Admissions

If you have not already done so, you are strongly encouraged to visit and review the website of the program to which you are applying in order to understand how the program is organized, what is needed to earn your degree, and other applicable information specific to the program. Access websites for doctoral programs and for master's programs.

Although you may be interested in two doctoral programs, you may apply to only one doctoral program at a time. You may apply to one doctoral program and one masters program in the same admissions cycle. 

The Program Application Deadlines and Requirements page summarizes the general requirements, deadlines, and prerequisites for each program.  For the 2021 admissions cycle, please see following update.  https://admissions.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2020/07/06/2021-standardized-testing-update/

Visit our Events Calendar to see if their is a scheduled Open House for the program in which you are interested.

If you would like to be on the Office of Admissions mailing list to learn about upcoming events or receive deadline reminders, please fill out our contact form.  

The following materials must be included in your application:

Online Application
All prospective students must submit an application form through the Graduate Center's online application system. Please use an email address that will not expire before your desired term of entry, as it will be used for correspondence from the Office of Admissions.

Transcripts
Transcripts must be uploaded into the online application from each college or university attended even if you did not complete a degree or did not enroll in courses in your current field. If an applicant is offered admissions and decides to attend the Graduate Center, the applicant will then be required to provide unopened, official hard copies or digital transcripts sent directly by Parchment or Clearinghouse to the Graduate Center from all prior institutions. In the event of discrepancies or false reporting of any information in the application uploads, the Graduate Center reserves the right to change/withdraw its offer of admission to the applicant.

Letters of Recommendation
The Graduate Center requires at least two professors who can appraise your academic achievement and to provide a letter of recommendation. When you complete your online application, you will be asked for the email address of each recommender and our application system will send an email directly to each recommender. Please notify the individuals from whom you request references that they must submit the recommendation online. If it has been more than five years since you were last enrolled in college or graduate school, you may choose to request letters in addition to your two required academic evaluations. These letters should be from professional acquaintances and others who can vouch for your ability to successfully undertake graduate study.

* Professional references may be substituted for academic references if you are applying to the Doctoral Program in Social Welfare.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Score (Please read our update on the GRE for the Spring and Fall of 2021 Admissions Cycles)
Applicants to the Graduate Center should refer to the Program Application Deadlines and Requirements page regarding the requirement to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test* and, where requested, the Subject Test in the area of intended study. We do not grant waivers for the GRE requirement. The Graduate Center does not set a minimum GRE score for any of the programs. The scores are evaluated in a context of other measures of academic performance. For information about scheduling the test, call 1-800-GRE-CALL or visit www.ets.org.

Please schedule to take the test at least two weeks prior to the program deadline. The online application will ask you to upload the student score report from your exam and applications will be reviewed with this upload.  If you are admitted, you will then be required to have official scores be reported by to The Graduate Center—College Code 2113 prior to registration. 

* The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) may be submitted in lieu of the GRE for applicants to the PhD in Business. For information, call 1-866-505-6559 or visit www.gmac.com. Official scores for GMAT should be reported to The Graduate Center—College Code XWT-S7-47.

English as a Foreign Language (Please read our update as of 3/25/2020)
An applicant must submit scores from either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) unless they have a post-secondary degree from an institution in which the language of instruction is English-only and located in a country that recognizes English as an Official Language.

The TOEFL is administered internationally by Educational Testing Service and the IELTS is administered by Cambridge English Language Assessment.

Please schedule to take the test at least two weeks prior to the program deadline. The online application will ask you to upload the student score report from your exam and your application will be reviewed with this upload. If you are admitted, you will then be required to have official scores be reported by to The Graduate Center—College Code 2113 prior to registration.

In order to officially submit the application, you must click "Submit" on your online application, pay the application fee, and then electronically sign the application. The Graduate Center has a nonrefundable $75 application fee. 

Credit card payments will be accepted online. Checks and money order payments must be made payable to the Graduate Center. Cash will not be accepted by mail. Please note that no action will be taken on your application until payment is received. The City University of New York implements a 2.65% service fee on all credit card transactions.

All program deadlines are firm. Applications must be completed in its entirety (along with all supporting documents) prior to midnight Eastern Standard Time of the deadline day.

Once you submit your application, you will be able to track your application materials within five business days.  You will need to log back into the online application and view your Next Step Checklist to review what documents may be considered outstanding.  Please note, it is the applicant's responsibility to ensure the Office of Admissions receives all required materials by the application deadline. Under no circumstances will any application materials submitted to the Office of Admissions be returned to the applicant or forwarded to another college, university, or place of business. All records submitted in support of an application for admission become part of the property of the Graduate Center.

The Graduate Center will automatically consider you for institutional aid as long as you have applied for admission before the appropriate deadline. You can review Financial Aid information on the Office of Financial Aid website. If you are intending to apply for Federal Financial Aid, please be sure to complete a FAFSA.  

Review your acceptance letter and financial assistance information. Contact Admissions, Financial Aid, or your program if you have any further questions about your acceptance.

Official admissions documents need to be sent to the Office of Admissions prior to registration.  

Admitted students will be sent registration materials approximately 3 to 4 weeks prior to new student registration.

Note that New York State law requires all students to complete a Meningococcal Meningitis Response Form prior to registration. In addition, New York State law requires all students born on or after January 1, 1957, to be immunized against measles, mumps, and rubella. Registration will not be permitted if a student does not comply with state medical record regulations. Specific questions should be directed to the Wellness Center at Phone: (212) 817-7020; Fax: (212) 817-1602; Email: wellness@gc.cuny.edu; Website.

International students must follow the steps outlined on this page and review the International Students page for additional requirements and assistance.