Your application process is complete when you have uploaded and submitted the following items through the University Online Application System.
All MHRIR applicants must complete the University Online Application. For full-time program: select "Human Resources and Industrial Relations M.HRIR" as your proposed major in the application. The University's application can be saved and continued later.
To be considered for admission, you must have a first university degree that is equivalent to a 4-year U.S. bachelor's degree. Students with a 3-year degree from India do not satisfy this minimum requirement and must complete an additional year of accredited post-baccalaureate study before submitting an application to the program.
Unofficial transcripts must include your name and the name of the institution and can be uploaded in the online application or emailed to [email protected] for attachment to your application file. Please do not mail in paper copies of your transcript.
You will need to submit a transcript from each college or university where you have completed coursework before your application will be considered complete and reviewed by the admissions committee. This includes institutions where you have earned credit that transferred towards degree credit at another college/university. Third Party credential evaluation reports and degree planning audit documents are not accepted as equivalent to a transcript.
If you have previously enrolled at any University of Minnesota campus, you can obtain electronic copies of your transcripts from OneStop Services.
There is no need for official transcripts or academic records for initial admissions review. Official transcripts will be required if you are admitted to the program.
The University of Minnesota reserves the right to require the submission of official transcripts or credentials any time during the admission review process.
If a student is unsure whether their degree is an equivalent to a 4-year U.S. bachelor’s degree they should email their transcripts and proof of degree to the Office of Graduate Admissions to [email protected] for review.
International credentials must include both the original language document(s) and an English translation.
Please include copies of the original language diplomas if a degree was conferred, in addition to transcripts or mark sheets.
You must submit essay responses to the questions detailed below (approximately 2 pages maximum). Please answer each prompt separately. You may copy/paste each prompt into your document. The admissions committee will review both the content of your responses and your ability to communicate clearly in writing.
What attracts you to human resources as a field? Why is the Master of Human Resources & Industrial Relations program the next logical step for you in your career, and why are you interested in the Carlson HRIR program specifically?
Tell us about a time you contributed to improving a process, system, or experience for others in one of the following situations: at work, during an internship, in a student organization, or in a classroom project. Describe the challenge, the steps you personally took to address it, and the outcome.
Use this essay to share information that is not presented elsewhere in the application, for example:
Explanation of employment gaps or academic weaknesses
Quantitative abilities
Choice of recommenders
For re-applicants, improvements to your candidacy
Your statement should be limited to no more than one page
The video essay is a required component of the application that provides candidates with an opportunity to show the admissions committee the authentic you. Think of this video essay as if you were answering an interview question with a member of our admissions committee.
You will need to use a computer with camera and microphone capabilities. You will have the ability to test your technology before starting the video essay and submit a practice video essay.
You can test your technology and run the practice simulation as many times as you wish to be comfortable with the format and technology. You will be able to review your practice video essay(s) and your recording(s) will not be saved beyond the testing phase and will never be reviewed.
You can also practice responding to impromptu questions offline with a friend or colleague before completing the video essay portion of your application.
You will be prompted to click "Ready" once you are prepared to submit an official video essay. You will be asked one impromptu question from a bank of imaginative or behavioral questions selected by our admissions team.
Two minutes (120 seconds) will be provided to prepare an answer and two minutes (120 seconds) to record an answer. Recording will automatically stop after two minutes. You are not required to use the full two minutes. If you have time remaining once complete with your response, click the "Stop Recording" button to end the recording.
You will only be provided one attempt to record your official video essay.
Prepare a current resume that includes a detailed education and employment history in no more than 3 pages.
Resume guidelines
Include any honors or scholastic awards you have received.
Be sure to include any national or international fellowships for which you are currently applying or have received.
Give titles of publications and of any research, inventions, or other creative work you have done.
Include any relevant extracurricular or volunteer activities in which you've participated.
List both employer and official position held.
Specify both month and year for dates of employment in each role.
Detail job responsibilities and accomplishments in approximately 3-5 bullet points.
We require two recommendations for application to the Human Resources and Industrial Relations (HRIR) program. These recommendations can be from any combination of professional and academic recommenders, though we strongly prefer that at least one recommendation come from a supervisor or current employer if you have professional experience.
Please note that you do not need to solicit letters of recommendation from your recommenders. We partner with GMAC for the Common Letter of Recommendation, so you simply need to provide contact information for your recommenders and the form will be automatically routed to them via email for completion. The form does include an optional section to attach a letter of recommendation if your recommender chooses to add that component.
We recommend getting started on your application early so you can enter the recommender contact information right away before continuing to work on your application. Both recommenders must complete the GMAC form before your submitted application is considered complete. This means all recommendations must be received before the deadline for which you would like to be considered.
Applicants to the MHRIR program are not required to submit a GMAT or GRE test score to be considered for admission. However, if an applicant has an existing or scheduled GMAT or GRE test score they would like to include in their application, they may do so.
Applicants who would like to include a GMAT score in their application should arrange for the testing service to send an official score report to code D2N-VJ-05, Carlson Master of Accountancy. Results arrive 2-3 weeks after the test.
Applicants who would like to include a GRE score in their application should arrange for the testing service to send an official score report using institution code 6874, U of MN graduate school. Results may take up to 8 weeks to arrive.
Note: An Academic Readiness Statement is no longer required to apply for Fall 2025 and later.
International and domestic applicants whose first language is not English must provide proof of English language proficiency. Proof of English language proficiency is measured according to the categories detailed below. You are not exempt if you have lived in an English-speaking country for several years, but have not completed any prior education in English.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Applicants providing an exam score must have an exam date within two years of the graduate program start date. Exams exceeding two years will not be accepted.
We do not offer an option for the English language ability to be assessed upon arrival on campus.
Test scores are not required for applicants that have completed post-secondary coursework in:
United States
Canada (except Quebec)
United Kingdom/Ireland
Australia
New Zealand
Ghana
Kenya
Nigeria
To qualify for exemption, the coursework:
Consists of least 16 semester credits or 24 quarter credits,
Does not include ESL coursework, and
Was completed within the past 2 years, and
You were living in one of the countries listed above while completing all of the credits.
Please note that the exam date should be within two years of the graduate program start date.
Graduate School Minimum Requirements
For exams taken before January 21, 2026:
Total Score: 79
Writing Subscore: 21
Reading Subscore: 19
For exams taken on or after January 21, 2026:
Total Score: 4.5
Writing Subscore: 4.5
Reading Subscore: 4.5
Please note that these scores are the minimum University requirements. No exceptions can be made.
Typically competitive candidates have average scores of 90-105, or 5.0-5.5, on the internet-based TOEFL.
The University of Minnesota Twin Cities does not consider MyBest Scores: Sum of Highest Section Scores of the TOEFL iBT Score Report to meet the minimum total score requirement for admission. Applicants should self-report their highest Total Score from the one test date in the Application for Admission. Applicants should also submit the official TOEFL iBT scores via ETS.
Please note that the exam date should be within two years of the graduate program start date.
Minimum Scores for Admission
Total Score: 6.5
Writing Subscore: 6.5
Reading Subscore: 6.5
Please note that these scores are the minimum University requirements. No exceptions can be made.
Please note that the exam date should be within two years of the graduate program start date.
Minimum Scores for Admission
Total Score: 59
Writing Subscore: 59
Reading Subscore: 59
Please note that these scores are the minimum University requirements. No exceptions can be made.
Typically competitive candidates have a total score of 65 or higher.
Your exam date should be within two years of the program's start date.
NOTE: We do not offer an option for the English language ability to be assessed upon arrival on campus.
Please note that the exam date should be within two years of the graduate program start date.
Minimum Scores for Admission
Total Score: 185
With no subscore lower than: 180
Please note that these scores are the minimum University requirements. No exceptions can be made.
$75 (non-refundable) for U.S. citizens $95 for international applications and U.S. residents with foreign credentials
Your application fee will be automatically waived if you have served in the U.S. Armed Forces for any length of time prior to submitting an application. We are unable to offer application fee waivers to any other applicants.
Make sure you don't miss a step in your application process:
I would not have the career that I do now without Carlson. All the professional experience I gained prior to my full-time role, including internships, overseas consulting work, and leadership roles, was made possible thanks to Minnesota Carlson and its relationships with companies.
