FAQ for Prospective MA Students

Students who come to our program have a common passion for education around the world. They are interested in public diplomacy, international education policy, cultural relations, understanding conflict and building peace. Their career interests are often focused on working for international institutions or humanitarian organizations, study abroad programs or offices of global affairs, global classrooms, or in starting on a path toward research.

This International Education MA program is the right choice for those looking to make a positive difference in education, with a special focus on the international and global aspects of this field. 

Qualified applicants have experiences ranging from travel and work overseas, hands-on experience in education, and coursework in related fields. There are no specific requirements for admissions into the program.
 

Our course sequence and substantive focus prepares students for a career in education advocacy, administration, or research. Training teachers is not the focus of our program, however some of our students come from a teaching background and are typically seeking to explore how they might influence education on a broader scale.

Application Deadlines for the MA Program:
Spring: Priority: October 1
Fall: Early Decision: January 6; Priority: January 15

• The Advanced Certificate program is not currently accepting applications.
• Applicants interested in scholarship consideration must apply by the priority deadline.
• Applications will be reviewed after the priority deadline on a rolling basis provided space is available.
• Applicants should fill out their FAFSA by March 1 for Fall/Summer enrollment or November 1 for Spring enrollment. Do not wait to be accepted. Review the deadlines and fill out your FAFSA.
   

The GRE is not required for the MA program. lf you choose to submit GRE scores with your application, they will be considered with your application. 

Two letters of recommendation are required for the MA program. We recommend that you submit letters from professors or former employers from the last three years. Letters of recommendation should speak to your academic and/or professional interests, abilities, and experiences, as well as how these relate to your readiness for the International Education MA program.
 

Applicants must apply using the online application available on the Office of Admissions website. For more information on what is required, please see the program's Application Guide.

All your application materials, including your transcript, should be uploaded to the online application system. If you have any questions regarding the online application, please contact the admissions office.

Office of Graduate Admissions
NYU Steinhardt
82 Washington Square East, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10003-6680
212-998-5030 (phone)
212-995-4328 (fax)
steinhardt.gradadmissions@nyu.edu 

The NYU Steinhardt Office of Graduate Admissions handles fee waiver requests. Please review the Policy on Application Fee Waivers to determine how to properly request a fee waiver.  

Students who have participated in programs such as Teach for America, Peace Corps, Americorps, Fulbright, and similar are encouraged to request an application fee waiver.

Applicants whose first language is not English and who did not receive a bachelor's degree at an English-speaking college or university are required to take one of the following English proficiency exams and submit the score: TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Academic. See more information on English proficiency testing. 

There is no set GPA requirement. Applications are reviewed holistically. In the past, successful candidates have had a GPA at or above 3.0. If you are successfully admitted to the IE program, you will be expected to maintain a 3.0 GPA. 
 

No, we don't offer interviews for applicants.
 

Yes, for applicants whose native language is not English and who did not receive a bachelor's degree at an English-speaking college or university, official scores from one of the approved English language exams are mandatory. International students may also be required to complete additional requirements before being accepted. See Special Instructions for International Applicants. 

We do not send materials via mail. Detailed information about the MA degree can be found on the MA program website, including course requirements, internship information, faculty biographies, and student experience testimonials. If you have additional questions after reviewing the website, please send us an email. 

Decisions for the fall semesters are typically announced in mid-February through mid-April. Decisions for the spring semester go out starting in early-November. Please contact the Steinhardt Graduate Admissions Office directly at 212-998-5030 or via email if you have questions.
 

Tuition and fees are listed on the admissions website.  

Yes. Information on scholarships is listed on the Steinhardt Financial Aid Website.

All applicants who are interested in being considered for school-based scholarships MUST complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by going to the FAFSA website and submitting it electronically to NYU. Detailed instructions can be found on the Graduate Admissions website. 

Master's degree, advanced certificate, advanced diploma, and doctoral applicants who are US citizens or permanent residents may submit the FAFSA to receive consideration for NYU financial aid packages. The deadline for having submitted the form to NYU is March 1 for Summer/Fall enrollment or November 1 for Spring enrollment.

Yes. Many of our students who are returned Peace Corps volunteers receive the NYU Peace Corps Coverdell Fellowship. To be considered, simply answer "yes" on your online application for admission to the Coverdell Fellowship question. 

The NYU Peace Corps Coverdell Fellowship Program offers a select group of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers leadership development programming and financial support while pursuing a master's degree. Visit Steinhardt's Financial Aid page for more information.

NYU offers some funding support for international students via some specific scholarships, such as the Global Citizen Scholarship. NYU Steinhardt also encourages international applicants to investigate scholarship support offered by their home country to support their studies at NYU. 

We host a Virtual Open House event during the fall every year. Details about the Information Session and class visits, as well as how to RSVP, are available on the admissions page.

We recommend you attend our online Information Session, where you will be able to hear about the program from faculty and advisors, and connect with current students.  To RSVP, please visit the Online Information Session Page. If you can't attend, you can also be sent a link to watch a recording of the session. 

You can also email our ASH Ambassadors to connect directly with a current Master's student in the department. We also encourage you to watch the Steinhardt Graduate Video Tour.

We highly recommend students attend our Virtual Information Session, where you can meet faculty, advisors, and current students in the program. If you are unable to align your plans with Open House, we can connect you with our Student Ambassador to help answer your questions. 

We encourage students to also contact the NYU Gould Welcome Center to arrange for a campus tour, and watch the Steinhardt Graduate Video Tour prior to their visit to have many of their questions about the program answered.

The program can be completed as quickly as one year (12 months). However, many students complete the program in 1.5 years (18 months). Your course plan can be structured to help you meet your graduation goals in consultation with your academic advisor. 

In special circumstances, students may work with their advisor to complete the degree over two years (24 months). This needs to be discussed with your academic advisor early and is not guaranteed. 

It takes our part-time students approximately 2+ years to complete the program. Students that are enrolled part-time often take classes during the January and Summer semesters to complete their credits as well. 

Students who are enrolled in our program full-time are required to complete 9 credits per semester.

There are between 20 and 50 MA students enrolled in the program. This number includes all cohorts of students. 

We do not recommend that students work full-time while also being enrolled in the program for a full-time course load. Some of our full-time students choose to work part-time. The majority of classes are offered in the evenings to accommodate working hours. 

Yes, we require all MA students to complete an internship as part of the program requirements. Students are required to find an internship related to the field of International Education. The program does not offer an internship placement program. Review our Internship Page for more details. 

No, most students cannot waive the internship requirement. 

No. Steinhardt does not offer foregin language courses at the graduate level. 

No. You must be enrolled as a student at NYU and be located in New York City in order to complete the degree.

It is possible students can transfer up to 6 credits towards the MA degree. However, these credits cannot be applied towards the core requirements. To receive approval for transfer credits, after you are matriculated, you must contact your academic advisor and submit a syllabus and transcript for review. 

Additionally, it is important to note that credits cannot be transferred if they have already counted towards a previous degree. 

Students gravitate towards the track that provides the knowledge or practical experiences that will best prepare them to achieve their desired career goals. Think of this as your “area of specialization” towards your overall degree studies. 

No. While a select number of classes are offered in both Fall and Spring terms, the majority of courses are only offered once a year - Fall or Spring term.
 

The program supports students with professional development by coordinating opportunities outside of the classroom, such as networking events, career talks, and site visits. We also work closely with the NYU Wasserman Career Center to provide our students with specialized information relevant to the International Education field.  

Additionally, the IE program has several leadership related opportunities. Some of these opportunities include working with the Journal on Education in Emergencies, serving as a Peace and Conflict Studies Leader (PACS), or joining the International Education Student Board. 

On-campus housing at NYU is limited. Most graduate students live off-campus. Learn more about on and off-campus housing.