University Bulletin (2024-2025)

All applications and supporting credentials for regular decision must be received no later than January 1. Decisions will be mailed by April 1.

To be considered for first-year admission, a candidate should be enrolled in a college preparatory course of study. An adequate course in preparation for Brandeis should include four years of English, three years of math, three years of social sciences, and a minimum of three years of a foreign language, including study during the senior year whenever possible (two years each of two languages is acceptable).

Brandeis has a test-optional policy, wherein students are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores for the purposes of admission. This policy allows applicants to decide for themselves whether their test results accurately reflect their academic ability and potential and is consistent with recommendations from the National Association for College Admission Counseling.

International students for whom English is not their native language should submit results from either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language),  IELTS (International English Language Testing System), or DET (Duolingo English Test).

• Applicants who, for four or more years, have attended a high school where the full academic curriculum is in English may be exempt from this requirement.
• Applicants applying directly from United World College (UWC) campuses are exempt from this requirement.

Full information concerning testing may be obtained from secondary school counselors or directly from the agencies administering the exams.

For information on the SAT contact the College Board Headquarters.

For information on the ACT, contact the American College Testing Program.

For information on TOEFL, contact the Educational Testing Service.

For information on the IELTS, contact the International English Language Testing System.

For information on DET, contact the Duolingo English Test.

First-year candidates who, after careful consideration of various college options, have decided firmly that Brandeis is their first-choice university, are encouraged to apply for admission under the Early Decision Plan.

Early Decision candidates, their college counselors, and a parent or guardian must sign a statement on the application indicating that they understand the implications of the Early Decision Plan and that the student will enroll if admitted. Although early decision candidates may file regular applications to other colleges, it is with the understanding that those applications will be withdrawn when candidates are offered admission to Brandeis under the Early Decision Plan.

All applications and supporting credentials for early decision must be received no later than November 1 for Early Decision I and no later than January 1 for Early Decision II. Decisions will be released by December 15 for Early Decision I and by February 1 for Early Decision II.

A transfer applicant is any student who has graduated from high school or earned a high school equivalence and upon matriculation to Brandeis University will have completed at least one semester of credit (12 credits) earned at one or more accredited institutions, including four-year private and public colleges and universities, community and junior colleges, and international institutions. Students undertaking college-level coursework as part of or simultaneous to their high school programs, or in order to satisfy high school diploma requirements, are eligible to apply as first-year students. 

The Admissions Committee welcomes transfer applications from individuals whose current college record demonstrates the academic promise necessary to continue their scholarly pursuits at Brandeis. Brandeis undergraduate students, including transfer students, must spend a minimum of two years as full time matriculated Brandeis students. To be considered for admission, a candidate should present evidence of good standing (academically and personally) in their preceding colleges and sound reasons for wishing to transfer. The availability of financial aid for transfer students is evaluated on an annual basis.

Selection of transfer candidates is based on applicants’ performance in both secondary school and college, academic evaluations, personal achievements, and test scores when submitted.

Brandeis has a test-optional policy, wherein students are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores for the purposes of admission. This policy allows applicants to decide for themselves whether their test results accurately reflect their academic ability and potential and is consistent with recommendations from the National Association for College Admission Counseling.

International transfer candidates who do not speak English as a native language are required to submit results from either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language),  IELTS (International English Language Testing System), or DET (Duolingo English Test). 

• Applicants who have completed two university-level English composition courses taught in the United States with a grade of B or better are exempt from this requirement.
• Applicants who, for four or more years, have attended a high school where the primary language of instruction is English may be exempt from this requirement.

Transfer candidates should apply by the deadline of March 15 for the fall semester.

To be considered for admission as an international student, a candidate should have successfully completed secondary schooling with strong results on nationally administered examinations where applicable.

International undergraduate applicants for whom English is not their native language should submit results from either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or DET (Duolingo English Test). Applicants who, for four or more years, have attended a high school where the primary language of instruction is English or applicants applying directly from United World College (UWC) campuses may be exempt from this requirement..

For the most current information on deadlines and admissions requirements for international applicants, candidates should visit the admissions website.

Need-based scholarships are awarded to international students. These awards are intended to assist as many students as resources permit through award packages of scholarship, on-campus employment and loan funds. All international applicants who would like to be considered for need-based aid must submit the (ISAFA) International Student Application for Financial Assistance or the CSS Profile.. International students who are not requesting financial aid must submit the Certification of Finances form.

Brandeis University accepts as special students for the fall and spring semesters a small number of individuals who are not candidates for a degree at Brandeis and who wish to elect to take up to two courses per semester, for which they are qualified and can demonstrate special need. Special students could be a high school student, college student, or adult.

Special-student status is subject to approval on an individual and semester basis. Students whose academic performance does not meet Brandeis standards may be denied permission to register for a second semester.

Neither residence nor financial aid are available to special students, and no special student may take precedence over a degree candidate in any limited-enrollment course.

Individuals interested in enrolling as a special student should contact the Brandeis Summer School office for assistance (whether the course is being offered in the Summer, or Fall/Spring terms).

Students who attend Waltham High School are allowed to apply to take 1 course in their senior year at Brandeis for no cost. For further information about this program, interested students should speak with their school counselor at Waltham High School.

Visiting Student status is available for students who are interested in spending a term or a year studying at Brandeis University. To be eligible, a student must be currently enrolled in college and have completed at least one year of full-time work. If you are currently enrolled in full-time, undergraduate study and have a strong academic and personal record, you may apply to study as a Visiting Student. Students interested in visiting student status should contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for further information and an application.

Once approved for admission, the Visiting Student must plan their studies within these guidelines:
Visiting Students may apply to begin in either the fall or spring semester. Application deadline is November 1 for spring and April 1 for fall. Students must carry at least 12 credit hours of courses each semester and earn a minimum GPA of 2.0. The Visiting Student status will not exceed two semesters. No visiting student may take preference over a degree candidate in any limited-enrollment course. Students whose academic performance does not meet Brandeis standards may be denied permission to register for a second semester.

Tuition and fee charges are the same as for regular full time undergraduate students. There is no financial aid available for Visiting Students. Visiting Students may apply for the university's residential and dining programs. Because the availability of on-campus housing fluctuates from year to year, accepted Visiting Students should be prepared to obtain off-campus accommodations.

Eligible employees may enroll in Brandeis University courses on a space-available basis and receive up to 100 percent tuition remission. As a rule, employees may enroll in one course per semester, for a total of three courses per calendar year using tuition remission. Brandeis employees who wish to seek a Baccalaureate degree on a part-time basis may apply for admission through the undergraduate admissions office. Brandeis employees are charged on a course-by-course basis, taking as few as one or as many as five and a half courses per semester.

In order to receive the baccalaureate degree, individuals must meet all degree requirements, except rate-of-work requirements, that apply to full-time students. The residency requirement is modified as the semester count does not apply.

Credit will be given for course work done elsewhere if it meets University transfer credit criteria. Furthermore, allowances may be made for Brandeis summer school courses counting towards credit. There is also no time limit on the completion of degree.

Individuals interested in an application or in learning more about this option should contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office.

For students who were accepted to Brandeis University as first-year or mid-year students, a combined maximum of four courses (16 credits) from external sources may be applied toward the 128 credits needed for graduation. External credit sources include: qualifying AP/IB/A-Level exam scores, fall semester courses for midyear admits prior to matriculation, courses taken on a leave of absence, fall/spring pre-matriculation college coursework not needed for high school graduation, and fall/spring courses for students on a health deferral or gap year.

College courses taken while in high school or during a gap year may be transferred for numeric credit if a B- or better was earned, and if courses were not needed for high school graduation. 

In addition, summer and winter intersession sessions must comprise a minimum of five weeks and 37 contact hours. Foreign language courses require 52 contact hours. A student may earn credit for no more than three semester courses in a single summer (two semester courses in a single session).

If the work meets all of the above-mentioned criteria, you will need to:

1. Complete the Petition for Evaluation of College Work Done While in High School/Gap Year/Health Deferral for each course.
2. Provide a letter from your high school verifying that the course(s) were not used to fulfill high school graduation requirements.
3. Submit an official transcript to the Office of the University Registrar. Electronic transcripts should be sent to transfer@brandeis.edu. Hard copy transcripts can be sent to the Registrar’s Office at the address below.

If your petition is approved, you may contact the appropriate department regarding major/minor credit and complete the Online Petition to Request Substitution for a Requirement.

Please send any questions regarding college work done while in high school to transfer@brandeis.edu.

Additional Notes on Gap year Programs

• Brandeis University Policy regarding college-level work done in Israel is to accept credit only from the Israeli universities themselves (Bar-Ilan, Ben Gurion, Haifa, Hebrew, Technion, Tel-Aviv, and Weizman Institute). We do not accept credit from any of the private institutions or colleges in Israel, for “yeshiva programs” or other religious programs, for work done in Israel under the sponsorship of American agencies (e.g. Young Judea) or for any such work that appears as sponsored or derivative credit on the transcript of an American college or university.
• We do not award numeric credit for Ulpan courses. If you intend to be a NEJS major/minor, you may wish to reach out to the department to explore placement options.

Brandeis participates in the Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board. Qualifying scores necessary to receive credit are recommended by the academic departments to their school councils and administered by the Office of the University Registrar.

Exams must have been taken prior to matriculation at Brandeis in order to be considered for credit.

Generally, especially in the sciences, advanced placement credit may not be applied toward satisfaction of requirements for a major or minor. It may, however, permit students to begin work in a field at a higher level. Advanced placement credit may be applied toward satisfaction of university degree requirements; please download the AP chart (pdf) for specific information on each exam.

Unlike for some other languages, there is no Advanced Placement exam in Hebrew. Therefore, the Hebrew program at Brandeis offers students who are non-native, have studied Hebrew as a second language in high school, have had no college-level courses, and have demonstrated advanced knowledge in the Brandeis Hebrew placement exam, an opportunity to take an additional exam for credit. Upon successful completion of that exam, a student will receive one course credit. This opportunity is available to students only at the time they first enter Brandeis.

Students who receive qualifying scores and wish to apply eventually for Brandeis course credit must contact the College Board and request that their scores be reported to the Coordinator of Advanced Placement, Office of the University Registrar, Brandeis University, Mailstop 068, 415 South St, Waltham, MA 02453-2728.

Brandeis' school code number is 3092. Requests for additional information on the Advanced Placement Program should be addressed similarly.

Students should come to the Office of the University Registrar to submit the paperwork that will allow the office to process the request for credits. Students who apply Advanced Placement exam credits to the Brandeis degree may not enroll in courses here or elsewhere that are regarded as equivalent without experiencing the revocation of the Advanced Placement exam credit. Course equivalents are determined by the academic departments and posted by the Office of the University Registrar. In addition, students may not enroll in a lower level course at Brandeis University and also claim AP exam credit that has a higher level course equivalent. For example, students cannot enroll in MATH 10a at Brandeis and also receive AP credit for MATH 10b. This policy regarding lower-level sequence courses applies to AP Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics exams. If students enroll in lower-level courses after claiming their AP exam credit, that credit will be subject to revocation.

A maximum of 16 credits from Advanced Placements exams may be applied toward the overall 128 credits required for graduation. Additional exams (beyond those resulting in the 16 credits) can be used for placement purposes, general degree requirements and major/minor requirements as allowed by individual departments.

The award of advanced placement credit is determined by the policies in effect during the student's entry year into Brandeis; students should consult the AP chart published in the Bulletin for their year of entry.

Any questions about the use of Advanced Placement credit should be directed to the coordinator in the Office of the University Registrar.

Brandeis recognizes the International Baccalaureate diploma and will award eight credits (two four-credit courses) for each higher level examination with a score of 5 or better, for a maximum of sixteen credits (four four-credit courses). Additional exams with scores of 5 or better can be awarded purpose credit. Requirement purpose credit has no numeric credit value. Please download the chart (pdf) for specific information on each exam.

Brandeis recognizes the GCE A-Level Examinations and will award eight credits (two, four-credit courses) for each subject with grades of A, B, or C, for a maximum of 16 credits (four, four-credit courses). Additional subjects with appropriate grades can be awarded requirement purpose credit. Requirement purpose credit has no numeric value. If you expect to receive credit for university work covered by the credential, you should not take the corresponding course at Brandeis. Please download the chart (pdf) for specific information on each exam.

Brandeis recognizes the French Baccalaureate Examinations and will award eight credits (two, four-credit courses) for each subject with grades of 14 or better, for a maximum of 16 credits (four, four-credit courses). Additional subjects with appropriate grades can be awarded requirement purpose credit. Purpose credit has no numeric value. If you expect to receive credit for university work covered by the credential, you should not take the corresponding course at Brandeis. Please download the chart (pdf) for specific information on each exam.

International students are obliged to supply the results of their advanced secondary school examinations to the Office of the University Registrar for evaluation.

Brandeis accepts credit toward the B.A. or B.S. degree for a number of such examinations, including the British Advanced Level examinations, the German Abitur, the French baccalaureate, and others; credit is contingent upon level of performance and details may be obtained from the Office of the University Registrar. Credit from such sources will not be applied to the Brandeis record until the student has completed two semesters at the university.

Students may not enroll in courses deemed equivalent to the foreign work without loss of the foreign credit. A maximum of 16 credits (four four-credit courses) may be used toward the 128 credits required for graduation.

Transfer students are obliged to supply official transcripts documenting all previous college-level work. All such work is evaluated and each incoming transfer student is furnished by the registrar with an evaluation based upon existing faculty policies. The evaluation will indicate the number of course credits granted and the number of degree requirements that have been met.

No more than 64 credits (equivalent to 16 four-credit courses) may be granted, because residence requirements specify that a minimum of 64 credits in four fall/spring semesters must be successfully completed at Brandeis.

Courses must have been taken at accredited, degree-granting institutions from which an official transcript has been received. The courses must be generally equivalent to courses offered at Brandeis, and the grade received must be equivalent to at least a C-, though credit is usually awarded for a "pass" grade in a system allowing nonletter grades. 

Only selected overseas study programs are acceptable for Brandeis credit; for further details on the transfer of credit from overseas study sources, consult the Office of the University Registrar. Students may not be concurrently enrolled at Brandeis during a term in which transfer credit is sought, except as allowed under the provisions of cross-registration.

Credit is granted on an equivalent semester basis with four course credits being awarded for completion of a normal semester's work at the other institution. Normally, one quarter-course receives no credit, two quarter-courses are granted one course credit, and three quarter-courses are awarded two course credits.

Students who do not initially receive credit for a particular course taken at another institution may petition the registrar for reconsideration. Such a petition requires the signature of the appropriate Brandeis faculty member and must indicate the Brandeis course to which it is considered equivalent. In an unusual situation, the petition may be referred to the Committee on Academic Standing for final resolution.

In determining progress toward the requirements of a major, departments may consider only non-Brandeis courses that have been accepted for degree credit. Departments may limit the number of such courses that they will apply toward the major. Rules governing the application of transfer credit to majors may differ from department to department.

Principle of Equivalent Course Load

In general, courses accepted for transfer credit must be similar to those taught at Brandeis. Courses that, in our judgment, are inappropriate to a Brandeis University degree, carry fewer than two semester hours credit or carry a grade lower than C-minus (B-minus in summer school) are excluded from consideration.

For the BA/BS degrees, Brandeis requires 32 semester courses and a minimum academic residency of four fall/spring semesters, exclusive of Brandeis Summer School. Your transfer credit, expressed in semester courses, appears in the top right corner of your evaluation sheet. Since Brandeis does not measure progress toward the degree in terms of "semester hours" or "quarter hours," units such as these are converted to "semester courses" according to the formula below:

• We ascertain the number of credits or courses required for the receipt of a bachelor's degree at the institution from which you are transferring courses. We total the number acceptable to us for transfer credit, divide by the requirement at your previous institution and multiply by 32 (the degree standard at Brandeis). For example, if your previous school requires 128 credits and you attended one semester, completing 16 credits acceptable for transfer, the equation will be 16/128 x 32 = 4.  Hence, one full semester at that institution will receive full credit at Brandeis.
• If you worked at a higher or lower rate, credit transferred will reflect that rate. For example, if you complete 12 credits acceptable for transfer at a school that requires 120 credits for graduation, the equation is 12/120 x 32 = 3. In this scenario, the student will receive three Brandeis courses.
• For two-year schools, we multiply by 16 (e.g., if the degree requirement is 60 credits, the equation will be #/60 x 16 = ?). Since Brandeis requires that at least 16 semester courses and four semesters of full-time study be completed here, no student may be awarded more than 16 semester courses upon transfer.
• If the equation does not yield a whole number, we round up or down depending on the remainder. For .5 and above, we round up. For less than .5, we rounds down. (e.g. 3.2 is rounded down to 3 courses; 3.6 is rounded up to 4 courses)

For the most current information regarding admissions procedures and deadline dates, prospective candidates should consult the admissions website.

The contact information for the forwarding of all inquiries, materials and test results is:

Brandeis University
Office of Admissions
Mailstop 003
415 South St.
Waltham, MA 02453-2728

781-736-3500
781-736-8502 TTY/TDD

www.brandeis.edu/admissions