How to Apply

Applicants to the Global Human Development Program should meet the following requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree.
• Completion of courses in introductory macro- and microeconomics and statistics, with a grade of B or better (or the equivalent, if a different grading system is used). Students must complete these requirements prior to enrolling in the program, and, given that we evaluate applications holistically, applicants who have not yet completed the required courses are not at a disadvantage during the admissions process. This requirement is intended to give students the quantitative foundation that they need prior to their first semester in the GHD program. If applicants did not earn a B or better in one of the prerequisite courses, or if they took the courses more than two years ago, they may be advised to take less formal refresher courses prior to starting the program.
• Ability to function effectively in English and one other language (students must pass an oral proficiency exam before graduation, so ideally they will have a reasonable command of one foreign language before entering the program).
• At least 1-2 years of full-time work experience post-undergraduate degree is strongly recommended.
• Experience living, studying, and working outside of the United States is strongly recommended.

A complete application includes:

• Application Form
• In a statement of purpose of 500 words or less, please address both of the following questions:
  • What motivates you to work in development?
  • Where do you think you will be and what will you be doing in 2030?
  • Unofficial transcript(s) from all colleges/universities attended (in English). Note: Applicants are required to upload to the application system copies of official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended. Visit the Georgetown’s Graduate School of Arts & Sciences How to Apply page for additional details and FAQs.
  • Three letters of recommendation, ideally a mix of professional and academic references that highlight multiple dimensions of your contributions to your academic and professional communities.
  • While we no longer require that applicants submit a GRE or GMAT score, it can be helpful in cases where: the undergraduate academic record is not as strong as other parts of the application; the applicant has not yet completed significant coursework in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and statistics (or they completed that coursework many years ago); or when the undergraduate GPA may be hard to interpret. We recommend thinking objectively about the strengths and weaknesses of your application and asking yourself if there are areas of your application that it would be helpful to balance with an additional data point. We consider applications very holistically, and sometimes, additional data in the form of standardized test scores can help address weaknesses in other areas of an application.
  • Applicants holding an undergraduate degree from an institution where English was not the primary language of instruction are required to take either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
  • Non-refundable $90 application fee. All applications submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST on December 1 will have the application fee waived. For those who submit their applications after December 1, you can potentially still qualify for an application fee waiver)

  We offer one-on-one Zoom appointments that you can register for by emailing us at ghdinfo@georgetown.edu.

  Deadlines

  • For Scholarship Consideration: January 15
  • Final Deadline (no scholarship consideration): April 1