Admissions
The Hornstein Program enrolls a select group of talented students each year. We consider students who care deeply about the Jewish future, and who have demonstrated leadership capacity and academic accomplishments.
The Hornstein Program enrolls a select group of talented students each year. We consider students who care deeply about the Jewish future, and who have demonstrated leadership capacity and academic accomplishments.
The Hornstein Program is accepting applications for Fall 2021. If you have questions before or during your application, please contact our Program Manager, Claire Purgus, at hornstein@brandeis.edu or 781-736-2990.
Candidates may apply electronically to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences online application portal. Please indicate clearly which of our programs you are applying for:
Only one application is required to apply for the dual degree programs. The Hornstein application form and material should be submitted through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences online application portal and will be shared with the other degree program (i.e., The Heller School, NEJS, or the Education Program) in order to come to a joint decision.
The online application cannot be submitted until you have entered all of the required data and uploaded all of the required attachments. If you don't finish the application in one sitting, don't worry! You may return to it at a later date to add information. Upon completion, you will receive an email acknowledgement of your application.
In addition to the generous scholarships and fellowships that the Hornstein Program provides, we encourage all applicants to apply for additional external funding such as the Wexner Graduate Fellowship and other opportunities. Please review their sites carefully for application deadlines.
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. They are copies which are sufficient for the application process. 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. For more information, visit Frequently Asked Questions.
If you are accepted by the program, you will need to ask your university to send official copies of your transcripts to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.
Statement of Purpose (required for all degree programs): Please upload a 2 to 3-page statement of purpose that describes your career goals. Discuss experiences that have shaped your interests and commitments and how you hope to address these in your professional career
Writing Sample (required for all degree programs) : Please upload a paper or other piece of work (3-5 pages, typed, double spaced) that demonstrates your ability to think and write articulately.
One letter of recommendation should be from an employer or supervisor, and one should be from a professor with whom you have studied. The third may be from another employer or professor, or from a professional of your choice.
The electronic application will ask you to list the names and email addresses of your referees. Each referee will be directed to a secure website to upload a document to your application. Please note that your referees are contacted once you have entered and saved their information. Please notify your referees that they should expect an email instructing them on how to upload their letters of recommendation.
Graduate Record Exam (GRE): Please note that if you are applying for the 2021-2022 academic year, your application will receive full consideration even if you are unable to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Typically, the GRE general test is required.
MA/MBA or MA/MPP: The GRE is optional for students with an undergraduate degree from a US institution who are applying to the dual degree MA/MBA or MA/MPP tracks. The Heller School is still encouraging applicants to submit scores to strengthen their application, if possible.
For more information about the GRE, call 609-771-7670 or go to www.gre.org. The Brandeis code is 3092; no department code is necessary.
For more information about the GMAT, call 609-771-7330, 800-462-8669 or go to www.mba.com. The Brandeis school code is 3FD-1Z-02.
We encourage applicants, whenever possible, to visit campus, sit in on classes and meet our faculty members and students. This application season, visits and interviews will be virtual through Zoom. A formal interview, preferably at Brandeis, is required and may take place at any time during the application process. Please call the Hornstein Program at 781-736-2990 or e-mail hornstein@brandeis.edu to arrange.
International applicants whose native language is not English or who have not graduated from an English-speaking institution within an English-speaking country must submit results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing Service (IELTS), or Pearson Test of English (PTE-Academic).
For Fall 2021 admissions cycle, we are also accepting test results from the Duolingo English Test.
Test scores should not be more than two years old.
Students who have graduated from a university in the following English-speaking countries (USA, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand) are exempt from the TOEFL, IELTS or PTE requirement. Minimum scores for each exam are:
600 (paper-based TOEFL)
250 (computer-based TOEFL)
100 (internet-based TOEFL)
7 (IELTS)
68 (PTE)
You may submit a photocopy or digital image of your score report to expedite the review of your application, but an official report sent directly from ETS, IELTS or PTE must be received to finalize any offer of admission.
The GSAS TOEFL school code is 3261.
For more information about English-language testing, please refer to the GSAS webpage for international students.
Feel free to contact the Hornstein office at any time throughout the application process. We're here to help!
781-736-2990
hornstein@brandeis.edu
“From the very beginning of the application process, the admissions staff was available, responsive and understanding. Additionally, the Hornstein Program and the Heller School were clearly in constant contact, ensuring clear and accurate information at all times. These two factors made applying to Hornstein as smooth, streamlined and simple as possible.”
Elisheva Massel ’14
MA/MBA from Australia