FAQ

The University of Kentucky provides an expansive selection of fully online undergraduate and graduate programs, including degrees, certificates, and external certifications. These programs are offered through 14 different colleges and span a variety of academic disciplines. For a complete list of available programs, please visit the UK Online website.

No. UK’s in-person programs may offer online sections for some of their required coursework, but the availability of these options varies among colleges. All programs that are approved for online delivery can be found on the UK Online website. For more details on course offerings and their delivery methods, please refer to the Course Catalog. 

Most programs, regardless of modality, use the same application portals (Slate), but a few have external applications which mainly apply to programs at graduate level. See the UK Online program page to confirm the application process 

No. Undergraduate and Graduate applicants must meet the same admissions requirements as those applying to in-person programs. Undergraduate and graduate programs in both modalities may include program-specific requirements (e.g., unique prerequisites, admission criteria or GPA requirements). Always refer to the UK Online program pages for details pertaining to admissions requirements or contact the department directly for additional information. 

Yes, a student enrolled exclusively in on-campus-classes can request to switch to a fully online major. However, approval depends on several factors and varies by program level. Current undergraduate students are strongly encouraged to discuss their interest in moving to an online major with their academic advisor. Approval is required from the college that administers the new online major, and students must meet any program specific requirements, admissions guidelines, or deadlines that may apply.  

Please note currently enrolled undergraduate students seeking to change to a fully online major are not required to reapply to the university. 

Students who wish to change their graduate program must meet the admissions requirements of the new program and submit a new application for consideration. Admission is not guaranteed and is subject to review by the desired program. Visit our University's Registrar Page to learn more about the Major Change Request Process in MyGPS. 

Prospective applicants interested in enrolling in UK's online programs from countries outside the U.S. should be aware of potential distance learning restrictions in their country of residence. 

 Prospective students can review the Global Compliance section of the Distance Learning Authorization and Licensure page to confirm if the online program can be offered in their respective country of residence. Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for online students. 

 Faculty and staff can review the Global Compliance section of the UK Online Faculty Resource site for more information about global eligibility. 

Transcript submissions follow the same process in that they are sent electronically via official services (e.g., Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse) or mailed to the Office of Undergraduate/Graduate Admissions. 

• Undergraduate
• Graduate  

Graduate students submit materials through the Graduate School portal. Additional application requirements such as personal statements, resumes, letters of recommendations, etc. are uploaded directly to the “Supplemental Section” of the application. For admissions assistance, reach out to Graduate Admissions.

Once a program makes an admissions decision, applicants will receive an email notifying them that their decision has been posted to their application. Admissions letters are not mailed; instead, they are posted electronically in the “Status” section of the application portal. 

Students will use the same email and password used to create their graduate application account to access this information. If students have questions about the status of their application, whether pending or decided, they should contact the program directly. 

Newly admitted students must click the large blue "Confirm Intent to Enroll" button included on their application portal to formally accept their admission. Upon doing so, a “welcome to UK Graduate School” email will be generated containing important information such as the student ID number, user ID, and a temporary passcode to set up their initial linkblue account. 

Online graduate students follow the same process as in person graduate or professional students. In many cases, students work with their program's Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), Director of Graduate Certificate (DGC), or faculty/staff coordinators to guide course selections. Contact information for each program’s DGS or DGC is here. While this process can vary by program, it's always recommended that students check first with their DGS, DGC, or program director for additional guidance. 

Admitted online students can schedule advising appointments through myUK, or by emailing the program director or department advising teams. Appointments can be conducted via Zoom or phone. Prospective online undergraduate transfer students can contact the Transfer Office for a pre-evaluation of credits and next steps. 

It is essential that students regularly check their UK assigned email for specific details regarding registration dates and windows. Registration for new online undergraduate and graduate students begins three weeks before the priority registration period for continuing students. The registration window remains open from that date until the end of priority registration. It then reopens the day after priority registration and continues until the day before the first class. 

Review the “New Student” section of the our Office of the University Registrar page to view and confirm those dates.

Program advisors (UGR/Grad), Directors of Graduate Studies, or Directors of 

Undergraduate/Graduate Certificates, guide course selection. Students register themselves through myUK. View a step-by-step tutorial. 

Yes, Undergraduate students enrolled only in a UK Online certificate or degree program will be assessed the UK Online rate for each credit hour. There is no full-time tuition cap for UK Online undergraduate certificate and degree programs. The UK Online rate will be the same for resident and non-resident undergraduate students. Graduate students enrolled exclusively in distance learning classes will be assessed the resident tuition rate, regardless of residency status. Distance learning classes include delivery modes such as fully online (i.e., Internet web based), hybrid, and simulcast (i.e., Compressed Video). Graduate students enrolled full-time in distance learning classes do receive a tuition cap. Per-semester tuition rates can be found on each UK Online program page. 

You can view the tuition and mandatory fee rates on the Student Account Services page.

Yes, we encourage all degree seeking students to complete the FAFSA and review the Student Financial Aid and Scholarships page. Online students must be enrolled in a degree-seeking program and meet all other requirements for federal aid or external funding opportunities. 

Canvas is the primary learning management system (LMS). Other common tools include Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and UK email. 

Students can contact ITS by phone at 859-218-HELP (4357) or by visiting its.uky.edu/get-help.   

Yes, online students are eligible for support and resources such as library access, academic coaching, writing center support, wellness services and more! View a listing of available resources on the UK Online “Student” section of the page. 

Online students who wish to access in-person services not covered by the standard mandatory fees can choose to add those fees to their account. To do so, simply schedule a virtual appointment with Student Account Services. 

Yes, they can request a virtual WildCard ID through the UK ID Center. View the Distance Learning ID section to learn more.

Yes! Travel expenses are not covered by the university. However, students enrolled in fully online degree programs who have applied for their degree are eligible to participate in commencement ceremonies, just like on-campus graduates. To confirm their degree conferral status and registration for the ceremony, students should connect with either their academic advisor or the Registrar’s Office.