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M.A.
in Sustainable International Development:
Admissions: Frequent Questions
- ADMISSIONS AND APPLICATIONS QUESTIONS
- PROGRAM RELATED QUESTIONS
- THE SID ENVIRONMENT
- ENROLLMENT and FINANCIAL AID QUESTIONS
- VISA QUESTIONS
1. ADMISSIONS
AND APPLICATIONS QUESTIONS
When does the Master of Arts Program begin?
The MA/SID Program begins with mandatory orientation on in late August.
Do you have a part time program?
No, we do not enroll students on a part time basis.
May I enroll
in the program in the Spring semester?
No, all Master of Arts students must enroll in the Fall semester.
Is
there a deadline for applying to the MA/SID?
The MA Admissions Committee reviews applications on a rolling
basis. Admissions decisions are generally made by mid-February,
and applicants
are notified as decisions are made. It is in your interest
to apply early, particularly if you are applying for financial
aid
from
SID or third party sources. Many scholarship agencies require
an official letter of acceptance from your program.
What do
I need to do to apply to the MA/SID?
To apply for admission, you will need to submit an application
form, curriculum vitae/resume, statement of purpose, three
letters of recommendation (one professional, one academic,
and the third
professional or academic) with accompanying Brandeis University
Recommendation forms, official transcripts of your undergraduate
and any graduate record, proof of English proficiency if
English is not your native language, and a $55 application
fee. Contact
Admissions for an application package or download the application
materials from this website. Detailed instructions on applying
can be found in the Admissions
section of the SID website.
Can
the application fee be waived?
The application fee is waived for applicants from developing
nations as well as current and returned Peace Corps,
AmeriCorps, and City
Year volunteers. There is no fee waiver form to fill
out.
When will I hear about my application status?
Your application cannot be reviewed until all necessary
documents are received. We will notify you by email only
when your
application is complete. Applications are generally decided
upon by mid-February,
and applicants will be notified as decisions are made.
Do
I need to take the GRE?
No, applicants to the Master of Arts degree program are
not required to submit Graduate Record Examination
scores.
Do I need to take an English language test?
International applicants to the MA/SID Program are
required to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score as part of their
application. While we do
not have a minimum score requirement, we seek to
assess your ability to undertake graduate work in the English
medium.
In certain situations,
alternate certification of English proficiency documentation
may be acceptable. The applicant should inquire with
the Admissions
Office if they feel that the test requirement should
be
waived.
I have submitted my application but have not
yet taken the TOEFL or IELTS. Will my application be considered?
If English is not your first language, SID cannot
finalize the review of your application without
a score
or other English
certification.
Is an on-campus interview
required?
An interview is required for all applicants who reside
in the United States at the time of application. Applicants will most often
be required
to
interview
on-campus.
Am I required to have development experience
before I apply?
At least two to three years of development
experience is preferred. However, SID does
accept a few
applicants who
have less experience,
and then helps to orient and integrate these
students into the wider SID community through
a Young Professionals
Group.
Am I required to have taken any specific undergraduate
courses such as Economics?
No, SID does not require applicants to have
specific courses on their transcripts. SID
students who
have background course work
in Economics or Ecology may be eligible to
waive some requirements
in these areas, but these courses are not mandatory
for admission.
What part of the application
does the Admissions Committee consider most important?
The Admissions Committee considers all aspects
of the application to be important, including
your academic
and professional
background, transcripts, letters of recommendation,
and the Statement of
Purpose.
Can you provide me with a preliminary
assessment of my chances to gain admittance to your
program?
Many factors are considered when determining
who will be admitted to our program, so
it is not possible
to
provide
a preliminary
assessment.
Do you have Information Sessions
or Open Houses that I can attend to receive more
information?
The Heller Schools hosts information sessions
each year. Please check our
website for
the dates
of the next
sessions.
If I visit, can I talk to a professor
or a current student or sit in on a class?
Please contact the Heller Admissions Office,
and we will schedule meetings with professors,
students, and class
visits whenever
possible. We aim to make campus visits
enjoyable and informative. Please
contact Admissions for more information.
2. PROGRAM RELATED
QUESTIONS
Is it possible to be waived from prerequisite courses?
Yes, it is possible to be waived from the Economics or Ecology
required courses if you have completed equivalent coursework
and can demonstrate competency in the specific area. The decision
to waive a student out of a class is made by the program in writing
after a review of each case.
Do you accept transfer credits from
other institutions?
No, SID does not accept transfer credits.
Is it possible to take
courses in other Brandeis departments or other universities?
Yes, SID students may take elective courses at The Heller School
for Social Policy and Management, the International Business
School, and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Brandeis.
SID students
may also take courses at other universities that are members
of the Boston area university consortium. The number of courses
taken
outside of SID and the university is limited and all such courses
must be approved by the SID course counselor.
Do 2nd year students
find their own internships or are they placed in internship or
fieldwork projects?
SID students work with the internship coordinator and faculty
to research and indentify a 2nd year project that meets their
learning and career objectives.
3.
THE SID ENVIRONMENT
How many students are in SID?
This academic year, SID has 85 first year students and
79 second year students. In total, 67% of the SID students are
international, and come from over 50 countries.
Does Brandeis provide
computers for student use?
Yes, there are numerous computers on campus available for student
use in the The Heller School, Goldfarb/Farber libraries, and Shapiro
Student Center.
How far away are Boston and Cambridge?
Brandeis University is located approximately 10 miles from Boston
and 6 miles from Cambridge, which are both easily accessible
by the commuter rail and buses that stop at Brandeis.
Is graduate
student housing available?
Graduate student housing is available on a limited basis for international
students. Graduate student housing cannot accommodate families.
4. ENROLLMENT AND
FINANCIAL AID QUESTIONS
How much will graduate studies cost me for the first year and
second year?
You can view the estimated costs of study at SID in the Admissions
section of the website.
Does SID award scholarships?
Yes, SID awards financial aid in the form of partial tuition
remission. The amount awarded varies according to need, merit,
and the availability
of funds. Except in cases of announced Fellowships, SID does
not award any financial aid for living expenses.
Do I need to complete
an SID financial aid form?
To apply for financial aid, please answer the two questions under “Finance
Support” on the last page of the application. No other
forms are required. SID does not require the CSS profile.
How
do I get information on loans?
Citizens and permanent residents of the United States are eligible
for some loans by completing and submitting the FAFSA form. For
information on FAFSA, please contact The Heller Admissions Office
(HellerAdmissions@Brandeis.edu) or visit the FAFSA website at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/.
What
is the Brandeis University Title IV code for loans?
The code is 002133.
Can international students apply for financial
aid?
International students are eligible for SID scholarship consideration
but cannot apply for U.S. government loans through FAFSA. There
are limited loan sources available to international students
who have a co-signer who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Are
Teaching Assistantships available?
Very few are available. Teaching Assistantships are announced
in the spring preceding the academic year you would arrive on
campus
and require a substantial background in the specific field.
Can
my tuition assistance be increased?
Once awarded, SID is unable to raise the level of your scholarship award.
Scholarship awards may be reviewed in mid-April
if there
is space in the incoming class, but this is generally not the case.
I have missed the Fellowship
deadlines. Can I still apply to the SID Program?
SID will accept applications until all spaces are filled in the
incoming class.
If I cannot find the funds to study at SID this
year, can I defer my admission to next year?
SID will review your request to defer your admission for one
year. Deferrals are usually granted, but please keep in mind
that it
will be up to you to reactivate your file in September, and remember
that any tuition scholarship offer does not automatically carry
over to the next year.
I want to pay my $200 deposit – to
whom should I make the check out?
The check should be made out to Brandeis University.
The university does not accept payments by credit card.
5. VISA QUESTIONS
Do you have advice for me before I apply for my visa?
For information on applying for your visa, please visit the website
of the International Students and Scholar’s Office (ISSO)
at http://www.brandeis.edu/isso.
Should I submit page 1 of the
Visa Declaration Form if I do not have all my funding?
No. Do not submit your Visa Declaration Form until it is complete
(pages 1 and 2) but do notify the Admissions Office that you
will be late in submitting the form and that you would like
to request
an extension of the deadline date stated in your admission letter.
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