Frequently Asked Questions

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.

International experience is not required, but it is strongly recommended. This includes time spent living, studying, working, volunteering, or traveling outside of the applicant’s home country, as well as experience working with international populations and policy issues.

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.

Yes, we accept applications from students currently in their last year of undergraduate 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.

Provided you have not received the master's degree, you may petition to transfer some credits toward your degree.

No, you can only apply to one degree program at Fletcher in the same admissions cycle.

The admissions committee uses the same criteria to evaluate applicants who meet the early and regular deadlines. The benefit of applying early is simply the possibility to receive an admissions decision by January 1. Additionally, if the Committee on Admissions defers making a final decision, the application will receive a second round of review with the regular deadline applications.

Two letters of recommendation are required and are normally sufficient. All applicants are strongly encouraged to include at least one academic recommendation and one professional recommendation. Applicants to the LLM program should include a recommendation from a law professor. If you feel that an additional letter would shed light on your credentials in a way not covered by the first two letters, you may submit it.

We do not accept additional writing samples for the MALD, MGA, MIB, LLM, MATA, MAHA, or MA program. However, a writing sample is a required part of the PhD application.

Minimum acceptable scores for TOEFL are 100 (with sub-scores of 25 on each section). For IELTS, 7.0 (with sub-scores of 7 on each section) is the minimum score. If you have achieved C1 Advanced or C2 proficiency on the Cambridge English Assessment, you can have the English testing requirement waived. Contact fletcheradmissions@tufts.edu for information on how to document your C1/C2 proficiency.

No. Fletcher does not accept the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) as a testing credential.

As is the case with other supplemental materials (such as additional recommendations or records of extra coursework), if you feel you can strengthen your candidacy with a GRE or GMAT score report, you are welcome to submit one, though it is not required.

Research The Fletcher School and its programs prior to the interview. Be prepared to discuss your past experiences, your career goals, and why you are interested in the Fletcher program. Please dress as you would for any job interview and have available a copy of your résumé or curriculum vitae.

• Applicants who receive a waitlist offer must decide whether they wish to keep their application under review by remaining on the waitlist. If places in the incoming class become available, generally after April 20 when all admitted candidates have made their enrollment decision, the admissions committee will fill the class with candidates who have elected to remain on the waitlist. The admissions committee uses the same criteria for evaluating waitlisted candidates for admission as it does for those admitted initially. Application feedback is not available to applicants who elect to remain on the waitlist, as their applications are still under active consideration.
• The Admissions Office will periodically update candidates regarding the status of the waitlist. In addition, waitlist candidates should feel free to contact the Admissions Office for updates.
• The Admissions Committee will begin reviewing waitlist candidates in early May. Many admissions offers to candidates on the waitlist are made in May; however, offers may continue throughout the late spring and summer. The waitlist will remain active until the incoming class is full, and the Admissions Office will notify remaining candidates when the waitlist is closed.

Yes. We are happy to discuss the waitlist with you via phone, email, or in person. While we are not able to offer evaluative interviews to waitlisted candidates, we encourage you to visit Fletcher and our office if you have the opportunity to do so.

Graduate school is a significant investment, and it is important to develop a financial plan before enrolling. Learn more about building your financial plan here. 

Scholarships are awarded on the basis of both a holistic review of your application and assessment of financial need. There are no awards made based on need alone or on merit alone. Need is assessed with the Fletcher Scholarship Application. No distinction is made between domestic and international students in awarding scholarship funds. All applicants who complete the Fletcher Scholarship Application (included with the application for admission) are eligible for scholarship consideration.

Typically, 75% of Fletcher students work part-time during the academic year, in a variety of on- and off-campus positions. Students most commonly work in the range of 8-12 hours per week, at a rate of $15-$20 per hour.

Proof of funding is not required for the application process, but international students who enroll will need to submit proof of funding as part of the visa process.

Spring enrollment is open to MALD, MIB, and MA candidates only. MIB:QM enrollment is open only in the fall semester.

Fletcher's curriculum is oriented toward providing students with the functional expertise they need for global careers. Although most fields of study are organized around functional themes, the school also supports regional interests through coursework, comparative case studies, faculty and student research, and overseas internships.

Each year Fletcher graduates accept challenging positions in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, as well as with international organizations. Fletcher prepares students for careers in applied research, business, development, economics, foreign affairs, international law, and policy analysis. 

• Fletcher's unique location provides the best of both worlds: the friendliness and vitality of a classic college town and the urban influence of nearby Boston. Boston is an academic and intellectual capital, home to some of the greatest universities in the world, the headquarters of many NGOs and non-profits, a center for international business and finance, a centerpiece of US history, and a diverse, multicultural, safe, and livable community.
• From Fidelity Investments to Oxfam America to numerous consular offices, Boston offers a wealth of professional opportunities, and the city is a global hub of bio-tech, robotics, and multinational corporations. Many of the world’s leading private, public, and nonprofit organizations maintain their headquarters in Boston, providing Fletcher students with invaluable resources to find internships and employment, and to establish networks of professional contacts. Home to more than 60 distinguished colleges and universities; the Boston area boasts the largest concentration of international students in the world, providing an unparalleled environment for study and research.
• Boston is one of the country’s most cultural and stimulating cities with numerous options for shopping, museums, sports, theater, and dining. Less than two hours away, you can find the beaches of Cape Cod, or the mountains and trails of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. New York City is a comfortable train or bus ride away, and Washington, D.C. is also only a short trip from Boston.

Nearly half of Fletcher's students come from outside the U.S. At any time, sixty or more countries worldwide are represented.

The Fletcher School is committed to enrolling a class that reflects the economic and racial diversity of the U.S. On average, about 28% of the U.S. citizens at Fletcher are underrepresented minorities.

The average age is generally around 28. The fall entering class typically has students ranging in age from 21 to 55.

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