ADMISSIONS & AID

• Application Process
  • Application Checklist
  • Application Deadlines
  • Transfer Credit Guidelines
  • Post-Admission
• Tuition & Costs
  • Payment Methods & Deadlines
• Financial Aid
• Contact an Admissions Counselor
• Information Sessions & Webinars
• International Students
• Affiliations
• Contact a Graduate Ambassador

Application Process

Thanks for your interest in SIT Graduate Institute!

The SIT Admissions team is committed to guiding you every step of the way beginning with your initial inquiry to enrolling in a program.  We provide personalized support to provide you with a well-informed admission journey tailored to support your educational and professional goals.

We aim to cultivate a diverse and experienced student community to enhance the learning experience both inside and outside the classroom. Our students represent a wide variety of socioeconomic backgrounds and come from across the globe. They bring diverse experiences from roles in educational institutions, NGOs, and across public and private sectors. Our community includes activists working on issues of social justice and human rights, teachers, international education professionals, and returned Peace Corps volunteers, and those aspiring to work in similar fields. SIT students include experienced professionals who want to sharpen their skills, mid-career professionals seeking to change careers or boost their credentials, and recent college graduates.

As part of SIT’s commitment to student success, we provide nearly 90 percent of our students with scholarships to support their studies. Please visit the Financial Aid section of the website for additional information.

Admissions Criteria and Eligibility

SIT does not require applicants to take the GRE exam. To be considered for admission, you must satisfy the following admission criteria: 

Master of Arts Degrees

• US bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or the equivalent
• Demonstrated English language proficiency (see details below)
• Intercultural and professional experience
• Demonstrated ability to use experience as a source of learning

EdD in Global Education

• Bachelor’s and master’s degrees from regionally accredited institutions
• Writing sample (master’s thesis or capstone paper, literature review, publication, or similar)
• Evidence of English language proficiency 
• Demonstrated interest in the EdD degree at SIT and the ability to address how your prior academic and professional experiences have prepared you to undertake doctoral studies
• Ability to process your research topic and its significance to the field and identify your professional goals for the program

PhD in International Relations | PhD in Sustainability

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum preferred cumulative grade point average of 3.5 on a scale of 4.0 
• Strong academic writing skills and scholarly potential through a statement of purpose 
• Evidence of English language proficiency 
• Intercultural and professional experience 
• Demonstrated ability to use experience as a source of learning 

English Language Proficiency

Applicants whose first language is not English and who did not graduate from an English-speaking institution must demonstrate English language proficiency by submitting official test scores for one of the exams below. These scores are considered the minimum proficiency needed to undertake graduate-level work. Scores must be dated within two years of the start date of your academic program at SIT.

Test	Required Minimum Score	Exam Options
Duolingo English Test	130	To take the Duolingo English Test, you need a computer with a reliable internet connection and a front-facing camera. The entire test takes place online, and proctors review your recording to ensure you follow the rules.
ILETS (Academic)	7.0	You can take the IELTS Academic at a test center or remotely online. The test time is 2 hours and 45 minutes, and the format is the same wherever it is taken.
PTE (Academic)	68	The PTE exam can be taken remotely or in-person (location dependent).
TOEFL: SIT’s code is 3788	100 on the internet-based iBT	The TOEFL iBT can be taken in a testing center or remote location. Check the eligibility requirements of the online option before registering for that version.

Notice of Nondiscrimination

SIT does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, ancestry, disability, military status, veteran status, or other non-merit reasons, in admissions, educational programs, or activities and employment, and complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action, including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal law that specifically prohibits sex discrimination in education. Sex discrimination includes sexual harassment and sexual assault”