Admissions

What are the characteristics of a succesful applicant?

Fletcher actively seeks to enroll a diverse class of students who have demonstrated academic excellence, have a wide range of personal, professional, and academic experience, and have a strong commitment to an international career. We seek students who, by virtue of their background, achievement, and experience, can contribute to the education of their peers and to the scholarship and practice of international relations. While each degree program will have its own specific requirements, in general, applicants must demonstrate research ability and a strong familiarity with a second language, and hold a bachelor's degree or its equivalent. All students must have proven English language proficiency. Fletcher students come from a wide range of undergraduate majors, including international relations and other social sciences, the humanities, business, and physical sciences and engineering.

Is work experience required for admission?

While work experience is strongly recommended for all of our degree programs, the amount and specific type of experience will vary depending on the program you are applying to. The Committee on Admissions carefully reviews each applicant's personal and professional experience to assess readiness for graduate study at Fletcher. Voluntary positions, internships, and part- and full-time experience all play a role in preparing students for study.

Is international experience required for admission?
International experience is not required, but it is strongly recommended. International experience includes time spent living, studying, working, volunteering, or traveling outside of the applicant’s home country.
What is the average GPA of admitted students?
Since Fletcher students come from a broad range of educational backgrounds that utilize different grading scales, calculating an average GPA for all admitted students is impossible. Among admitted students who attended colleges or universities using a 4.0 scale, the middle fifty percent of GPAs has fallen in the range of 3.4 to 3.8 in recent years.
Is proficiency in a second language required for admission?
Students must demonstrate proficiency in a second language before graduation from Fletcher. Since the Fletcher course load is demanding and does not leave much time for language study, students need to have a solid foundation in a foreign language before enrolling. English is considered the second language for students whose first language is not English.
Do I have to take Economics classes before applying?
While we strongly encourage students to have a solid foundation in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and statistics prior to enrolling at Fletcher, we do not require this as part of the application.  That said, the Committee on Admissions does consider prior quantitative coursework and quantitative GRE and GMAT scores when reviewing applications for admission.  Furthermore, if your career goals and plan of study at Fletcher require significant quantitative skills, it is important that your application demonstrates prior experience in these areas.  In addition, MIB students , in particular, must be able to thrive in a rigorous academic environment that includes substantial quantitative coursework. This capacity can be demonstrated in several ways: an undergraduate academic record that shows success in quantitative coursework such as macroeconomics, microeconomics, calculus, statistics, and/or econometrics; a strong quantitative GMAT or GRE score; or full-time work experience with significant and demonstrable quantitative responsibilities.
I am still an undergraduate. Can I still apply to Fletcher?
The Fletcher School accepts applications from students currently in their last year of university study. Applicants should include a transcript indicating their most recent grades. Those who enroll will be required to submit a final transcript that shows that all requirements for graduation were met. In addition, students who are in their final year of undergraduate study have the option of applying to Fletcher’s Map Your Future Program. Map Your Future guarantees admitted applicants a place in the MALD or MIB degree program after completing two to three years of professional work experience in a Fletcher-approved position. Click here for more details.
I already have a master's degree. Can I still apply for the MALD?
Yes. Please submit transcripts from all institutions attended.
I have taken master's level courses at another institution. Can I transfer credit toward my Fletcher degree?
Provided you have not received the master's degree, you may petition to transfer some credits toward your degree.
What is needed to apply to the PhD?
In addition to the requirements shared by all degree programs (strong academic potential, clear goals, international and professional experience), applicants to the PhD program must have a master’s degree, equivalent to Fletcher’s MALD, from a program lasting at least three semesters and requiring at least 12 to 16 semester-long courses.  PhD applicants use the same online application as master’s degree applicants, but need to submit two essays (in addition to the personal statement), as well a dissertation proposal, and a copy of their master’s thesis.
Can I apply to more than one degree program at Fletcher
No, you can only apply to one degree program at Fletcher in the same admissions cycle.
Do you enroll a spring class for MALD, MIB, MA, LLM, and PHD?
For the MALD program, a limited number of students are admitted for January enrollment each year. Students applying for spring admission and financial aid may be considered for scholarship awards when funds are available. There is no January enrollment offered for the MIB, LLM, MA, or PhD programs.