How to Apply: Graduate Admissions Requirements

• The one-time graduate application fee is $75.
• To earn an application fee waiver you can join our webinar series. This a great opportunity to meet with our team, learn more about the application process, and ask any questions you may have.

For your resume, please include all colleges attended, degree type, GPA, and month/year of graduation.

Work Experience: List & describe in 3-4 sentences all work/internship/volunteer experiences. Please include dates of employment/participation and job responsibilities.

In your written statement, please discuss your professional goals, your academic and/or research interests, and your plans for achieving these goals. Please outline your specific educational, professional, or other experiences that will contribute to your success in the program and your career.

This statement should not exceed 800 words.

The letters of recommendation can be from employers, supervisors, professors, instructors, or others who can comment on your professional and educational goals and potential (no friends or relatives, please).

These references should be able to judge your qualifications necessary for success in graduate coursework, including intellectual and analytical ability, oral and written communication skills, independence, initiative, and drive.

Note: Three letters are required for the M.A. in Teaching (MAT).

Please include transcripts from all institutions attended (individual mark sheets, consolidated transcript, and confirmation of degree).

• Master of Fine Arts in Interactive Media must submit a portfolio that includes examples of traditional and/or digital works of visual art or interactive media. Portfolio pieces may represent classroom assignments as well as independent projects. The portfolio should be purposeful, demonstrate originality of concept, visual literacy, and an understanding of current industry standard software. Two Letters of Recommendation required

GRE/GMAT is only required for the on-campus Master of Business Administration program. GRE/GMAT will be waived if a student has a 3.2 GPA or higher. Students below 3.2 GPA will be reviewed on a case by case basis. GMAT/GRE Codes: GRE: 3279 for all programs | GMAT: Q4X-6X-30 for all programs

Although this process is not a requirement  to apply, our partnership with International Education Evaluations (MyIEE) supports students’ transcript evaluation and translation needs. Learn more about MyIEE at https://myiee.org/university/clark-university.

International applicants must submit official test score results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Duolingo, or the Pearson Test of English (PTE-Academic). Applicants should check with the testing agency to ensure that their scores are still valid and that the agency will be able to send an official score report.

All master’s programs have the following requirements:

• TOEFL (ETS code 5969): 85 overall, sub-score minimum of 20, or
• TOEFL: ITP Plus Scores, or
• IELTS: 6.5 overall, sub-score minimum of 6, or
• PTE: 61 overall with no band below 55, or
• Duolingo: 120, sub-score minimum of 100, or
• Completion of ELS 112, or 
• Completion of EC English B2+ Pre-Advanced Level

EXCEPTIONS: Students who are citizens of the following countries, or who have studied abroad (in person) and earned a degree at an accredited degree program at a university in these countries are exempt from the English language requirements:

Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada (except Quebec), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guam, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Liberia, Lesotho, Malta, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Montserrat, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Rwanda, Scotland, Sierra Leone, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, St. Helen, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, The U.S. Virgin Islands, Zimbabwe, and Zambia.

If you are not from an above-listed exempt country or do not meet the minimum English language requirements, you may be offered admission into the English for Academic Success Program or the Graduate Pathway Program before starting your graduate degree program.

Clark University awards merit-based tuition scholarships for full-time master’s level students who demonstrate academic potential, professional focus, and a commitment to Clark community values. 

Candidates who choose to apply for a Clark Graduate Scholarship must submit both a written essay and a video essay in support of their application. Students will be prompted to submit these as part of their application for admission. 

Scholarship candidates are encouraged to apply early, during priority application periods. 

Deans and faculty members individually select recipients based on scholarship criteria and the strength of their application.  

Scholarship awards are considered final at time of admission. No review process is available, and awards cannot be adjusted after admission.  

The following additional materials are required to be considered for a Graduate Scholarship:  

1. Written essay (500 to 1,000 words) on the following prompt: “Clark University’s mission is ‘Challenge Convention, Change the World.’ How would you use a master’s degree from Clark to uphold our mission? How would you contribute to our community?” 
    
2. Video essay (1 to 3 minutes) featuring the student responding in person to the following prompt: “Master’s programs at Clark range from 10 to 16 classes in length. What class in your future master’s program are you most excited to take, and why?” 

Students who are seeking a high merit scholarship must submit a strong application that aligns with award criteria. The follow attributes are considered to make a strong application:  

Authentic and Original Voice: Provide your unique perspective and avoid generic responses. Don’t use AI. 

Reflection on Personal Background: Highlight experiences that have shaped your academic and career aspirations. 

Clear Career Goals and Program Fit: Explain your career goals and how Clark’s master’s program will help you achieve them. 

Connection to Personal Values and the Clark Mission: Demonstrate how your values align with Clark’s mission to “Challenge Convention, Change the World”. 

Professionalism and Attention to Detail: Present a well-structured, polished application that reflects professionalism, strong writing, and careful proofreading. 

A fee of $75 must accompany the application for admission to the University. This fee is not refundable.

We grant waivers for the following populations:

• Applicants from organizations partnered with Clark (e.g., AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, City Year, Fulbright, Teach for America, McNair Scholars, National Association of Black Accountants, among others)
• Clark alumni
• Current Clark employees

Unofficial transcripts can be uploaded for application review. Official final transcripts, including confirmation of earned degree, are required prior to enrollment, and can be sent via official electronic delivery service to gradadmissions@clarku.edu OR mailed directly from the institution to:

Clark University
Graduate Admissions
950 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01610 USA

All transcripts submitted must include an English translation in addition to the original document. Submissions that do not include the original language and its English translation will not be considered.

All deposits are non-refundable, even if a student receives a visa denial.

Admitted students may defer admission for up to one full year from their term of admission (i.e. Fall 2023 admitted students can defer to Spring or Fall 2024). Only students that have accepted an offer of admission are eligible to defer. Clark University does not require students to submit an enrollment deposit when accepting their offer of admission.

All deferral requests must be submitted before the first full day of classes and 1st module of your enrolled semester, as per the academic calendar. After that date, applicants will need to re-apply to their program of interest if interested in attending Clark in a future term.

Students may begin their studies at Clark by taking one or two courses as a non-matriculated student.  If you’re interested in taking a course, please contact gradadmissions@clarku.edu.

Candidates who choose to apply for a Clark Graduate Scholarship must submit a written personal essay and a video essay as part of their application for admission. Application materials submitted are considered final. 

Scholarship awards are considered final at time of admission. No review process is available, and awards cannot be adjusted after admission.