FAQs
Graduate Admissions Office
609-258-4836
spiaadmissions@princeton.edu
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December 15, for each of our graduate programs.
No, SPIA has only one application deadline, which is December 15. Graduate programs begin each summer.
Only the STEP Ph.D. program is OPT eligible.
Applicants may be eligible to request a fee waiver based on the following criteria:
- Financial hardship
- Participation in a Program (past or present) - see list of participating programs on the Princeton University Graduate School website
- Recruiting Event Attendee (received an event fee waiver code)
Yes! SPIA will provide an application fee waiver for those who submit their Graduate Application for Admission by November 1, 2024.
No. The GRE is the only exam accepted from MPA applicants.
No, SPIA does not provide GRE waivers for MPA applicants. It is a required component of the MPA Application.
No, there is no age limit for admission into SPIA’s Graduate Programs. Please note, you will need to articulate why now is the right time to begin graduate studies at Princeton as part of the application process.
English language test scores are required for all applicants whose primary language is not English, whose undergraduate instruction was not entirely in English as certified by the institution or who have not completed at least two years of full-time graduate study entirely in English as certified by the institution.
No, SPIA cannot waive the DET/TOEFL/IELTS requirement for international applicants whose primary language is not English.
Yes, SPIA now accepts Duolingo DET scores as an alternative to the TOEFL/IELTS. The three internationally recognized tests of English language proficiency which are accepted by the Graduate School at Princeton University and SPIA are the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), and Duolingo English Test (DET). For more on this change, please see Required Tests | Graduate School (princeton.edu).
The Graduate School at Princeton University has no minimum score requirements for the TOEFL/IELTS/DET English language tests when submitting an application. The Grad School does have minimum scores for requiring an admitted student to be tested in ELP by the McGraw Center. All incoming graduate students who were notified at the time of admission that they require English language testing must have their oral English proficiency evaluated by the ELP staff at the start of the fall term. Such students will be given placement tests to evaluate their oral English proficiency by the ELP staff. The Graduate School has established that passing either the placement test or the Princeton Oral Proficiency Test (POPT) qualifies a graduate student to be appointed as an assistant in instruction (AI) and attests to the student’s basic proficiency in spoken English. Successful completion of the POPT test is required for all students who place into the ELP program. Students who do not pass the POPT following the first semester of ELP participation will be required to participate in the ELP program for an additional semester. You may review the Princeton University Graduate School policy here: English Language Proficiency | Graduate School (princeton.edu).
Please contact the Graduate Admissions Office with any requests to visit campus at spiaadmissions@princeton.edu or 609-258-4836.
Yes, we will be offering 15-minute one-on-one virtual meetings with a member of our team. Register here.
SPIA does not prescreen applicants. Instead, we suggest you review our Graduate Admissions Viewbook and current student profiles (MPA, MPP, Ph.D.) to understand the depth and diversity of applicants who have earned admission into our School.
We offer weekly information sessions that highlight our graduate programs. These occur between August and November. Information sessions are offered at varying times, virtually and in-person. If interested in attending, we encourage you to Connect with Us.
SPIA is one of 42 graduate departments and programs in Princeton’s Graduate School. SPIA students have the opportunity to pursue relevant certificates and coursework across those departments and programs. Students work with the Graduate Program Office to secure the necessary approval(s) prior to enrolling in classes outside of the School. Certificate offerings can be found at Fields of Study | Graduate School (princeton.edu).
SPIA offers generous financial support to every admitted student. All admitted students receive 100% of tuition, required fees support, and comprehensive health insurance. Additionally, the School offers a generous stipend for living expenses throughout your degree program.
No, SPIA does not accept transfer credits across any of our graduate programs.
Prospective applicants may attend a class only while visiting campus for an information session. Prior to your visit, connect with the Graduate Admissions Office for further details.
