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Graduate Application Procedures

The MA in International Relations Program accepts applications for fall semester entry only. The deadline for admission to the program is 1 February for full financial award consideration. We continue to accept applications until 15 March.

You can utilize any of the three following methods to apply to the Maxwell School IR Masters degree program:

Application forms:  
Online-Application (preferred method)
Print Version (PDF)
Online information request form  

Admission is for the fall semester only and may be for full- or part-time study. Admission to the International Relations Program is highly competitive. To be considered for admission, applicants must present:

• a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university,

• official records/transcripts of academic performance,

• official scores on the general test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE),

• three letters of recommendation,

• a personal statement,

• a resume

In addition, the applicant's motivation, professional experience, and academic preparation in economics and foreign language study will be considered in the selection process.  Intermediate proficiency in a foreign language is an exit requirement for the IR Program.  The large majority of our students demonstrate this background upon entry to the degree program.

The following additional requirement pertains to all applicants from countries in which English is not an official language:

• Applicants are required to submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

  *Please note that we do not accept the IELTS exam in lieu of the TOEFL score.

We establish no profile in terms of GRE or TOEFL scores, or GPA. Our students apply from all over the world and from all walks of life--right after college, mid-career, second career, different career, etc. Your application is examined as a whole, not as a set of more, and less, important parts.

If you feel that your GRE scores could have been stronger, it's always worth saying so in a cover letter, where you can outline extenuating circumstances, etc. Or, you could make plans to take them again (entirely up to you), and use the ones you have as "preliminary" so that something is in your packet while you do the next set.

The Syracuse University code for GRE and TOEFL score reporting is 2823 (same code works for all programs, in case you are interested in applying to more than one).

If you have questions that concern the Educational Testing Service's end of your GRE/TOEFL experience, we suggest you contact them at: http://www.ets.org/.

If you have any questions about application procedures, feel free to contact us: irgradir@maxwell.syr.edu, 315-443-2306 (voice), 315-443-9204 (fax).