How to Apply

Upon receipt of the application packet and after carefully reading the instructions, the student is expected to provide the Office of Graduate Admissions with the completed application (including transcripts, Graduate Record Examination general aptitude test scores, three letters of recommendation, a statement of intent, and for international students TOEFL scores). Sealed letters of recommendation and transcripts may be sent with the application, or may also be sent under separate cover. This material should also be accompanied by a non-refundable fee of $85.00. Official college transcripts should normally be sent from their source, as should the results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). All materials must be sent to directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Application materials should NOT be sent to the IPED Office. The Office of Graduate Admissions accepts no responsibility for documents not sent directly to its offices.

In order to be considered for financial aid, students must complete the financial aid sections of the application, and submit the application to the Office of Graduate Admissions by no later than January 2. Applicants for the Ricci Fellowships, however, must submit their applications by no later than April 1. Applicants not seeking financial aid for the fall semester may apply through April 2. Normally the IPED Program does not accept applications for mid-academic year admittance.

Application Requirements

It is the responsibility of the student to send the completed application and appropriate forms to the Office of Graduate Admissions. These include the following: The following documents must also be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions: All application and supporting materials should be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Fordham University, Keating Hall Room 216, 441 East Fordham Road, Bronx, New York 10458-5161, USA. Under no circumstances should applications or other documents be sent to the IPED Program. The University accepts no responsibility for documentation not sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Applications should be in all cases typed for maximum legibility. All documents become part of the Fordham University files and will not be returned or duplicated for any purpose outside the University. Documents in a language other than English must be accompanied by a certified English translation.

It is essential that application documentation is complete at the time of its evaluation. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that all documents have been sent and received by the Office of Graduate Admissions in a timely and complete manner. Incomplete files will delay registration and matriculation of accepted students. The Office of Graduate Admissions welcomes inquiries into the status of an application from 2:00pm to 5:00pm (EST) daily, Monday through Friday.  Their phone number is 718 817-4416.

Letters of Recommendation

The Graduate Program in International Political Economy and Development requires three letters of recommendation which should be obtained from former professors who can give a clear and nuanced evaluation of the prospective candidate.  For the IPED Program professional references may be used in place of up to  academic references.  To ensure an accurate and appropriate recommendation, candidates should discuss the contents of such letters with the evaluating individuals. Applicants must submit with these letters a signed statement agreeing to waive or not waive access to these letters of recommendation. It is recommended that all reference letters be sent with the application.

For students who have not pursued formal studies for a substantial period of time, recommendations should be sought from persons who can give an adequate estimation of the quality and scope of an applicant's work and interest.

GRE Examinations (Code: #2259)

Results of the General Aptitude Test of the Graduate Record Examination are required by all departments (except liberal studies), and are also used in making decisions concerning granting financial aid. Applicants should contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS), Princeton, NJ 08540, to receive testing packets and to have scores sent to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Office of Graduate Admissions. The Fordham institution code is #2259.

Please call ETS for the test bulletin and for additional information: 609-771-7670 or 1-800-GRE-CALL, or visit the GRE website (www.gre.org).

The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences requires official test center copies of the GRE.

Transcripts

Applicants must submit one set of official transcripts from each college and/or university attended. Students currently attending an institution of higher learning may provide preliminary transcripts, reflecting their most recent course grades in order to have their applications for admission evaluated. However, final official copies of all transcripts are required prior to matriculation in Fordham's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

TOEFL Examination

All international students are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Exceptions to this requirement are as follows: native English speakers from Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados, Bermuda, and the West Indies: and those international students who have taken at least two years of study in an institution of higher learning in the United States or in one of the above-mentioned countries. Requests for deferment from this rule may accompany an application; however, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences retains the right to request further language evaluation for any of its international applicants.

The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences requires official test center copies of the TOEFL. For more information, visit the TOEFL website (www.toefl.org).

After Filing the Application

After all application materials are received by the Office of Graduate Admissions, the completed application and accompanying documentation are forwarded to the IPED Program for evaluation by the Committee on Admissions, which in turn forwards them to the Office of the Dean, which sends out all final letters confirming or denying admission. Applications for fall admissions and financial aid are normally processed after the early January deadline, and notifications concerning acceptances and financial aid are normally sent out by mid-March.
 

Immunization Requirements

All Fordham graduate students-full or part-time-who were born on or after January 1, 1957 are required to demonstrate proof of immunity against measles, mumps, and rubella. The University is required to submit an annual immunization status survey report in December to the New York State Department of Health and Immunization Program.

International Students

Under the regulations of the United States Department of Justice and its Immigration and Naturalization Service, applicants from outside the United States must provide verification to the Office of International Students that they have adequate financial resources to cover their educational and living expenses before an I-20 Certificate of Eligibility can be issued. Those international students not seeking financial assistance must provide an affidavit of support as well as a bank or employer statement showing savings and /or income sufficient to meet the estimated expenses. Letters of support will be accepted during the application process, but an I-20 will not be issued until after the University forwards its initial letter of acceptance to the applicant. Proof of immunization against measles, mumps, and rubella must also be provided prior to arrival at Fordham University.

Questions

All questions regarding the application/admissions process should be directed to the Office of Graduate Admissions, 216 Keating Hall, 718/817-4416. For academic matters, please contact the IPED Office.

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