The deadline for spring entry is October 15 and the deadline for fall entry is February 15. All material, including official standardized test scores, must be received by the SAIS Office of Admissions in advance of the deadline.
All of our materials are available online. You can learn more about the SAIS degree offerings by clicking on Degree Options and the application process by clicking on Applying to SAIS.
- Online Application Form
- Application fee ($85)
- Statement of Purpose (600 words)
- Statement of Funding
- Résumé/CV
- Two (2) letters of recommendation
- Official transcripts for all college-level course work
- GRE or GMAT score reports (strongly recommended)
- TOEFL or IELTS score reports (non-native English speakers only)
All materials, except for transcripts and test scores, can be submitted via the online application. Test scores must be sent to us directly from the testing service. Official transcripts must be sent via secure electronic services (e.g., Scrip-Safe) or mailed to the SAIS Washington, D.C. Admissions Office:
Johns Hopkins University, SAIS
Office of Admissions
1740 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
If your recommenders prefer to submit paper recommendations, you can obtain a recommendation cover sheet from the online application. Please note that paper recommendations, like any other application materials, are due by the appropriate deadlines. However, we strongly advise that your references submit letters using the online system, as it allows for applicants to monitor the progress of their recommendations.
We will accept letters of recommendation forwarded on an applicant's behalf by his/her undergraduate career services office or other outside vendors providing a similar service.
SAIS does not accept transfer credit toward a SAIS degree. Some SAIS students who have taken advanced course work at other institutions may sit for examinations at SAIS to place out of core courses based on knowledge previously obtained. Again, there is no transfer of credit toward a SAIS degree.
English Language Exams
If English is not your native language, (or in the case of bilingual students, your dominant language is not English) but you hold an undergraduate degree granted by an accredited institution in a country where English is an official language and where English is the language of instruction, than you will not be required to submit an English competency exam.
If English is not your native language, (or in the case of bilingual students, your dominant language is not English) but you hold a graduate degree granted by an accredited institution in a country where English is an official language and where English is the language of instruction, then you will need the approval of the Office of Admissions to be exempt from submitting an English competency exam. Please contact the Office of Admissions for more information.
It is strongly recommended, but not required, that M.I.P.P. applicants submit either GRE General Examination or GMAT scores. To ensure that your test scores reach SAIS on time, you should take the appropriate examinations and request your official score reports at least a month before the deadline.
The Educational Testing Service (ETS) score reporting school code (GRE and TOEFL) for SAIS is 5610 and the department code should be left blank ("0000"). The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) score reporting school code (GMAT) for SAIS is KGB-GX-99.
SAIS has no minimum GRE or GMAT score. However, in recent years the middle 50% GRE verbal score range has been 158-165 (79th - 96th percentile) and the middle 50% GRE quantitative score range has been 154 - 161 (67th - 86th percentile). For the GMAT verbal score, the middle 50% has been in the 34-42 range, and the GMAT quantitative score has been in 38-49 range.
A TOEFL score of at least 600 for the paper-based exam, 250 for the computer-based exam or 100 for the internet-based exam is required of all applicants whose native language is not English. Students who choose to submit the IELTS exam results must meet a minimum of 7.0.
ETS stipulates that GRE scores are valid for five years, and TOEFL scores are valid for two years. GMAC stipulates that GMAT scores are valid for ten years. Neither ETS nor GMAC will not forward expired test scores to our office.
* For information on GRE and TOEFL test sites and dates refer to www.ets.org; for GMAT refer to www.gmac.com; for IELTS refer to www.ielts.org.
The middle 50% range for GPA of the incoming class was 3.39-3.79 on a 4.0 scale. Keep in mind, though, that the admissions committee is much more interested in the details of your transcript than in the total GPA. Weak grades in your freshman year or in an unrelated class will not greatly affect your chances for admission. However, a weak grade in a political science or economics course can affect your competitiveness even if the overall GPA appears to be good.
M.I.P.P. applicants are required to have at least 9 years of professional work experience in a related field, but the average age of our incoming M.I.P.P. students is 38, so many of our M.I.P.P. students have more than 9 years of professional work experience.
Approximately 38% from 74 countries in all areas of the world.
M.I.P.P. applicants are not eligible for SAIS-administered financial aid.
Does SAIS offer application fee waivers?
Currently SAIS offers application fee waivers to participants or alums affiliated with the following professional development programs:
- Pickering
- PPIA
- IIPP
- McNair
- Rangel
- Teach for America
- Fulbright (those currently on fellowship)
- Peace Corps
In order to receive a fee waiver, you must submit an official document confirming your participation in the appropriate program via email. When you submit your online application, please select that you are going to pay by check. We will waive the fee once the paperwork is received by our office and your application has been submitted.
Unfortunately we do not grant fee waivers for financial hardship.
Additional Financial Aid FAQs can be found here.
After you submit your M.I.P.P. candidates to schedule an interview upon submission of their application by contacting the
SAIS Admissions Office.
Information Sessions and Taster Lectures, held during the fall semester, provide prospective students with an opportunity to learn more about SAIS, its curriculum, and the application process, and where potential applicants have the chance to speak briefly with members of the Admissions staff, alumni and current students. Additionally, the SAIS Student Happy Hour immediately follows the Friday sessions that are held during the fall semester. Prospective students may also contact the SAIS Office of Admissions to set up a class visit, meet with a current SAIS student and tour campus.
The M.I.P.P. degree can be completed full-time within one year or part-time within two years. On your application, you will be asked to indicate full-time or part-time status.
M.I.P.P. stands for Master in International Public Policy. The program is intended for mid-career professionals in the international field who have work experience of at least nine years. The M.I.P.P. program can be completed in one academic year full-time or over two years half time. M.I.P.P.'s are required to complete 8 courses of their choosing, and successful completion of an English proficiency exam is required of all M.I.P.P. students who are not native-English speakers.
Potential students must separately apply and be admitted to each institution. Upon acceptance into both programs, a student is considered a dual degree candidate and may choose the timing and location of their program. It is critical that all dual degree candidates fill out the Dual Degree Registration Form and consult with both programs regarding any status change. During the first semester at SAIS you may apply to approved dual degree programs. Click here for more information regarding dual degrees.
New proposals for other ad hoc dual degrees are possible, but must be approved by the Director of Admissions. Please visit the SAIS Dual Degree Page for more information. PLEASE NOTE: Only top-ranked professional schools will be considered for ad-hoc dual degrees.
The SAIS Office of Admissions retains application files for one year after a decision is rendered; applicants within this time frame (i.e. applicants who previously applied for fall 2012 entry) are required to complete only the items on the checklist below. Applicants who previously applied for fall 2011 or earlier are considered new applicants and must re-submit all application materials.
Reapplicants to SAIS must submit the following:
- Application fee ($85)
- Online application (Reapplicants must indicate their status as a reapplicant and previous decision status on the application.)
- Updated Résumé/CV
- Re-applicant Essay: Explain how you have improved your candidacy since your last application. This essay should be no more than 1000 words in length.
- Transcript(s) of any additional courses you have taken since you last applied (include grades not finalized at the time of your last application)
- One new recommendation letter, preferably from your current employer. If you have already used your current employer for a recommendation, please choose someone else in a supervisory role or a client
Admitted students may request a one-semester or one-year deferral. Deferral requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and may be granted for a unique employment opportunity, special fellowship program, approved dual degree program, or family or medical emergency. The granting of deferrals beyond one year is extremely rare. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to apply for the semester that they expect to attend.
Note: Applicants who are admitted from the waiting list cannot defer admission under any circumstances.
No. You have to apply again for financial aid. Your award will not necessarily be the same, however, in most cases, deferred students receive the same financial aid packet that they were originally awarded.