General Application Questions
The Coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak has created deep anxiety and concern throughout our global Brandeis community. Our hearts go out to all those whose lives have been affected by this pandemic. As we live through these unprecedented times, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is committed to supporting all applicants, particularly those impacted by test center closures and travel restrictions. Our Admissions team is actively monitoring the situation, and we will communicate with applicants at all stages of the admissions process as necessary. We welcome you to reach out to us at gsas@brandeis.edu if you have questions or concerns. We recommend that international students visit our International Student and Scholars Office FAQ page to learn about how the university is supporting international students during the crisis.
Quick Links to FAQ Sections
General Application Questions
Test Score Requirements
Letters of Recommendation
Transcripts
Supporting Documents
Application Fee
Admissions Decision
Financial Aid
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The requirements vary among programs. All candidates must submit an application form and application fee. The online application requires the candidate to include a statement of purpose, a curriculum vitae/resume, and uploaded transcripts of academic work completed to date. All applicants must have obtained a bachelor's degree or the international equivalent prior to matriculation. Additionally, the online application form will prompt the candidate to submit the names and contact information for recommenders (typically two or three), who will be sent a link to upload their letters of recommendation. Your program may also require standardized test score results, a writing sample, a portfolio, an audition, and/or an interview. Please visit your department to see specific requirements by program.
No, your chances for admission cannot be assessed without reviewing your entire file. Your statement of purpose and your letters of recommendation play a significant role in the application process.
There are no GPA or standardized test score cutoffs. Applicants are considered holistically on the basis of a number of factors.
International students, however, must meet certain English-language minimum test scores to be eligible for admission.
In most cases, previous work as an undergraduate major or as a formal minor (18 credits or more) is desirable. However, a student should always check with the department of interest concerning the suitability of previous academic work as it pertains to the degree program in question.
Students may apply directly to a PhD program after completion of their baccalaureate degree.
Students with earlier graduate work may apply to transfer credits from the previous program. Depending on the program to which you are looking to transfer the credit, up to one year's worth of credit may be accepted. The decision to accept any credit will be made by the Registrar and the Department after the first semester of enrollment in the Graduate School.
No, you may only apply to one program per academic year.
Once you have submitted your complete application, you can check on the status of your application materials by logging into your account using the same credentials you used while applying. Your account will provide you with a self-service portal, which will include a materials checklist. The checklist will be updated as we receive the materials necessary to complete your application process. In addition, you are able to upload additional documentation through the application portal.
If you wish to authorize another person to inquire on your behalf about the status of your application, you must sign and submit an authorization form. The Graduate School will not release information about your application to anyone without your written consent.
Please be sure that you review the deadline submission date for your program of interest. It is your responsibility to apply and submit all of the required documents by the program’s deadline. If your program of interest has a rolling deadline, it is in your best interest to submit materials as early as possible, as the admission committees only review applications until the cohort is full.
Typically, applicants receive a decision approximately six to eight weeks after the program's application deadline. Each department has its own timeframe, so for a more exact timeline, you should contact your program directly. Our office cannot tell you when you will receive an admission decision. Please note, while individual programs may inform applicants that they been recommended for admission, only decisions administered by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences are considered to be official. Admission decisions will be posted to your Application Status Portal and you will be notified when available via email. We are unable to release admission decisions over the phone.
Though we strongly suggest that you apply online because our electronic applications are processed more rapidly, you may apply via a paper application. The fee to apply via a paper application is $75.
Mailing Address (USPS):
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Brandeis University
415 South St., MS 031
Bernstein-Marcus
Waltham, MA 02453
Test Score Requirements
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If you are applying to a program with a standardized test requirement, you must submit official scores from the testing agencies in order for your application to be considered complete.
You will enter your unofficial scores directly into the Test Score section of the application. You should not upload, email, or mail any copies of the score reports. The department will be able to view the scores that you have entered until your official scores arrive. Please keep in mind that there is a delay from when you order your official scores to when they are matched with your application. Overall, this process can take up to three weeks.
In the Test Score section of the application, there is a link to add new test scores. Simply click on the link, select the appropriate test, and then enter your future test date. This will allow you to submit the application without scores for that specific test.
When you take the test, enter the appropriate Brandeis institution code (see below) at the testing center. When the official scores arrive, we will be able to associate them with your application. In the interim, you can email us at gradschool@brandeis.edu with your unofficial scores and our office can enter them into your application.
The Graduate School does not accept MyBest scores; We will continue to accept only test scores from individual test dates. You will find the exams we accept within the International Students page.
The Graduate School does not accept TOEFL Essentials score reports. You will find the exams we accept within the
International Students page.
- GRE: Please provide ETS with institution code 3092. No department code is necessary.
- TOEFL iBT or Revised Paper-delivered Test: Please provide ETS with institution code 3261. No department code is necessary.
- TOEFL ITP Plus for China Solution: Please log into your Vericant account to arrange for delivery of your score report.
- Duolingo English Test: Please log into your Duolingo account to arrange for delivery of your score report.
- GMAT: Please provide GMAT with the code 3FD-1Z-75 for the MS/MBA Biotechnology program or 3FD-1Z-02 for the MA/MBA in Jewish Professional Leadership program.
- IELTS Academic: Please contact the test center at which you took your exam to arrange for delivery of your score report. Miller Analogies Test: Please provide Pearson with the code 1197.
- PTE Academic: Please log into your Pearson account to arrange for delivery of your score report.
Letters of Recommendation
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The required number of letters of recommendation varies among programs. Please visit your department to see specific requirements by program.
The electronic application will ask you to list the names and email addresses of your recommenders. Once you enter their contact information on your application and press “send to recommender,” your recommender will be notified via email and directed to a secure website to upload a document to your application. Once a letter has been submitted, it will be added to your application materials and marked as received on your application checklist. You will receive a confirmation email each time your recommender submits a letter online.
In most cases, you will have the ability to request that a reminder email be sent to any of your recommenders who have not yet submitted their letters. You may request this yourself via your self-service portal by selecting the "recommendations page" link found under your Application Checklist.
In most cases, you are able to send a reminder email to your recommender through your self-service portal. Click on the “recommendations page” link and then “edit” and you have the option to send a reminder to your recommender.
Please be aware that if your recommender does not see the email in their inbox, it could be due to spam-blocking software being used to filter messages. If any of your recommenders report that they have not received the email, they may try disabling the software or looking in their spam folders.
Alternatively, you are welcome to have your recommender email their letter as a PDF or Doc attachment to gradschool@brandeis.edu. The email will need to be sent from their professional email address as listed on your application. Our office will then attach the letter to your application.
You are welcome to email our office at gradschool@brandeis.edu for detailed instructions on correcting the email address.
Yes, although electronic submission is strongly preferred and the submission of hard-copy letters may delay the processing of your application. You or your recommender can submit a signed letter on official letterhead with the recommender's signature over the envelope seal to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at:
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
MS 031 Brandeis University
415 South Street,
Waltham, MA 02454
Transcripts
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Yes, you are required to upload your transcripts to the Educational Record page of your application in order for it to be considered complete. You may upload your institution’s print or web version of your transcript. The transcripts that you upload are not considered official. Many institutions allow students and alumni to access their grade report online; these reports are sufficient for application file review. Please note that transcripts must be in English or be accompanied by an English translation.
Please follow these guidelines when uploading your transcripts:
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Upload each transcript individually if you have attended more than one institution.
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If your transcript is double sided, please include both sides and be sure to include the transcript legend.
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Make sure that your upload is legible and clearly identifies the school from which the transcript originated.
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If the scanned file is too large, first make a photocopy (experiment with different settings until you find one that results in the smallest file size), then scan the photocopy.
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Make certain that its size is less then 2000kb (2 MB). For best results, scan at the lowest DPI in black and white or grayscale that results in a legible document.
Please note that if you upload a password protected PDF, the admissions committee will not be able to view it in the system. You will need to print it, scan it, and upload it for it to be visible.
Yes. All transcripts must be in English, or you must also upload a certified English translation of the transcript.
No, official copies of your transcripts are only required if you are admitted and have confirmed your intention to enroll. Transcripts mailed to our office prior to an acceptance of an offer of admission will be destroyed.
Please follow these suggestions if you are having trouble uploading your transcript(s):
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Make sure that you are scanning your transcripts one school at a time and not all of your transcripts as one large document. The document size must be less than 2000kb (2MB).
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Scan at a lower DPI (try using under 300 DPI) only if the transcript is still legible.
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If the scanned file is still too large, try making a photocopy to adjust the size and then scan the photocopy.
You should upload transcripts for all institutions where you enrolled in post-secondary coursework with the exception of those where the courses and/or credits are listed on another institution's transcript that you are uploading (e.g., study abroad coursework credits that transferred to your bachelor's transcript). Remember, you only need to submit official copies of your transcripts after you are admitted and decide to enroll.
No transcripts uploaded to your application are considered official. Definitions of official transcripts can be found on your Applicant Status Page.
All incoming students must submit official post-secondary transcript(s) – including the final undergraduate transcript indicating successful completion of a bachelor’s degree – prior to their first semester.
The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences reserves the right to revoke admission of anyone who does not provide official transcripts.
Supporting Documents
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The statement of purpose should be one to three pages, unless otherwise directed by your program of interest. It should clearly state your reasons for applying to graduate school and your specific interests in the graduate program at Brandeis. You should consult your program of interest for specific details on statement of purpose contents. Please remember to include your name and proposed program on all pages of the statement. The statement must be submitted electronically when you complete the application for admission online.
The documents should be uploaded to your application. Do not email us or mail to us a copy of your documents. All documents mailed during the application process—with the exception of official score reports and official letters of recommendation—will be destroyed.
Writing sample requirements vary by department. Please visit your program of interest to see specific requirements by program. If you are unable to upload documents in PDF format, you may also use .doc, .docx, and .rtf. Other file types may be unreadable. You may upload a writing sample during the application process (if your program requires it) or after submission via the self-service portal.
You may specify a URL where your score file or audio file is located (i.e., on YouTube or Vimeo), but you must make sure that the link is active and as specific as possible so that your work may be easily reviewed without searching a website.
Application Fee
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Application fees can be paid by electronic check or credit card (Mastercard, Visa, Discover, and American Express). You will be prompted to pay the fee upon application submission. If you submit a paper application, then our office will notify you regarding when to make a payment.
Your application will not be reviewed for admission until the fee is received or waived. There will be an alert on your self-service portal if your application fee payment is outstanding. This alert will contain a link that will take you to the payment page.
Admissions Decisions
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The answer to this varies as each program's admissions committee has its own process and timeline for evaluating applications. Our office will contact you via email once a decision is made on your application. Please monitor your email inbox as well as your spam folder. You can also check your application status page for any application updates on the application page.
Our office will contact you via email once a decision is made on your application. Please monitor your email inbox as well as your spam folder. You can also check your application status on the application page.
Applications are reviewed very closely for admission and the credentials presented are evaluated carefully. Unfortunately, each year we must reject a number of excellent candidates. We are unable to provide individualized feedback on admission decisions. GSAS does not have an appeal process for applicants who have been denied admission. Admission decisions are final.
Congratulations! On your applicant status page, there will be a link to your Applicant Response Form. Please complete the form and secure your place with your enrollment deposit (if applicable). Upon payment, additional information will populate on your applicant status page with next steps. We will be emailing you next steps as soon as they are needed. You are also always welcome to email any questions to gradschool@brandeis.edu.
All matriculating master's and postbaccalaureate students need to pay an enrollment deposit with the exception of Brandeis alumni and incoming students receiving 100% tuition scholarships. As outlined in your admission letter, failure to pay your enrollment deposit will result in the loss of your spot in the program. Matriculating doctoral students are not required to pay an enrollment deposit.
Once you have completed the Admission Response Form, the system will automatically generate a link for you to pay the enrollment deposit. Please note, the system can take up to 15 minutes to generate the link, so please be patient if you do not see the link immediately. The enrollment deposit is $300.00.