Admission to the Program
Applicants must hold an accredited bachelor’s degree with a cumulative grade point average of at least B+ (3.30 or higher on a 4.00 scale). Students who do not meet these minimum requirements, if otherwise admissible, may be assigned additional coursework in excess of degree requirements specified at the time of admission. Additionally, students should have either significant professional experience, typically seven to nine years, be currently enrolled in a master’s level program in international affairs or related field from a partner institution, or have recently completed (within three years) a master’s level program in international affairs or related field from an approved partner institution. Students with significant professional experience should apply to the executive track. Students currently enrolled, or having recently completed, a master’s level program in international affairs or related field should apply to the international studies track.
The application deadline for fall admission is May 1; for spring admission, October 1 (September 15 for international students). Admitted students may defer matriculation for no more than two semesters provided that a written request for deferment is submitted to and approved by the SIS Graduate Admissions Office.
All applicants whose native language is English or those whose degrees are from an accredited institution where the language of instruction is English are required to submit results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Non-native English speakers are required to submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) unless they hold a degree from a U.S.-accredited institution before enrollment at SIS. The minimum TOEFL score for full admissions consideration is 100 on the Internet-based test (iBT) or 600 on the paper-based test (PBT). The minimum IELTS score is 7.0. Applicants should plan to take the TOEFL prior to December to ensure full consideration of the application by the May 1 deadline.
All applicants are required to submit official transcripts and translations from their undergraduate institutions and two letters of reference evaluating their suitability for the program in international service. Finally, applicants must submit an essay outlining their motivation for graduate study. The essay should also contain a brief description of their intended program of study.
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