Admission Requirements
To be eligible to apply for admission, students must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. institution or its equivalent.
Students may take up to two courses prior to applying to a degree program. Individuals interested in applying for admission to a master’s degree program are required to apply by the end of their second graduate level course in order for all applicable courses to count towards their degree.
Applications for admission will not be reviewed until all required documents have been received at the GPS office. Admissions decisions are usually made within four to six weeks of receipt of a completed application.
To be eligible for admission, the following documents must be submitted:
- Completed online master's degree application
New applicants should use the "Create an Account" option to begin your application process. If you can’t complete your application in one sitting, use the “Save and Complete Later” function. When you have more time, log in (returning users) to finish your application. You will receive a confirmation number when the application is submitted.
If you have applied for admissions to a master's degree program, you may login to view the progress of your application file. You may also contact your Enrollment Advisor or the GPS admissions office.
- Nonrefundable application fee of $50
The application fee may be paid online during the online application process via the university's secured server. The university accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express credit cards. You may also mail a check to the GPS office.
- A four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or equivalent.
- Official transcript(s) from every college or university attended.
Transcript(s) must be submitted in sealed, signed envelopes and mailed directly from your institution to the Division of Graduation Professional Studies admissions office.
- Resumé or curriculum vitae
- Statement of Goals
- Letter of recommendation
- TOEFL, IELTS or PTE (for non-native English speakers)
Applicants whose first language is not English or who have not graduated with a bachelor’s degree from an English-speaking institution in Australia, Belize, the British Caribbean and British West Indies, Canada (except Quebec), Great Britain, Guyana, Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, or South Africa must take and submit scores for the TOEFL or IELTS, with guidelines and exceptions noted below. Test scores should be no more than five years old.
Strong communication skills including the abilities to read and write effectively in English are essential for student success in our programs, particularly our distance learning programs. The purpose of these requirements is to ensure that students are equipped to participate in and perform the work required by their courses.
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): Applicants must achieve a minimum score of 100 on the Internet-based (iBT) TOEFL, with a minimum of 24 on each of the four sub-scores; (or 600 on the paper-based (PBT) TOEFL with a minimum of 58 on the reading and writing sub-scores, and a 4.5 or higher on the essay writing score (TWE).
IELTS (International English language Testing System): Applicants must achieve a minimum score of 7.0 on the individual band scores for academic reading and academic writing.
PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English Academic): Applicants must achieve a minimum score of 68 on the PTE Academic English Language Proficiency test.
All submitted score records must include the segmented point distribution among the parts of the test, along with the total. Scores should be sent directly to the Division of Graduate Professional Studies, using the institutional code 0253.
Exceptions are made for applicants whose bachelor’s degree was earned in many “American Universities”, such as American University in Cairo or AU in Paris, among others.
- Education Credential Evaluation (if bachelor's degree was earned outside the United States)
Applicants who earned their bachelor's degree outside the United States must submit their records for a course-by-course evaluation (official transcripts/mark sheets) by Education Credential Evaluators (ECE) of Madison, Wisc. Information regarding the evaluation process is detailed at the ECE Web site. Applicants are responsible for the evaluation fee.
Upcoming Registration and Application Deadlines
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Late Registration (Last week for Fall 2013 Registration)
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First Week of Online Classes (Fall 2013)
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Recommended Application Deadline for Spring 2014
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Corporate Partner Registration Begins
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Spring Registration Begins
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Late Registration
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Upcoming Program Specific Virtual Open Houses (VOH)
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Strategic Analytics, Virtual Open House
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Health & Medical Informatics, Virtual Open House
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Software Engineering, Virtual Open House
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Virtual Management, Virtual Open House
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Bioinformatics, Virtual Open House
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Strategic Analytics, Virtual Open House
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Health & Medical Informatics, Virtual Open House
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Software Engineering, Virtual Open House
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Virtual Management, Virtual Open House
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Bioinformatics, Virtual Open House
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Strategic Analytics, Virtual Open House
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Health & Medical Informatics, Virtual Open House
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Software Engineering, Virtual Open House
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Virtual Management, Virtual Open House
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Bioinformatics, Virtual Open House
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Strategic Analytics, Virtual Open House
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Health & Medical Informatics, Virtual Open House
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Software Engineering, Virtual Open House
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Virtual Management, Virtual Open House
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Bioinformatics, Virtual Open House
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Tuition & Payment Options
2013-2014 Academic Year Tuition and Fees (Fall 2013 - Summer 2014)
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Graduate course (three credits)
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$3,070 |
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Graduate course (four credits)
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$4,092 |
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Late Registration Fee
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$70 |
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Application fee
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$50 |
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$100 |
Payment Options
Acceptable forms of payment include:
- Personal check
- Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express credit cards
- Electronic bank draft
Students must be prepared to pay tuition in full. Student registration will not be considered complete unless full payment of tuition and fees is received.
Course Withdrawal and Refund Policy
Students who wish to cancel their registration and receive a tuition refund must state their intention to withdraw by withdrawing from their course online using SAGE or by completing a course Drop Form and submitting it to the Division of Graduate Professional Studies. Tuition will be refunded according to the following schedule:
- Withdrawal before the first Wednesday of the term, 100 percent refund
- Withdrawal between the first Wednesday and following Tuesday of the term, 75 percent refund
- Withdrawal on or after the second Wednesday of the term, no refund
- Late Registration Fees are nonrefundable in all cases
Students who wish to receive a refund must submit a request using the Credit Release form. Otherwise, the amount will remain on the student's account and be applied toward a future tuition payment. Refunds will be in the form of a check and processed within 10 business days. When applicable, refund policies of the state where online learning students reside will be used to calculate any applicable refunds. Click here for state policies.
Tax Deductions
Some students may be eligible for an income-tax deduction or a tax credit. Consult the appropriate state or federal agency or your own tax adviser for further information.
Financial Aid
Graduate Professional Studies students may be eligible for federal loans as long as they are enrolled in a master's program, registered for at least two courses that term and actively working toward completing their degree requirements. The Division of Graduate Professional Studies does not offer financial assistance in the form of teaching assistantships or other grants. A variety of loan programs, including the federal direct unsubsidized or subsidized Stafford Loans, may be available to Graduate Professional Studies students who meet these criteria.
All students who wish to apply for financial aid must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), return it to the federal processor and notify the Division of Graduate Professional Studies in writing of the date on which the FAFSA form is submitted. When completing the FAFSA form (available at www.fafsa.ed.gov), students should list Brandeis University as a recipient of the Student Aid Report (SAR).
Students requesting Financial Aid also must complete and return a Federal Direct Stafford Loan Application for Graduate Professional Studies. This form must be received by the Office of Student Financial Services before the start of the term so that loan funds may be applied.
2013-2014 Federal Direct Stafford Loan Application for Graduate Professional Studies (PDF)
For financial aid deadlines, refer to the Graduate Professional Studies Student Handbook or the academic calendar. Students should be aware that these deadlines are strictly enforced.
For more information about loan options and eligibility, please contact the Division of Graduate Professional Studies at (781) 736-8787 or Gabrielle Katz in the Office of Student Financial Services at (781)736-3795. You can also access financial aid information on the Web.
Additional Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirement for Students Receiving Financial Aid
Federal regulations require that a student receiving federal assistance make satisfactory academic progress in accordance with standards set by the university. The Division of Graduate Professional Studies is responsible for monitoring academic progress within its graduate programs. To receive federal funding, a student must successfully complete two courses (B- or higher) in each semester in which he or she receives federal loans. If he or she fails to successfully complete two courses in a semester in which he or she receives federal loans, he or she will be allowed to receive federal loans for the next semester but will be placed on probation. If he or she fails to successfully complete two courses during the probationary semester, he or she will lose eligibility for federal loans from this point forward. A student may submit an appeal if there are extenuating circumstances that prevented him or her from successfully completing coursework for two subsequent semesters.
Employer Reimbursement
Many employers offer some form of tuition reimbursement to their employees. Contact your company to determine tuition benefits. Please be advised that tuition reimbursement constitutes a private arrangement between employer and employee. Full payment of tuition and fees must be received upon registration, regardless of the terms of such an arrangement between the employee and employer. If you need a financial statement for reimbursement purposes, you may submit a request online using the Request Itemized Statement form.
Once you have submitted an application for admission, your application will be processed within 24 to 48 hours of receipt. However, your application file will not be reviewed for admission until the Graduate Professional Studies (GPS) office has received all required documents.
If you have applied for admissions to a master's degree program, you may login to GPS Application Management Center to view the progress of your application. You may also contact your Enrollment Advisor or the GPS admissions office.
The admissions committee typically makes admissions decisions within four to six weeks of receiving a completed file. Decision letters are mailed to all applicants.
How many letters of recommendation are required?
Only one letter of recommendation from an employer/supervisor or instructor is required. You may submit additional letters of recommendation if you wish.
Are the GREs or GMATs required for admission?
No.
When can I apply for admission?
GPS offers rolling admission; however, there are recommended deadlines if you are seeking admission for a specific semester. Those deadlines are June 15 for fall admission, Oct. 15 for spring admission and Feb. 15 for summer admission. Students wishing to pursue a master's degree must apply by the end of their second course.
Do I have to enroll in a GPS course prior to applying to a program?
No, you may apply for admission without enrolling in a GPS course. Please refer to the Apply for a Master's Degree page for eligibility requirements.
I completed my undergraduate degree outside the United States. Must I have my marksheets/transcripts evaluated?
Yes, all students who studied outside of the United States must complete a course-by-course evaluation through Educational Credential Evaluators. If you completed a graduate degree at a U.S.-accredited institution, you will not be required to complete a course-by-course evaluation of your undergraduate degree.
I have my own copy of my transcripts. Is this acceptable to submit for admission?
No, only official copies of transcripts sent directly from your college/university in sealed, signed envelopes to the Graduate Professional Studies offices are acceptable. If you studied outside of the United States, notarized copies of your official transcript may be accepted.
Are the programs offered by GPS full-time or part-time?
GPS programs are only offered part time, with courses available in the evenings (on campus) or online.
How long does it take to receive an admissions decision?
Admissions decisions are typically reached by the Admissions Committee within four to six weeks of receiving a completed application.
As an online learner at Brandeis GPS, I found the coursework and support resources convenient and accommodating. In fact, I rarely felt as though my studies were an interruption. What I learned was immediately applicable, and I continue every day to benefit from the understanding the courses gave me. I was offered a new job during coursework, and I later discovered that one of the primary reasons I received the offer was because I was enrolled in the program. I've found that, when making new connections, having a degree from Brandeis earns you a great amount of initial trust.
Scott Paddock
The curriculum was challenging and real-world related. The principles of project management I learned can really be applied to almost any field and aspect of life, but my new knowledge gave me the confidence to start my own business and apply Project Management tools and techniques to non-traditional fields. I loved the flexibility of the classes. I was able to complete my degree from across the country while working and starting a family, and the distance learning requirements created a highly structured and engaging format, requiring students to be involved in the subject matter almost daily.
Michelle Welsh
When I started to look for graduate programs, I had been out of school for 11 years. I have a very demanding job, so I needed a program that fit into my already busy lifestyle. The curriculum was complete! They covered everything I could ask for as an aspiring Project/Program Manager, and I was able to use materials taken directly from the courses at my current position. During my time in the program, I was impressed with the level of dedication of the staff and instructors. I have never experience the level of commitment instructors showed helping me learn and improve from my mistakes. My experience at Brandeis GPS laid out a professional path I didn’t even know was there.
Lydia Vanessa Cotto Cora