Admissions FAQs

We regret that we cannot welcome prospective students and their families to campus, but in light of the ongoing pandemic, we feel that this is the best measure for the health and safety of our community. For prospective students, please feel free to explore our admissions viewbook, our website, our Heller Talks, and our Youtube video series. You can also take a virtual tour of Heller below. 

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Social Impact MBA, the Master's in Public Policy, and the PhD in Social Policy programs are extending their test-optional (GRE and GMAT) policy for the Fall 2022 application cycle for all applicants. 

Applicants to the MBA program who have already taken either the Graduate Management Admission Test  - GMAT (preferred) or the Graduate Record Exam - GRE can still submit their scores. Applicants to the MPP or PhD program who have already taken either the Graduate Record Exam - GRE can still submit their scores.  Applicants should request the test scores to be sent directly to the Heller School by the appropriate code when taking the test. The code for the GMAT is 3FD-ZX-31 (preferred for students applying to the MBA program). The code for the GRE is 3097 (for students applying to the MBA, MPP, or PhD programs).

International students must still submit TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test results unless they qualify for an English Proficiency Waiver.

Find answers about the Fall 2021 and Spring 2021 semesters, Zoom, the Student Emergency Fund, health services, and more on our Heller COVID-19 Resources page. 

Students who are unable to obtain a vaccine before the semester begins will be eligible to sign up for an on-campus vaccination appointment at one of these clinics.

If you receive a vaccination during one of the on-campus start-of-fall-semester vaccination clinics, your ability to access campus spaces and facilities will be limited until you are fully vaccinated. This can take 2 to 6 weeks from your initial dose. More information regarding fall on-campus vaccination clinics will be provided as we get closer to the start of the fall semester.

You can find additional information about Brandeis' vaccination requirements on the COVID-19 Response: What's Now, What's Next page. 

• Pre-enrollment: Admitted and incoming students to Heller who wish to be considered for a different program after the offer of admissions has been made, may request reconsideration for another program (including dual and joint degree options related to their original program). Applicants must submit an updated statement of purpose and ensure any additional application requirements for the updated proposed program are completed. We encourage applicants considering this option to contact our admissions team to discuss their options.
• Students currently enrolled at Heller who wish to switch to a different program must submit an updated application, through an abbreviated admissions process for current students. This includes submission of an updated statement of purpose, resume, and in-progress Heller transcript. Students must ensure any additional application requirements for the proposed program are completed. We encourage such students to discuss their plans with the director of each program, as well as admissions to review requirements. Any offers of financial aid for the initial program become null and void when a student is switching programs. A new offer of financial aid will be made when the student is accepted into the proposed program. Students will then have the option to either accept the updated offer, or maintain their current program and financial aid status. All changes in program are effective at the beginning of the semester. Mid-semester changes are not allowed.

In the Test Score section of the application, there is a link to add new scores. You will need to click the "Add Test" button, select the appropriate test, and then enter a future test date, leaving the score field blank. This will allow you to submit the application without scores for that test. Once you have taken the test, please request that your scores be sent to Brandeis - Heller. When we receive your scores, they will be linked to your application. 

For international students who plan to submit an English Proficiency waiver based on work or academic experience in one of the countries listed, please keep in mind that you will be required to enter in a future test date before you will be able to submit the application. 

Applicants to the MA COEX, MA SID, or MS programs are not required to take the GRE. Applicants to the PhD or MPP programs are required to take the GRE, and the MBA program accepts either the GMAT (preferred) or GRE*. Applicants to dual degree programs with the MBA or MPP programs must take the required standardized tests as well. The GRE institution code for The Heller school is 3097.

*The GRE/GMAT test requirement for the MBA, MPP, and PhD programs is optional for students applying for Fall 2022 due to COVID-19. International students will still be required to demonstrate English Proficiency. 

No. We accept unofficial transcripts at the time of application. Many institutions allow students and alumni to access their grade report online; these reports are sufficient for application file review so long as they contain your name, the name of the institution,  all courses, grades, dates, and your graduation conferred date. 

You should list and upload transcripts for post-secondary institutions (undergraduate and graduate) if: 

• You earned or will earn a degree at that institution OR
• You attended that institution for one year or more AND the courses and/or credits from that institution do not appear on another transcript you are uploading. You do not need to upload transcripts for courses and/or credits if the grades are listed on another institution's transcript that you are uploading (e.g., study abroad coursework credits that transferred to your bachelor's transcript, credits taken at one institution that were transferred to another university from which you earned your degree, etc). 

Please do not upload transcripts from English language programs, certificate programs, etc. 

Your partial tuition scholarship is for the first year of the master’s program. If you choose to participate in our advanced study program during your second year (this provides a second year of academic course work), the renewal of your merit award is contingent upon successful completion of coursework and all program requirements as outlined in the SID program's policies and procedures, as well as remaining a student good academic standing at Brandeis University. 

If you opt for the internship track during your second year, the University will not charge full tuition. There is a continuation fee, which is significantly lower than full tuition, and we therefore do not provide any scholarships. Please refer to the cost of attendance sheet for your specific degree program for more detailed information.

Brandeis offers two types of federal loans for U.S. citizens:

The Stafford Loan is a guaranteed student loan with a limit of $20,500 per academic or calendar year. In order to request this loan, you will need to complete the application form on the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) website. It will help to have your previous year’s income tax return available when completing the application, as many of the questions asked are the same as on your return. You will also need to submit a Brandeis University Stafford Loan Request form to the Financial Aid office, which allows us to disburse the funds to your student account.

The other type of federal loan for U.S. Citizens is the Graduate PLUS loan. Students again will need to fill out the FAFSA as mentioned above, and are encouraged to use their Unsubsidized Stafford Loan eligibility first. For step-by-step instructions on how to apply for the GPLUS loan, please visit the Brandeis Student Financial Services website. After the Master Promissory Note is signed, a credit check will be processed. If approved, please note this credit check is only valid for 90 days. If the loan is not processed within those 90 days, applicants will need to reapply for the loan. This is important: if you are looking for a loan in the fall, you would not want to apply for the GPLUS loan in the beginning of the summer, but rather closer to the semester.

You may apply for the Stafford Loan at any time, since it is guaranteed and your eligibility will not change. As far as the FAFSA goes, it is easiest to complete the online application at the same time you do your annual taxes, as many of the questions asked are the same. Once you are finished, which is confirmed by email, the file is sent to us electronically. You will then need to complete the Brandeis Stafford Loan Request Form. Since the Stafford Loan is guaranteed, we can let you know your eligibility as soon as we have the form and the FAFSA information.

Private educational loans depend upon applications sent directly to the lending organizations. Each private lending organization has its own policies governing when the approval can be made, so the best way to check this out would be on the organizations' individual websites.

All international applicants whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency. Most students take either the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test exams. Generally, successful applicants tend to have a score of at least 94 on the TOEFL (iBt), or 7.0 on the IELTS. We do not have a minimum required score for either test, but rather, our admissions committee takes a holistic approach to reviewing applications and considers every part of the application carefully. Learn more about the English Proficiency requirement.

Scores are valid for up to two years. Your official test score must be valid at the time your application is submitted. If your test score will expire prior to the start of the program, you must submit your official test score prior to its expiration date.

The TOEFL institution code for The Heller school is 3097.

Students offered admission to one of the master's programs at the Heller School may defer their admission for one year. PhD students are not eligible to defer their admission. We do not guarantee funding for master’s level students, although every effort is made to offer the same level of scholarship aid to students who are deferring.

Students who wish to defer must submit their request in writing to the Office of Heller Admissions by September 1 of their original entry term. Requests made after September 1 will not be accepted and students will need to re-apply in full with a new application. 

Students offered admission to one of the master's programs at the Heller School may defer their admission for one year. We do not guarantee funding for master’s level students, although every effort is made to offer the same level of scholarship aid to students who are deferring.

Students who wish to defer must submit their request in writing to the Office of Admissions by September 1 of their original entry term.

Most of our teaching assistant positions are available to students after their first year in the program. After students have completed a year of coursework, professors have a better sense of their students and can think about suitable options for teaching or research assistantships.

Assistantships are not guaranteed, nor are they a required component of any Heller program. Interested students must ask faculty they are interested in working with or look for open assistantships through Workday, Brandeis' online student employment portal. 

Yes. If you did not submit official transcripts as part of your application, you will need to submit them prior to orientation. You can always check whether we have received official transcripts from your institution by checking your status page. 

If you have been admitted, and you have accepted that offer of admission, we will require official transcripts from all institutions that issued a degree, or that you attended longer than one year (unless the credits and/or courses and the grades you received in those courses appear on another transcript you are providing). Official transcripts must:

• Be issued directly by the institution. If sent via electronic database or via email, this means they must be emailed directly to helleradmissions@brandeis.edu from the institution. If sent via mail, this means they must be mailed directly from the institution to Heller Admissions, 415 South Street MS 035, Waltham, MA 02453. If released to the student to be delivered to Heller Admissions, they must be received by Heller Admissions in a sealed envelope, unopened by the student. 
• Include one or more of the following features: the registrar's signature, the registrar's seal, an institutional watermark, and/or be printed on official institutional paper. 

We realize that it can be difficult for international students to obtain more than one official copy of their university transcript. We can accept certified true copies of your transcripts. A certified true copy is one which is certified as an exact replica of the original by either school officials or legal authorities such as embassies or a notary public.