Graduate Studies Application

Graduate study is open to qualified students who possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university or the equivalent from a foreign institution and an adequate background in the field of study that they wish to pursue. Normally the equivalent of an undergraduate major in the field is required. If you are an international applicant, your academic credentials will be evaluated based on the characteristics of your country’s educational system and the level of work completed. See our page on information for International Applicants.

City College only accepts applications submitted online via our online application. Submitting the online application is one part of a two-step application process. The second step is for the applicant to mail all supporting documents (official transcripts, application fee, and any other supporting documentation that is not submitted through the online application). All supporting documentation should be sent to the appropriate Office of Admissions. Please see the addresses below. Applications are considered incomplete until all materials are received.

There is an application fee of $75, which is non-refundable and may not be applied to any other fees.  The fee can be paid by credit card or echeck through the online application. You can also mail a money order payable to The City College of New York, Office of Graduate Admissions, 160 Convent Avenue, Marshak Science Building, Room 24, New York, NY 10031.

Application fees are subject to change. Fee waivers are not available for graduate students unless you are a U.S Veteran who can provide a DD2-14.  

A personal statement about your educational or career objectives should be typed and enclosed with the application. The personal statement is your way of introducing yourself to the Admissions Committee. Your personal statement should be of the kind and quality that expresses why you have chosen to pursue a graduate degree. This is also an opportunity to discuss any challenges you may have faced during your undergraduate study. Certain programs offer specific prompts for writing your personal statement. You will have access to those prompts once you begin the application process. The personal statement is one of several credentials that will determine your eligibility for admission to a graduate degree program at The City College and should be no longer than one page in length. The personal statement should be uploaded to your online application.

Most programs require two letters of recommendation, but some may require up to three letters. Recommendations must be submitted on official letterhead.

Recommendations should be submitted online as part of the online application. Your recommender will complete a brief assessment of your ability to be successful at the graduate level and will also upload a narrative letter in support of your application. All applications to the School of Architecture must include curriculum vitae and three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant’s intellectual and design abilities.

Recommendations may be academic (past or present professors) or professional (employers/supervisors). Friends and relatives are not accepted. Programs reserve the right to request additional letters or information.  Recommendations can be submitted after the application has been completed, but must be submitted by the published deadline.

Transcripts uploaded with the online application are considered unofficial and will be used for evaluation purposes only. Applicants must upload an unofficial transcript, mark sheet, or academic record for each institution of higher education previously attended, even those that did not confer a degree. All transcript uploads must include a key, legend, or back copy of the transcript. Non-English transcripts must be accompanied by an English translation. Scans must be clear and legible, and all transcripts/records should include the student's name. See Guidelines for Official Translations of Documents for more information.

Please do not mail materials that you have uploaded unless specifically requested by the Admissions Office.

Any admission offers will be contingent on receiving and verifying all official transcripts, certified translations, and/or credential evaluations pertaining to the applicant's entire post-secondary academic career, prior to the registration deadline.

Official transcripts must arrive in the envelope, sealed and stamped by the Registrar’s office. If the official transcript does not include the conferral date of baccalaureate degree, please request an official copy of the diploma or provisional certificate as well. Transcripts (and diplomas) not in English must be accompanied by a translation.

Any fraudulent activity or discrepancies found between unofficial and official transcripts will result in the immediate revocation of the admission offer.

Programs may require additional elements, such as interviews/auditions and portfolio material.

All applicants from countries in which the official language is not English, are required to submit official language scores. This requirement applies to all applicants from Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Latin America, the Middle East, Israel, the Peoples Republic of China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, most European countries and non-English speaking countries in Africa. The language tests are not required of permanent residents of the U.S. or individuals who have been granted official refugee or asylum status by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The language tests are not required of students from countries where English is the official language, or by students that have studied full-time at a university for at least two years at an institution in a country where English is the official language. Applicants who attend a university in a foreign country where English is the medium of instruction are NOT waived from this requirement.

All scores expire after two years. The Institutional Code for City College is 2083. This Institutional Code number will ensure that your scores are sent to The City College Office of Admissions. Scores sent directly to any academic department will delay the processing of your application. City College does not use department codes.

Each graduate program may requires a different minimum score for consideration than another. Please consult the program requirements for you program's minimum score.

The GRE is currently required by our Doctoral program in Clinical Psychology only. Applicants should be prepared to submit scores for both the General GRE and the GRE Subject Test in Psychology. 

The GRE has been suspended for all other programs. 

Test scores can still be submitted with your application if you choose to submit them. GRE score reports may come directly from ETS (Educational Testing Service) and can also be verified electronically by the admissions office. GRE scores expire after five years.

The Institutional Code for City College is 2083. This Institutional Code number will ensure that GRE scores are sent to The City College Office of Admissions. City College does not use department codes.

gre@ets.org

The City College of New York completes a full assessment of a student's academic records if they are applying with academic coursework and/or a degree obtained outside of the United States. We accept transcript or degree evaluations completed by the following credential services: 

Education Credential Evaluators, Inc.: www.ece.org
Evaluation Service Inc.: www.evaluationservice.net
Josef Silny & Associates, Inc.: www.jsilny.org
Transcript Research: www.transcriptresearch.com
 

We do not accept transcript or degree evaluations completed by a credential services, such as WES or Globe. While students may submit copies of their credential evaluations, the ultimate decision of a degree's equivalency lies at the discretion of the City College of New York.

If you are on a temporary visa and educated in a non-English speaking environment, you must demonstrate proficiency in the English language by submitting test scores from TOEFL or IELTS (Academic Level) or PTE (Academic level) or Duolingo. Please request to have your official test scores sent to the City College of New York and/or list our University code 2083 when registering for the exams. Visit the TOEFL, IELTS, PTE or Duolingo website for more information.

Proficiency in the English language is not required of permanent residents of the U.S. or individuals who have been granted official refugee or asylum status by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). It is also not required of students from exempt countries where English is the official language, or by students that have studied full-time at a university for at least two years at an institution in a country where English is the official language. The following courses will not fulfill this requirement: (1) courses in English as a Second Language, (2) courses conducted in another language other than English, (3) courses that will be completed after you apply, and (4) courses of a nonacademic nature. Applicants who attend a university in a foreign country where English is the medium of instruction are NOT waived from this requirement.

Each graduate program may require a different minimum score for consideration than another. Please consult the program requirements for you program's minimum score.

If you have previously been denied admission to City College on the basis of your English language proficiency, you must submit new scores that meet the current minimum.

All scores expire after two years. Scores sent directly to any academic department will delay the processing of your application. City College does not use department codes.

Public Service Management, MPA applicants who are permanent residents AND have not completed a postsecondary degree from an English speaking country are NOT exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS.

City College now offers an intensive English program that is available to all students, domestic and international. Foreign students who do not meet the minimum TOEFL requirement for CCNY can enroll in this program to improve their English skills and receive a F-1 visa. To learn more, click here.

Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents must have a student visa status that allows study at The City College of New York. The F-1 Student Visa is obtained with an I-20 Certificate of Eligibility which is issued by The City College of New York. Certificates of eligibility are issued to international students who have accepted our offer of admission, meet the English language proficiency requirement, and verified sufficient financial resources for at least one academic year. Students who are on visas must maintain continuous, full-time enrollment and are subject to U.S. immigration laws covering such items as employment on and off campus, change of degree, transfer of school, and extension of stay. Additional information on visas is sent to admitted students. International students should allow at least six months for completion of the application process.

Assessment of a foreign degree is based on the characteristics of a national educational system, the type of institution attended, and the level of studies completed. The following guidelines indicate the minimum level of study required of applicants who wish to apply for graduate study at The City College of New York:

1. British patterned education: bachelor’s degree with honors
2. France: maîtrise from university or completion of three-year diplôme d’ingénieur from grandes écoles Note: The gradue’ (graduate certificate) or license does not meet minimum requirements.
3. Germany: the diplom, magister atrium (M.A.), or staatsexamen. Note: The German educational system is currently going through revision. Consideration will be given to students who apply prior to the imposition of the new system.
4. Other European countries: university degree requiring four years of study
5. Middle East: university degree requiring four years of study
6. Canada: three-year bachelor’s degree from Quebec, four- year bachelor’s degree from other provinces
7. Latin America: university degree requiring four years of study
8. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal: bachelor’s degree in engineering or medicine, master’s degree in all other fields Note: A three-year bachelor’s degree is not considered sufficient for graduate study at City College. The two-year master’s degree following the three-year bachelor’s degree from India is required.
9. Philippines: five-year bachelor’s degree or four-year bachelor’s degree plus one year of graduate work
10. Russian republics: university diploma requiring four-and-a-half to six years of study
11. Other Asian countries: university degree requiring four years of study

Academic records from every postsecondary institution attended as a student should be submitted with your application. Academic records should give detailed information on the content and the quality of your performance, courses taken each year and grades received. The grading scale of the institution and your rank in class should be noted whenever possible. Official copies of diplomas or conferral statements on academic records must verify degrees.

All academic records must be delivered in a sealed official envelope of the issuing institution. Original documents must bear the seal and signature of the Registrar or copies verified by a school administrative officer.

If the institution does not issue records in English, original language records must be submitted with translations. All translations must be literal and complete versions of the original records. All supporting material must be in English.

International students, educated in countries where English is not the official language, must provide official academic transcripts and diploma in both their native language and the English language translation. The following guidelines must be followed for translations to be official. The Office of Graduate Admissions reserves the right to reject translations that do not meet these guidelines. Please see your local telephone book directory for listings of translation services. The University reserves the right to request additional academic documents if we are unable to verify the nature or authenticity of your academic documents.

 For further assistance with the application process and information specific to your country, please contact your local U.S. Embassy/U.S. Consulate/Office of Public Affairs for referral to an overseas educational advising center near you, or consult the list available on the U.S. Department of State’s website at http://educationusa.state.gov