Doctoral Programs and Masters Programs

// Brown University

Brown University has a long history of educating some of the world’s most creative and innovative minds. The school’s stunning campus is just outside Providence, Rhode Island. With over 17,000 students enrolled at Brown, there are many ways to get involved on campus – including extracurricular activities and student groups.

Brown University offers 50 doctoral programs and nearly 30 master’s programs, including those of the School of Engineering, the School of Public Health, and the School of Professional Studies.

Application Process

The application process for Brown University doctoral programs and masters programs is fairly straightforward. Applicants must submit the following:

A completed online application form, including a personal statement and resume/CV
An application fee of $75 (waived for students applying to certain programs)
Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended, including those where you did not earn your bachelor’s degree and any other postsecondary institutions you heard in the past five years.

Personal Statement

The personal statement is crucial to your application and should be 1-2 pages long. It should be written in the first person and include information about your background, interests and why you want to study at Brown.

Transcripts

The best way to send your transcripts to Brown is through an official envelope. It means you need to use the school's name and address on the envelope, not yours (and not someone else's).

You should also ensure that your transcript is sealed in an envelope by whoever sends it from your university or college. If it isn't closed, we won't be able to read what's inside!

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are an important part of your application. You should ask three or four people who know you well to write letters on your behalf, including a professor or mentor familiar with your academic work. Letters should be from people who have observed and worked with you over time and can provide meaningful insights into how well-suited you are for graduate school at Brown.

GRE

GRE stands for Graduate Record Exam. It’s a test you take to graduate school, and most schools require it. The GRE General Test measures your verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing skills. You can register online at www.ets.org/gre/register/.

The minimum scores required by Brown University vary depending on the program:

500 on each section of the verbal section (critical reading)
157 on each section of the math section (quantitative)

TOEFL/IELTS

TOEFL/IELTS is required for admission to Brown. We do not accept TOEFL/IELTS scores from any test centre other than those listed below.

TOEFL: Minimum Internet-based score of 100 or higher (with a minimum section score of 20 in each section)

IELTS: Overall band score of 7 or higher

Application Fee and Waivers

You may be eligible for a fee waiver if you meet one of the following criteria:

You are a first-generation college student (your parents have no college degrees).
You are enrolled in or have been accepted into an undergraduate program at Brown University.
Your family has an annual income below $60,000 and needs help to pay the application fee. If this applies to your situation, please apply for an application fee waiver by completing our online form here.

Paper Credentials and Other Documentation

You’ll need to provide official transcripts for all postsecondary education you’ve completed, including the courses in your program of study. If you’re applying for a doctoral program, this includes any master’s degrees or other graduate work that may have been completed previously.
TOEFL/IELTS scores (if applicable). The two exams differ slightly in what they measure: TOEFL measures English proficiency, and IELTS measures general academic ability across all subjects. Both tests require an essay component and can be taken at most testing centres around the world; neither test is needed if you have earned an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution in one of the following countries: Australia, Barbados, Bermuda, Canada (except Quebec), Ireland (Republic), Jamaica & Malta (European Union member states).

Criteria for Admission

To be considered for admission, you must:

Have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent).
Have a minimum GRE score of 300 or above on the old scale. If you have taken the GRE revised General Test and have yet to receive your scores, we will use your highest math, verbal and writing scores from that test date to estimate your GRE score for admission until we receive your official scores from ETS.
Demonstrate proficiency in English by satisfying one of the following requirements: TOEFL 97+ with at least 20 speaking/writing points; IELTS 6.5+ with no less than 5 in any band (Reading/Listening/Speaking); or completion of two semesters of full-time study at an accredited U.S.-based institution or university where English was used as the language of instruction.