduate Record Examination) scores from all applicants? How long are my GRE scores valid?

Submitting GRE scores is optional for Fall 2025 admission.

Is there a minimum GRE score or GPA requirement for admission to the Ph.D. program in Economics?

The Graduate School requires a minimum grade point of the equivalent of a "B" average. The Economics Department has no specific GPA cutoff above this, but in general, the department standards are well above a "B" average, particularly in economics and mathematics courses. We generally do not compute average GPA scores for admitted or incoming students because it is difficult to construct GPA equivalents in many cases. 

Does the Graduate School maintain minimum GRE and/or TOEFL/IELTS/PTE score requirements?

The Graduate School does not set minimum GRE requirements; each graduate program sets its own standards for GRE scores.

I am an international student. Am I required to submit TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores and is there a minimum score that I must receive in order to be considered for admission?

All applicants, regardless of citizenship, must demonstrate English language proficiency.  Applicants are automatically deemed to have met this requirement if they hold a degree from a university in the United States or in an English-speaking country included on the UMD Graduate School’s list, which can be found at the bottom of this page:  https://gradschool.umd.edu/admissions/english-language-proficiency-requirements.   Note that such exemptions are based solely on the country in which you were educated, and not on your citizenship.  

All students who do not meet the conditions described above must meet an English language test score threshold to be fully enrolled, and another, more stringent threshold to receive assistantship funding.  The first set of thresholds, for full enrollment, are determined by the Graduate School and not the Department of Economics.  They are described here: https://gradschool.umd.edu/admissions/english-language-proficiency-requirements.  

The second set of thresholds, for assistantship funding, are set and subject to change by the Maryland English Institute and the Graduate School, and are described here:  https://marylandenglishinstitute.com/english-programs/international-teaching-as….    A score below the threshold on any section precludes a student from receiving a teaching assistantship (TA) position and necessitates taking an English course that would interfere with enrolling in the standard first year course sequence in Economics.  Therefore, we require applicants to meet these more stringent thresholds at the time of application in order to be considered for assistantship funding.  Unfortunately, we are unable to make conditional offers.

Applicants who meet the requirements for full enrollment but not for receiving a TA position and who have secured external funding for their studies may be offered admission, but will not be offered funding by the Department, do not automatically become eligible for TA positions in future years, and are not guaranteed Department funding in subsequent years.  

How long are my TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores valid?

TOEFL or IELTS scores are valid for two years. However, if an applicant requests ETS to send the TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores to our University before the TOEFL, IELTS or PTE expires, it should not be a problem. The applicant should call ETS and request that a score report is sent to our institution code 5814. ETS only keeps TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores on file for two years, so once the two-year deadline passes, the applicant will no longer be able to request a score from ETS.