Admissions Checklist
All admissions materials (listed below) must be submitted electronically via the online application system.
Scroll down for more details.
- Application Form
- Application Fee
- Personal Statement
- Transcripts from all institutions attended
- Letters of Recommendation
- Writing Samples
- GRE Scores
- Official TOEFL or IELTS Scores
1. Application Form
Use our online application system to create an account, complete your application, then come back and review your progress. Instructions and tips are available on the site.
Who: The application form is required of all applicants.
2. Application Fee
The application must be accompanied by an application fee of $75.00. You may pay the fee with debit or credit cards via the online application system.
Who: The application fee is required of all applicants.
3. Personal Statement
The personal statement is a brief description of your background, your interests, and your reasons for wanting to enroll in the graduate program. You may include any other information that you feel might be useful, such as prior teaching or tutoring experience. The personal statement should not exceed two pages for M.A. programs or three pages for Ph.D. programs.
Who: The personal statement is required of all applicants.
4. Transcripts from all institutions attended
Unofficial transcripts should be uploaded to the Apply Yourself system as part of your application. International transcripts must be in English and, if applicable, also in the language of instruction. English translated transcripts must be officially certified by a translator or by an educational credential evaluation agency.
Who: Transcripts are required of all applicants.
5. Letters of Recommendation
You should submit at least three letters of recommendation. Recommendation letters should be from academic references able to attest to your expected performance in a graduate program.
Who: Letters of recommendation are required of all applicants to the M.A. and Ph.D. programs. Applicants to the Special student program do not need to submit letters of recommendation.
6. Writing Samples
Writing samples should be academically based and 10-20 pages in length. Creative writing or professional samples may accompany your academic sample, but should not serve as a substitute for it.
Who: Writing samples are required of all applicants.
7. GRE Scores
A complete list of GRE test dates and testing sites is available online. The GRE code for Northeastern’s College of Social Sciences and Humanities is 3682.
- FAQ: Is there a minimum GRE score for admission?
- FAQ: Do you require the Subject Test in Literature?
Who: GRE Test scores are required of all applicants to the M.A. and Ph.D. programs. Applicants to the Special student program do not need to submit GRE scores.
8. Official TOEFL or IELTS Scores
The required TOEFL score for admission or for an award is a minimum of 79-80 (iBT) or IELTS of 6.5.
Who: All international students whose native language is not English or whose Bachelor’s or Master’s degree was not completed at an institution in which English is the only language of instruction.
Additional Admissions Information
- Admissions Deadlines
- Prospective Student FAQs
- Admissions FAQs (via CSSH’s graduate website)
Are you interested in taking graduate courses as a non-matriculated student?
Visit the Special Student Status page for more information and an application checklist.