IMPORTANT - Changes to admissions policies for masters degrees to be introduced, effective October 16, 2011.

The Division of Graduate Professional Studies plans to introduce two changes to admissions requirements for masters degrees, effective as of October 16, 2011.  These changes are designed to assure excellent academic advising and to maximize the learning experience and potential for success for all students.

1.  Existing admissions policy allows students to take up to four courses prior to applying to a Master’s program.  As of October 16, 2011, this policy will change such that students may take UP TO TWO courses prior to applying to a master’s program.  This change will allow for better student advising, assuring that students learn about their admission status earlier and take the correct courses to achieve their degree.  (Applicants to the M.S. in Bioinformatics should contact the office directly (GPS@brandeis.edu or 781-736-8787) about pre-requisite courses as this policy will apply differently in the case of pre-requisites.)  During the transition period (through February 15, 2012), active students at or beyond their second course and who are not as yet matriculated in a degree program must contact Frances Stearns, Associate Director for Admissions in the Division, for guidance as to their next steps (fstearns@brandeis.edu or (781) 736-8785).

2.  Applicants whose first language is not English or who have not graduated from an English-speaking institution within an English-speaking country 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.

All submitted score records must include the segmented point distribution among the parts of the test, along with the total.  Scores may 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 Australia, Belize, the British Caribbean and British West Indies, Canada (except Quebec), Great Britain, Guyana, Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, or South Africa and many “American Universities”, such as American University in Cairo or AU in Paris, among others.

Students currently involved in course work but not yet matriculated, who are covered by this new policy, may submit a completed application for admission prior to October 15, in order not to be impacted by the policy. 

Questions or concerns about these changes, which will become policy on October 16, 2011, may be directed to the Division of Graduate Professional Studies, (781) 736-8787 or,  GPS@brandeis.edu  ;  please ask to speak with Frances Stearns, Associate Director, Admissions.