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Admissions, Costs and Financial Aid

Applicants to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences should submit either an electronic application (preferred method) or a paper application. An application fee of $ 75 for online applications or $100 for paper applications is required of all applicants, except for those who apply for early admission. Electronic applications require payment with a credit card; paper applications require a check or money order.

Applicants must state the concentration to which they are applying:

• Elementary, Public
• Elementary, Jewish day schools/DeLeT
• Secondary (English, biology, chemistry, physics, history or Bible/Tanakh)

Applications to the MAT program are due by Jan. 15; please note that the program begins in June. Applications received after Jan. 15 are considered as they are received, until the cohort is full.  Early admission may be possible; see below.

Early Admission

Early admission to the MAT program is an option for qualified applicants to be admitted for graduate study prior to the committee’s review of other applicants. Aside from the possibility of knowing early on whether or not one will be attending graduate school during the following summer, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences also waives the application fee for early applicants. Deadline for early admission is on December 1, 2009.

Applicants should declare their interest in early admission by composing an e-mail to both GSAS and to the MAT Program. Doing so will notify the review committee of such action and will allow the application fee to be waived. In case of applicants requesting early decision, the Admission Committee will, at its discretion, do one of the following:

1. Offer the candidate early admission to the MAT program, and concurrently take action on any scholarship application(s) the candidate may have made;
2. Offer the candidate early admission to the MAT program, and defer action on any scholarship application(s) he/she may have made until the regular action date of Jan. 15;
3. Defer action on the candidate's application until the regular action date of Jan, 15.

The Application Process

Interested applicants should visit the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) web site for the most up-to-date information on the application process. The Graduate School prefers that you submit your application electronically, along with any supplemental information.

Application Requirements 

• Statement of Purpose

Public Elementary

In essay form, please discuss your reasons for undertaking graduate study in education at this time.  Explain one or two of your core reasons for going into teaching.  Explain why Public Education is your field of choice.  Describe your relevant experience and other qualifications.  Your statement should be 3-5 pages long.

DeLeT (Jewish day schools, elementary)

In essay form, please address the following two prompts:

1. Explain one or two of your core reasons for wanting to be an elementary day school teacher.

2. Describe a teacher who had a profound impact on you.

Your statement should be 3-5 pages long in total.

DeLeT candidates please note:  you may be contacted for an interview.

Secondary (all fields)

In essay form, please discuss your reasons for undertaking graduate study in education at this time.  Explain one or two of your core reasons for going into teaching.  State the subject area in which you wish to specialize and explain your reasons.  Describe your relevant experience and other qualifications.  Your statement should be 3-5 pages long.

• Three Letters of Recommendation

One letter should address your academic/intellectual qualifications.

One letter should address your experience and/or potential for work with children or youth.

There are no specific requirements for the third letter, but applicants with substantial work/professional experience should consider a letter from an employer.

The members of the admissions committee prefer to receive electronically letters written in support of your application for admission.  When applying online please include the complete contact information, including e-mail address, for your referees in your application.  The referees will then be contacted directly with the electronic link for submission of their letter(s).

We will continue to accept hard copy letters of recommendationfrom those referees who prefer this method.  All hard copy letters should be forwarded to the GSAS office address below.

• Transcripts

Applicants must provide official transcripts indicating successful completion of undergraduate degree program(s) before registration.

Please note:

Applicants to the elementary program are expected to show sufficient knowledge to be qualified to teach the core elementary school subjects of mathematics, English language arts, science and the social sciences, including American history.  DeLeT candidates should also show basic knowledge of Hebrew.

Applicants to the secondary program are expected to possess a major or equivalent in the subject they wish to teach.

Applicants who wish professional experience to be taken into account for purposes of review of academic qualifications should submit an additional statement of explanation.  Suitable documentation may be required.

For further information email MAT@brandeis.edu.

• Curriculum Vitae/Resume

List all colleges and universities attended, major extracurricular activities and employment, detailing particularly those relevant to your proposed field of study; any honors or prizes awarded; and publications and research projects with which you have been associated.

• Graduate Record Examinations General Test (GRE's)

GRE's are required for admissions into the MAT program.  If you have taken your GRE's within the last 5 years, please provide us with an official copy of your current scores.  If you have not taken the GRE test or for more information you can visit their website at www.ets.org/gre.  The ETS code for the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is 3092. 

• Non-native speakers of English

International students should visit the international admissionsection of the GSAS website for information on TOEFL and IELTS requirements.

• Mailing Address

Although we prefer that all required supporting credentials be received in one package, we will certainly accept credentials mailed separately.  Please send all credentials to:

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

MS031 Brandeis University

PO Box 9110

Waltham, MA 02454-9110

Costs and Financial Aid

Substantial financial aid and scholarships are available for many of our MAT students. Many students receive partial or full-tuition scholarships, based upon their qualifications and their intended teaching specialty. For the most up-to-date costs, and to learn about aid based on demonstrated financial need, please visit the GSAS Web site. To learn about scholarship support based on promise of excellence in teaching and intended career path, please write MAT@brandeis.edu. In your e-mail, please state your intended teaching specialty.