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Application Requirements

Master of International Affairs 5-year (3+2) Degree with the Texas A&M Departments of International Studies and Economics

MIA 5-year (3+2) Degree

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The Master of International Affairs (MIA) admits students from the undergraduate degrees of International Studies or Economics into the 5-year MIA program once per year, for fall entry only.

Fall 2025 Application Deadlines

Application Opens: September 1, 2024

Application Deadline: January 5, 2025 *

An application and all materials (including recommendations) must be received the Bush School’s Graduate Admissions office by 11:59 PM (Central Time) on the day of the application deadline listed above. Incomplete applications are NOT considered or reviewed for admission.

* The application deadline may be extended based on a space and funding available basis. Website will be updated after January 5 if deadline is extended.

REQUIREMENTS

Current Texas A&M University (College Station, TX) undergraduate students may apply for admission into the 3+2 MIA program during the fall of their junior year (or in the fall when they are classified as a U3) as long as the student:

  • is classified as a U3 (or junior) majoring in one of the following at the time of their application, and
    • Economics
    • International Studies (specifically in the emphasis track of International Politics & Diplomacy) 
  • has (or will have) a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.25 if majoring in Economics or 3.5 if majoring in International Studies by the start of the fall semester in which they will enter the 3+2 program, and
  • has worked with their undergrad advisor to map out undergrad courses the student must complete prior to and after entry into the 3+2 program (if admitted), and
  • has (or will have) approximately 66-78 credit hours of their undergrad degree completed by the start of the fall semester of their junior year (when they begin the 3+2 application process), and
  • is predicted to have at least 102 credit hours of their undergrad degree completed by the start of the fall semester in which they will enter the 3+2 program, and
  • has (or will have) completed their required study abroad trip prior to the start of the fall semester in which they will enter the 3+2 program, (only applicable to INTS majors), and
  • is in good academic standing with their undergrad department, and
  • is not expected to graduate or complete their undergrad degree during the academic year in which they are applying*, and
  • understands that failure to satisfy ALL of these requirements will result in admission (if offered) being revoked to the 3+2 program.

*For example: A Texas A&M Undergrad student majoring in Economics who is expected to graduate from their undergrad degree in May 2024 is ineligible to apply for fall 2024 admission into the 3+2 program. The student would need to apply to the 2-year MIA degree instead.

ADMISSIONS PROCESS

The Master of International Affairs 3+2 program has a four-step admissions process:

  • Apply
    An application must be submitted, and all materials (including recommendations) must be received on or before 11:59 PM (Central Time) on the application deadline. Applications submitted but missing any of the required items (see below) are considered INCOMPLETE and are not considered or reviewed.

  • Interviews
    Completed applications are reviewed in mid-January/early February to decide if an applicant is denied, placed on hold pending further review, or invited to interview. Applicants invited to interview are encouraged to attend Interview Conference Weekend (February 21 & 22, 2025), but alternative interviews are scheduled throughout the month of February via Zoom for those unable to attend. Applicants invited to interview must complete two interviews with faculty/staff to be considered for admission and funding.

  • Decision
    In mid-March, admissions decisions are emailed to applicants who have been interviewed. If offered admission, the applicant will receive an email with an offer letter attached that includes the Bush School funding they’ve been awarded. Applicants have until April 15 to accept or decline their admissions offer.
  • Coursework and GPA Verification
    The transcript of students admitted into the 3+2 program will be checked after spring and summer grades are posted to ensure the student has completed all of their undergraduate coursework as indicated on their course planner and still meets the minimum GPA requirement to enroll in the program.

HOW TO APPLY

Current Texas A&M undergraduate students who meet the requirements listed above may apply by submitting all of the following materials by the application deadline. Incomplete applications will NOT be reviewed or considered for admission. To help you stay on track of your application, we’ve created a step-by-step guide and checklist in PDF format for you to use: Fall 2025 5-Year MIA Application Requirements – Step-by-Step Guide & Checklist.

To avoid confusion or delay in processing an application, please use the same spelling and name on all correspondence. Notify the Bush School Admissions Office immediately of any changes to your name.

3+2 Internal Application

Apply by submitting a Fall 2025: 3+2 MIA Internal Application. There is no application fee.

The application will ask you to provide your information, answer program-specific questions, and upload your supporting materials (resume, personal statement, 3+2 course planner, and GRE/GMAT test scores if desired). We advise 3+2 MIA applicants to have their supporting materials ready to upload before filling out and submitting the application.

Recommendations

Two recommendations (consisting of a Recommendation Form and letter) are required and must be emailed directly from your recommender to the Bush School’s Graduate Admissions Office by the application deadline. Applicants should discuss the program and recommendation requirements with their recommender well in advance of the application deadline. Applications with fewer than two recommendations will NOT be reviewed or considered for admission.

  • (strongly encouraged) a higher education academic reference, particularly from a course instructor who can attest to an applicant’s capability to pursue graduate school.

  • a professional reference as needed, particularly for those who worked before or during their undergrad degree. A professional reference should speak to the applicant’s leadership, character, public service, military or work experience, but should also provide specific anecdotes as to why the applicant is prepared for graduate school.

Recommendations can be from:

  • (strongly encouraged) a higher education academic reference, particularly from a course instructor who can attest to an applicant’s capability to pursue graduate school.

  • a professional reference as needed, particularly for those who worked before or during their undergrad degree. A professional reference should speak to the applicant’s leadership, character, public service, military or work experience, but should also provide specific anecdotes as to why the applicant is prepared for graduate school.

Instructions for applicant:

  1. As soon as the applicant has finalized who their two recommenders will be, the applicant should fill out the top portion of the Recommendation Form with their information.

  2. Applicant emails Recommendation Form to their recommenders with instructions for the recommender (see below) and should communicate a deadline (preferably two weeks prior to application deadline) for their recommender to complete the following steps.

    • Write a letter of recommendation (preferably on official letterhead).

    • Fill out the bottom portion of the recommendation form (evaluation section).

    • Email the completed recommendation form and letter to the Bush School Graduate Admissions Office at bushschoolapplications@tamu.edu **Recommendations emailed from an applicant are not accepted; recommendations must be emailed directly from the recommender.

    • As needed, applicant sends reminders to their recommenders as deadline approaches.

      The Bush School Admissions Office will send the applicant an email notification each time a recommendation has been received on their behalf. However, it is the applicant’s responsibility to follow-up with any recommenders to ensure they submit their recommendation by the application deadline.

Instructions for recommender:

  1. Fill out bottom portion of the Recommendation Form sent from the applicant.
  2. Write a letter of recommendation for the applicant on official letterhead (if possible). See above for things we are looking for.
  3. Email completed Recommendation Form and letter to Ashlee Treadway in the Bush School Graduate Admissions at bushschoolapplications@tamu.edu. If you do not receive a confirmation email within 1-2 business days, please follow-up.

Résumé

Upload a current résumé (max of two pages) that includes activities after high school to the Fall 2025: 3+2 MIA Internal Application. A Résumé Template is available for reference, containing the information/sections to include in your résumé. The formatting/order of contents in your résumé do not have to match the template. However, make sure the content listed in the template is found somewhere on your résumé.

Personal Statement

Upload a personal statement answering the following prompt to the Fall 2025: 3+2 MIA Internal Application. Statements should be typed in 11 pt font, spaced 1.5”, and include the applicant’s name, the title “Personal Statement,” and a page number on each page.

Prompt: In 1,000 words or less, please address the following topics in your personal statement:

  • What inspired or influenced you to pursue a career in international affairs (include relevant people, places, travel, courses, internships, and/or events),
  • Your personal and professional goals within international affairs,
  • What value you bring to the program (include meaningful experiences, education, and/or jobs you have had), and
  • How an education from the Bush School will help you to achieve your goals.

Transcripts

Students do not need to submit or upload their Texas A&M transcript. The Bush School’s Graduate Admissions Office will download a copy of the student’s transcript at the time they submit their application, after final fall grades are posted, and again in early August to ensure the student successfully completed all of their undergrad course requirements and met the minimum GPA requirement.

GRE/GMAT Test Scores

GRE or GMAT test scores are not required to apply to the 3+2 MIA degree program. However, scores are accepted for anyone who feels their scores can strengthen their application, offset concerns such as lack of experience in the field, or if their grades/experiences do not reflect their current abilities.

When considering whether to submit scores for your application, know that our average GRE score is a 310 for those applying to the MIA degree. We prefer the GRE over GMAT. Any score of 300 or above can help strengthen an application. Scores must be within five years of the date the application is submitted.

Applicants who decide to submit test scores should upload a copy of their Test Score Report to their Fall 2025: 3+2 MIA Internal Application. Official scores are not needed but can be sent to Texas A&M University using the following codes. (GRE Code: 6003 / GMAT Code: 7B7-K9-57)

5-Year MIA Course Planner

Students interested in pursuing the 3+2 MIA degree must meet with their undergrad advisor well in advance of applying to ensure the student is and remains on track to complete all of their undergraduate requirements prior to fall entry into the 3+2 degree (if admitted).

When the student is ready to apply, the student and advisor must fill out and sign the corresponding course planner below confirming what the student has completed and still needs to complete to satisfy their undergrad degree requirements. The student is then required to upload a copy of their completed and signed course planner to their Fall 2025: 3+2 MIA Internal Application.

Click here to download the 3+2 MIA Course Planner for your undergrad major.

AFTER SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATON

Please allow us 7-10 business days to process your application once submitted, sometimes longer during peak times (mid-December through mid-January).

Once we have finished processing your application, we (Bush School Graduate Admissions) will email you at the email address you entered on your application with the official status of your application (Incomplete or Complete).

  • If incomplete, it is your responsibility to submit the missing material(s) by the application deadline.
  • If complete, sit tight and wait for an email containing an update on the status of your application in late January, early February.

Applicants invited to interview will receive an email in late January/early February with an invitation to register for two interviews, either during Interview Conference Weekend (encouraged/recommended) or at another time via Zoom during the month of February. Applicants invited to interview must complete an interview with two faculty/staff members to continue in the admissions process.

Final admissions decisions are made and emailed to applicants no later than March 15. If offered admission, the email will contain an offer letter with the applicant’s funding award. Applicants have until April 15 to accept or decline their offer of admission.

** Applications submitted after January 5 (if deadline is extended) are reviewed on a rolling and funding available basis.

CONTACT INFORMATION: BUSH SCHOOL GRADUATE ADMISSIONS

Questions about undergraduate course or degree requirements in preparation for applying to the 3+2 MIA program should be directed to the student’s undergraduate advisor.

Questions about applying to the 3+2 MIA degree should be directed to the Bush School Graduate Admissions Office:

Ashlee Treadway or Kathryn Meyer
Phone: 979-862-3476
Email: bushschoolapplications@tamu.edu