Guide to Graduate Application

APPLICANT

Welcome to the UC Riverside Graduate Application System via Slate.

This application is hosted by the Graduate Division and maintained by the Graduate Admissions
office. Make sure to review the instructions below to assist you in submitting a complete
graduate application for your chosen graduate program to review.

Any questions or issues with your graduate application, please email the Graduate Admissions
office at [email protected].

Apply to Graduate Study at UCR

Whether this is your first time, or you have already created an account, visit
https://grad.ucr.edu/apply/ to access UCR’s Graduate Application System. You will be presented
with two options, as pictured below.

First-Time Users Returning Users

1. Select the Create an account link. You will be taken to 1. Select the Log in link
the Register page where you will need to provide the to access saved and
information below. submitted
applications.
2. If you started an
application after
creating your
account, go to the
Open Application
section below to
select that
application and
2. After selecting the Continue button, you will receive
continue filling it out.
confirmation that a temporary PIN has been sent to
3. If you did not, select
your email address. Access your email to copy the
the Start a New
temporary PIN. If not in inbox, check your Junk/Spam
Application link when

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 folder for email from [email protected] titled UCR you created your
Grad App Account Created. account, go to the
3. On the Login page, enter your Temporary PIN and Start New Application
Birthdate, select the Login button. section below to start
4. On the Set Password page, you will create your your graduate
personal password. Select the Set Password button to application.
save your password.

5. You will be taken to the main menu where it will

display any saved or submitted applications. As a first-
time user, you should see the view below.

Go to the Start New Application section below to start

your graduate application.

Log Out
To log out, select the Logout link in the top right corner next to your name. You also have an
option to log out at the bottom of the page on the Account Tools row.

Start New Application

Select the Start New Application link below the Your Applications table to start your graduate
application.

1. A pop-up window will display available application types you may select.
a. IMPORTANT! If you are applying to Summer or Fall 2023, select Graduate
Application ‘23 - ‘24. If you are applying to Winter or Spring 2023, select
Graduate Application ‘22 - ‘23. You will need to scroll down to select the correct
application type.

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 2. Select the Create Application button to create an application for that application type.
Select the Open Application button.
3. You will be taken to the Instructions page of the graduate application. Please make sure
to review instructions on this page and all other pages carefully.

Continue Completing Saved Application

• After logging in, select the In Progress application you would like to continue
completing. On the Application Details pop-up window, select the Open Application
button. If you have multiple applications and opened the wrong one, select the Cancel
button. Select the correct application under the Your Applications heading.

• You will be taken to the Instructions Page of the graduate application (see below). To
navigate to another application page, select it in the application pages menu located on
the left-side of the page. You may also select the Continue button located at the bottom
of the page to be taken to that next application page. It is important to follow the
application sections from top to bottom.

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 All information added will be saved automatically. Select the Log Out link next to your
name (top-right corner) to exit this system. To navigate back to the main menu, select
the Home link.

Graduate Application Sections

Below is a list of application sections the applicant will encounter.

Home
Takes you back to the application log in overview to see all applications in progress and
submitted.

Instructions
Please read this page carefully as there is useful information about deadlines.

Personal Information
In this section, you will be providing information about yourself like name, birthdate, native
language, contact information, information related to your gender identity and sexual orientation,
and citizenship. For domestic applicants, we ask that you volunteer information regarding your
race/ethnicity.

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General Information
You will select the term you would like to start graduate study. The term you choose will only
display available graduate programs, degree objectives, and available area of specialization
and/or research interest options on the Program Details page. We also ask for additional
information about your California residency status, military service, any current or former
affiliation with UCR, your parents' educational background, and if you have participated in any
graduate preparation programs.

Program Details
In this section, you will be providing the graduate program and degree objective you wish to
pursue for graduate study at UCR. You will ONLY see available programs based on the term
selected on the General Information section. We also share important application deadline
information and if those deadlines apply to the application only or the application and supporting
materials like transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendation, and other supporting
documents.

Answering “yes” to the question about previously applying for admission to a graduate program
at UCR does not adversely influence the application review process or admission decision for a
new application.

Program Specific Questions

Depending on the program selected, you will be asked to provide information about research,
Teaching Assistant and/or work experience; faculty/staff you have contacted or would like to
work with; how you heard about the graduate program and names of other schools you have
applied for graduate study.

Academic History
All applicants must list all college or university-level institutions attended since high school. You
will be able to enter your educational history and upload a copy of your most recent or final
transcript. Please make sure to include proof of any degree awarded and grading scales for each
institution, and list the GPA and GPA scale reported by your institution (you do not need to
convert or recalculate your GPA). A maximum of 3 files may be attached for each institution
added. Once a file is attached and saved, select that institution to Preview or Delete your file
uploaded. Select Add Another to upload an additional file.

Testing Requirements
Depending on the program selected and your response to the native language question, you will
be provided with information on testing requirements.

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Test Scores
If you are required to provide test scores for admission or to meet the English language
proficiency requirement, you will self-report score information. If you plan to take a test in the
future, you may enter that future date here.

Upload Score Report

In this section, you will have access to upload any examinee score reports for required
examinations.

References
We are looking for contact information for individuals who know you well and can address your
ability to succeed in a graduate program. Your recommender must submit the reference letter
electronically as instructed in the email they will receive upon entering and saving their
contact information in this section. The applicant no longer needs to wait to submit and pay
their fee for the email to be sent from the system.

Supporting Materials
This section includes upload links for written statements, CVs, materials required by the
program, and test scores.

Signature
Please make sure that you review the information listed on this page and add your electronic
signature by typing your full legal name.

Review
This section will display any required information that is missing (sections noted in red), or we
recommend you add to the application (sections noted in orange). You may select the link on the
left to be taken back to that section of the application. Select Save for Later to return to the Home
page.

Payment
Click the Finalize Application and Pay button to be taken to UC Riverside’s vendor (CashNet) to
pay the required application fee.

Applicants will NOT be able to go back into the application once the payment button has been
selected, even if they do not complete the payment process.

Select the OK button in the box below.

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Select the Submit Payment button to visit the vendor site to pay your application fee. If you have
qualified for a discount, your application fee due will be the remaining balance of the application
fee owed.

All applicants will receive confirmation that their application was received.

Access Submitted Application Status Page

When you log into Slate, you will be taken to the main page displaying your saved and submitted
applications. To open a submitted application to check your application status, select that
application.

You will be taken to the status page and will have the ability to complete the following tasks
starting from the top.

Select Another Submitted Application

If you need to access another submitted application’s status page, there is a drop-down showing
those applications available at the top right side of the page.

Payment Due
Payment is required at the time of submission. For some instances, you may be allowed to
submit and not pay the required application fee. An application will not be processed until the
application fee is fulfilled through payment or waiver.

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Click Submit Payment for {APPLICATION AMOUNT] USD.

You will be taken to the Submit Payment page. Click Submit Payment; a new transact window
opens to UC Riverside’s vendor (CashNet) to pay the required application fee.

Applicants will NOT be able to go back into the application once the payment button has been
selected, even if they do not complete the payment process.

Verify Address
Select Edit Addresses to make changes or add a new address.

Upload Materials
To submit documents appearing in the Application Checklist as “Awaiting”, please select the
document type from the drop-down menu and upload a Word document, PDF, or scanned image
file. Once a material is uploaded, you will not have an option to remove it.

Recent Activities
This section captures payment information or displays a message that payment is due, waived, or
refunded.

Application Checklist
This section displays items that are pending or “Awaiting” (red X); items that are nonmandatory
or “Optional” (blank); and/or items successfully uploaded or “Received” (green check mark).
Newly uploaded materials will not show Received until the system automatically updates
(roughly every 15 minutes).

Your application may not be reviewed by the graduate program until all requested documents are
submitted. [Note: For international applicants, Bank Statement and Passport need only be
submitted later, if you are admitted and accept our offer of admission.]

Letters of Recommendation
Select the recommendations page text on the below instructions line to be able to edit, exclude or
resend a reminder to your recommenders to provide their letter of recommendation to support
your application. See below for where to select.

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Once on this page, you will see the recommender’s name and status [Ex. Sent (including date
notification was sent), Excluded...]. Use the back button on browser to return to the home screen.

Add Recommender
Select “Add Recommender” to add a person to your recommenders list. All fields (except Prefix
and Telephone) are required. Once you click “Send To Recommender” that person will
immediately receive an email requesting a letter of recommendation. There is no option to enter
and save this information to send the request later.

Edit Existing Recommender

Allows you to send a reminder or exclude a recommender. There is no option to Edit the
recommender’s name, contact information, or waive your rights to review the letter. If you need
to make changes, you will need to exclude the recommender and add them again. See the
Exclude section below and Add Recommender section above on how to complete those steps.

Send Reminder
Clicking “Send Reminder” will immediately send an email notification reminder to your
recommender. We suggest allowing seven (7) days before sending a new reminder. You may
send a maximum of five (5) reminders per recommender.

Exclude
Selecting “Exclude” will exclude that person from your recommenders list. That person will not
receive a notification that they have been excluded from your list of recommenders. To reinstate
a person you previously excluded, click on their name, status or Edit and then click on
“Reinstate.” This action will not result in another email being sent to the recommender
requesting a letter of recommendation. We recommend sending a reminder email.

Select the Cancel button to exit the recommender selected. You will be taken back to your
Recommenders overview screen that displays recommender added to this application.

Select the Continue button to be taken back to the main status screen.

Account Tools
At the bottom of your status page, you will have access to the following options.

Change Email Address

To change your email address, enter your new email address. Upon clicking Request Change,
you will be emailed, to your new address, a confirmation link. The email sent will come from
[email protected] and the email subject line is University of California, Riverside Graduate
Admissions Change Email.

Click on that link and log in using your current email address and password to complete the
change. The link is only valid for 1 hour.
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Change Password
See below screenshot for recommendations on creating your new password.

Logout
You will be logged out immediately once you click on “Logout.”

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