How to Apply

On this page you'll find a complete list of required application materials and specific instructions for each program offered at The New School for Social Research. All required materials should be submitted by the posted deadlines.

Application Deadlines

Fall

MA, MFA, MS, Advanced Certificate, Readmits, Visiting, and Exchange Applicants
Priority Deadline: January 15
Second Deadline: May 5
Final International Student Deadline: June 1
Final Deadline: August 1

Spring

MA, MS, Advanced Certificate, Visiting, and Exchange Applicants and Readmits
Priority Deadline: October 15
Final Deadline: January 4

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Fall Applicants: February 1
Spring Applicants: ASAP

The following programs will not be enrolling new students beginning in fall 2026:

• ​Anthropology PhD
• ​Economics PhD
• I​nternational Affairs ​MA and MS
• ​Philosophy PhD
• ​Politics PhD
• ​Cognitive, Social, and Developmental Psychology PhD
• P​ublic and Urban Policy MS and PhD
• ​Sociology PhD

Master's & Certificate Applicants

To be most competitive for admission and merit scholarship consideration, submit your completed application, with all required materials, by the indicated deadline. We will continue to review applications submitted after the deadlines if space is available in the programs. The Admission Committee will make a decision on your application only after all the required materials have been received. 

Prior Degree Completion

Graduate degree applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university or the equivalent degree from a foreign college or university. Applicants who will have completed their bachelor's degree by the time of enrollment may apply for admission. PhD applicants must hold a master’s degree in the discipline they are applying to study from an accredited U.S. college or university or the equivalent degree from a foreign college or university by the time of enrollment. The PhD in Clinical Psychology program accepts applications only from prospective students who have earned their psychology master’s degree from The New School. Prospective students with master’s degrees from other universities must apply to the Master of Arts in Psychology.

Applicant Profile

Our programs welcome applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds, including recent college graduates, graduate students, working professionals, and career changers. We engage in a holistic review of each application. GRE or GMAT test scores are not required.

Tips From Our Team

Our admissions team has created this collection of short how-to videos to help guide you through the process of preparing a successful graduate degree application.