The Patterson School curriculum is carefully designed to prepare exceptional students for careers in international affairs. If you are a high achiever, flourish in a close-knit environment, and intend to operate on the world stage, this may be your place. Our masters program will provide you with the fundamental skills you need to successfully pursue professional work in either the public, private or non-profit sectors.

The Patterson School has always focused on both diplomacy and international commerce. Similarly, our perspective consistently has been one that embraced teaching theory and practice. Our faculty includes outstanding scholars and practitioners and our curriculum encompasses not just classroom work, but firsthand exposure to the business world. Another unique aspect is the intimate size of our program and the close connections established between students and faculty.

The Patterson School's original benefactor recognized this important connection over a century ago, believing that America needed a strong cadre of professionals trained to advance U.S. interests in both areas. His prescience has been underscored by unbounded globalization, the economic/trade questions that seem to underpin almost every diplomatic issue, and the success of our graduates. All Patterson students, regardless of their individual concentrations, receive a general exposure to international commerce.

Whatever they want. Our curriculum prepares students for a wide range of professional positions. Patterson graduates can be found throughout the government (Foreign Service, intelligence community, defense, Capitol Hill, Treasury, FBI, Homeland Security), the NGO community, and in private enterprise. Although they follow no typical path, most Patterson students share a passion for learning and a desire not simply to master international affairs and land a great job, but to make the world better.

Yes. From its inception nearly fifty years ago, the Patterson School has provided only graduate education. Our Ph.D. program was dropped in the 1960s to focus exclusively on professional training for masters degree students.

You should probably go elsewhere. Our professional program has been carefully crafted to prepare students for non-academic careers in international affairs. Those employers do not typically seek, require, or desire applicants holding a Ph.D. for their positions. While we believe our program is exceptional, a Ph.D. in a core academic discipline -- political science, economics, history -- would probably be more marketable than one in diplomacy. If, however, your desire is to work first professionally and later continue your studies, our program may still be an excellent fit. Many Patterson School graduates have later obtained doctoral degrees.

No. Our program prides itself on close personal interaction between students, faculty and staff. We believe the strong bonds and networks forged in this academic environment are priceless and contribute enormously to the success of our graduates. Patterson School core classes are offered only during the day, with a wide range of complementary co-curricular activities throughout the academic year. It would be impossible to mirror this superior educational experience through part-time or on-line study.

Formal concentrations are available in diplomacy, international commerce/trade, international security, intelligence, and international organization/development. In addition, more personalized programs of study can be crafted that encompass coursework and study in these areas with other offerings at the University of Kentucky.

The Patterson School has dual degree programs with the Kentucky College of Law (MA/JD), the Gatton College of Business and Economics (MA/MBA) and the graduate German language program. In each case, the concurrent program reduces the total time required to obtain both degrees by one semester. Interested students must apply to all relevant schools separately. Admissions decisions for all these programs are reached independently.

Most students complete a year in the Patterson School first and then start law or business school. After the second year of law school, having taken three or more international law classes, some students will take MA comprehensive exams and complete their Patterson degrees. Other possibilities are (1) going to law school first, coming to the Patterson School the second year (most students decide not to do this because it breaks solidarity with their law school class), or (2) finishing any of the three degrees first. If you choose to start law or business school first, you must keep us informed about your intentions and perform well. There is no one correct answer.

There are currently 77 students enrolled in our program. Each year's entry class is purposely limited to about 35 students. Given the Patterson School's 18-month masters program, this means that there will typically be about 75 students attending classes during the fall semester and only 40 in the spring. Students in dual degree programs and away on internships account for slight differences in numbers. Graduation for most Patterson School students is in the December following their year of admission.

Based on the above information, the ratio of students to core Patterson School faculty ranges during the academic year from about 6:1 to 11:1.

The Patterson School is located in the Patterson Office Tower on the main campus of the University of Kentucky. UK is the state's flagship academic institution, with approximately 24,000 students (17,000 undergraduate, 7,000 graduate) and 12,000 faculty and staff. The university is located in Lexington - a growing urban area of nearly half a million - in the heart of Kentucky 's Bluegrass region.

There are many, but we will note here three. First, our programs of study are flexible and can be tailored closely to match a student's individual interests and career ambitions. Many Patterson students complement core coursework with classes from not only standard arts and sciences disciplines, but also the law school, business school and agricultural school. Kentucky is one of only seven American universities that maintain on a single campus these, plus a medical and pharmacy school. Indeed, as environmental and health challenges have risen in international affairs, this diversity of class offerings will become ever more vital. Second, the cost of education at a public institution can be decidedly lower than a private one. This makes our program an option for a wider range of students and can also enable our graduates to pursue less lucrative careers in public service or the non-profit sector. Finally, in addition to academic benefits, the University of Kentucky provides a wide range of cultural activities, athletic facilities, and spectator sports.

The overwhelming majority of our students work as interns at some point during their studies, both to explore potential career prospects and to enhance their professional credentials. Faculty, staff, and your colleagues (beginning with the first day of new student orientation) provide assistance with the internship process. Patterson School students land high-quality assignments. Recent examples include positions with American embassies in Peru, Jordan, Singapore, Australia, Belgium, the Netherlands; the U.S. Departments of State and Commerce; CIA; Congress; the Canadian Parliament; the Albanian and Serbian Embassy; the Inter-American Development Bank; the African Development Bank; Global Gain (in India) and the United Nations.

Yes. To receive full consideration for admission and scholarships, your complete application should be received no later than February 1st. Late applications may be reviewed, but will be at a decided disadvantage. Because of the selectivity of our program, the Patterson School does not operate on a rolling admissions basis.

None whatsoever aside from your own peace of mind.

A complete application includes materials for both The Patterson School and The Graduate School.

This requirement serves to ensure that common standards are maintained across the University of Kentucky's graduate programs.

No. While we always welcome any opportunity to meet with future students, we understand that - given the large number of applicants and their dispersal across the United States and around the world - it would be impractical and unfair to require all prospective students to travel to Kentucky for interviews. If you will be in Lexington, and would like to meet with members of the faculty or staff, please call Chris Wolcott at (859) 257-4666 to schedule a visit or meetings.

We expect students to be proficient in a foreign language. Further work on language skills can be done at the University of Kentucky or by taking advantage of study abroad options. Current UK language offerings include Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish.

Like the American Foreign Service, the Patterson School does not require that you have spent time overseas. Nevertheless, for both institutions, international experience is highly recommended. The overwhelming majority of successful applicants have had some international exposure. Note: while the U.S. Foreign Service does not require applicants to be proficient in a foreign language or to possess a bachelor's degree, the Patterson School expects both.

The process is somewhat mysterious, governed by a deep historic tradition. The faculty Admissions and Scholarship Committee, bound by secrecy, are cloistered in a small remote building on campus where they seek divine guidance in the selection process. Official transcripts are burned in a special stove; white smoke rising from the chimney indicates ... . No. Actually, the committee sits in air-conditioned comfort (drinking way too much coffee and Diet Coke®), carefully assessing and balancing the entire pool of applicants. Their aim is to craft an incoming class - drawn from across the country and the globe - whose complimentary and conflicting interests and experiences will guarantee a dynamic and exciting learning environment.

The admissions committee looks at a wide variety of factors in considering potential applicants. These include the personal statement, grade point averages, Graduate Record Examination scores, letters of recommendation, life and professional experience, language ability and regional interests. The personal statement can be particularly helpful in assessing the goals and motivations behind an applicant's desire to pursue a career in international affairs.

Not more than 500 words—professional writing in government and business places a premium on brevity and clarity (yes, academia is different, but our program is designed to prepare you for a different kind of career). Use your personal statement to illuminate your background, highlighting your career objectives and how the Patterson School program can help you attain them. Many of our students are drawn to international affairs to make a difference in the world and this passion is conveyed in their statements.

Enough to provide a clear picture of your academic performance and potential for a professional career in international affairs. Ideally, this would include letters from people acquainted with both your academic and professional accomplishments. We expect to see a minimum of two recommendations and a maximum of four. Not surprisingly, most students will submit three.

Your academic letter(s) should be prepared by university/college professors and the professional letter(s) should be written by current or former employers, supervisors, or anyone else who has been in a position to judge your suitability for professional employment. You should ask for these letters well before the application deadline, ideally before the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Either include sealed and signed letters with the rest of your application materials or ask the recommender to send it directly to the Patterson School.

Applicants should receive notice by e-mail before February 15 on whether all application materials have been received.

Patterson School application materials should be sent to:

Admissions and Scholarship Committee
Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce
451 Patterson Office Tower
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506
USA. Fax (859) 257-4676.

If the required two official copies of documents are sent to the University of Kentucky Graduate School, the Patterson School will automatically receive one of them.

The Admissions and Scholarship Committee may examine some application materials before the February 1st deadline, but no decisions are made until the entire applicant pool is available and can be considered. Decisions on admission are generally made by the end of February, with notification letters sent to applicants around mid-March.

No. We believe that part of the benefit of our program is having students start together in the fall, sharing a common orientation and some coursework (especially, the diplomacy core course DIP 777). In some particularly extraordinary instances, we may be willing to consider a spring admission.

Maybe. Requests for deferral are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Students participating in joint degree programs have the option of beginning their first year in the Patterson School, the Gatton School or the Kentucky School of Law. Furthermore, students accepted into the Peace Corps, pursuing major study abroad or who are called up for active military service may normally defer entry.

No. Kentucky residence status only affects tuition cost and eligibility for some scholarships and fellowships.

The University Scholars Program permits a few extraordinary students - from the University of Kentucky or Georgetown College - to apply for admission to the Patterson School in their junior year. If admitted, they can concurrently complete their bachelor's degree while studying for their masters. Additional information about this program for University of Kentucky students is available from Professor Evan Hillebrand at (859) 257-6928. Georgetown College students should contact Professor Michael Cairo in the Department of Political Science. Admission via these programs is particularly competitive and limited.

The best time to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is in the fall before the February 1 application deadline. GRE scores must be less than five years old. If you have taken the exam more than once in the last five years, we will use the highest score provided.

Our institution code for the GRE is 1837.

No. Because we welcome Patterson School students from a wide variety of academic disciplines, there is no utility in requiring applicants to take a particular specialized exam. Only the general exam (verbal, quantitative, analytical) is required.

No. Dual degree applicants, however, are usually required to take the appropriate exam for their program.

Since the Admissions and Scholarship Committee looks at the totality of the application packet, there is no precise answer to this question. While there is no minimum GRE score, ideally, the committee would like to see a combined score of around 1200 or above on the verbal and quantitative sections and a 5.5 on the analytical writing section.

Yes. The University of Kentucky Graduate School requires international students to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and have a minimum score of 550 paper based, 213 computer based or 79 internet based. Original scores must be sent to the Graduate School from the testing institution.

For students coming from universities using the 4.0 scale, the average GPA of admitted students last year was 3.6. The middle 50% of the admitted class lies with the range of 3.4 to 3.8.

All applicants are automatically considered for financial aid by the Admissions and Scholarship Committee. Regrettably, as is typical of professional schools, resources for such assistance are decidedly limited. Two mitigating factors for Patterson School students are the relatively affordable cost of tuition at the University of Kentucky and the overall low cost of living in Lexington. Financial assistance may be awarded based on merit, need or a combination of the two criteria.

There are a variety of special sources of financial aid available to students who are UK graduates or Kentucky residents. These include the Wethington Fellowship, the Mathews and Singletary Fellowships, the Northern Kentucky Alumni Fellowship (for students from Boone, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant or Kenton counties) and the Lexington Herald-Leader Scholarship. Additional information can be found on the Graduate School website.

Yes. Currently students who are residents of nine Southern states -- Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, Tennessee , Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, -- qualify for in-state tuition under the Academic Common Market. This program, run by the Southern Regional Education Board, enables students to pursue unique majors offered at public institutions in states other than their own while paying in-state tuition. If your state is not listed above, it may still be possible to have your attendance certified as qualifying for in-state tuition by contacting your official state coordinator. View additional information about the Academic Common Market.

There are many. Some students not eligible for the Academic Common Market program may qualify for in-state tuition under the Kentucky Graduate Scholarship program. In addition, there are Patterson School and Reedy Fellowships to attract outstanding students, the Vince Davis and Barbara Schell Memorial Fellowships, Millennium Awards (a $2,000 scholarship) and Big Ass Fan Scholarships for students specializing in international commerce. The James Still Fellowship is given to a student from a private college in Kentucky, Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia or West Virginia, or a resident of an Appalachian area.

Yes. We often have students attending under the Fulbright Foreign Student program (worldwide) or the Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship program (for Eurasian students). Furthermore, we offer two in-house scholarships. The Kewal Singh Scholarship (honoring a former Indian Ambassador and Foreign Secretary who taught at the Patterson School) is given to a student from South Asia. The Thebe Mphenyeke Southern Hemispheric/African Fellowship is available to a student from sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, efforts are underway to establish full scholarship support for a student from Armenia.