The application deadline is January 15, 2026 for all applicants, including Brown seniors. Please note that Brown's MPA program begins in early June. We do not offer entry at other times.

Fill out the online application and submit the following:

• Transcripts from all post-secondary education; international students please check our transcript verification policy below
• 3 letters of recommendation (at least one academic if you are a current undergraduate)
• Resume/CV
• GRE scores are optional but strongly encouraged
• A quantitative resume is required for applicants who do not submit official GRE scores; find a sample quantitative resume here.
• Personal statement
• International students who have not earned their bachelor's degree at an English-speaking institution are also required to take the TOEFL or IELTS exam. The TOEFL code for Brown is 3094. Find more information about language proficiency requirements, including how to submit IELTS scores, on Brown's Graduate School website.
• Application fee of $100

GRE scores remain optional but strongly encouraged. Applicants who do not submit official GRE scores are required to submit a quantitative resume.

Allow up to four weeks for scores to transmit from ETS and be uploaded into Brown's system. Please note that GRE scores are optional for this admissions cycle.

The personal statement prompt is as follows: "Our program’s mission is to cultivate and elevate the next generation of global leaders to address pressing societal challenges. We look forward to learning about why you have decided to pursue graduate work in public affairs through Brown’s MPA. As you think about your future career path, how might you envision yourself addressing the societal challenges you care most about? How would the curriculum and opportunities offered in our MPA program help you advance toward your vision?"

You will have the opportunity to upload a copy of your personal statement document directly to the application portal. There is no minimum word limit, but we encourage you to stay below 1500 words.

Applicants who do not submit official GRE scores are required to submit a quantitative resume. Applicants who submit GRE scores are encouraged to submit a quantitative resume to provide more context regarding their preparation for the program. Find guidance and a sample quantitative resume here.

Yes, the program offers merit-based funding to all accepted students, including international students. A decision about funding starts with a student's admission file. For full consideration for merit-based financial awards, the application must be complete, including all supplemental materials (unofficial transcripts, TOEFL scores, and if applicable, GRE scores). There isn't any additional paperwork to fill out. Nearly all matriculated students receive some level of merit aid. Student loans are also available through our Office of Financial Aid to eligible U.S. applicants who submit the FAFSA by April 15.

We value students from diverse background and perspectives. Work experience is not required to apply, although many incoming students have two or more years of work experience. To ensure your success in the MPA program, and the quantitative core in particular, we strongly encourage students to consider their mathematical fluency and take additional preparatory steps if their undergraduate coursework did not include algebra or pre-calculus. General fluency with the algebraic representation of math will be helpful in letting students focus on new material for the first summer courses. Incoming MPA students should be prepared for a rigorous program with a focus on these three areas:

• Algebraic manipulation, e.g. knowing that [X/Y + X/(X+Y)] = (X^2 + 2XY)/(Y^2 + XY)
• Graphing and Data (e.g. histograms, scatterplots)
• Calculus, with a focus on knowing how to take derivatives of a few simple forms

There are many online courses or less-formal YouTube videos (e.g. Khan academy) that go through each of these concepts. The program also has a math prep module in May to help assess student’s math abilities and bring them up to speed. It should be noted, however, that the May module will not focus on algebraic or calculus skills. It is very useful for students to have an understanding of how to use Excel. 

Work experience is not required to apply. About half of the students in each cohort will have work experience.

Each application is assessed holistically: All requirements to apply — the essay, recommendations, option GRE scores, quantiative resume, transcripts, and resume — all factor into whether a student is considered suitable for admission.

Brown’s MPA program is an accelerated, full-time, residential program. The program is not available part-time or online. 

No. All students must begin the program in early June due to the sequential and accelerated nature of the program.

The deadline for all MPA applications, including for international applicants, is January 15, 2026. Review of applications begins immediately following this deadline, including full consideration for merit aid scholarships. Any admitted international students requiring a visa will need to complete financial certification for the issuance of the relevant official documentation. Full guidance and timeline information will be provided with the letter of admission in these cases.

The minimum score for admission consideration is 100 on the Internet-based test. For IELTS, the minimum overall band score is 7.

All applicants must provide, at a minimum, unofficial transcripts of all past or current post-secondary institutions attended.
Brown requires verified transcripts if:

• You have attended or are completing a degree at a post-secondary institution outside of the United States AND
• You are admitted to the MPA program AND
• You accept your offer of admission.

We only accept WES evaluations. Please request the course-by-course report.

Yes, we accept applicants who receive a bachelor’s degree through an accredited college or university with a three-year bachelor’s program.

Applicants will be notified in mid-March. While we make every effort to adhere to release dates, delays may occur. 

It can take four or more weeks for scores to transmit from ETS and to be uploaded into the Graduate School application system. It is best to order your scores to be sent to Brown well before the application deadline. If it has been more than one month since you ordered your scores, contact ETS and verify that the scores were transmitted properly to Brown’s Graduate School. For GRE scores, Brown’s code is 3094 and the department/major field code is 2204. The TOEFL code for Brown is 3094.

Email masters_admissions@brown.edu with your reference number, the recommender's name and email and we will manually resend the link. Notify your recommender that the link has been resent — they should check their spam/junk folders just in case. If the recommender still does not receive the link you should email masters_admissions@brown.edu with an alternative (personal) email address.

No, it is not possible to add or delete materials to your application file after you have submitted your application.

If you earned a bachelor's degree from an English-speaking institution, most likely you qualify for a TOEFL/IELTS waiver. Waivers are granted within the application system.

Official transcripts are required upon matriculation into the program and are due only after a student has officially enrolled in the program.