• home
• about the department
• undergraduate program
• graduate program
• » graduate home
• » phd program
• » masters program
• » job placement
• » career resources
• » forms for current students
• » department handbook
• » faqs
• » graduate admissions
• » subjects: spring 2010
• » subjects: fall 2009
• people
• research projects

Frequently Asked Questions

• What graduate degrees are offered by the Political Science Department at MIT?
  Either a Master of Science in Political Science or a PhD in Political Science.
• How do I apply to MIT's Political Science Graduate Program?
  The Political Science department at MIT uses the university-wide graduate application. To obtain an application please visit either the admissions page of this site or the Graduate Admissions website. The vast majority of applicants apply online, the easiest and most direct way to apply. You may also download an application, or request that one be mailed to you. Mailed applications may take up to two weeks to be sent out from the mailing house.
• Do I need a master's degree before applying for a PhD?
  No. All applicants interested in a PhD in Political Science should apply directly to the PhD program whether or not they have a master's degree. Students who are accepted into the master's program in Political Science at MIT typically do not continue on for a PhD. Many of our PhD students do not have a master's degree.
• How much is the application fee?
  $75.00 US dollars. The application fee must be paid by check drawn on a US bank or by credit card if applying online. The Admissions Committee will not review applications received without a fee.
• Can the application fee be waived?
  No.
• When is the application deadline?
  The application due date is December 31st for admission the following September. Applications received after December 31st will not be considered, however supplementary materials such as transcripts and recommendations that are received in early January will be added to existing applicant files.
• May students enter the program in the spring as well as the fall?
  No, just fall.
• Is the GRE General Exam required?
  Yes, the general GRE is required. The GRE should be taken early enough for the score to be sent to MIT by the application deadline. Check with ETS for timeframes. The institution code is 3514. The department code is 1902.
• Are TOEFL's required?
  All applicants whose first language is not English are required to take the TOEFL, including students who have received degrees from English speaking institutions. In a limited number of cases a TOEFL waiver may be granted.  Applicants must apply separately for a TOEFL waiver. The institution code is 3514. The department code is 92. We now also accept IELTs
• Are there minimum scores required on the GRE, TOEFL, and IELT tests?
  There is no minimum score for the GRE. The minimum score for the TOEFL is 600 paper based/250 computer based/100 internet based. The minimum score for IElt is 7. If an applicant has not met the TOEFL requirement the application will not be reviewed.
• What is the average range of GRE scores of accepted students?
  720 to 750.
• Do you accept GMAT or LSAT scores in place of the GRE?
  No.
• If my GRE or TOEFL scores are old and ETS will not send them will they still fulfill the application requirement?
  We require official ETS scores. An application is not considered complete unless we receive official ETS scores. The Admissions Committee may choose not to review incomplete applications.
• Is a minimum GPA required to apply?
  No, since many schools do not calculate GPAs we do not impose a set minimum. Although we do not have a minimum GPA requirement the applicant pool is academically strong and very competitive.
• Does Political Science have a supplemental application?
  No, but we do require a 5 to 15 page writing sample.
• Can I visit the Political Science department prior to applying?
  We do not require interviews of our applicants. Applicants wishing further information about a faculty member's field of research should contact that professor via email. Applicants should keep in mind that faculty schedules are very full. MIT holds campus tours daily at 10:00AM and 2:00 PM. For further information regarding the campus tours visit the main MIT website.
• Applicants accepted into the program will be invited to visit at the department's Open House in March.
• Are applications reviewed as they are received?
  Applications are not reviewed until after the December 31st deadline. All admission decisions will be made by the first week of March.
• Are all applications treated equally in the admissions process?
  Yes. MIT has a non-discrimination policy. The only applications which are reviewed separately are masters and PhD.
• What is the average age of applicants?
  Applicant ages vary. Some applicants are applying straight out of college, others from the work force or another masters program.
• What component of the application holds the most weight during the decision process?
  The admissions committee weighs all parts of the application in an effort to get as complete a picture of the applicant as possible. The committee looks for applicants whose intellectual interests, skills, aptitude and experience best matches the department's teaching and research programs.
• When will I receive a decision from Political Science at MIT?
  Decision letters are sent no later than the first week of March. Acceptance letters are sent via DHL. Denial letters are sent via the US Post Office.
• Are decisions given over the phone or via email?
  No, only by mail.
• Is an accepted student allowed to defer?
  Deferrals are handled on an individual basis. The maximum deferral granted is for a single year. Funding may not be deferred.
• Are new graduate students assigned faculty advisors?
  Yes. When a student enrolls, the department assigns a faculty advisor. The advisor and student are typically matched according to their field of interest. Faculty advisors may be changed during the academic year if fields of interest change.
• Can I transfer credits from another SM or PhD program I have attended?
  We do not require a set number of credits to complete our PhD program, but certain prescribed course work must be completed. Previous course work may fulfill some of our requirements. A student's previous course work is reviewed by the student's advisor to determine whether it fulfills a specific requirement.
• Does the Political Science department fund all graduate students?
  We do not fund master's students. Not all PhD students are offered funding. Funding is based on merit not need. We offer 10 to 12 incoming students funding each year. The funding package is for 5 continuous years with full tuition and a 9-month stipend, which continues as long as a student is in good academic standing.
• What funding possibilities exist for students not funded by the department?
  It is the student's responsibility to look into alternative funding such as: faculty sponsored research, teaching assistantships at Harvard, outside fellowships or grants. We discourage RA or TA positions for first year students.
• Can an applicant who was not accepted into the program request information as to why they were not accepted?
  Due to the large volume of qualified applicants to the Political Science graduate program and the small number of students accepted into the program we are unable to give specifics as to why an application was denied.
• How many years does it take to complete the SM program?
  The SM program is typically a full calendar year or 3 semesters (fall, spring, summer).
• How many years does it take to complete the PhD program?
  It varies depending on the individual. Required course work should be completed by a student's 5th or 6th semester. At that time, field research and dissertation writing begin.
• What do Political Science Master's and PhD graduates do after obtaining their degrees?
  Graduates of the Political Science Master's and PhD program are engaged in a wide range of careers in academia, government and industry. See Job Placement.

© 2009 MIT Department of Political Science