Application Requirements
- Online Application
Submit the online application in its entirety. All your application materials can be submitted electronically. Details about transcripts can be found further down on this page.
- Application Fee
A non-refundable fee of $50 is required to finalize your application. You’ll be prompted to submit the fee at the end of the online application process and can complete the transaction by check or credit card.
The University of Pittsburgh School of Public and International Affairs is committed to reducing barriers to graduate education whenever possible, and proudly offers application fee waivers to students on a case-by-case basis. To request a waiver, email SPIA@pitt.edu directly with your GradCAS ID number. The admissions team will consider factors including your program, deadlines, citizenship, and scholarship partnership to determine final eligibility. Learn more about waived fees.- Résumé
You must upload a current résumé or curriculum vitae that shows relevant awards, academic achievements, full- and part-time job experience, internships, and volunteer work.
- Personal Essay
Fall 2026 PhD Applicants:
For doctoral applicants, identify the broad topic and research questions you envision as the focus of your doctoral dissertation research. Explain the importance of your research questions and identify the SPIA faculty member with whom you’d like to work. There is a limit of 5,000 characters (approximately two double-spaced, typed pages).
Summer/Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 Master's Applicants:
Use your essay to introduce yourself to the admissions committee. Share your professional goals and explain why a SPIA degree can help you achieve them. In your response, address:
1. The motivation behind your interest in public and international affairs.
2. The unique skills, perspectives, and problem-solving approaches you would contribute to our community.
3. The aspects of SPIA’s programs, faculty, resources, or opportunities that are most compelling to you.
Essay Tip: Include at least one specific example from your academic, professional, or volunteer experience that demonstrates how you have approached a complex challenge, contributed to a team, or advanced an initiative. Be as detailed and personal as possible—avoid using generic or pre-written responses. There is a limit of 5,000 characters (approximately two double-spaced, typed pages).- Optional Essay (master's applicants) and Research Proposal/Writing Sample (PhD applicants)
Master's Applicants: If there are any special circumstances you would like the admissions committee to consider, highlight them in the optional essay. Use this essay to include information that you feel is important, but that you’re unable to include elsewhere on the application. There is no penalty for leaving this blank.
PhD Applicants: As an applicant to the Ph.D. program, you are required to submit an additional essay that discusses your potential dissertation research. Describe the idea and why it is important. Further, discuss the main questions to be investigated and the types of evidence that would be needed to support conclusions. Finally, identify the SPIA faculty with whom you would like to work. There is a 5,000 character limit (approximately two double-spaced, typed pages). PhD Applicants are also asked to upload a single-authored writing sample in English that is 25 pages or less. The writing sample does not need to be a published paper but should demonstrate academic or professional research.
- GRE or GMAT scores (optional for master's/PhD applicants)
For all of our programs, GRE or GMAT scores are optional and not required for admission. If you’re applying to the MPA, MPIA, MID, or PhD program, you may choose to submit scores from one of these tests as supplemental material, if you feel that they show evidence of your abilities beyond what the rest of your application reflects.
If you’re applying to the mid-career MPPM program (online or on campus) or the non-degree program, you should not submit GRE or GMAT scores. Supplemental materials submitted to those programs will not be reviewed.
If you are submitting test scores, you must order an official score report, sent directly from the testing agency to us. (GRE reports can be ordered at www.gre.org; GMAT reports can be ordered at www.mba.com.) Copies of your own score report are not acceptable. Our institutional code for the GRE is 2574.
- TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test scores (international applicants only)
International applicants must submit a score from one of three possible English tests: the TOEFL, the IELTS, or the Duolingo English Test.
Score reports must be sent directly from the testing agency to SPIA. SPIA's institutional code for TOEFL score reports is 2574.
The minimum TOEFL score required for admission is 80 on the Internet-based test, although 90 or above is strongly preferred. The minimum IELTS score required for admission is 6.5 (overall, and in each of the subsections). The minimum Duolingo English Test score required for admission is 120.
**Effective January 21, 2026, the TOEFL score scale will change from 0-120 to a new scale ranging from 1 to 6 in increments of 0.5. At the University of Pittsburgh, the minimum TOEFL score of 80 will shift to a minimum score of 4.0 (CEFR B2) with all subscores also at 4.0 or higher. An overall score of 4.0 on the new scale corresponds to previous scores in the 72–85 range. Requiring all subscores to meet the 4.0 threshold ensures that applicants demonstrate proficiency in each language skill at the CEFR B2 level.Exceptions: International students who have completed a degree at a regionally accredited college or university in the United States are not required to submit a TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test score. International students who are citizens of certain English-speaking countries are also exempt.
- Academic Transcripts
When completing the online application, you will be asked to upload unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended, whether or not you earned a degree. Unofficial transcripts must clearly display your name, the institution’s name, courses taken, grades received, and (if applicable) your degree in progress.
Hard copies are not required at the time of application as long as your unofficial transcripts are uploaded successfully.
If you are admitted, you will be required to submit a final, official transcript, showing your conferred degree, sent directly from your institution’s registrar to the School of Public and International Affairs. The official copy must match the academic records you submitted during the application process.
If you do not have access to technology that allows you to upload an unofficial transcript, you may request that your institution send an official transcript by mail directly to: School of Public and International Affairs, 3601 Posvar Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15260.- Two Letters of Recommendation
Two letters should be written by professors who have taught you or supervisors who have overseen your work, either professionally or in a volunteer capacity. If you graduated from college less than three years ago, at least one, if not both, of your letters should be from professors. Letters written by friends, family members, work colleagues, or anyone who has not taught or supervised you are not acceptable.
When you complete the online application, you will be prompted to enter the names and email addresses of your recommenders. The system will automatically send them an email explaining how they can upload their letters.