How to Apply | MAIR in Washington DC

We encourage you to review all of the Master of Arts in International Relations (MAIR) application instructions before beginning your application.

Application Deadlines

Admitted Student Open House: Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Note: these instructions are for students who wish to study at the Washington DC campus for both years. If you are interested in studying at the SAIS Europe campus, follow the instructions to apply to SAIS Europe.

Direct Admissions candidates are invited to apply according to either the Early Notification deadlines or the Regular Decision deadlines.

For more information regarding Financial Aid, please click here.

Application Checklist

All MAIR applicants MUST submit the following materials:

• Online application
• Application fee, $85 USD
• Resume/CV
• Essay
• Statement of purpose
• Transcripts for all college-level course work
• Two (2) letters of recommendation
• GRE or GMAT scores (optional)
• English Language Examination (non-native English speakers)
• Interview (optional)

MAIR applicants may complete an optional virtual interview, which can be scheduled through the "Supporting Materials" tab of the online application. The optional interviews are conducted by current MAIR students, and serve to be both evaluative and informational. While optional, completing an interview is highly recommended, as it is not only an opportunity for the Office of Admissions to learn more about the applicant, but also for the applicant to learn more about the MAIR program and the SAIS community.

Application Instructions

Please refer to the guide below when completing your application.

1. Name: Please list your full legal name. If you have a maiden name or alternate name that you previously used legally, please list it in the "Other Last Names Used" section.
2. Addresses: Please list both your permanent and mailing addresses. If your mailing address expires before admissions decisions are rendered, then any posted correspondence will be sent to your permanent address. If your current mailing address changes at any time during the application process, please notify the Office of Admissions as soon as possible.
3. Email Address: Please provide an email address that will be valid throughout the entire application process. Take care to ensure that emails from Johns Hopkins SAIS are not filtered to a junk folder because we will communicate with you primarily through email.
4. Phone Number: When entering your phone number, if you are listing a non-US phone number, please include the country code when entering the number, leaving out any parenthesis, dashes, or other symbols.
5. Citizenship Information: Please select your citizenship. Dual citizens should select both nationalities. If you do not have a current Immigration Status, please select "OTH" from the drop down menu.
6. Social Security Number: This is required if you have a US Social Security Number at the time of application.
7. Race/Ethnicity Optional: This data is collected as required by the US Federal Government and does not influence our admissions decisions. We encourage you to answer both questions. Ethnicity definitions are provided.

1. Degree Type: Please select “Full-time” as your degree type.
2. Program: Please select “Master of Arts in International Relations” as your program of choice.
3. Location: If you wish to spend both years of study in Washington DC, select “SAIS DC Campus”; if you wish to be considered for either campus and have the Johns Hopkins SAIS Admissions Committee select a campus on your behalf, select “SAIS DC Campus open SAIS Europe Campus” or “SAIS Europe Campus open to SAIS DC Campus.” Please note that offers of admission to Johns Hopkins SAIS are campus-specific. Admissions offers and financial aid are allocated separately for SAIS Europe and Washington DC. After admissions offers are made, requests for a change of campus are rarely granted, so choose your campus carefully.
4. Anticipated Start Term: Please select your anticipated start term. If your term of interest is not visible, we are currently not accepting applications for that term.

Early Notification: Please note, for your application to be considered for Early Notification, all supporting documents (as listed in the application instructions) must be received by the Office of Admissions no later than November 1. If any supporting documents are received after November 1, the application will be reviewed during the Regular Decision process.

All applications and supporting documentation become the confidential property of the Johns Hopkins SAIS Office of Admissions and cannot be returned.

Please use the "type ahead" option in the institution name to search for the College/University you have attended. Applicants must have completed at least a three-year undergraduate degree, and they must be proficient in English. Selecting your institution through this feature will automatically populate some of the fields below and ensure that the identifying information for this institution is formatted properly in our records. If your institution code is not available, please type the name in "Institution."

Submit Transcript: You must submit transcripts reflecting all university-level course work listed on the application. You may upload unofficial transcripts via the online application, or submit official transcripts via hard copy or electronic copy, either from the college/university directly or via a transcript clearinghouse.

You should not list:

1. Institutions at which three or fewer courses were completed, or where courses were only audited or taken on a non-credit basis
2. Executive education programs
3. Non-credit language institutes
4. Non-credit certificate programs

Mailing Transcripts: Transcripts in hard copy should be sent to the Office of Admissions in Washington DC:

Johns Hopkins SAIS Office of Admissions
555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20001

Transcripts in electronic copy should be sent to [email protected] .

Unofficial transcripts: Admitted applicants who submit unofficial transcripts as part of the application process will be required to submit official copies prior to enrollment.

Study abroad grades and transfer credit: Transcripts listing study abroad grades and/or transfer credits are required unless both the grades and credits are reflected on the primary undergraduate transcript.

Non-English-language transcripts: If your transcript is in a language other than English, you are asked to provide an official translation of the entire transcript and an explanation of the grading system of the university. You are strongly encouraged to use a credential evaluation service, particularly if you are not sure of how to obtain original transcripts or face difficulties obtaining them. See the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services for a list of providers. Transcripts and translations must be received by the Office of Admissions before the relevant deadline, so please make any requests well in advance.

GRE and GMAT scores are optional. If you decide to submit scores for either the GRE or the GMAT, Johns Hopkins SAIS will only accept scores directly from the testing service. Please arrange for all standardized test scores to be sent in advance of the application deadline. The GRE code for Johns Hopkins SAIS is 5610-0000; the GMAT code is KGB-GX-99.

If you have completed an exam more than once, please list your most recent scores. In addition to listing the scores in the online application, applicants must also send official test scores via the appropriate testing services.

You must submit an official English competency score if (1) English is not your native language and (2) you do not hold an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution in a country where English is an official language and where English is the language of instruction.

Official test scores must be received for admissions consideration. For more information and instructions, please review our English language examination policy.

Please provide details of all of your professional positions.

1. City of Birth: Please type the name of the city where you were born.
2. US Military: Please indicate if you are an active duty or former member of the US Armed Forces in the space provided.
3. Current Residency: Please provide the country and city, where you currently reside.
4. Diversity: Johns Hopkins SAIS receives applications from a diverse pool of candidates. These questions ensure we have the clearest possible understanding of each candidate’s background. Your answers will be kept confidential.
5. Affiliations: The Office of Admissions offers application fee waivers to participants or alumni affiliated with the professional development programs listed in the 'Application Fee' section below.

1. Languages: Please list your native language; bilingual applicants should list their dominant language. Your native/dominant language is the one that meets 2 out of 3 requirements: it is (a) the main language of communication between you and one of your parents or caregivers, (b) an official language in the community where you grew up, (c) the language of instruction in the high school you attended.

You should indicate levels of proficiency for up to two additional foreign languages in the areas of reading, writing, speaking and listening comprehension. Any language experience beyond these should be included on your resume.

1. Time Spent Abroad: You should use this section to indicate any time spent living, working and/or studying outside of your home country. Please list the most significant experience abroad first.
2. Financial Aid: Indicate in this section that you wish to apply for Johns Hopkins SAIS scholarships. Please note: in order to be considered for scholarship funding from Johns Hopkins SAIS, you must answer “yes” to the question in this section. Applicants who answer “no” will not be considered for any scholarship funding. For more information on financial aid eligibility and opportunities, visit Financial Aid.
   

Before starting your studies at Johns Hopkins SAIS, candidates for the MAIR must have earned the equivalent of a B- or higher in separate college-level courses in introductory microeconomics and in introductory macroeconomics. A single, semester-long college level course in introductory economics covering both micro and macro will be considered minimally sufficient.

Use this section to indicate your background in economics coursework. Please indicate the economics courses that you received a grade of a B- or better. Under "Advanced Economics Coursework," please include field courses. If a course was taken as a high school Advance Placement (AP) course, and college credit was received, please indicate by including this information in the "Other" section.

Do not list courses not taken for a grade.

Use this section to indicate your background in mathematics. Please begin by indicating the number of college level calculus courses taken followed by the course titles, grade received and year taken. If a course was taken as a high school Advance Placement (AP) course, and college credit was received, please indicate by including this information in the "Other" section. Also please list any mathematics courses taken beyond calculus along with the year and the grade received. Do not list courses not taken for a grade.

Upload the relevant required documents here for your program of interest.

1. Résumé/CV: Provide a current résumé or curriculum vitae, which includes your education, employment history, awards and accolades, international exposure, publication credits, and leadership roles in any volunteer and/or extracurricular activities.
2. Statement of Purpose: Discuss your goals for graduate study and for your professional career. What experiences have most contributed to your desire to study international relations? How will this degree program serve to meet your academic and professional goals? This essay should be no more than 600 words in length.
3. Essay: Reflect on a personal, academic, or professional challenge that you have encountered in your journey towards pursuing a career in international relations. Describe the barriers you faced and how you overcame them. How has this experience shaped your passion for the field and reinforced your commitment to making a positive impact on the world? This essay should be no more than 600 words in length.

You are required to submit two letters of recommendation and have the option of submitting a third. Recommendations should be written by individuals well placed to discuss the applicant’s qualifications for graduate study and a career in international affairs.

Please note that Johns Hopkins SAIS will accept letters of recommendation only through our online application system or in hard copy directly from the recommender. Recommendations submitted via email or fax will not be accepted. Please list all your references in the "Recommendations" section along with their email addresses, including recommenders who prefer to submit their letter in hard copy. They will be automatically sent an email with instructions on how to submit their letters. *Note that it is preferable to use personal email addresses for recommenders rather than military email addresses as military firewalls typically send the auto-generated emails from our application system into spam folders.

If your recommender prefers to submit a hard copy letter of recommendation, please advise them to mail to:

Johns Hopkins SAIS Office of Admissions
555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20001

All required fields must be completed before your application can be submitted. Required fields are designated by an asterisk.

To submit your application, click the button that reads “Finalize Application and Pay." Please note that you must complete all required fields in order to submit your application. Any missing fields will appear on the "Review" section. Prior to submission, please review all application sections to check for any errors or incorrect data.

After you have submitted your application, confirmation of your application status as “submitted” will appear on the online application dashboard. A checklist of all application materials will also be visible in order for you to track the status of supporting documents.

The $85 USD application fee is payable through the application system via credit card, debit card, or e-check.

To receive a fee waiver, please upload official documentation confirming your participation in the selected program. On the "Review" page, select "Finalize Application and Pay," however do not complete payment.

The following participants or alumni affiliated with the following professional development programs are eligible for an application fee waiver:

• AmeriCorps Volunteer
• Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Graduate Program Finalist or Fellow
• Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Summer Scholars Program Participant
• Congressional Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) Alumni
• Donald M. Payne International Development Finalist or Fellow
• Fulbright (for those currently on fellowship)
• Graduates of Historically Black Colleges (HBCUs)
• Graduates of Hispanic Serving Institutions
• Graduates of Tribal Colleges
• McNair Scholar
• Peace Corps
• Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Program Fellow
• SAIS Europe Applicants
• Teach for All (including Teach for America)
• Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Finalist or Fellow
• US Active Duty Military
• US Military Veteran

Additional Information

Applicants who wish to be considered for both the MAIR and MIEF programs must submit a separate application for each program, but supporting documentation (transcripts & recommendations) may be submitted only once. However, please note: there are separate essays for the MAIR and MIEF, which must be submitted with the corresponding application.

The Office of Admissions retains application files for one year after a decision is rendered. An applicant who applied for an academic year before last year is not considered a re-applicant, and must resubmit all application materials. Candidates who did apply last academic year do not have to resubmit all materials and can follow this checklist:

• Online application form
• Application fee, $85 USD
• Updated résumé/CV
• Re-applicant essay: How have you improved your candidacy since your last application? This essay should be no more than 1000 words in length.
• New transcripts: Transcript(s) of any additional courses you have taken since you last applied (include grades not finalized at the time of your last application).
• Recommendation letter: One new recommendation letter, preferably from your current employer. If you have already used your current employer for a recommendation, please choose someone else in a supervisory role or a client.

Submission of Materials

We encourage applicants to submit materials as early as possible before the applicable deadline. You are responsible for making sure all supporting documents, including letters of recommendation and academic transcripts, are submitted on time. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

All applications and supporting documentation become the confidential property of the Office of Admissions and cannot be returned.

Technical Support

If you experience technical difficulties at any time while using the online application, please contact the Washington DC Admissions Office at [email protected] or +1 (202) 663-5700.

Contact Us

If you have questions, please contact the Washington DC Admissions Office: