How to Apply to the University of Kentucky as a First-Year Student

Apply to the University of Kentucky (UK) through the university's admissions application, and if you want to be considered for academic and competitive scholarships and the Lewis Honors College, submit your application by the Dec. 1 Early Action deadline for fall admission. This guide covers what the homepage tells prospective first-year students and how to use it to plan your application.

Key deadline: Dec. 1 Early Action

The University of Kentucky homepage states that high school seniors should apply by the Dec. 1 Early Action deadline to be considered for:

• Academic scholarships
• Competitive scholarships
• The Lewis Honors College

If those opportunities matter to you, treat Dec. 1 as your working deadline rather than a later regular deadline.

What you're applying to

UK describes itself as offering:

• 16 degree-granting colleges, plus the Lewis Honors College and Graduate School
• 200+ academic programs to choose a major from

The homepage's "Prospective Students" section links to both the application and a way to find your major, so you can confirm your intended program before or while you apply.

Steps to apply

1. Choose your program. Use the "Find your major" resource in the Prospective Students section to identify the major and college you're applying to.
2. Start your application. Follow the "Apply" link in the Prospective Students section of the homepage.
3. Submit by Dec. 1 if you want scholarship and Lewis Honors College consideration.
4. Explore before or after applying. UK offers a virtual tour and the option to schedule a campus tour, which can help confirm your choice.

Verify your submission

After applying, confirm that your application was received and that any required materials (transcripts, test scores, etc.) were submitted. The homepage does not list specific required documents, so check the admissions application itself for the exact checklist.

Common sticking points

• Missing the Dec. 1 date. Applying later may still be possible, but the homepage ties scholarship and Honors College consideration to the Early Action deadline.
• Applying without a major in mind. With 200+ programs across 16 colleges, reviewing options first avoids a mismatch.
• Assuming the homepage has everything. It points to the application and major-finding tools but does not detail document requirements or fees — those live in the application flow.

Quick reference