Our cookies

About this university

One of the top 100 public research universities in the USA, the University of Kentucky (UK) earned 28 Top 10 rankings and 50 Top 25 rankings over the last several years. With more than 200 majors available at the institution, students have no shortage of options to choose from.

UK is a top-tier research-intensive university that, together with its 55 research centers, works on a variety of real-life issues such as beating cancer or investigating renewable energy sources. For students, this means that the faculty teaching their classes are doing cutting-edge work in laboratories, libraries, and fields across Kentucky and around the world.

Proud of its diverse international student population, the University of Kentucky is home to international students from over 100 different countries.

A wide range of services are offered to international students to help them succeed in and outside of the classroom. The ISSS team helps international students develop a sense of belonging, succeed academically, and remain engaged throughout their time at the university.

The University of Kentucky has world-class sports facilities, and there are many clubs and activities. The university recently opened its USD 200 million state-of-the-art Student Center and has 14 new, modern residence halls with 13 Living Learning Programs.

The University of Kentucky is located in Lexington, a vibrant city that has been ranked #3 Safest Metro City in the U.S. (safewise.com), #2 Best City for New Grads (SmartAsset) and #3 Best City with the Highest Salaries and Lowest Costs of Living (GoBankingRates). Nestled in the heart of Kentucky’s bluegrass region, Lexington is a vibrant, friendly community. With a population of a little more than 330,000, it has the amenities of a bustling city, wrapped in small-town charm surrounded by rolling hills. Lexington and the surrounding areas are home to many international businesses, and it welcomes everyone with its warm southern hospitality.

Colleges

Kentucky is one of only eight universities in America with liberal arts, sciences, humanities, professional schools and medical colleges on one contiguous campus. Such depth and breadth provide extraordinary opportunities for interdisciplinary research and learning.

The 17 colleges of the university include, among others:

College of Engineering

The college offers rigorous programs and enriching experiences encouraging collaboration and creativity. It partners with industry through co-ops and internships, giving students real-world experiences that lead to meaningful careers.

College of Arts & Sciences

The college is home to 19 academic departments that offer major degrees in 29 disciplines and 37 minors. The faculty of the college are among UK’s most celebrated for their teaching and research, and the students often win the most prestigious scholarships and awards.

College of Medicine

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine is an academic medical institution dedicated to providing superior education and training to produce highly qualified, caring physicians.

College of Communication and Information

The college and its programs enjoy remarkable leadership at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the fields of communication, journalism, integrated strategic communication, media arts and studies, information communication technology, and library and information science.

Gatton College of Business and Economics

For more than 80 years, students at this college have learned key business strategies from both market-leading executives and world-renowned faculty. Gatton prepares graduates with the skills and knowledge they need to compete globally with the utmost integrity and professionalism. 

Lewis Honors College

The Lewis Honors College provides an alternative course of instruction for outstanding, highly motivated students from all programs of study. Honors students are diverse, innovative, intellectually engaged, and interested in creative thought.

Study options

UK offers numerous programs for undergraduate students, including:

Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology

This degree combines critical thinking and hands-on learning with instruction in genetics, molecular biology, genetic engineering, chemistry, and biology, to train students in the scientific investigation process.

Civil Engineering

Civil engineering emphasizes infrastructure—geotechnical, water resources, environmental, transportation, construction and structural engineering, as well as other related fields. This program allows students to discover which area (or combination of areas) of civil engineering is right for them.

Computer Science

Computer scientists identify and solve computational problems in all areas of modern life. They use a combination of technical skills and creativity to design and build software, formulate solutions to computing problems and invent new and better ways of using computers. 

Economics

This degree enables students to build the expertise to forecast economic conditions, estimate trends, and use economic theory, helping understand the behavior of consumers, firms, and governments. Students will develop a unique mix of analytical and applied business skills to prepare them for upper-level management, research and public service careers.

Marketing

Develop the tools to succeed in today's fast-moving, data-driven, increasingly digital markets. You'll build strong communication skills, an understanding of consumer psychology, and expertise in research and market analysis, preparing you for careers in product management, advertising and sales, marketing research, and more. 

Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of all aspects of human behavior. Topics studied by psychologists include brain function, moods and feelings, normal and abnormal thought processes, personality, interactions among people, and many more. Training in psychology emphasizes research skills, critical thinking abilities, and communication skills.

Rankings

A top university for International Students according to 2018 U.S. News & World Report, the University of Kentucky is regularly listed in many "top" or "best of" categories by national publications and organizations, including 25 programs ranked in the top 20 in the U.S. The following list includes some of the national rankings the university has received:

2020 U.S. News & World Report has ranked UK:

General Ranking

• #132 in National Universities
•  #60 in Top Public Schools
• #330 Best Global Universities

Best Global University Ranking for

• #96 Pharmacology and Toxicology
• #102 Microbiology
• #135 Neuroscience and Behavior
• #159 Plant and Animal Science
• #167 Agricultural Sciences
• #222 Social Sciences and Public Health

Best Undergraduate Programs

• #87 in Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs

Best Graduate Programs

• #4 Public Finance and Budgeting
• #6 Pharmacy
• #37 Public Health
• #57 Best Education Schools
• #67 Best Business Schools
• #68 Economics
• #71 Best Law Schools
• #90 Biological Sciences
• #95 Best Engineering Schools
• #100 Physics
• #106 Chemistry
• #125 Part-time MBA

How to apply

University of Kentucky continues test-optional admission for undergraduate applicants. Freshman (first year) applicants must submit the following:

• Application: UK Application for Undergraduate Admission or Common Application.
• Non-Refundable Application Processing Fee: Pay USD 60 online when submitting the electronic application for admission or mail a check noting the applicant ID to the Office of Undergraduate Admission.
• Copy of passport.
• Official Transcripts in English: This transcript should reflect grades through at least six semesters of high school work and should be in English. If the students are high school graduates, they must submit a complete official transcript including the date of graduation.
• Bank statement: showing balance of USD 49,930 if applying for 2023 spring and fall semesters.
• Sponsor guarantee form.
• TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo scores: English proficiency requirement for undergraduates is 71ibt TOEFL, 6.0 IELTS, or 95 Duolingo. These scores should be sent directly from the testing center.

NOTE: Conditional admission may be offered to students who do not meet the English proficiency requirement. Students can also complete this requirement at UK Center for ESL.

What’s new

At 12:55 a.m. on Dec. 15, 2021, two Kentucky Re-entry and Universal Payload System (KRUPS) capsules entered the atmosphere and were set on fire by the extreme temperatures they experienced at more than 20 times the speed of sound.

At that moment, UK made history with three “firsts”:

• First time a university-built entry capsule successfully transited a planetary atmosphere.
• First time a university flew a hypersonic vehicle.
• First time a 3D-printed heat shield flew on an entry mission.

The data will help scientists build better thermal protection systems (TPS). These systems protect a payload — whether astronauts, equipment or scientific instruments — during the harsh flight into the atmosphere of a distant planet or on its return to Earth.

These capsules were built by UK College of Engineering students and faculty, with funding from NASA, NASA EPSCoR, the NASA Kentucky Space Grant Consortium and EPSCoR Programs, the KY Statewide EPSCoR Committee and the Cabinet for Economic Development.

A team of University of Kentucky researchers led by College of Engineering Professor Dibakar Bhattacharyya, Ph.D., and his Ph.D. student, Rollie Mills, have developed a medical face mask membrane that can capture and deactivate the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein on contact. Their work was published in the Nature journal Communications Materials on May 24. SARS-CoV-2 is covered in spike proteins, which allow the virus to enter host cells once in the body. The team developed a membrane that includes proteolytic enzymes that attach to the protein spikes and deactivates them.

“This new material can filter out the virus like the N95 mask does, but also includes antiviral enzymes that completely deactivate it. This innovation is another layer of protection against SARS-CoV-2 that can help prevent the virus from spreading,” said DB, the director of UK’s Center of Membrane Sciences.