Admission Requirements

The Bush School admissions process is self-managed, which means that students manage their application by collecting all supporting material (transcripts, letters of recommendation, etc.) in a single package and sending it to the Bush School. Thus everything is received by the Bush School admissions office at the same time. The only exception will be the online application and the application fee, which go directly to the Office of Admissions and Records. Test scores are sent directly to the Bush School by the testing center.

Below is a summary of the documents and materials that you will need to prepare and submit for the application process. For complete instructions and information, however, applicants MUST read the Bush School Application Requirements and Instructions.

Please note: Applicants must complete materials for both the Bush School and the Office of Admissions and Records. We recommend you also visit the Texas A&M Office of Admissions and Records website to review university admissions criteria.

For both master's programs, the complete priority application packet is due during January. This means all supplemental forms and materials are DUE by the deadline. This is not a postmark deadline.

To avoid any confusion or delay in processing your application, please be sure to use the same spelling and order of your name on all correspondence and to inform the Office of Admissions and Records and the Bush School of any change in address or name.

For complete instructions and materials click here.

Required Application Materials

The Bush School application process consists of two parts: Step 1 is to apply to Texas A&M University via the online application and pay the application fee. Step 2 is to submit all essays, résumé, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and GRE scores to the Bush School. We will share with the Office of Graduate Admissions any originals they might require as well. Ensure your packet is mailed to Bush School Admissions, NOT Graduate Admissions Processing at Texas A&M, or your packet will be delayed for processing.

Online Application for Graduate Admission

The Bush School will only accept online applications. You may complete and submit the application at www.applytexas.org.

Under the "Major" pull-down menu, select the appropriate application:

You are asked not to submit the Statement of Purpose (SOP) online. You will submit a hard copy SOP directly to the Bush School in your packet, as explained below.

Applicants may check the status of their application through the online status check. Please allow 24-48 hours before checking the status of an application submitted electronically. Also note that Bush School Admissions will email a status update as packets are opened and processed. It is the true status of your file, as Texas A&M’s online status check will only reflect updates in the application, online letters of recommendation, and final transcript processing (after we send over to them). Please be patient.

NOTE: Five-year program applicants, please do not sumbit an online ApplyTexas application. You will need to fill out a Bush School Joint-Degree Program Application. The application fee is waived for five-year applicants.

Application Fee

A nonrefundable application fee of $50 for U.S. citizens and permanent residents, or $90 for international applicants, is required to process an application. The application fee may be paid by check, money order, or approved credit card. Checks or money orders (U.S. dollars) should be made payable to Texas A&M University and should display an agency bank in the U.S. and have routing numbers at the bottom. If sending in payment, please send to the address below for Graduate Admissions Processing, including your name and UIN; do NOT include payment in your packet to the Bush School. If paying the nonrefundable processing fee by credit card, be advised that your credit card will be charged a nonrefundable transaction fee of $1.50, resulting in charges of $51.50 or $91.50. Five-year program applicants are exempt from the application fee. Please do not send in any money.

Send payment to the following:

Graduate Admissions Processing
Office of Admissions and Records
Texas A&M University
P.O. Box 40001
College Station, Texas 77842-4001

International Graduate Admissions Processing
Office of Admissions and Records
Texas A&M University
P.O. Box 40002
College Station, Texas 77842-4002
USA

Official Transcripts and Records

Submit official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended, including summer school courses and study abroad, to the Bush School. Note: you do not need to submit an official transcript from Texas A&M University; we will download from our own system as we process. An official statement of the award of the degree or diploma is required for each degree completed. Be sure to include a Document ID Sheet with all transcripts submitted for processing. Transcripts should be in a sealed envelope with the registrar's signature across the seal.

If the transcripts or marksheets are from a university outside the United States, they are to be signed by the registrar, controller of examinations, or president of the university issuing the document. Official records are to be in the language of instruction, accompanied by official translation in English, if necessary. Translations sent directly from the institution attended or from a recognized translator are considered official.

Photocopies or other duplications, such as notarized copies and faxes, are not considered official.

Statement of Purpose

In less than 750 words, describe your professional and personal goals and explain how the Bush School will assist you in pursuit of your goals. Include a discussion of how these goals relate to your past experiences in leadership and public service. Your statement should be typed and double spaced on separate sheets of paper with your name and UIN on each page.

Leadership Experience

On a sheet separate from your résumé, list what you feel are your most important leadership experiences since high school. For each one, indicate the position or role you assumed, the duration, and how much time was involved per week (i.e., fraternity treasurer, August 2011-May 2012, involving approximately two hours per week). Other details may be included, at your discretion.

Relevant Experience

MPIA - International Experience
Tell us about the experiences that have influenced your interest in foreign and international affairs, what they have meant to you, and how they may have affected your goals and career plans. (We recognize that every individual's opportunities for such experiences varies substantially and may include study or living abroad, courses or classes, international news events, family members or friends from other cultures or societies, etc.) Please type your statement of no more than 750 words on separate, double-spaced and numbered pages.

MPSA - Public Service Experience:
Tell us about your work helping others that was not reported on the Leadership Experience sheet. People serve in many different ways. Please list the major service activities in which you have been involved since high school, including the dates and amount of time devoted to each (i.e., Habitat for Humanity volunteer, spring semester 2009 for 4 hours per month). Again, you are invited to elaborate on any such experience in your statement of purpose if you feel it is important for defining your future life work.

Résumé

Provide a current résumé outlining your past educational and work experiences. This is a separate document from each of the three essays/lists above (do NOT combine them).

Recommendations

Three recommendations are required. It is strongly recommended that at least one be from someone familiar with your leadership and/or public service experience and that at least one be from someone familiar with your academic achievement and potential.

There are two ways to submit recommendations: online or hard copy (or a combination of the two). To gain access to the online system, you will have to submit your application at www.applytexas.org and wait 48-72 hours to receive an email from Texas A&M. You can then access the Texas A&M University online Letter of Recommendation (LOR) system via the Applicant Information System (AIS) through the Howdy Portal. Follow the instructions carefully. Although the system allows for ten (10) submissions, please limit your recommendations to three (3). You can log into AIS daily to monitor follow-ups by your recommenders.

Recommendations may also be submitted as hard copies with a complete application package. Three letters of recommendation on official letterhead, each to be accompanied by the Bush School recommendation form are required. The recommendation letter, and Bush School recommendation form should be submitted in a sealed envelope with the recommender's signature across the seal.

No fax or e-mail letters are accepted.

Test Scores

Required test scores (GRE preferred over GMAT) should be sent directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to the Bush School of Government and Public Service (GRE Code 6005/GMAT Code 7B7-K9-03) and be from a test date within five years of the date the application form reaches the Office of Admission and Records. Your application is incomplete without test scores and will not be processed. We recommend tests be completed by December to meet the January deadline.

TOEFL/IELTS Scores

Texas A&M University requires that applicants from Non-English speaking countries must present a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of at least 80 ibt (internet) or 550 pbt (paper) or an International English Language Testing System Test (IELTS) score of at least 6.0 overall band. The Bush School prefers a TOEFL score of 100 ibt (internet) or 600 pbt (paper) or 7.0 IELTS score.

TOEFL scores should be sent directly from the testing service to Texas A&M University (Code 6003); there is no institutional code for the IELTS, but tests should be mailed to the address below and be from a test date within two years of the date that the application form reaches the Office of Admissions and Records. You may verify receipt of your official scores by emailing the contact below, including your name (as given on the test), date of birth, UIN, type of test, date of test and date you requested scores to be sent.

Measurement and Research Services (MARS)
Texas A&M University
4239 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-4239
E-mail: mars@tamu.edu

More information is found on the Texas A&M website at http://admissions.tamu.edu/international/gettingin/reqDocuments/grad.aspx

Application Materials Checklist

The Bush School admissions process is self-managed. This means that you manage your application by collecting all supporting materials in a single package and sending it to the Bush School. Please use the Bush School checklist to collect your materials. When you have finished that process, enclose the supporting materials and this checklist in one envelope, and mail it to the Bush School. Please do not staple items or include items in folders or cover sheets; leave sheets and sealed documents loose in your packet.

These materials should be submitted directly to the Bush School in a single envelope.

Director of Admissions
Bush School of Government & Public Service
Texas A&M University
TAMU 4220 - 2129 Allen Building
College Station, Texas 77843-4220
USA

All documents on this page are in PDF format. To view the files you must have the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer.