FAQs About the Application Process

If you have questions regarding the admissions process, requirements and policies, or your application, please feel welcome to share those with us via phone 617-627-3395 or email gradadmissions@tufts.edu. Our office hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Eastern Time (ET).

All program-specific inquiries should be directed to your department of interest. Learn about our available programs and their respective departments.

Applicants can apply to up to two programs per admissions cycle, however the programs must be in different departments. Applicants may not apply to more than one program in the same department. To check which department the program belongs to, please visit our program page. Please note that applicants who start more than two applications may see delays in the processing of their applications.

Please select a date on this calendar to register for our information sessions and events.

Tufts offers application fee waivers for both domestic and international applicants. Learn more about our application fee waivers and special funding. We also consider application fee waiver requests on a case-by-case basis, based on financial need. Please fill out the application fee waiver request form to the best of your ability, uploading any relevant documentation (as listed on the form).

You can apply to our programs with unofficial transcripts as long as they are in English and include your name, the institution's name, courses and grades.

Please note: enrolling applicants must request the final, official copy of transcripts to be sent directly to The Office of Graduate Admissions from all degree granting institutions and any additional institutions listed on the application. Final, official transcripts should be submitted by August 1st.

Find more information on transcripts.

We encourage applicants to request test scores early in the process to ensure they arrive by the application deadline. Applicants may have up to two weeks following their application deadline to submit their required official test scores depending upon departmental review of applications.

Test scores are waived for qualifying applicants within 48 hours of application submission. If your scores are not waived within this timeframe, please reach out to gradadmissions@tufts.edu.

Check to see if you qualify for a TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo test waiver.

To see if GRE scores are required for your program or if you qualify for a GRE score waiver, please view your program’s application requirements. You can view our offered programs and their requirements.  

If you qualify for a TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo score waiver, these scores should not be submitted and will not be taken into consideration as part of the application review.

If GRE scores are not required for the program you are applying to or you qualify for a GRE waiver, these scores should not be submitted and will not be taken into consideration as part of the application review.

We encourage recommenders to submit their letters by the application deadline. Recommenders may have up to two weeks to submit their letters depending upon departmental review of applications.

When filing out your application, you will be prompted to register your recommenders. Once registered, recommenders will receive an email prompting them to upload their letter through our online system.

Alternatively, we accept letters of recommendation submitted through Interfolio. Please follow the instructions found on Interfolio’s website (scroll to “Confidential letter upload”) to have the letters uploaded straight to our system.

Tufts engages in comprehensive application review, meaning all components of the application are reviewed as part of a whole. There are no GPA cut-offs or minimums.

We do accept 3-year bachelor's degrees. Applicants must have obtained a bachelor's degree by the time of enrollment to be eligible to apply to our graduate programs.

Applicants do not need to have earned a master's degree to apply to our PhD programs. Applicants are eligible to apply to our PhD programs if they have earned their bachelor's degree. We encourage applicants to review program pages to ensure they meet department requirements.

You do not need to secure an advisor before you apply. We do, however, recommend that you reach out to faculty members of interest you're interested in to get a sense of who you'd like to work with.

Please use the following resources for information:

• Tuition and fees for GSAS programs
• Tuition and fees for SOE programs
• Estimate of expenses for an international applicant

Please reach out to gradfinaid@tufts.edu with inquiries about total expense estimation.

Scholarship and financial aid availability varies by department and school. If your program is eligible for scholarship consideration, you can request aid by filling out the scholarship section of the application. For more information about scholarship availability, please contact your department of interest.

Assistantships are up to the discretion of the department. These positions cannot be applied for. Find information on research & teaching assistantships. For more information on assistantship opportunities at Tufts, please contact your department of interest.

Application decision notifications vary depending on the program, degree, school and entry term. Decisions are released on a rolling basis. Applicants are notified by email when a decision regarding their application has been released.

Please reach out to your department directly to request application feedback.