Graduate Admission Policies

Application Materials Processing

Please keep in mind that processing your supporting credentials may take up to 7 to 10 business days from the time the College receives your material. Your application is not considered complete and ready for review until all required admission materials have been received. 

Admission Decision Timeline

In most cases, the College will not release any admission decisions until after the first priority decision has passed. Once the priority deadline has passed, we strive to review applications in a timely manner and release decisions once the files have been reviewed. Please reach out to your admission counselor if you have specific questions or concerns regarding our admission decision.

Official Transcripts

For application review, unofficial transcripts will suffice in most cases and can be uploaded directly to your application prior to submission. If your bachelor’s degree was earned outside of the U.S. a transcript evaluation might be required for review to ensure U.S. equivalency. Official transcripts must be signed, sealed, and sent directly from your previous institution.

We can only admit students who have a US bachelor's degree (or higher), or equivalent. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs.

We require transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended unless the transcript is for fewer than 8 credits and the course(s) are not required as program prerequisites.

Official transcripts showing proof of graduation are required for enrollment. Official transcripts must be sent directly from your undergraduate institutions to this address: 

Emerson College Graduate Admission
120 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116

Non-U.S. transcripts, ​degrees completed outside the U.S. will require an evaluation. Evaluations must include a course-by-course evaluation, GPA, and degree equivalency. We require a four-year U.S. bachelor's or equivalent. On a case-by-case basis, some applications can be reviewed prior to receipt of the official evaluation. Note that evaluation can take several weeks to complete from the time materials are received, so please allow sufficient time. Have the evaluation sent to the Office of Graduate Admission. Be sure to check with the credential evaluation agency to confirm which documents are needed to complete the evaluation.
 

Recommended Education Credential Services

• World Education Services
• Educational Credential Evaluators
• National Association of Credential Evaluation Services

Proof of English Language Proficiency

Applicants whose native language is not English must provide evidence of English proficiency by submitting official TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or Pearson test results.

Scores will be considered on a case-by-case basis and may require additional submissions to demonstrate English proficiency.
Successful applicants typically have scores within the following ranges:

*Emerson College TOEFL Code: 3367

Proof of English proficiency is not required of students:

• Whose native language is English
  • Note: Supporting documents may be required for approval of English proficiency test waiver who have a bachelor's or master's degree from an institution where the language of instruction was English or the institution is in a country where English is the native language (the U.S. and its territories, the United Kingdom and its territories, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada).

Letters of Recommendation

Emerson College requires letters of recommendation from persons best able to assess academic and professional qualifications, including motivations and goals. The preferred method of submission is directly through the application site, as it ensures the most efficient processing of your application. Electronic submissions coming directly from the applicant will not be accepted.

Essays & Written Submissions

All essays and writing sample(s) should be your original work with no input or editing from others.

At Emerson College we value creativity and critical thinking and believe in the power of every human voice. While we also encourage the growth of new technologies and recognize the growing importance of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, the Office of Admissions believes that the most discerning, thoughtful and compelling personal statements and writing samples are representative of the author’s uniquely human voice, research, and effort.

If you elect to use these tools at any point while writing your essays or producing any other material for your admissions application, they should only be used to support your original ideas rather than to compose your work in its entirety.

Applicants are expected to adhere to the same standards of academic honesty as current Emerson students, who are expected to act with integrity when producing academic work and to abide by the College’s Academic Misconduct Policy.

Concurrent Enrollment

Applicants may not enroll in two Emerson degree programs at the same time. 

Applicants must disclose enrollment in any other degree program, at any institution, that would overlap with their enrollment at Emerson. Graduate Program Directors have the discretion to approve or refuse concurrent enrollment, where the second degree is being completed at another institution.  

Additional documentation may be required in order to make a decision regarding concurrent enrollment. 

Students must complete all coursework required for the bachelor's degree prior to enrolling in a graduate program.

Deposit Fee

Deposit fees are nonrefundable but count toward tuition. 

Deposit fees are waived for the following groups: 

• Veterans
• Benefit Eligible Emerson Employees 
• Emerson 4+1 Programs: Bachelor’s to Master’s  

Admission Deferral

Deferrals are approved on a case-by-case basis. Please reach out to your admission counselor for more information. 

Denied Applicants 

Applicants who have been denied admission must wait one full year before applying to the same graduate program.  

Note: This rule applies to applicants of the Communications Disorders On-Campus program and the Speech@Emerson program. 

Emerson Community Standards

Emerson’s Community Standards are upheld at all Admission-related events and in communications. 

Scholarships

All applicants are considered for scholarship funding automatically upon applying. No separate scholarship application is required. If you are awarded a scholarship, you will be notified at the same time of admission. For more information visit our Financial Aid page.

Undocumented/DACA Status

Emerson College welcomes students who are undocumented or hold DACA status to apply using the regular admission process. Please disregard all requirements for international students, from application through acceptance.

Contact the Office of Graduate Admission with any questions related to your application. DACA and undocumented students are eligible for scholarships. Visit our Financial Support website for more information. 

For resources and information for DACA recipients and TPS beneficiaries, please view the Social Justice Collaborative's website.

Violation of Admission Policy

Emerson College reserves the right to rescind our offer of admission if the College receives information that indicates an applicant: provided misleading information in connection with an application, made incomplete or inaccurate statements, submitted false material in connection with an admission application, had a significant decline in academic performance after submitting the application, engaged in academic misconduct, engaged in disciplinary misconduct at any academic institution or with an employer, engaged in legally prohibited behavior, or otherwise acted in a manner inconsistent with the College’s Code of Community Standards or mission.

Part-time and Full-time Enrollment

Domestic students can enroll in full-time and/or part-time for most graduate programs, see the academic catalog for program-specific information related to course of study. Graduate students generally take 4-12 credits each semester to fulfill their degree requirements. All students must graduate within 7 years after starting their degree program.

International students must be enrolled full-time to maintain F-1 visa status. To maintain full-time enrollment you must take at least 8 credits or more each semester as a graduate student. All students must graduate within 7 years after starting their degree program. 

Students who wish to take less than 8 credits should consult with OISA to request a Reduced Course Load or other options before dropping courses or registering for a new term.

For more information review our International Student Affairs Academic Registration Requirements.