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: All applicants are required to 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.
- OR -
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.
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: Academic coursework in a foreign language, which will prepare students to complete the program’s language requirement*, is required at the time of application. This can be demonstrated by:
Study that is equal to two semesters of university level coursework or equivalent.
Completion of formal language training as part of employment (ex. Peace Corps, JET, etc.).
Growing up in a household where the language is spoken.
*Students need to have a strong foundation in a foreign language before enrolling to be successful in completing the language requirement during the program.
Course background in economics (micro- and macroeconomics) is a prerequisite to help prepare students to complete the graduate-level economics course(s) required within the M.A. in International Development Studies curriculum. Course(s) must be successfully completed through an accredited institution in:
Introductory Microeconomics
Introductory Macroeconomics
In some cases, a student may be admitted who has not fulfilled the economics requirement*; in which case, the student is required to take course(s) at an accredited college/university prior to enrollment at the Elliott School.
*Spring applicants are expected to have fulfilled this prerequisite at the time of application.
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 (phone), (202) 994-9537 (fax)
9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday

The following requirements must be fulfilled: 40 credits, including 9 to 12 credits in core field courses, 3 credits in research methods, 3 credits in skills courses, 12 credits in a concentration, a 4-credit capstone course sequence, and 6 to 9 credits in elective courses. In addition, students must fulfill a language proficiency requirement (see below) and have the option of writing a thesis. 

See note regarding skills courses, the capstone, and the optional thesis*.
Required
Core field courses
Three or four courses (9 or 12 credits) selected from the following:
HIST 6030History and Its Uses in International Affairs
IAFF 6101International Affairs Cornerstone
And one course selected from the following:
ECON 6280Survey of International Economics
ECON 6283Survey of International Trade Theory and Policy
ECON 6284Survey of International Macroeconomics and Finance Theory and Policy
ECON 6280 is designed for students who have little background in economics, as it is a broad, foundational course suitable for most students. Students with a strong background in economics can choose to take either ECON 6283 or ECON 6284.
Research methods **
At least one course (3 credits) selected from the following:
IAFF 6117Research Methods in Global Gender Issues
IAFF 6118Special Topics in International Affairs (Applied Qualitative Methods)
IAFF 6118Special Topics in International Affairs (Data Analytics for International Affairs)
IAFF 6222Special Topics in International Policy and Practice (Advanced Data Analytics)
IAFF 6501Quantitative Analysis for International Affairs Practitioners
Skills courses
Students complete three 1-credit skills courses, for a total of 3 credits, in any combination selected from the following:
IAFF 6502Professional Skills I
IAFF 6503Professional Skills II
Concentration
Students complete a four-course (12-credit) thematic or regional concentration in consultation with the program director.
Capstone
Students complete a two-course (4-credit) capstone sequence that most closely matches the thematic area of their coursework. The capstone sequence includes a 2-credit capstone workshop taken before the 2-credit capstone seminar. The capstone courses must be taken consecutively. Students must have completed at least 18 credits in coursework prior to starting the capstone sequence.
IAFF 6898Capstone Workshop
IAFF 6899Capstone Course
Optional thesis
Students who wish to complete a thesis do so in addition to the capstone requirement. Students who choose to write a thesis must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 and the approval of the faculty member who will serve as their thesis director. Thesis credits are counted as elective or concentration credits with the approval of the approval of the program director. The two 3-credit thesis courses must be taken consecutively.
IAFF 6998Thesis
IAFF 6999Thesis
Electives
Two or three elective courses (6 or 9 credits), which can include up to 6 credits in language study, a second field of expertise, or other relevant coursework, are required.

Language proficiency requirement

Students are required to demonstrate proficiency in a modern language other than English. This requirement can be fulfilled in one of the following ways:

  • Having earned a minimum grade of B in a sixth-semester university-level advanced language course completed no more than three years prior to matriculation in the Elliott School's master's degree program.
  • Having earned a minimum grade of B in a sixth-semester university-level advanced language course at GW, or in an approved course taken at another institution of higher learning, including Elliott School exchange partner institutions, while enrolled in the Elliott School master's program. 
  • Passing the Elliott School-administered language proficiency reading and speaking examination at the currently required level of proficiency. The Elliott School administers language proficiency examinations once in the fall and once in the spring semesters. Students should plan to take the language proficiency examination as soon as possible following their matriculation in the program. Students have three opportunities to pass the examination. Failure to pass the examination for a third time results in dismissal from the program.
  • Achieving the required proficiency level in a reading and speaking examination administered by an Elliott School-approved language assessment institution, at the student's expense, while enrolled in the Elliott School's master's degree program.

*Additional information regarding skills courses, the capstone, and the optional thesis is available on the Elliott School website. 

**Students can take graduate-level research methods courses in other GW departments with the permission of the program director.

Concentrations

Students in the master of arts in the field of international affairs program must complete a concentration by taking at least four courses (12 credits) selected from one of thematic or regional concentrations listed below. Specific requirements are listed under the "Concentrations" tab. Students are encouraged to discuss their course selections with their faculty adviser.

Thematic concentrations

Regional concentrations

Language proficiency requirement

Students in the master of arts in the field of international affairs program are required to demonstrate proficiency in a modern language other than English. Students may fulfill this requirement in one of the following ways:

  • Having earned a minimum grade of B in a fourth-semester university-level intermediate language course completed no more than five years prior to matriculation in the Elliott School's master's degree program.
  • Having earned a minimum grade of B in a fourth-semester university-level intermediate language course at GW, or in an approved course taken at another institution of higher learning, including Elliott School exchange partner institutions, while enrolled in the Elliott School master's program.
  • Passing the Elliott School-administered language proficiency reading and speaking examination at the currently-required level of proficiency. The Elliott School administers language proficiency examinations once in the fall and once in the spring semesters. Students should plan to take the language proficiency examination as soon as possible following their matriculation in the program. Students have three opportunities to pass the examination. Failure to pass the examination for a third time results in dismissal from the program.
  • Achieving the required proficiency level in a reading and speaking examination administered by an Elliott School-approved language assessment institution, at the student's expense, while enrolled in the Elliott School's Master's Degree Program.

As of fall 2023, the above policy applies to new and current students in the master of arts in international affairs program. Consult the academic advisor or program director for more info.

Concentrations

Thematic concentrations

Regional concentrations

Combined Programs