Thank you for your interest in the Extended Reality Graduate Certificate! Due to restricted capacity in required and pre-approved courses, admission to the XR Certificate Program is limited. To apply you will need to follow the following steps:

• Collected required information and prepare your application materials.
• Obtain an application fee waiver from the XR admissions team (unless you want to pay for it!)
• Complete the official Rackham application
• Complete the Auxiliary Application (via Google Form) for review by the XR Certificate committee

Read on for details about each step.

Fall 2023 Admissions Timeline

• Jan. 1, 2023: Fall 2023 Application is available
• Feb. 24, 2023: Fall 2023 Application is due
• March 24, 2023: Fall 2023 admissions decisions are finalized and communicated to applicants

Admissions Process Details

Step 1: Collect required information and prepare your application materials

• For the Rackham Application
  • Gather your unofficial transcripts from past institutions (including a screenshot of your current WA transcript)
  • Update your resume / CV and a prepare a PDF version for upload. (You will upload this for both the Rackham and Auxiliary Applications.)
  • Confirm if your current course of graduate study is a NON-RACKHAM program or not. Here is a list of NON-RACKHAM programs. 
  • Create a blank document in .docx, .doc, or PDF format titled WAIVED
• For the Auxiliary Application
  • Consult with an academic advisor and carefully consider your plans for completion of the certificate. You will be asked to provide a brief narrative describing your plan as part of the Auxiliary Application.
    • Application instructions: “Provide a plan for completing the coursework requirement for the XR certificate. Indicate which classes you have already taken, are currently taking or plan to take. For courses that will require a petition, briefly describe your plans for the XR-related work you will perform that you believe will qualify for certificate credit.” 
  • Compose a Statement of Purpose (max 500 words) 
    • Application instructions: “Describe your interest in the XR certificate. Please be as specific as possible regarding the relationship between the XR certificate and your academic and/or professional goals. Include any prior experience you have working with XR applications and technologies.”
    • You will provide this as part of your Auxiliary Application.
  • Prepare any links or documents pertaining to your experience with XR to include in the Auxiliary Application.
    • Application instructions: “[Optional] Please upload any additional materials you would like to share with us regarding your application for the XR Certificate.”

Step 2: Obtain an application fee waiver from the XR admissions team

• Request a fee waiver code from the UMSI Admissions Team via [email protected] - subject: XR Waiver Code. Please allow at least 2 business days for a response.
• IMPORTANT: We cannot refund application fees - so do not submit your Rackham application without a waiver code!

Step 3: Complete the official Rackham Application

• Access the Rackham application portal. Information gathered here is for use by Rackham to enroll you and ensure you are eligible for the certificate program. 
  1. You will have space to elaborate on your fit and plans within the Auxiliary Application.
• On page 2 of the application, select Extended Reality (XR) Certificate as your program. 
• On page 3 under Fee Waiver Information Select “Yes” and then select “Graduate Program Waiver” under the third heading - ‘Graduate Program/School or College Fee Waiver (administered by a U-M Graduate Program or School/College).’ This will allow you to input a code on page 10. 
• Page 9 - please upload a blank document titled WAIVED (you can ignore the text about having to include a title, name, program and UMID)
• Page 10 - please upload the blank document titled WAIVED again (you can ignore the text about having to include a title, name, program and UMID)

Step 4: Complete the Auxiliary Application (via Google Form) for review by the XR Certificate committee

Complete the Auxiliary Application (Google Form)

Information Session

View the information session.