GMAP Admissions

The successful GMAP candidate should possess the following:

• Minimum of eight years professional experience
• Bachelor's degree
• Desire and ability to engage in a multi-disciplinary international affairs curriculum 

The GMAP Committee on Admissions and Scholarships, comprised of Fletcher faculty and administration, and admission officers meet least once a month to review applications and make admissions decisions.

Applications to start in June are typically reviewed between September and March. 

The Fletcher admissions team will acknowledge receipt of your application materials and inform you of any incomplete requirements via e-mail.  Applying as early as possible increases an applicant's chances of enrolling in the class session of his or her choice.

GMAP class	Classes Start	Early Notification Deadline	Priority Scholarship Deadline*	Application Deadline	Final Application Deadline
Class of 2023-24	May 22, 2023	November 10, 2022	January 10, 2023	February 20, 2023	April 1, 2023

*After the priority deadline for scholarship consideration passes, the committee will continue to review scholarship applications pending funding availability, and will offer aid awards to candidates on a rolling basis until scholarship funding is depleted.

Applicants to GMAP must submit the following:

• GMAP Application for Admission
• Application fee of $80
• Identification documents

Applicants who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents must submit a copy of their government-issued identification (i.e. driver’s license, passport, etc.). Non-U.S. citizens/permanent residents must submit a copy of their passport and, if applicable, a copy of their U.S. visa.

Official Academic Transcripts

Applicants may submit either hard copies of official transcripts directly to the GMAP Admissions Office or scanned copies of official transcripts via the online application.For admissions purposes, we will accept copies of official transcripts that are sent directly by you or your academic institution to GMAP. Should you enroll at Fletcher, you will be required to submit original transcripts and degree conferral information.

Transcripts can be mailed to the following address:

The Global Master of Arts Program (GMAP)
The Fletcher School, Tufts University
160 Packard Avenue
Medford, MA 02155-7082 U.S.A.

Transcripts of all academic work that contributed directly to your undergraduate and other postsecondary degree(s) are required. Transcripts should show the name of each course taken and the grade received, as well as the year/term in which it was taken. Appropriate university officials should certify these records, and records should state the degree conferred. Transcripts and degree conferral information not in English must be accompanied by certified English translations, completed and signed by an official translator.

If your degree includes credits transferred from another institution (e.g. study abroad, summer school, or transfer credit) the courses and grades associated with those credits must be listed on your degree transcript, or provided in a separate transcript from the host institution.

While not required, we encourage you to submit grades for additional courses taken outside of a degree program. If your college or university does not use a traditional 4.0 grading scale, please provide an explanation of the grading system, including systems of designation for honors and distinction. Please do not submit any high school transcripts or records.

Two Letters of Recommendation

GMAP requires two letters of recommendation from individuals who have supervised your work and know you well. The recommendation consists of two parts: the recommendation form and a separate letter of reference. The recommendation form includes an evaluation component that your recommender must complete. Recommendations can be sent directly to GMAP, or they can be returned to you and you can submit them with the rest of the application. Please see the recommendation form for specific instructions.

Essay Responses

Essay 1 (500-700 words, single-spaced, Arial 12-point font): What are your specific professional goals? How will Fletcher’s Global Master of Arts Program help you achieve them?

Essay 2 (maximum 300 words, single-spaced, Arial 12-point font): In GMAP, students learn from each other and share their experiences. One of the goals of The Fletcher School’s admissions process is to bring together students from different countries, regions of the U.S., backgrounds, professional experiences, and educational disciplines. We invite you to tell us who you are and the perspective you will add to the GMAP community. Please select and answer one of the following questions:

1. We are shaped by the places we live. Tell us about the city, town, or region that you consider to be your “hometown,” – that place where you lived for most of your life or to which you feel most connected. What makes this place special and how has it contributed to who you are now?
2. Describe an experience (academic, personal, or professional) that contributed to your interest in the study of international affairs or an international career.
3. Share an anecdote or details about an experience or personal interest that you have not elaborated upon elsewhere in your application.

Résumé or CV

Please provide a current resume/CV that clearly includes information on, and dates of, your educational history, employment, academic honors and awards, international experience and travel, scholarships, publications, and extracurricular, community, and volunteer activities.

Letter of Understanding from Employer (if applicable)

Please provide a letter of understanding from your employer (i.e. a senior official at your organization). This letter should be written on company letterhead and state that your employer endorses your participation in the program, is aware of the time demands, will grant you the necessary time off to attend residencies, and, if applicable, is willing to provide financial assistance. Applicants who are self-employed or not currently employed are not required to submit the letter of understanding, and should instead submit a statement indicating their specific situation.

Interview (if applicable)

The GMAP Committee on Admissions and Scholarships may request an initial or additional virtual interview with an applicant after they have submitted their full application for admission to the program. Applicants visiting or residing in the Boston area are welcome to visit Fletcher and interview in person. Moreover, GMAP encourages prospective students with questions to schedule phone or virtual calls with the GMAP admissions team at any point in the admissions process.

GMAP Scholarship Application (if applicable)

To apply for scholarship aid from GMAP, you must complete in full the GMAP Scholarship Application. The GMAP Committee on Admissions and Scholarships awards scholarships to applicants based on a combination of a holistic review of your application and assessment of financial need. These awards typically take the form of partial scholarships that help to defray the program cost.

• GRE/GMAT not required
• TOEFL not required

The Fletcher admissions team encourages prospective students to schedule phone or zoom calls at any point during the application process. Moreover, prospective students visiting or residing in the Boston area are welcome to visit Fletcher and interview in person. Please contact the admissions office at fletcheradmissions@tufts.edu.

Deferral

Admitted students wishing to defer admission to The Fletcher School must submit a written request to the GMAP Committee on Admissions and Scholarships. Deferrals are granted on a case-by-case basis, normally for no more than one academic year. If a deferral is granted, a $2,500 deferral deposit is required. This deposit is applied to the following year's first term tuition payment.

Reapplication

Successful applicants who have not been able to accept a previous offer of admission, or applicants who were not offered admission, may reapply within a period of three years by submitting the items listed below.

• GMAP application form
• Reapplication fee
• One additional letter of recommendation
• Updated resume/CV
• New responses to essay questions
• New academic transcripts (if applicable)
• Scholarship Aid Application (if applicable)