Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

International Applicants

The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) is a globally-oriented environment. You will find students from more than 25 countries across the world. We welcome you to review the information below, which is relevant to the GSAS application process.

In addition, we hope you find other Brandeis websites helpful to you, including those of our International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) and English Language Programs (ELP). Brandeis' ISSO supports international students and scholars from over 100 countries around the globe. The ISSO is dedicated to helping students and scholars with adjustment to life at Brandeis and in the United States. Our ELP Office provides services to assist international graduate students in adjusting to the American academic environment by offering weekly one-on-one tutorials tailored to meet each student's individual needs.

English Proficiency Exam Requirement for Application

Applicants must show proof that they have received an acceptable score on an English-language exam in order to be eligible for admission. Applicants who belong in one of the groups below are exempt from this requirement:

citizens of any country for which English is an official language
students who will have graduated from an accredited degree program at an English-speaking institution prior to starting their Brandeis graduate program
current Brandeis students or alumni

Applicants required to submit results from an English-language exam will be prompted to do so during the application process. To fulfill this requirement, they must submit an official score report from one of the following:

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, and TOEFL iBT Paper Edition)
Duolingo English Test
International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic)
Pearson Test of English (PTE-Academic)
Cambridge English Qualifications (B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency)

Please note that we do not accept ETS MyBest™ scores, IELTS One Skill Retake scores, or scores from the TOEFL Essentials exam. Applicants should check with the appropriate testing agency to ensure that their scores are still valid and that the agency will be able to send an official score report.

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Recommended Minimum Scores for English Proficiency Exams

Our departments evaluate each applicant individually and holistically, considering all aspects of the application when making a final decision on admission. However, test results of successful applicants to the Graduate School are generally at or above the following scores:

100 (TOEFL iBT, iBT Home Edition, and iBT Paper Edition)
130 (Duolingo English Test)
7.0 (IELTS Academic Test)
68 (PTE Academic Test)
185 (Cambridge English Qualifications: B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency)

Please note that we do not accept ETS MyBest™ scores, IELTS One Skill Retake scores, or scores from the TOEFL Essentials exam.

Submitting an Official English Proficiency Score Report

Your application will not be reviewed without official test scores. You should not upload, email, or mail any copies of your score reports. Instead, request that your scores be sent to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences by using one of the following instructions:

TOEFL: Provide ETS with institution code 3261. No department code required.
Duolingo English Test: Log into your Duolingo account to arrange for delivery.
IELTS Academic: Contact your test center to arrange for delivery. If you took the exam online, you can arrange for electronic score delivery.
PTE Academic: Log into your Pearson account to arrange for delivery.
Cambridge English: Register for the Results Service for Candidates to arrange for delivery.

Overall, it can take up to three weeks from the date that you order your official scores to the date they are associated with your application. The materials checklist on your application portal will reflect receipt of the official scores once this happens.

Indicating that You Have a Future English Proficiency Exam Scheduled

In the Test Score section of the application, click on the “Add Test” link, select the appropriate test, and then enter a future test date, leaving the score fields blank.

Once you have taken the test, arrange for your official scores to be sent to Brandeis GSAS. When the official scores arrive, we will associate them with your application.

Financial Assistance for International Students

International PhD candidates generally receive a full tuition scholarship, a competitive stipend, and health insurance benefits. Master's candidates may be eligible for merit scholarships and institutional need-based aid, dependent on the program to which they are applying. International applicants should follow the instructions in their award letter to submit the CSS Profile.

Applicants who are enrolled at or are alums of a Brandeis partner university in Japan are eligible to be considered for the Toshizo Watanabe International Scholarship Program (TWISP). Prospective students who meet these eligibility requirements should contact our office at gsas@brandeis.edu for more details.

For complete information about sources of funding, including loans, please visit our Financial Aid section.

Part-time Enrollment for International Students

International applicants who require Brandeis University's assistance in obtaining a student visa are not permitted to study at a part-time status and are generally required to maintain a full-time course load (12 credit hours or more each semester, except their final semester). Please contact the International Students and Scholars Office to determine if you would be able to register as a part-student if admitted.

Alum Profile

"People Are There to Support You": An International Graduate Student's Journey in Brandeis's Molecular and Cell Biology Program

Michela Zaffagni, PhD '23, came to Boston from Italy and learned of Brandeis through her job at Boston Children's Hospital. As her research journey at Brandeis continued, she investigated SARS-COV-2, the virus behind COVID-19.