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Required Materials Checklist

After you’ve found a graduate program that's right for you, begin the application process. To complete your application, you will be required to submit an application form and additional documents and materials through our online application system. Below is a checklist of the required documents and materials that will be requested of you.

International students have an additional set of requirements that must also be met.

Need help applying?

Please email us at sisgrad@american.edu to request an online application tips guide.

Application Deadlines

Master's applicants are encouraged to apply to their chosen program by the posted Priority Deadline below. Applications completed by this deadline are guaranteed first-round consideration for both admission and SIS scholarships/funding. Applications completed after this deadline are considered for admission and SIS funding on an as-available basis.

PhD applications must be completed by the posted deadline. Applications completed after this date will be moved forward to the next admission cycle.

Fall Semester

PhD
December 15
Firm deadline, applications must be complete by this date to be considered for PhD admission.
Master's (MA and MS degrees)
January 15
Priority application deadline for first-round admission and SIS scholarship consideration. Applications are accepted through the spring/summer. Visit the Apply page to start or continue work on an application for the upcoming semester.
JD/MA
April 1
Graduate Certificate
June 1
BA/MA
February 15
Master of International Service (MIS)
March 15

Spring Semester

Master's (MA and MS degrees)
October 1
Priority application deadline for first-round admission and SIS scholarship consideration. Applications are accepted through the fall. Visit the Apply page to start or continue work on an application for the upcoming semester.
JD/MA
October 15
Graduate Certificate
November 1
Master of International Service (MIS)
October 1
BA/MA
October 1

Required Materials

The graduate application to SIS is available online and can be saved and completed at your convenience. We strongly encourage you to submit the application form as early as possible and to allow time for your supplemental documents to be received by the application deadline. Applicants may only apply to one SIS program per semester.

The application fee for SIS graduate programs is $55. Fee waiver discount codes are provided within the application form* to students meeting one or more of the following criteria:

  • Active duty members or veterans of the US military
  • Active or returned Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, or Teach for America volunteers. Participants in other nationally or internationally recognized volunteer programs may also be eligible for an application fee waiver. See the dropdown list(s) on the application form for a full list of eligible organizations.
  • Current AU students, AU alumni, or staff/faculty members
  • First-generation college students
  • Current students or alumni of an Historically Black College or University (HBCU)
  • Candidates for, or recipients of, eligible nationally or internationally recognized fellowship or scholarship programs. See the online application form for full details. 
  • BA/MA applicants (current SIS undergraduates)
  • Applicants to the JD/MA dual-degree program with the Washington College of Law

If one or more of these criteria apply to you, please proceed into the application form, and take note of the fee waiver code provided as you complete the required questions. 

*In rare cases, additional fee waiver codes are provided to students participating in approved programs or partnerships. Students eligible for these waivers will be provided a unique code offline.

All applicants to SIS graduate programs must possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution by the date of anticipated enrollment at SIS. Applicants are required to submit transcripts from all institutions attended. For admissions review purposes, SIS allows applicants to upload unofficial transcripts from most US-based colleges and universities; however, applicants who attended institutions outside of the US are required to submit official paper transcripts prior to the application deadline. Prior to enrolling, all admitted students are required to submit official transcripts.

Learn more about US-based transcript requirements and international transcript requirements.

Your personal statement is an integral part of your application to SIS and is a space where we get to know you on a more individual basis.

Personal statement questions differ by academic degree program. Be sure to review your program’s essay question(s) and download the essay template early in your application process to allow ample time for writing and refining.

Visit the Personal Statement page for more information and to review your program's essay(s).

Your resume/CV allows the review committee to assess your background and previous experiences and will serve as the detailed source of information about your employment. We encourage applicants to be detailed and thorough in preparing their resumes, and to include internships and volunteer experiences in addition to traditional full-time work experiences.

All applicants to SIS graduate programs are required to submit two letters of recommendation to support their application. PhD applicants are required to submit three letters. Letters of recommendation should evaluate the applicant's academic performance and suitability for graduate study in international affairs. For MA programs, we strongly recommend that at least one of the letters be from a faculty member who knows your work well.

Requesting your letter of recommendation

After submitting the online application form, you will be prompted to provide contact information, including a professional email address (.edu, .gov, etc.), for each of your recommenders. We strongly encourage recommenders to submit their letters electronically. The application portal will provide the recommender with a recommendation form as well as the ability to upload a letter directly into the system.

Visit the recommendations section of the FAQ.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

GRE is not required for any SIS on-campus graduate program except for the PhD in International Relations. If you have taken the GRE and wish to submit your scores as a supplemental piece of information for your application, please have ETS send official test scores to AU directly. All scores must be valid at the time of application.

If you have previously submitted GRE scores to SIS and no longer wish the scores to be reviewed with your application, please email sisgrad@american.edu.

The SIS institution code for GRE score reporting is 5007. There is no department code.


TOEFL/IELTS/PTE/Duolingo

View more details about applying as an international student.

Additional Items (if applicable)

Applicants/admitted students may be required to submit additional documents during or after the application process to be eligible for specific funding opportunities. Be sure to review the following, and complete the required action, if applicable.

International graduate students requesting immigration documents from American University for an F-1 or J-1 visa must submit supporting financial proof and the Certification of Finances for International Students (CFIS) Form to the Graduate Admissions Office. Begin the immigration process on the International Student & Scholar Services website.

Employer Matching Guidelines and Eligibility

Incoming students for SIS on-campus masters programs can apply to have their employer educational benefits matched by SIS for up to $5,000 each year for a maximum of two consecutive academic years. Availability and amount of support is budget-contingent for each admission cycle. Priority consideration is given to students who have not been awarded any SIS merit funding, or have not received any major funding from an external source to cover their tuition. Students are responsible for ensuring that the employer benefit funding is remitted to American University. Questions should be directed to the SIS Graduate Enrollment Management Office at sisgrad@american.edu or 202-885-1646.

Eligible programs:
- Development Management
- Ethics, Peace, & Human Rights
- Global Environmental Policy
- Global Governance, Politics, & Security
- Intercultural & International Communication
- International Affairs Policy & Analysis
- International Development
- International Peace & Conflict Resolution
-International Relations (online)
- Master of International Service (on-campus and online)
- United States Foreign Policy & National Security

To apply:

  1. Download and complete the application form, or email sisgrad@american.edu with subject line “Employer Matching Funds: Application Request”
  2. Return the completed form to sisgrad@american.edu with subject line "Employer Matching Funds: Application Submission" by the required deadline for your application term:

May 1 (fall admission)
November 1 (spring admission)

The SIS Leadership Engagement Award recognizes students and professionals who are members of, or have participated in, substantive global leadership or engagement programs aimed at promoting cross-cultural understanding, global collaboration and public service. Examples of these programs include, but are not limited to:

AIESEC
Model OAS
Model UN
World Affairs Council

Award Details:

Up to 10 qualified recipients will be chosen to receive up to $20,000 of scholarship/each towards their fully residential SIS master's program.

Candidates must contact sisgrad@american.edu with the name of their leadership program and the request to be formally considered for the award. Candidates who have completed a similar program or are part of an organization other than those listed above should contact us to determine eligibility.

Candidates for the award must submit a completed application for one of the eligible master’s programs by the October 1 (spring) / January 15 (fall) Priority Application Deadline.

Eligible programs:
- Development Management
- Ethics, Peace, & Human Rights
- Global Environmental Policy
- Global Governance, Politics, & Security
- Intercultural & International Communication
- International Affairs Policy & Analysis
- International Development
- International Peace & Conflict Resolution
- United States Foreign Policy & National Security

This fellowship supports SIS graduate students who focus on global Kurdish studies. The fellowship offers a minimum of 50% tuition award (at least $36,000) towards a student's SIS master's program.

Eligibility for the Fellowship

  • Incoming SIS graduate student for a fully residential SIS master’s program
  • Demonstrated commitment to and work on global Kurdish issues in previous experience or academic work
  • Commitment to continue to bolster the study of the Kurdish people through research, community outreach activities, awareness-raising activities, or other such endeavors while enrolled as a graduate student

Application Deadlines
Please email sisgrad@american.edu to learn about upcoming application deadlines.

To Apply

  • You must have already submitted a complete application to an eligible SIS master's program (see below) for one of the application terms listed above. You can apply for this fellowship even though your admissions decision may be pending.
  • You must complete the online Mustafa Barzani Peace Fellowship Application which includes a written essay (500-1000 words).

Eligible programs:
- Development Management
- Ethics, Peace, & Human Rights
- Global Environmental Policy
- Global Governance, Politics, & Security
- Intercultural & International Communication
- International Affairs Policy & Analysis
- International Development
- International Peace & Conflict Resolution
- United States Foreign Policy & National Security

Office of Graduate Studies & Research Funding

Students from across the university are invited to apply for various funding opportunities through the OGSR. Visit the OGSR website for more information about available opportunities, application deadlines, and eligibility requirements.