Admission Deadline: Fall: January 7th - Fellowship & Application Deadline
Spring: October 1st - Fellowship & Application Deadline
Applications for admission will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis after the fellowship deadlines have passed, but students will not be considered for fellowships.
Standardized test scores: GRE and GMAT scores are not accepted and will not be considered in the review process. Please do not submit scores.
Recommendations required: Two (2) letters are required. Applicants should submit one (1) academic letter from a professor and one (1) professional reference.
Prior academic records: Transcripts are required from all colleges and universities attended, whether or not credit was earned, the program was completed, or the credit appears as transfer credit on another transcript. Unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universities attended should be uploaded to your online application. Official transcripts are required only of applicants who are offered admission and choose to enroll.
If academic records are in a language other than English, English language translations must be provided. The English translations alone should be uploaded into the online application. Official transcripts and certified English translations will be required of applicants who are offered admission and choose to enroll.
Statement of purpose: Two essays are required:
1. Submit an essay of approximately 500 words that answers one of the two questions below:
- State your purpose in undertaking graduate study at the Elliott School. As part of your statement of purpose, describe your academic and research interests, career objectives, how a degree from the Elliott School will enable you to achieve your goals, and what unique skills, talents and/or perspectives you will bring to your program. Please be specific.
- Please discuss an issue of international importance you wish to address in your professional career. Please include how the Elliott School and the academic program to which you have applied will prepare you to address this global issue.
2. MIPP applicants must also submit a second essay. The MIPP essay should be approximately 500 words addressing the following topic:
- Identify a specific leadership challenge that you personally would like to tackle within the next five years. How will this leadership project build on your professional and life experiences to date, and how will your education in the MIPP program help you succeed in this task?
Additional requirements: A resumé or curriculum vitae is required. Resumés/CVs must include dates of employment (if applicable) and date of degree conferral or expected degree conferral.
Prerequisites: Applicants must possess seven or more years of full-time professional experience or already possess an advanced degree (e.g. M.A., M.S., J.D., L.L.M., Ph.D.) to qualify for the MIPP program.
International applicants only: International Applicants may be required to submit official English Language tests scores with their application. Please see the Elliott School's English Language Requirements for guidance on whether you need to take the TOEFL/IELTS/PTE. Please send official TOEFL scores to institution code 5246.
The minimum English Language Test Requirements can be found below:
Eligible for Admission & requires EAP Courses:
IELTS- 7.0 overall score, no band score below 6.0
TOEFL- 100 (internet test) 600 (paper test)
PTE- 68
Eligible for Admission & Exempt from EAP Courses**:
IETLS- 7.0 overall score, no band score below 6.5
TOEFL- 105 (internet test) 650 (paper test)
PTE- 72
**Spring applicants must receive at least these scores to be considered for admission.
Please review International Applicant Information carefully for details on required documents, earlier deadlines for applicants requiring an I-20 or DS-2019 from GW, and English language requirements.

Supporting documents not submitted online should be mailed to:
Office of Graduate Admissions
The Elliott School of International Affairs
The George Washington University
1957 E Street, NW, Suite 301
Washington, DC 20052

Contact for questions:
esiagrad@gwu.edu ~ 202.994.7050 ~ 202.994.9537 (fax)
9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday

The following requirements must be fulfilled: 27 credits, including 9 credits in core courses and 18 credits in restricted elective courses.

Students may be required to have undergraduate-level background coursework in microeconomics and macroeconomics, depending on their choice of the core graduate economics course. Undergraduate courses do not count toward the master's degree.

Required (9 credits)
Core
IAFF 6212Strategy and Leadership
IAFF 6213Leadership Capstone
IAFF 6216Analytic Tools for Global Policy
Electives (18 credits)
18 credits tailored to the individual student's needs and selected in consultation with an advisor and the program director. Suggested specialization themes include security studies, international development, and data analysis.
IAFF 6108International Development Policy
IAFF 6118Special Topics in International Affairs (Applied Qualitative Methods)
IAFF 6138Special Topics in International Development Studies (Bottom-Up Development)
IAFF 6138Special Topics in International Development Studies (Gender and Development)
IAFF 6163Transnational Security Issues
IAFF 6171Introduction to Conflict Resolution
IAFF 6173Security and Development
IAFF 6186Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (Asian Security)
IAFF 6186Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (Civil-Military Relations)
IAFF 6186Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (Cyber Threats and Policy)
IAFF 6186Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (Cybersecurity)
IAFF 6186Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (Emerging Threats)
IAFF 6186Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (Insurgency and Counterinsurgency)
IAFF 6186Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (NATO's Strategic Challenges)
IAFF 6186Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (Political Risk Analysis)
IAFF 6186Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (Russia and International Security)
IAFF 6186Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (Terrorism Today)
IAFF 6186Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (Transnational Security and Illicit Finance)
IAFF 6186Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (Understanding U.S. Special Operations)
IAFF 6186Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (U.S. Grand Strategy)
IAFF 6186Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (U.S. National Security)
IAFF 6222Special Topics in International Policy and Practice (Advanced Data Analytics)
IAFF 6222Special Topics in International Policy and Practice (International Security Politics)
IAFF 6222Special Topics in International Policy and Practice (Monitoring and Evaluation)
IAFF 6222Special Topics in International Policy and Practice (U.S. Foreign Policy)
IAFF 6501Quantitative Analysis for International Affairs Practitioners
Skills Course Elective Options:
IAFF 6502Professional Skills I (Data Visualization Using R)
IAFF 6502Professional Skills I (Introduction to GIS I)
IAFF 6502Professional Skills I (Introduction to GIS II)
IAFF 6502Professional Skills I (Introduction to R)
IAFF 6503Professional Skills II (Ethical Decision Making)
IAFF 6503Professional Skills II (Interactive Apps Using Shiny)
IAFF 6503Professional Skills II (Monitoring and Evaluation)
IAFF 6503Professional Skills II (Political Risk Analysis)
IAFF 6503Professional Skills II (Strategic Communication)
All offerings under IAFF 6138, IAFF 6186, and IAFF 6222 can be used for elective requirements and repeated for credit provided the topic differs.