Application Requirements

The expectation is that applicants prepare and produce their own work. 

As a rule of thumb, wherever it is inappropriate for you to ask a human contributor to do work for you or where you don’t have explicit permission to share the work of one person with another, it is equally inappropriate for you to prompt an AI tool to do work for you or upload the work of others into an AI tool.

Note that any use of generative AI tools requires proper referencing, as is the case for all other resources and aids used in academic work. (See How to cite ChatGPT (apa.org) .)

For more information, please see the GSD’s policy regarding the use of generative AI in teaching and learning at the GSD

By submitting your application you are certifying that the information presented is accurate, complete, and honestly presented. You also are certifying that any information submitted on your behalf, including letters of recommendation, is authentic. Any inaccurate information, misleading information, or omission may be cause for the rescission of any offer of admission, or for discipline, dismissal, or revocation of degree if discovered at a later date.

You may apply a maximum of three times to the same GSD degree program. If an applicant has been denied admission for the third time, further applications to the same program will not be considered.

Whether you plan to apply to more than one program at the same time (but only wish to enroll in one) or you are hoping to pursue a concurrent degree between two eligible master’s programs at the GSD, you will need to submit a separate application, application fee, and supporting materials for each program.

Applicants have the opportunity to apply for a concurrent degree with another GSD program with the goal of reducing the overall length of study it would take to pursue both degrees independently. Applicants must indicate interest in a concurrent degree within their application and must submit a separate application for each program. Concurrent degrees are not available for the Master in Real Estate (MRE), Master in Design Engineering (MDE), or Doctor of Design (DDes) programs. Please see the GSD Student Handbook for more specific information about pursuing a concurrent degree.

Master in Urban Planning (MUP) applicants interested in pursuing an approved joint degree with the Master in Public Policy (Harvard Kennedy School), the Master in Public Administration (Harvard Kennedy School), or the Juris Doctor (Harvard Law School), must apply and be admitted into each school independently.

The GSD does not accept transfer credits for work completed at another institution. If admitted, it may be possible to waive a required course if you have completed the equivalent course at another institution. This would not shorten the length of your program, but it may allow you to take an elective instead of the required course.

Applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit TOEFL scores that meet our minimum overall and section scores. Admitted students whose scores fall between the set minimum and preferred scores are required to take our English for Design course in the summer before enrolling.

Once submitted, changes, additions, or any other edits cannot be made to the application, any application materials, and/or the portfolio. 

Application materials, including the portfolio, become the property of the GSD and cannot be returned or forwarded to any other party.

There is a $90, non-refundable fee for each application submitted. In order for your application(s) to be reviewed, the fee(s) should be paid, by credit card only, immediately after submitting your application.

A limited number of fee waivers are available each admissions season and must be requested before submitting an application. A link to the fee waiver request form and eligibility instructions will be available within the application.

On occasion, some applicants to the Master in Design Engineering, the Doctor of Design, or the Master in Design Studies programs may be asked to participate in a virtual interview with a member of the admissions committee. Applicants may not request an interview.

Applicants are notified of selection decisions by email in mid-March. If you have not received notification by April 1, please contact the Office of Admissions at [email protected]. We are not able to release individual decisions early for any reason.

Deferrals are not offered for any of our programs. Please apply for the year you intend to enroll.