Graduate School & Professional Licensure Program

Program funds can be used for the following:

• Graduate school entrance exams (GRE, LSAT, MCAT, etc.)
• Exam preparation courses (online, hybrid, or in-person)
• Graduate school application fees
• Professional licensure/certification exams
• Professional licensure/certification preparation courses

• The application is open from July 1 – June 1 every year.
• Applicants are eligible to receive funding once per fiscal year(July 1 – June 30).

• Applicants must be enrolled in at least 1 credit hour at MSU Denver at the time of proposal submission.
• Students applying over the summer must be enrolled in at least 1 credit hour in the summer, or be registered for at least 1 credit hour for the upcoming fall semester.
• For the purpose of this program, the day of commencement (as shown on the official academic calendar) is considered to be the last day of the fall or spring semester.
• Students who apply during the summer need to be registered for at least one credit during summer or for the upcoming fall term.

• Applicants must apply at least 21 days prior to the date of the exam, start of the preparation course, or admission application submission.
• Applicants cannot apply more than 90 days before the registration window opens for the exam or preparation course, or before they plan to pay their graduate school application fee(s).
• If an application is received more than 90 days prior to this date, it will be denied and the student will be advised to resubmit within the appropriate time frame.

• Funds will be awarded as they are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The program is funded on an annual basis, therefore fund availability will differ year to year.
• Funding allocations are based on the following criteria:
  • Thoroughness and quality of proposal materials and completion of all application requirements
  • Personal goals and academic/career enrichment.
  • How the proposed activity supports the educational mission of the institution
  • Compliance with all MSU Denver and State of Colorado Fiscal Rules
  • Availability of funds
• Funds from this program are not eligible to be used for fees paid to MSU Denver, including test preparation or other workshops hosted by MSU Denver.
• This award cannot be used to pay for transcripts.

• Carefully review the information outlined in the “Program Guidelines & Eligibility” section above.

• Complete your research on your desired exam and/or licensure/certification course. Be sure to pay close attention to eligibility requirements, dates/deadlines for exams/courses, and cost.

• Questions from the application are outlined in the accordion menu below. Be sure to click the “+” to expand relevant sections.

• After submitting your application, you will typically receive a decision within 5 – 7 business days. Decisions are sent to your MSU Denver email account.

Access the Application

Your award letter will include instructions for requesting your reimbursement.

• You must submit your reimbursement request no more than 45 days after the registration/application fee payment date indicated on your original application. Failure to meet this deadline may result in losing your award.

• Reimbursements can take up to 8 weeks to be processed.

All students applying for funding through the Graduate School & Professional Licensure funding program will need to provide the following information:

1. Information about yourself and your major
2. Details about the opportunity you are seeking funding for
3. All applicants are required to answer the following essay questions, with each response being a minimum of 100 words:
   1. Please describe why you are interested in pursuing this graduate credential or professional licensure, and how it will help you achieve your academic, professional, and/or personal goals.
   2. Please explain how this experience will contribute to MSU Denver’s mission.
      The mission of MSU Denver is to provide a high-quality, accessible, enriching education that prepares students for successful careers, post-graduate education, and lifelong learning in a multicultural, global, and technological society. To fulfill its mission, MSU Denver’s diverse university community engages the community at large in scholarly inquiry, creative activity, and the application of knowledge.

In addition to the “Questions for All Applicants” section, be prepared to provide the following:

1. Name of the exam or prep course
2. Name of the associated organization and a link to their website
3. When you plan to take the exam or when the prep course starts, and the registration window
4. Whether you are taking the exam/ prep course in-person or online
5. Total cost, including a screenshot from the organization’s website showing the cost

In addition to the “Questions for All Applicants” section, be prepared to provide the following:

1. Type of graduate program you are applying for (Master’s degree, JD, etc.)
2. For each program you are applying to: Name of the school and program, application deadline, and application fee amount