How to Apply

Applicants are required to apply online. You must complete all required fields and upload materials prior to submission. Most materials can be submitted electronically via the online application. Any additional supporting documents that need to be sent electronically or by mail must include an Application Materials Cover Sheet. All supporting materials must be received before your application can be reviewed.

If you're planning to apply using a school email address, please confirm you can receive our email first. Some schools block email from outside their domains. 

The 2026 application will become available in late September.

The application fee for U.S. domestic applicants and international applicants is $50. Application fees are paid through the online application and are non-refundable. The New School waives application fees for those who meet the eligibility guidelines listed in the Application Fee Waivers section of our university-wide How to Apply page.

MS in Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management & Advanced Certificate in Sustainability Strategies
Please submit a 500- to 750-word statement of purpose explaining your reasons for pursuing a graduate degree or advanced certificate, your academic, research, and/or professional goals, and why you consider the program to be a match for you. Your statement of purpose should clearly discuss why you are interested in our school, our program, and the environmental and sustainability field. Summarize by detailing the reasons you feel the MS in Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management program or the Advanced Certificate in Sustainability Management is a good fit for you.

MS in Public and Urban Policy
Please submit a 500- to 750-word statement of purpose. Your statement of purpose should convey why you are interested in our program. Please discuss your academic and professional goals and the subject areas within public or urban policy that are of interest to you. The statement of purpose gives you the opportunity to tell the admission committee about who you are and why you want to pursue graduate study in our public and urban policy program. It is also a place to explain or provide context for the rest of your application materials.

PhD in Public and Urban Policy
Your statement of goals and purpose (500-750 words) should describe your academic and professional interests and goals, explain why you want to pursue a doctorate, and tell us why our PhD in Public and Urban Policy is a good fit for you. This statement should discuss the kind of research you intend to pursue as a student and explain why this work is important for what you expect to accomplish after completing the degree. Please include a frank self-assessment of your work as a scholar. You are encouraged to discuss the importance of your work experience for your academic and career plans, especially if you have been out of school for an extended time.

Submit a one to two-page résumé/curriculum vitae summarizing your academic qualifications, relevant work experience, published writing, volunteer/community work, professional networking, public speaking, and/or any other relevant experiences that may relate to your field of study, including dates and positions held. Please also note any special language or computer skills that you have.

At least two letters of recommendation from professional and/or academic references are required. Recommendations must be submitted by recommenders directly via the online application portal. Instructions are included in the online application.

Applicants must upload an unofficial transcript, mark sheet, or academic record for each institution (even if you didn’t receive a degree) in the Academic History section of the online application.

All uploaded transcripts must be accompanied by a key, a legend, or the back copy of the transcript. Non-English transcripts must be accompanied by an English translation. Records from non-U.S. institutions must have grades or marks and contain a copy of diploma if the degree has been conferred. Make sure your name appears on the transcript/record. Scanned documents must be clear and legible.

If you experience trouble uploading your transcript, email [email protected] and give a detailed description of the issue and attach the document in question.

The New School reserves the right to require official transcripts or an official NACES course-by-course evaluation at any time during the admission process. Any fraudulent activity or discrepancies found between uploaded and official transcripts will result in the immediate revocation of admission and/or dismissal from The New School. Transcripts uploaded with the online application are considered unofficial.

Applicants offered admission will be required to submit official transcripts with proof of their degree conferral(s) prior to enrollment. Admitted applicants must submit all official transcripts pertaining to their entire academic career. Transcripts uploaded with the online application are considered unofficial, and do not satisfy this requirement.

How to Submit Official Electronic Transcripts

The New School accepts electronic transcripts from our approved vendors and directly from universities. Our approved vendors:

• National Student Clearinghouse
• Parchment Exchange
  
• TrueCopy Credentials

Electronic transcripts sent directly by a student are considered unofficial.

Students with International Credentials Seeking Transfer Credit

Graduate and postgraduate applicants who are seeking transfer credit and attended postsecondary institutions outside of the United States are required to submit official transcripts and translation (if transcript is not in English). 

While not required, students may have their transcript(s) evaluated by World Education Services (WES), by Education Credential Evaluators (ECE), or by another member of the National Association of Credit Evaluation Services (NACES).  Follow all document requirements as outlined on the evaluation service providers’ websites. Evaluations completed by WES or ECE will be sent directly to us electronically by the vendor.  All other NACES provider evaluations should be mailed directly by the vendor to the address for Supplemental Materials.

Whenever possible, please send all official communication electronically, including transcripts and letters of recommendation. 

Our Mailing Address:

The New School
Office of Admission
55 West 13th Street
New York, NY 10011

All materials and documents submitted in association with a New School application become the property of the New School and cannot be returned to you or transmitted to a third party.

MS Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management and Sustainability Strategies Certificate applicants

Applicants may submit an academic or professional writing sample of 8 to 12 pages in English. Published or unpublished academic or analytic research papers are acceptable, as are professional reports, white papers, policy memos and creative publications, maps, and designs. Writing samples that demonstrate your written communication skills, public or urban policy or environmental or sustainability management interests, or creative practice are welcome.

MS Public and Urban Policy applicants

Applicants may submit an 8- to-12 page academic or professional writing sample in English. Published or unpublished academic or analytic research papers are acceptable, as are professional reports, white papers, policy memos, creative publications, maps, and designs. Writing samples that demonstrate your written communication skills, public or urban policy interests, or creative practice are welcome.

PhD Public and Urban Policy applicants

Applicants must submit a sample of scholarly work, up to 30 pages in length, in English. The submission should be authored by the applicant. Co-authored writing samples will be accepted, provided the applicant’s contribution(s) to the work are clearly noted. 

All applicants who are native speakers of languages other than English must submit valid English language proficiency test results taken within the past two years. 

We permit applicants to submit one of the following tests: TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, Duolingo English Test, or Cambridge English Test.

Minimum required scores are:

• TOEFL iBT- 92
• IELTS - 7.0
• PTE - 68
• Duolingo English Test - 115
• Cambridge English - 185

TOEFL iBT is the world’s most trusted and accepted English proficiency test to demonstrate your academic readiness. Take it at home or in a test center in less than 2 hours. Register for an upcoming TOEFL iBT test to realize your dreams of studying, working, and living abroad. Our TOEFL institution code is 2521. Our TOEFL institution code is 2521. 

The New School does not require TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, DET, or Cambridge English scores for applicants who have earned a four-year degree from a U.S. college/university or from a university where English is the primary language of instruction, with a minimum of three years attendance. Completion of a master’s degree at university where English is the primary language of instruction does not satisfy the English language proficiency requirement. 

After reviewing your application, the Admission Office  may require you to submit an English Language Proficiency test score to evaluate your candidacy. 

We accept test scores taken within the past two years. If your scores are older, you must retake the test.

Prospective students with disabilities or health-related needs may consider requesting to their testing agency directly for reasonable testing accommodations for their English language proficiency test. Students are encouraged to make these requests to their testing agency as early as possible to meet admission deadlines.

Applicants also have the option of enrolling in The New School English as a Second Language (ESL) program before applying to our graduate programs. Students must pass Level 6 to waive the English language test requirement. Visit the ESL website for more information.

All admitted students are considered for competitive merit scholarships that are awarded in the form of a tuition discount. . These awards are determined by their application’s strength.

If you are a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to be considered for need-based financial aid. The FAFSA is available each year on October 1. The New School’s federal school code is 002780. You don’t need to wait for an admission decision to apply for federal aid. Our Financial Aid staff are available to guide you through the process of applying for financial aid.

Applications become complete and ready for review once all required items have been received by the Office of Admission. You can check your application status in the Admission Hub.

Allow at least 14 days from the date you submitted your application for items to be marked as received in your Admission Hub. Applicants are responsible for following up with schools and recommenders to confirm that transcripts and recommendations have been sent.

The Office of Admission will periodically notify applicants by email if their file is missing any documents and again when their file is complete for review. These notifications are sent to the email address provided in the online application.

If you need to change your email address, mailing address, or other contact information, email the Office of Admission.

Spring admission decisions are released on a rolling basis starting in November.

Fall admission decisions are released on a rolling basis starting in mid-March.

In any given academic year, a student can apply to only one department or program within The New School. Applicants who file more than one application in an academic year will be required to withdraw one of the applications, and application fees will not be refunded.

All materials and documents submitted in association with The New School application become the property of The New School and cannot be returned to you or transmitted to a third party.

Students who wish to return to a graduate degree program after an absence of four semesters must reapply via the graduate application. They must first confirm that their program is still accepting applications and that they are meeting time limit requirements (if applicable), before completing the application.

Readmission applications will not be processed for former students with holds on their student record, including but not limited to a Bursar, Student Support, or Registrar hold, until holds are resolved.

Applicants who have completed relevant graduate-level courses at this or another college or university may be able to transfer up to nine credits. Transfer of credit is evaluated after enrollment.

The New School welcomes undocumented students and students who hold DACA status to apply. Undocumented status does not affect the admissions process or your final admission decision. For questions about financial aid, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at [email protected].

Learn more about how we support undocumented students.