Complete the online application for full- or part-time graduate degree programs. 

Applicants may apply only to one degree program per term. Multiple applications for one term are not permitted.

The application processing fee must be paid electronically after submitting your application. 

The application fee is waived for Rensselaer alumni, current Rensselaer students (matriculating and non-matriculating), employees, and employee spouses.

Your Personal Statement should address your academic and research interests, and future career goals as they relate to the graduate program to which you are applying. The statement should include relevant academic/research, professional, and personal experiences that influenced your decision to apply to the graduate program. 

The Electronic Arts Ph.D. program requires an additional and separate Research Proposal describing your research goals and academic plan.

The Electronic Arts Ph.D., Science & Technology Studies Ph.D. and Critical Game Design M.S./Ph.D. programs require an additional scholarly writing sample. 

All Communication and Rhetoric programs require an additional research statement and writing sample. 

All School of Architecture programs require a personal statement with research intent and an optional research statement. 

Your resume should include details about your education, employment, and internship history, as well as any pertinent research experience. International students in the U.S. on OPT or CPT should include details about their current activities.

You will be required to enter two recommenders on the online application. Recommendations should be from your academic advisor(s), professors, research mentors, etc., who can provide an assessment of your likelihood of success at the graduate level in your field of study. 

Architecture, Built Ecologies, and Electronic Arts only. 

Critical Game Design M.S./Ph.D. requires examples of prior work (e.g.: portfolio, project samples). 

Transcripts and Degrees must be in English (all post-secondary education, including transcript keys). 

Unofficial transcripts should be uploaded to your graduate application. If you prefer to send your transcripts via postal or electronic mail, please note that they will not be returned to you. The minimum requirement for admission consideration is the completion and award of a four year U.S. bachelor's degree, or its equivalent, by the time of planned enrollment. 

Required for:
- Cognitive Science, Ph.D.

Optional for all other degree programs. Strongly recommended for: Computer Science, MS and Ph.D.

Applicants possessing a valid Green Card will be considered as a domestic student for purposes of admission and financial aid. 

The TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or PTE is required of all international applicants whose native language is not English. The minimum scores for these tests are:

• TOEFL score of 88 iBT
• IELTS score of 6.5
• Duolingo score of 120
• PTE score of 59

Some departments require a higher language proficiency score than the Institute minimum. Test scores older than two years are no longer available from the testing agency. Rensselaer's TOEFL Code is 2757.

Effective For Admission Cycles 2025 and Beyond

The English language test is not required for all U.S. citizens and permanent residents and may be waived for the following students:

• Citizens of countries where English is the official language
• Non-Native English-speaking international applicants who have, or will have earned, an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited university in the U.S. or country where English is the official language

Please note that this waiver will be applied after your application has been submitted and reviewed by the Graduate Admissions Office.