Admissions and Financial Aid
APPLY TODAY!
Application deadline: April 15 for fall admissions.
We currently do not enroll students for spring semester admissions.
We admit one cohort of 15-25 students per year.
MSPA Application Requirements
Print our admissions application checklist for the UMass Boston MSPA Program
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a completed application form
download the graduate application
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application fee (currently $60.00 for domestic applicants or $100.00 for international applicants: payable by credit card online [Mastercard or VISA]; instructions if you do not have a credit card)
- three letters of recommendation we prefer that one letter be from a former professor; others can be from a supervisor or individual who can address your intellectual aptitude for graduate study. download the letter of recommendation form
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a current résumé noting your college(s), major(s), GPA(s) on the top of page one
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a personal statement (300 words) on your reasons for considering this UMass Boston MSPA program in relation to your academic background, professional work experience, and career goals
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an essay (1,200 words) describing your personal qualities and development and how they have influenced your career choice
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official copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts from all colleges attended
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Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores
previous scores less than five years old will be accepted- Register for the GRE
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Institutional code: 3924
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TOEFL or IELTS scores
All applicants having received their bachelor’s degree from a college or university outside the United States are required to take either the Test of English as a Foreign Language or the International English Language Testing System exam (more on waivers, minimum scores, and international student application process)
Submission Procedures
PART 1:
The application form and application fee should be submitted online.
All other application materials should be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions by April 15. We prefer to receive a complete application in one mailing.
PART 2:
To expedite the work of our Admissions Committee, please deliver or mail a hard or scanned copy of your résumé, personal statement, essay, and, if available, unofficial copies of your transcripts, GRE and TOEFL scores to:
Ms. Karyn Aiello, Graduate Programs Administrator
Department of Public Policy and Public Affairs
McCormack Hall, 3rd Floor, Room 438
UMass Boston
100 Morrissey Blvd.
Boston, MA 02125-3393
Apply today for the MSPA Program at UMass Boston
Apply online or request a catalog and application
Financial Aid
One part-time assistantship is available for each cohort offering a full tuition waiver and a stipend of $3,712.50 in exchange for four and one half hours per week work as a cohort liaison. Admitted students will be invited to apply prior to the start of classes.
With this ¼ assistantship, ¼ of the educational operations fee will be waived and ¼ of the offered health insurance credit awarded.
Please note that all stipend amounts, waivers, tuition, and fees are subject to state appropriations and may change each year. More on Graduate Assistantships
Complete list of current tuition and fee charges:
Please note the in-state or out-of-state rates for graduate students, as appropriate.
More on Financial Aid for UMass Boston graduate students
Other Resources for Financial Aid
The National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration offers an extensive list of financial aid, scholarships, fellowships, and loans for prospective public affairs graduate students.
