Graduate Studies Application

Graduate study is open to qualified students who possess:

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college of University or the equivalent from a foreign institution.
• An adequate background in the field of study they wish to pursue. Typically, the equivalent of an undergraduate major in the field is required.

If you are an international applicant, your academic credentials will be evaluated based on the characteristics of your country’s educational system and the level of work completed. For further details, please refer to the section below for international applicants.

Application Submission Process

City College only accepts applications submitted through our online application system. Completing the online application is the first step in a two-step process.

Step 1: Submit Your Online Application

• Complete all required sections of the application.
• Upload any necessary documents as instructed.

Step 2: Submit Supporting Documents

Applicants must confirm the submission of all required supporting materials, including:

• Official transcripts
• Application fee
• Any additional required materials not uploaded through the online application

Important:

All supporting documents must be sent to the appropriate Office of Admissions at the addresses provided below. Applications will be considered incomplete until all required materials are received.

Application Fee

The non-refundable application fee is $75 and cannot be applied to any other fees.

Payment Methods

Applicants may pay the fee through:

• Credit card or eCheck via the online application system.
• Money order, payable to The City College of New York, and mailed to:

Office of Graduate Admissions
160 Convent Avenue
Marshak Science Building, Room 24
New York, NY 10031

Important Notes:

• Application fees are subject to change.
• Fee waivers are not available for graduate applicants, except for U.S. Veterans who provide a DD2-14 form.

Personal Statement Requirement

A personal statement outlining your educational and career objectives is required as part of your application. This statement serves as your introduction to the Admissions Committee and should clearly articulate your motivations for pursuing a graduate degree. Additionally, you may use this opportunity to address any challenges you encountered during your undergraduate studies.

Program-Specific Prompts:
Some programs provide specific prompts for the personal statement. You will have access to these prompts once you begin the application process.

Guidelines for Submission:

• Length: No more than one page
• Format: Typed and well-structured
• Submission: Must be uploaded to your online application

The personal statement is a key component of your application and plays an important role in determining your eligibility for admission.

Most programs require two letters of recommendation, though some may require up to three. All recommendations must be submitted on official letterhead.

Submission Process

Recommendations should be submitted online as part of the application process. Your recommender will complete a brief assessment of your ability to succeed at the graduate level and upload a narrative letter in support of your application.

For applicants to the School of Architecture, a curriculum vitae and three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with your intellectual and design abilities are required.

Who Can Provide Recommendations?

• Academic recommendations: Past or present professors.

• Professional recommendations: Employers or supervisors.

• Not accepted: Friends and relatives.

Programs reserve the right to request additional letters or information as needed. Recommendations may be submitted after the application is completed but must be received by the published deadline for your application to be considered.

Transcript Submission Guidelines

Unofficial Transcripts (Required for Application Review)

• Transcripts uploaded with the online application are considered unofficial and will be used for evaluation purposes only.
• Applicants must upload an unofficial transcript, mark sheet, or academic record for each institution attended, even if a degree was not conferred.
• Uploaded transcripts must include a key, legend, or back copy of the transcript.
• Non-English transcripts must be accompanied by an English translation. See [Guidelines for Official Translations of Documents] for more details.
• Scans must be clear and legible and must include the applicant’s name.

Do not mail materials that you have uploaded unless specifically requested by the Admissions Office.

Official Transcripts (Required for Enrollment)

• Admission offers are contingent upon receipt and verification of all official transcripts, certified translations, and/or credential evaluations for the applicant’s entire post-secondary academic history.
• Official transcripts must be sealed and stamped by the issuing institution’s Registrar’s Office.
• If the official transcript does not include the degree conferral date, an official copy of the diploma or provisional certificate must also be provided.
• Non-English transcripts must be accompanied by an official English translation.

International Transcripts

Applicants who attended a college/university outside the U.S. must submit:

1. Copies of the original academic transcripts (with translations if not in English).
2. Proof of degree conferral.
3. A course-by-course evaluation report from a NACES approved agency (this can also serve as an English translation).
   • For more details, refer to the Evaluation of International Credentials section below.

Any fraudulent activity or discrepancies between unofficial and official transcripts will result in the immediate revocation of the admission offer.

Programs may require additional elements, such as interviews/auditions and portfolio material.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Requirement

Currently Required For:

• Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology (mandatory)

Optional Submission:

• While not required for other programs, GRE scores may be submitted as part of your application.

Score Submission & Validity:

• Scores can be sent directly from ETS (Educational Testing Service)
• The Institutional Code for City College is 2083 (department codes are not used)
• GRE scores are valid for five years

For more information, visit gre@ets.org

The City College of New York completes a full assessment of a student's academic records if they are applying with academic coursework and/or a degree obtained outside of the United States.

Applicants who have attended a college/university outside the US are required to submit:

• copies of the original academic transcripts (If not in English, translations are also required)
• proof of degree conferral
• course-by-course evaluation report from a NACES approved agency ( can also serve as English translation)

A few NACES approved agencies for which we accept academic credential evaluations are: 

Education Credential Evaluators, Inc.: www.ece.org
Evaluation Service Inc.: www.evaluationservice.net
Josef Silny & Associates, Inc.: www.jsilny.org
Transcript Research: www.transcriptresearch.com

While students may submit copies of their credential evaluations, the ultimate decision of a degree's equivalency lies at the discretion of the City College of New York.

Assessment of foreign degrees is based on:

• The national educational system of the applicant’s country.
• The type of institution attended.
• The level of studies completed.

The following guidelines outline the minimum level of study required for graduate admission to The City College of New York:

Region-Specific Requirements

• British-patterned education: Bachelor’s degree with honors.
• France: Maîtrise from a university or completion of a three-year diplôme d’ingénieur from grandes écoles.
  • Note: The graduate certificate (gradue’) or license does not meet minimum requirements.
• Germany: Diplom, Magister Artium (M.A.), or Staatsexamen.
  • Note: The German educational system is undergoing revisions. Consideration will be given to students applying before the new system is fully implemented.
• Other European countries: University degree requiring four years of study.
• Middle East: University degree requiring four years of study.
• Canada: Three-year bachelor’s degree (Quebec) or four-year bachelor’s degree (other provinces).
• Latin America: University degree requiring four years of study.
• India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal:
  • Bachelor’s degree in engineering or medicine.
  • Master’s degree in all other fields.
  • Note: A three-year bachelor’s degree is not sufficient for graduate study at City College. A two-year master’s degree following a three-year bachelor’s degree is required.
• Philippines:
  • Five-year bachelor’s degree or
  • Four-year bachelor’s degree plus one year of graduate work.
• Russian republics: University diploma requiring 4.5 to 6 years of study.
• Other Asian countries: University degree requiring four years of study.

Submission of Academic Records

Applicants must submit academic records from every postsecondary institution attended. These records should provide:

• Detailed information on course content and academic performance.
• Courses taken each year and grades received.
• Grading scale used by the institution.
• Class rank, if available.
• Official verification of degrees through diplomas or conferral statements on academic records.

Document Requirements:

• Academic records must be submitted in a sealed official envelope from the issuing institution.
• Original documents must bear the seal and signature of the Registrar or be verified copies signed by a school administrative officer.
• Evaluations for all foreign degrees are required, see section on Evaluation of International Credentials. 

Translation and Evaluation of Academic Records

Required for Non-English Academic Records:
If your institution does not issue records in English, you must submit both:

• Original language records
• English translations

Translation Requirements:

• Translations must be literal and complete versions of the original records
• All supporting materials must be in English
• The Office of Graduate Admissions reserves the right to reject translations that do not meet official guidelines

Who Can Provide Translations?

• Use certified translation services (refer to local directories for providers)
• Credential evaluations from approved agencies may serve as English translations

Additional Documentation:
The following guidelines must be followed for translations to be official. The University reserves the right to request further academic records if the authenticity or nature of your documents cannot be verified.

If you are on a temporary visa and were educated in a non-English speaking environment, you must demonstrate proficiency in English by submitting official test scores from one of the following exams:

• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System – Academic Level)
• PTE (Pearson Test of English – Academic Level)
• Duolingo English Test

Please request to have your official test scores sent to the City College of New York and/or list our University code 2083 when registering for the exams.

Proficiency in the English language is not required of permanent residents of the U.S. or individuals who have been granted official refugee or asylum status by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). It is also not required of students from exempt countries where English is the official language, or by students that have studied full-time at a university for at least two years at an institution in a country where English is the official language.

The following courses will not fulfill this requirement: (1) courses in English as a Second Language, (2) courses conducted in another language other than English, (3) courses that will be completed after you apply, and (4) courses of a nonacademic nature. Applicants who attend a university in a foreign country where English is the medium of instruction are NOT waived from this requirement.

Each graduate program may require a different minimum score for consideration than another. Please consult the program requirements for you program's minimum score.

If you have previously been denied admission to City College on the basis of your English language proficiency, you must submit new scores that meet the current minimum.

All scores expire after two years. Scores sent directly to any academic department will delay the processing of your application. City College does not use department codes.

Public Service Management, MPA applicants who are permanent residents AND have not completed a postsecondary degree from an English speaking country are NOT exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS.

City College offers an intensive English program that is available to all students, domestic and international. Foreign students who do not meet the minimum TOEFL requirement for CCNY can enroll in this program to improve their English skills and receive a F-1 visa. To learn more, click here.

Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents must have a student visa status that permits study at The City College of New York (CCNY).

The F-1 Student Visa is obtained using an I-20 Certificate of Eligibility, which is issued by CCNY to international students who:

• Have accepted an offer of admission.
• Meet the English language proficiency requirement.
• Verify sufficient financial resources to cover at least one academic year.

Students on an F-1 visa must:

• Maintain continuous, full-time enrollment.
• Comply with U.S. immigration laws, including regulations on:
  • On- and off-campus employment
  • Degree program changes
  • School transfers
  • Extension of stay

Additional visa-related information will be provided to admitted students.

Application Timeline

International students should allow at least six months to complete the entire application process, including visa arrangements.

 For further assistance with the application process and information specific to your country, please contact your local U.S. Embassy/U.S. Consulate/Office of Public Affairs for referral to an overseas educational advising center near you, or consult the list available on the U.S. Department of State’s website at http://educationusa.state.gov

All application materials (except payments) must be sent to the appropriate admissions office:

For the Following Schools & Programs:

• Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership
• College of Liberal Arts and Science
• Division of Interdisciplinary Studies at the Center for Worker Education
• Grove School of Engineering
• Sustainability in the Urban Environment

Address:
The City College of New York
Office of Graduate Admissions
Marshak Science Building, Room 24
160 Convent Avenue
New York, NY 10031

For the Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture:

Address:
The City College of New York
Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture
141 Convent Avenue, Room 120
New York, NY 10031

For the School of Education:

Address:
The City College of New York
School of Education
NAC 3/223A
160 Convent Avenue
New York, NY 10031