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Application Requirements

Master of International Affairs

Admissions Info - Master of International Affairs

Overview | Timeline | Deadlines | Requirements | International Applicants | Contact Us

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The application and all supporting materials (including recommendations) must be submitted through the online Texas A&M University GraduateCAS application system by 11:59 PM (Central Time) on the day of the application deadlines listed below. Incomplete applications will NOT be reviewed or considered for admission.

Fall 2024 Application Deadlines
Priority Funding Application DeadlineFinal Application Deadline
U.S. Applicants: December 15, 2023U.S. Applicants: January 12, 2024
International Applicants: December 15, 2023International Applicants: January 12, 2024

Wondering what the difference is between these two deadlines?
Visit the MIA App Deadlines page for more information.

Texas A&M 3+2 Applicants: Do NOT follow these instructions. Refer to the 3+2 MIA Application Instructions.


Current Texas A&M Graduate Students: If you wish to change your graduate major to the MIA program or continue in the MIA program upon graduation from your current graduate degree, contact the Bush School Admissions Office for next steps.


REQUIREMENTS

(click the links below to jump to the corresponding section)
To help you keep your application on track, we’ve created a step-by-step guide and checklist in PDF format for you to use as you work on your application: Fall 2024 MIA Application Requirements – Step-by-Step Guide & Checklist

  1. Application – Opens in early August!
  2. Application Fee
  3. Résumé
  4. Personal Statement
  5. International Experience Essay
  6. Recommendations (3)
  7. Transcripts
  8. GRE/GMAT Scores (optional)
  9. Proof of English Proficiency (required for applicants from non-English speaking countries)

For a detailed timeline of the admissions process, visit our Admissions Timeline page.

For questions, contact the Bush School’s Graduate Admissions Office. 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.

Application

Start your application in GradCAS at any time! You may return to upload additional materials or update information prior to submitting your application. Just make sure you submit your application and all materials prior to 11:59 PM (Central Time) on the application deadline.

  1. Create an account in the2024 Texas A&M University GraduateCAS (GradCAS).
  2. Fill out all required fields in Quadrant 1: Personal Information.
  3. Fill out all required fields and upload copies of your transcripts in Quadrant 2: Academic History.
  4. Fill out all required fields and upload your resume to Quadrant 3: Supporting Information.
  5. Add the ‘Fall 2024 MIA’ program to your application in Quadrant 4: Program Materials and proceed with filling out the program-specific questions, uploading the program-specific materials (personal statement, essay, test scores), and requesting your recommendations.
  6. Submit your application by the paying the application fee either BEFORE or AFTER your recommendations are received (but prior to the application deadline).

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Application Fee

To submit the application, applicants must pay a non-refundable application fee via credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover):

  • $89 for domestic applicants*
  • $114 for international applicants

Application Fee Waivers: We cannot waive the application fee for any applicant. However, we do have written agreements with several service organizations whereby the Bush School will pay the application fee for members, alumni, or participants of one of the following groups:

  • AmeriCorps, Teach For America, City Year, and/or Peace Corps:
    If you are a member or alumni of one of these service organizations, email a copy of your service letter (or a document listing your dates of service) to bushschoolapplications@tamu.edu BEFORE submitting your application.  We will verify your service, pay the application fee for you, and reply with further instructions for you to submit your application. **DO NOT** pay the application fee. Refunds cannot be given once payment is made.

  • PPIA Junior Summer Institute Participants: 
    If you participated in the Public Policy International Affairs Junior Summer Institute (JSI), email a copy of your transcript to bushschoolapplications@tamu.edu BEFORE submitting your application. We will pay the application fee for you and reply with further instructions for you to submit your application. **DO NOT** pay the application fee. Refunds cannot be given once payment in made.

  • Pickering, Rangel, or Payne Fellowship Finalists or Recipients: 
    If you are a finalist or recipient of the Pickering, Rangel, or Payne Fellowship, email bushschoolapplications@tamu.edu when you are ready to submit your application with your GradCAS Application ID, the name of the fellowship and whether you are a finalist or recipient of the fellowship. We will verify your status, pay the application fee for you, and reply with further instructions for you to submit your application. **DO NOT** pay the application fee. Refunds cannot be given once payment is made.

McNair Scholars: Texas A&M partners with the McNair Scholars program to pay the application fee for applicants to various programs across campus. Scholars must submit a letter from their McNair Program Director verifying their status as a McNair Scholar in good standing to Delayne Nichols at d-nichols@tamu.edu. Include the program and term you are applying to.  Visit the Texas A&M Graduate Admissions website for details.

Pell Grant Recipients or Low Income Applicants: Submit an awards letter from your current school’s financial aid office showing the award of a Pell Grant or your Student Aid Report (SAR) from a current FAFSA showing financial need to d-nichols@tamu.edu in the Texas A&M Office of Graduate Admissions. Visit the Texas A&M Graduate Admissions website for details.

Exceptional Financial Hardship?
The Bush School has a very limited number of application fees we can pay for domestic applicants with an exceptional financial hardship. We are unable to pay application fees for international applicants.

  • If you are a U.S. applicant experiencing an exceptional financial hardship:
    Email bushschoolapplications@tamu.edu with your resume and an essay of 300 words or less explaining your hardship and need for an application fee waiver. Hardships may be due to your family receiving public assistance, experiencing a recent family tragedy, or other financial limitation. We will review your request and if approved, pay the application fee for you and reply to your request with further instructions on how to submit your application.

    *DO NOT** pay the application fee until receive a decision from us. Refunds cannot be given once payment is made.

  • International Applicants: Texas A&M nor The Bush School waives or pays the application fees for international applicants.

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Résumé

Applicants are asked to upload a current résumé (two pages maximum) containing activities after high school to the Supporting Information quadrant → Documents section of their application in GradCAS. A Résumé Template is available for reference, containing the information/sections to include in your résumé.

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Personal Statement

Statements should answer the following prompt, 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. Upload to the Program Materials quadrant → Documents tab of your application in GradCAS.

Prompt: In 750 words or less, please address the following topics in your personal statement:

  • What are your personal and professional goals for a career in international affairs,
  • What (including people, places, internships, or events) inspired you to pursue a career in this field,
  • How obtaining the MIA from the Bush School will help you achieve your goals, and
  • What value you bring to the program; this may be knowledge gained from meaningful experiences, education, or jobs you have held in the past.

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International Experience Essay

We understand experiences and opportunities will vary substantially from applicant to applicant. That’s okay! The purpose of the International Experience essay is simply to help us gain a better understanding of an applicant’s exposure to international affairs and what inspired them to pursue a degree/career in this field. Some repetition between your personal statement and essay may occur, but this essay should include new material too.

Essays should address the following prompt, be typed in 11 pt font, spaced 1.5”, and include the applicant’s name, the title “International Experience Essay,” and a page number on each page. Upload to the Program Materials quadrant → Documents tab of your application in GradCAS.

Prompt: In 750 words or less, tell us about your international experience(s), exposure to international affairs, and what influenced you to pursue a degree in this field. This could include studying abroad, living abroad, influential courses or readings, language interests/abilities, international news or events, cultural interactions, and more.

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Recommendations (3)

Three recommendations (consisting of a letter in English and brief evaluation) are required and must be submitted electronically by the application deadline. Applications with fewer than three recommendations will NOT be reviewed for admission.

Recommendations can be from:

  • (preferred) 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 graduated several years prior to applying. Professional references can speak to the applicant’s leadership; character; public service, military, or work experience, but should provide specific anecdotes as to why the applicant is qualified for graduate school.

For instructions on requesting, monitoring, and resending a recommendation request, click here.

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Transcripts

Applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree or are expected to earn a bachelor’s degree by the time they enroll in the program. Applicants with a degree from a university outside of the United States must have earned a degree equivalent to a 4-year bachelor’s degree in the United States. Visit the Texas A&M International Graduate Admissions website for a list of Bachelor’s Degree equivalencies.

COPIES OF OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED TO APPLY
To apply, applicants are asked to enter the name of every college they attended on their application in GradCAS via the Academic History quadrant → Colleges Attended section, but only need to upload a copy of their transcript for the 4-year colleges they attended. Official transcripts are not needed to apply, but will be required upon admission to enroll in courses.

  • Texas A&M Current or Former Students: Upload a copy of your Texas A&M transcript to GradCAS.
  • International (non-US) Transcripts: Please visit the International Application Requirements for more details on the academic records need to upload.

Some items to note:

  • Transcripts from junior or community colleges are not needed.
  • For each degree earned, the corresponding transcript must be noted with the degree earned and the date the degree was awarded.
  • A copy of an official transcript containing courses that were taken at a 4-year college and transferred into another college are required, even if the courses are listed on the transcript of the college the courses were transferred to.
  • Transcripts uploaded to the application are considered “unofficial” but will be used to review an application for admission.

OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS are only required from all 4-year colleges attended upon admission into the program to enroll in courses. Click here to view instructions on submitting official transcripts.

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GRE/GMAT Scores (optional)

GRE or GMAT test scores are not required to apply. However, scores are:

  • Strongly encouraged for those with a cumulative GPA below a 3.2. We use the cumulative GPA (out of 4.0) as listed on the transcript issuing the degree (bachelor, master, PhD).

  • Accepted for anyone who feels their scores can complement a strong file or offset concerns such as a low GPA, lack of experience in the field, or if their grades/experiences do not reflect 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. Any score of 300 or above can help strengthen an application. Test scores must be within five years of the submission date of your application.

If you choose to submit GRE or GMAT test scores, upload a copy of your Test Score Report to the Program Materials quadrant → Documents tab of your application in GradCAS. 

International Applicants: If you wish to provide Proof of English Proficiency via a GRE/GMAT score, then you must submit your official test scores directly from the Education Testing Service (ETS) to Texas A&M University (College Station, TX). Use GRE code: 6003 or GMAT code: 7B7-K9-57. Also upload a copy of your Test Score Report to the Program Materials quadrant → Documents tab of your application in GradCAS. 

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Proof of English Proficiency

(for citizens from non-English speaking countries)

Citizens from non-English speaking countries are required to submit proof of English proficiency at the time they apply to be considered for admission, unless they are a citizen of one of the countries exempt from this requirement as listed on the Texas A&M International Graduate Admissions website. If your country of citizenship is not listed/exempt, visit the International Application Requirements page.

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Contact Information: Bush School Graduate Admissions

Questions about the application or application process for the Master of International Affairs program should be directed to Ashlee Treadway or Kathryn Meyer in the Bush School Admissions Office:.

Phone: 979-862-3476
Email: bushschoolapplications@tamu.edu

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