MUP Application Requirements

Application Requirements

Below you’ll find an overview of the basic application requirements for consideration for the Master in Urban Planning (MUP) 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

An undergraduate degree is required to apply for the MUP program, but no specific major is required. Applicants are accepted from a range of disciplines. Most successful applicants have demonstrated experience and interest in the field through internships, community service, extra-curriculars, and/or professional experience.

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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 both the general GSD community essay and any required program-specific essays. Essay prompts vary by program and are only available in the graduate application.

Essays FAQ

Portfolio

Submitting a portfolio or work sample is optional for MUP applicants. Examples of work that applicants might share in a portfolio include essays, reports, and more traditional portfolios. Most MUP applicants do not submit a portfolio. We like to say that if you have a portfolio, submit one, but if not, there is no need to create one.

Portfolio FAQ

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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

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.