Admissions

The Johns Hopkins SAIS admissions committee takes a holistic approach to reviewing candidates. There is no minimum GPA and no GRE/GMAT scores required to enter the MA in Global Risk (online) program. All aspects of an applicant’s background will be reviewed, including their professional and education history, letters of recommendation and analytical essays.

The school regularly hosts live, interactive information sessions with details about the program and admissions requirements. See our events page to register for an opportunity to ask our faculty questions.

Admissions Checklist

• Application (online)
• Application fee, $85 USD (An application fee waiver may be available)
• Resume/CV
• Analytical essay
  • Reflect on a personal, academic, or professional challenge that you have encountered in your journey towards pursuing a career in international relations. Describe the barriers you faced and how you overcame them. How has this experience shaped your passion for the field and reinforced your commitment to making a positive impact on the world? This essay should be between 400 – 600 words in length.
• Statement of purpose
  • Using your professional and educational experience, please answer how you will combine your background with the MA in Global Risk program to meet your personal and professional goals and why Johns Hopkins SAIS is the right fit for you. Tell us what you hope to achieve with this degree from Johns Hopkins SAIS.
• Official transcripts for all college-level course work can be mailed or sent electronically:
  • Transcripts can be mailed to:
    Johns Hopkins SAIS Admissions
    ATTN: Transcripts
    555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001
  • Transcripts can be emailed to:
    Johns Hopkins University SAIS Admissions
    sais.dc.admissions@jhu.edu
• Two (2) letters of recommendation
• TOEFL or IELTS scores (non-native English speakers)
  • Applicants must pass with a minimum of 100 on the TOEFL or a minimum of 7 on the IELTS. See our non-US students page for more information about TOEFL and IELTS requirements.

Tips for Crafting Your Best Application

Hear from our Admissions team. This presentation dives deep into the following topics:

• Critical elements of the application including the analytical essay, statement of purpose, and letters of recommendation.
• Factors considered in the review process, such as your writing skills, academic and professional background.

Skip to a chapter: Application Components | Analytical Essay | Statement of Purpose | Letters of Recommendation | Application Considerations | Application Tips | Contact Information

Application Fee Waiver

The school offers application fee waivers to participants or alumni affiliated with the following professional development programs:

• AmeriCorps Volunteer
• Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Graduate Program Finalist or Fellow
• Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Participant
• Congressional Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) Alumni
• Donald M. Payne International Development Finalist or Fellow
• Fulbright Program (for those currently on fellowship)
• Graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
• Graduates of Minority-Serving Institutions
• Harry S. Truman Scholar
• Institute for International Public Policy (IIPP) Fellow
• International Parliamentary Scholarship (IPS) Alumni
• Jesuit Volunteer Corps
• Johns Hopkins University Undergraduate
• Johns Hopkins SAIS Diversity Summit Attendee
• McNair Scholar
• Peace Corps
• The Public Policy and International Affairs Program (PPIA)
• SAIS Europe Applicants
• Teach for All (including Teach for America) Corps Member
• Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Finalist or Fellow
• U.S. Active Duty Military
• U.S. Military Veteran

In order to receive a fee waiver, you must submit an official document confirming your participation in the appropriate program to admissionssais@jhu.edu. We will waive the fee once the paperwork is received by our office and your application has been submitted. Unfortunately, we do not grant fee waivers for financial hardship.