Academic Prerequisites | Language Preparation | Quantitative Preparation
Professional Experience | International Experience
SAIS attracts highly motivated students from all over the world who are dedicated to mastering the practice of international relations. The SAIS student body is extremely diverse, and admission to the school is competitive. The Admissions Committee seeks applicants with demonstrated leadership ability, practical professional experience, international exposure and solid academic preparation.
Master of Arts (M.A.) and Master of International Public Policy (M.I.P.P.) applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent. Successful SAIS applicants represent many undergraduate majors—not just international relations—and possess a broad spectrum of academic, personal and professional talents.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) applicants must hold a master’s degree in a field directly related to their proposed field of study. Advanced professional degrees such as a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) cannot be substituted for advanced work in international affairs. An advanced degree in strategic studies from a military institution is not considered appropriate for admission to most Ph.D. programs but is sometimes acceptable for admission to the Strategic Studies Program at SAIS.
All SAIS students must have proven English proficiency. Students whose native language is not English must demonstrate their preparation in the English language via strong TOEFL or IELTS scores. The TOEFL/IELTS test requirement may be waived for individuals who have received their undergraduate degree from an institution where English is the medium of instruction.
All incoming M.A. students are required to complete introductory microeconomics and introductory macroeconomics courses (receiving a grade of B- or higher) prior to enrolling at SAIS. The microeconomics course should cover the principles of supply, demand, equilibrium, and marginal analysis. The macroeconomics course should cover national income, inflation, unemployment, and interest rates. Completion of these courses is recommended but not required to apply to SAIS. If the economics courses will be taken between the application deadline and enrollment, transcripts must be submitted to the Admissions Office as soon as the courses are completed and before the applicant’s first semester begins.
M.A. students must be able to thrive in a rigorous academic environment, which includes substantial quantitative course work. This capacity can be evidenced in several ways: an undergraduate academic record that shows success in quantitative courses such as macroeconomics, microeconomics, calculus, statistics and/or econometrics; a strong quantitative GRE or GMAT score; and/or full-time work experience with significant and demonstrable quantitative responsibilities.
Only those incoming M.I.P.P. students who intend to pursue additional economics courses at SAIS are required to complete introductory microeconomics and macroeconomics courses. M.I.P.P. students not intending to take economics are exempted from the International Economics prerequisites.
Full-time work experience is not required but is strongly recommended for M.A. and Ph.D. candidates. The Admissions Committee carefully reviews each applicant’s personal and professional background to assess readiness for graduate study at SAIS. Volunteer positions, internships, and part- and full-time employment all play a role in preparing students for study.
The M.I.P.P. is a mid-career degree program requiring nine or more years of professional experience. M.I.P.P. candidates come from the public and private sectors, along with multilateral and nonprofit organizations, and represent numerous professions.
“International experience” includes time spent living, studying, working, volunteering or traveling outside of the applicant’s home country. While international experience is strongly recommended but not required for application to SAIS, students should be able to show their interest in the field of international relations. For some, this means an episode of working and/or living abroad. Others have been employed or conducted research in an environment focused on international issues. The nature of each applicant’s international experience is assessed in the context of his or her application and professional goals.