Requirements

The application requirements on this page are minimum requirements, and many programs may have additional requirements. Always check with the program you are applying to -- you can start on our Program Admissions Requirements page. You can also learn more about our evaluation process here.

1. Transcripts

As part of the online application, upload a scanned transcript from each post-secondary institution you have attended, present school included. (This requirement applies to applicants who are or were enrolled at Emory.)

• The transcripts must be issued by the registrar’s office.  Unofficial copies issued to the student are fine.
• We will not accept printed web pages from the University’s student information system. If you submit this, the processing of your application may be delayed.
• If you want to upload an electronic transcript issued by your registrar's office, make sure we can open that document without passwords or other security information.  If your electronic transcript has security features, you can print it, scan it, and then upload the scanned version — this will remove security features like passwords or expiration dates.

Please do not send us transcripts, either by mail or email. For your application, we accept only transcripts attached to your online application. Later on, if you are admitted and accept, then you will need to submit official copies (sealed or sent to us directly from a university registrar).  Until then, submit only the transcripts you attach to the online application.

Two special considerations apply mainly to international applicants:

• Transcripts must be in English, or be accompanied by notarized translations (please upload both the original and the translation, combined into one file).
• Applicants with transcripts from international institutions may want to consider submitting credential evaluation reports; some programs strongly encourage such evaluation reports. For details, see our page for International Applicants.

By the start of your first semester, one transcript must show that you have been awarded a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution. If you are still enrolled and studying for your Bachelor's degree, we realize that the transcripts you upload cannot yet show this.

2. Statement of Purpose

Check the website of the program you are applying to: many programs have specific instructions for the statement of purpose. Unless the program asks for something different, the statement should incorporate the following:

• A brief intellectual autobiography describing your academic interests and how they developed.
• The special area of interest or particular problems, theories, movements, periods, etc., upon which your study would focus.
• A description of tentative plans for research, either specific problems or general areas in which you hope to work.
• A description of your research experience, including your role and the extent to which you were independently involved in the research.
• An explanation of how your past experience, academic training or research experience has prepared you to pursue graduate work in your area of interest.

The statement is uploaded as part of the online application process.

3. Resume/CV

Your resume or CV should highlight relevant experience. You may wish to include:

• academic awards and honors, including honors projects;
• independent research experiences;
• publications and presentations;
• volunteer and extra-curricular experience;
• internships and work experience; and
• membership in professional and academic organizations.

The resume or CV is uploaded as part of the online application process.

4. Letters of Recommendation

We require three letters of recommendation from people familiar with your academic performance. Many programs allow you to submit one additional letter.

Contact your recommenders well ahead of time and make sure they are aware of and can meet your application deadline. Your application is not complete until the letters have been submitted.

You request the letters as part of the online application process, and recommenders submit them online. You can send requests for letters of recommendations before you submit the final application. If a recommender is unable to use this system, contact the program you are applying to for instructions.

Our online system can accept letters of recommendation delivered through Interfolio and similar services. Our system asks questions only the recommender can answer, but they are optional and an Interfolio or similar service can bypass them. 

5. Application Fee

Our application fee is $75. The fee is non-refundable, and can be paid by credit card as part of the online application.  We offer some fee waivers.

6. Statement on Building Collaborative and Respectful Graduate Communities

The Laney Graduate School is dedicated to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment—one that values difference as a vital part of our collective pursuit of knowledge and service to the global good. This commitment is reflected in our Vision and Mission Statements.

In our admissions process, we take a holistic approach to building a community of scholars who are not only prepared to excel academically but also committed to contributing meaningfully to their fields and society at large. This comprehensive review ensures we select individuals who align with our core values and who will thrive at Emory, enriching the academic and social experiences of all members of our community.

The Emory community welcomes all who are committed to intellectual engagement, critical inquiry, and integrity. We recognize the importance of a wide range of identities, perspectives, and backgrounds—including those related to gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, ethnicity, culture, socioeconomic background, religion, and nationality. We believe these differences are essential for advancing knowledge, tackling society’s most pressing challenges, and meeting the full spectrum of human needs for the common good.

At the Laney Graduate School, we understand that each individual’s path is shaped by a range of factors, including socioeconomic background, accessibility needs, first-generation college or graduate student status, undergraduate experience, geographic origin, political beliefs, military service, age, family structure, and lived experience. These lived experiences often cultivate qualities like resilience, perseverance, self-awareness, and the ability to engage and collaborate across differences- and remember each story is unique, because no two life experiences are the same.

As part of your application, we invite you to share how your background, experiences, or perspective might contribute to a more engaged, aware, and equitable academic community. You may also reflect on how your values and commitments could influence your engagement with the graduate school community and in your future professional goals.

Your statement should be no longer than 500 words.

7. Program Specific Requirements

Most programs have specific requirements for their applications. Visit our Program Admissions Requirements page, and of course the website of the program you are interested in applying to.

Updated May 22, 2023