Apply To Programs

Admissions to Programs

Individuals may apply for admission to a graduate certificate and/or master’s degree program in the areas of Software Engineering, Information Technology Management, Management of Projects and Programs, Information Assurance or Bioinformatics. Admission to a graduate certificate or master’s degree program in the Rabb School of Continuing Studies, Division of Graduate Professional Studies occurs on a rolling basis. However, in order to guarantee an admissions decision before the start of term, applicants must submit a completed application and all supporting documentation by the following deadlines:

• February 15 - Decision for Summer Term
• June 15 - Decision for Fall Term
• October 15 - Decision for Spring Term

The completion of courses as a non-matriculated student does not guarantee acceptance into a program, nor does it guarantee courses will satisfy degree requirements. We strongly encourage individuals to apply as soon as possible to ensure that all courses completed will fulfill degree requirements in order to graduate.

Applicants interested in receiving financial aid must be officially admitted into a program, prior to the start of term.

Only individuals with a completed application, including all supporting documents, will be considered for admission.

We encourage applicants to consult with the Graduate Professional Studies Student Handbook for more information or contact rabbgrad@brandeis.edu with any further questions regarding the admissions process.

*Please Note: While we offer many on-campus and online courses, some programs are not entirely available in both modes. Please see the breakdown below.

Offered On-Site Only
• Bioinformatics
• Management of Projects and Programs

Offered Both On-Site and Online
• Software Engineering
• Information Technology Management

Offered Online Only
• Information Assurance
• Virtual Team Management and Communication

Apply to a Graduate Certificate
Apply to a Master's Degree
Visa Information
Sequential Degrees

Graduate Certificate Programs

Individuals interested in applying for admission to a graduate certificate program are required to apply by the end of the third graduate level course in order for all applicable courses to count towards the certificate. The following materials are required to apply to a graduate certificate program:

Application for a graduate certificate program is available online or pdf.

• Online application is intended to be completed in one sitting. Applicants should have their information and necessary materials close at hand while completing the application. The online application will time out after 20 minutes of inactivity.
• The online application system is utilized by all applications and certain aspects will not be relevant and should be left blank.
• Applicants must provide a full legal name and any former, maiden or preferred names that may help in identifying corresponding documents such as transcripts.
• At the end of the online application an opportunity to review information and retain a printed copy is available.

A non-refundable application fee of $50.00.

• The online application accepts payment in the form of Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express using the University’s secured server.
• Applicants may choose to submit via mail a personal bank check made payable to Brandeis University. Applicant’s full name must appear on the check.
• Payment must be submitted at time of application. Applications without payment are considered incomplete.

An official transcript is required from either a high school or an accredited college or university.

• Official transcripts in a sealed, signed envelope should be mailed directly to the Division of Graduate Professional Studies.

A letter of reference, on official letterhead or using the Letter of Recommendation form, is required from a faculty person or an employer who is qualified to evaluate the applicant’s potential for success in the desired program.

• The person providing the recommendation should seal the envelope, sign across the seal and mail it directly to the Division of Graduate Professional Studies.

Resume/C.V.

• Applicants using the online application system may submit a statement of goals as an attachment or via fax/mail.

Students whose native language is not English or who have not completed a four-year bachelor’s degree in an English language curriculum must earn a minimum score of 600 on the paper-based TOEFL or a minimum score of 250 on the computer based TOEFL.

• Students are exempt from this requirement if they have worked for a minimum of two years in an English-speaking environment.TOEFL scores should be sent directly to the Division of Graduate Professional Studies.

Applicants whose previous academic study took place outside the U.S. are required to have official transcripts/mark sheets evaluated by the Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), Madison, WI..

• Applicants must complete the ECE application for a “course by course evaluation” available at www.ece.org.
• The ECE evaluation application must be submitted with the official transcripts/mark sheets to the Division of Graduate Professional Studies.
• Applicants are responsible for the required evaluation fee that must be submitted with the evaluation application.

Master's Degree Programs

Individuals interested in applying for admission to a master’s degree program are required to apply by the end of the fourth graduate level course in order for all applicable courses to count towards their degree. No GRE or other tests are required. The following materials are required to apply to a master's degree program:

Application for a master’s degree program is available online or pdf.

• Online application is intended to be completed in one sitting. Applicants should have their information and necessary materials close at hand while completing the application. The online application will time out after 20 minutes of inactivity.
• Applicants must provide a full legal name and any former, maiden or preferred names that may help in identifying corresponding documents such as transcripts.
• At the end of the online application an opportunity to review submitted information and retain a printed copy is available.

A non-refundable application fee of $50.00.

• The online application accepts payment in the form of Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express using the University’s secured server.
• Applicants may choose to submit via mail a check made payable to Brandeis University. The applicant’s full name must appear on the check.
• Payment must be submitted at time of application. Applications without payment are considered incomplete.

Official transcripts must be provided for every college or university attended. 

• Official transcripts in a sealed, signed-envelope should be mailed directly to the Division of Graduate Professional Studies.  
• A final transcript indicating that a bachelor's degree has been awarded must be provided in addition to all other transcripts.

A letter of reference, on official letterhead or using the Letter of Recommendation form, is required from a faculty person or an employer who is qualified to evaluate the applicant’s potential for success in the desired program.

• The person providing the recommendation should seal the envelope, sign across the seal and mail it directly to the Division of Graduate Professional Studies.

A statement of goals, consisting of 250-500 words, describing motivations for pursuing an advanced degree in this field. If applicable, applicants may discuss how courses taken to date have contributed to professional and personal development. Applicants may choose to highlight any professional experience in present and prior employment.

• Applicants using the online application system may submit a statement of goals as an attachment or via fax/mail.

Resume/C.V.

• Applicants using the online application system may submit a statement of goals as an attachment or via fax/mail.

Applicants whose native language is not English or who have not completed a four-year bachelor’s degree in an English language curriculum must earn a minimum score of 600 on the paper-based TOEFL or a minimum score of 250 on the computer based TOEFL. Applicants are exempt from this requirement if they have worked for a minimum of two years in an English-speaking environment.

• TOEFL scores should be sent directly to the Division of Graduate Professional Studies.

Applicants whose previous academic study took place outside the U.S. are required to have their official transcripts/mark sheets evaluated by the Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), Madison, WI.

• Applicants must complete the ECE application for a “course by course evaluation” available at www.ece.org.
• This evaluation application must be submitted with the official transcripts/mark sheets to the Division of Graduate Professional Studies.
• Applicants are responsible for the required evaluation fee that must be submitted with the evaluation application.

Visa Information

For those students who are not U.S. Citizens or U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (Green Card holders): Please be advised that the Division of Graduate Professional Studies, in the Rabb School of Continuing Studies, is unable to issue F-1, M-1, or J-1 non-immigrant student visas for its part-time graduate programs, in accordance with U.S. immigration regulations.  International Students wishing to enroll in Rabb School degree programs must hold a valid U.S. visa status that allows for the pursuit of study in the US.

Individuals who hold visa statuses in the U.S. that also allow for pursuit of study (such as H-1B1, R-1, L-1, Trade NAFTA), may pursue coursework at the Rabb School provided they fulfill the terms, and maintain the validity, of this status while studying at the Rabb School. If a student is currently in the U.S. pursuing full-time study at another college or university, and holds an F-1, M-1, or J-1 student visa from that institution, s/he is advised to contact the Designated School Official/Responsible Officer at the sponsoring institution to obtain authorization to pursue study at the Rabb School, while simultaneously maintaining full-time student visa status at the original, visa-sponsoring institution.

Sequential Degree

Students who have completed a master’s degree and/or graduate certificate through the Rabb School of Continuing Studies can apply to complete a second master’s degree and/or graduate certificate in a separate program area. Interested students must apply for admission to the second master’s degree and/or graduate certificate within two years of completion of the first master’s degree and/or graduate certificate.

When transferring courses between different programs (for example Software Engineering to Bioinformatics):

• Students may transfer no more than three Rabb graduate level courses from the first master’s degree program to the second master’s degree program.
• Students may transfer no more than one Rabb graduate level course from a master’s degree program to a graduate certificate program.
• Students may transfer no more than one Rabb graduate level course from a graduate certificate program to a master’s degree or graduate certificate program.

Please note that each transferred course must satisfy current program requirements and the grade received cannot be below a B-. In addition, applicants must satisfy all admission requirements but do not need resubmit transcripts.

Students considering the sequential degree opportunity are strongly encouraged to contact the office as soon as possible for academic advising and determination of transferable courses.

Application Materials Should be Mailed to the Following Address:

Brandeis University
Rabb School of Continuing Studies
Division of Graduate Professional Studies
MS 084, P.O. Box 549110
415 South Street
Waltham, MA 02454-9110