DDes Application Requirements

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Application Requirements

Below you’ll find an overview of the application requirements for consideration for the Doctor of Design (DDes) program. Application requirements and policies are updated annually. Complete instructions can only be found in the application, which is available mid-September through early January.

Eligibility

Admission to the DDes program is extremely competitive. The program seeks applicants who have demonstrated research and analytical skills essential for advanced doctoral study as well as the ability to pursue such work independently. It requires that applicants hold a graduate level degree in a design related field such as a professional degree in architecture, landscape architecture, planning or urban design. Applicants with a degree in a related discipline such as engineering, geography, computer science, or industrial design are also eligible to apply.

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Transcripts from Prior Institutions

Transcripts are required from all colleges and universities from which you have earned credit or have received a degree and should include your name, the school name, degree, major, degree date if awarded, and a semester-by-semester course breakdown with corresponding grades. Transcripts not in English must be accompanied by a certified English translation. All transcripts must be uploaded directly into the application.

Transcript FAQ

Letters of Recommendation

Applicants are required to obtain three letters of recommendation, ideally at least two from college or university instructors. If you have been out of school for several years, you may request letters from employers or other persons in a position to evaluate your professional abilities and academic potential.

Recommendations FAQ
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Essays

Applicants must submit responses to the general GSD community essay and any required program and Domain specific essays. Essay prompts vary by program and Domain and are only available in the graduate application.

Essays FAQ

Research Proposal

DDes applicants must submit a concise proposal describing the research in which you plan to engage during your studies. Include a clear articulation of the driving question(s) as well as the methodologies that frame your project. Highlight, as part of this articulation, some of the significant precedents and disciplinary approaches that have shaped your thinking. Make sure to summarize the relevance of the project by pointing to the ways it will develop or challenge existing literature and/or practice. How will the project contribute to your intended field(s) of study? Finally, include a project timeline that underscores its feasibility given the three to four-year structure of the program (one year of coursework, six months to one year for general examinations/prospectus defense, one to two years for research and writing).

The proposal will be evaluated on the following:

  • Congruence with the research interests of at least two GSD faculty members who may eventually serve on the thesis committee;
  • Promise for original contribution to the design professions;
  • Feasibility of completion within the time constraints of the program.

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Portfolio

DDes Portfolios should consist of scholarly, academic, and/or professional work, and at your discretion, may or may not include visual material as related to the proposed research.

Portfolio FAQ

Resume

Upload a resume or CV that includes full and part-time employment, education, fellowships, extra-curricular university activities, community service, honors, awards, professional registration and societies, publications, avocations, hobbies, and travel. If you served in the military, indicate rank on entry and rank on separation. Please provide a complete employment and educational history, including information about any gaps. While brevity is valued, please do not feel limited to one page.

Resume FAQ
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GRE

Official GRE scores are required to be sent directly from ETS to the GSD by the application deadline. The GSD does not have a minimum GRE score.

GRE FAQ

TOEFL

International applicants must take the TOEFL test and submit official scores to the GSD by the application deadline with the following exception. Applicants who hold or are in the process of completing a bachelor’s degree that includes a minimum of three years of in-person, full-time study where English is the sole medium of instruction in the following countries are exempt from the TOEFL requirement: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Canada, Ghana, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, and the United States. An official transcript for the relevant bachelor’s degree, showing three full-time years in residence, must be uploaded into the appropriate section of application.

Appropriate English proficiency is incredibly important for success at the GSD, and so we encourage applicants to diligently prepare for the TOEFL to achieve your highest possible score.

Preferred Score

104 overall with a 26 in each section

Minimum Score

92 overall with a 23 in each section

TOEFL FAQ
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Student Projects

DDes students receive financial support and teaching fellowships to cover a major part of their tuition. Additional support may be available through funded research and other resources at the school.

Funding Opportunities