Admission Requirements

Students applying for the MS in Global Studies must follow the requirements of graduate and professional admissions as listed at: Graduate Admissions - Minimum Requirements | Graduate College. There are no additional requirements. Please read the Graduate Admissions closely, as 10+ years of relevant professional work may qualify for full status admission - even without a bachelor's degree or currently working on a bachelor's degree. 

Application Steps

  1. Complete the Graduate College online application (please note applications open in June 2025).

  2. Pay the application fee – $70 for US citizens and permanent residents and $90 for international students.  Application fee must be paid using a credit card through the online application and is non-refundable.

  3. Submit unofficial transcripts for all completed university coursework with the Online Application.  Official transcripts will be required upon admission and acceptance to the program.

  4. Submit a Statement of Purpose: All applicants will be expected to upload an academic statement. The length of these statements is chosen by your proposed program of study and range from 500 to 1000 words maximum.

  5. All applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as evidence of English proficiency.  Official scores are required to be submitted directly from TOEFL/ETS or IELTS.  For more information, please visit English Proficiency Requirements.  Please note: TOEFL or IELTS scores must be less than two years old from the first day of class at the proposed term of entry in order to be valid.  International students may check to see if they are exempt from this requirement based on their country of citizenship. 

  6. Check your status of your application materials to ensure all materials have been submitted prior to the deadline. 

  7. Current University of Illinois graduate students who wish to transfer into this program, please contact MSGS academic coordinator, information below.

Contact the MSGS academic coordinator Andy Guth at andyguth@illinois.edu with any questions about the program and application process.

5-year program

For students thinking about taking their interests in global studies to the next level, the MSGS program offers a 5-year program that allows students to supplement their bachelor's degree with an accelerated-track master's degree in Global Studies. Please reach out to academic coordinator Andy Guth at andyguth@illinois.edu with questions about this program.