Application Instructions

Application Deadlines

Scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis for in-person programs. The earlier you apply, the more likely you are to receive our largest scholarships, so we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.

Summer 2025 Admission (Online Programs Only)

April 15: Extended application deadline. 

• You must provide a complete application by April 15 to be considered for summer 2025.
• A complete application includes a submitted online application, undergraduate transcript(s), one letter of recommendation, proof of English fluency (TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge scores if required), and an admissions interview. 

Fall 2025 Admission

May 15: Final Deadline for international students taking classes in person

• Due to visa processing times, international students planning to study in person should submit the online portion by this deadline and provide additional items to complete their application by June 10.
• U.S. applicants and online students are also encouraged to meet this deadline.

July 1: Final Deadline for U.S. applicants (in-person programs)

• After submitting the online portion, applicants must provide additional items to complete their application by July 15. 

August 15: Final Deadline for online students

• After submitting the online portion, applicants must provide additional items to complete their application by August 20. 

Spring 2026

May 16: Application opens

Admission Decision

We will notify you of our admission decision two to three weeks after receiving your complete application.

• A complete application includes a submitted online application, undergraduate transcript(s), one letter of recommendation, proof of English fluency (TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge scores if required), and an admissions interview.
  • For some of our programs (T, TI, CI, and TLM-Translation) you will also need to provide proof of fluency in your target languages. See your program’s How to Apply page for more information.
• The review process may be longer for students who need to provide additional information regarding their language proficiency.

How-To Guides

Sign up for an upcoming How to Apply, Ace Your Admissions Essay, and Finance Your Education webinar.

Watch our videos on how to apply and how to finance your education. We also include customized instructions for international students.

Submit your online application to access our guide How to Ace Your Admissions Interview. If you have already submitted your application and have not received the guide, please contact your enrollment advisor.

Start Dates

For exact start dates, visit the academic calendar. Review the table below to see which programs offer intakes in fall, spring, and/or summer.

Application Checklist

• Online application, which includes the following:
  • Essay
  • Résumé or curriculum vitae
  • Personal scholarship statements
• $65 application fee
• Undergraduate transcripts
• One letter of recommendation (two preferred)
• Interview in person or online (if needed)
• GRE or GMAT scores (optional)
• TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge scores (required if English is not your first language)
• Second language proficiency (requirement varies depending on program of interest)

Essay

We require one essay highlighting your career objectives and how your background fits with the program and the Institute. Start your application to find out the essay prompt.

Résumé or Curriculum Vitae

Your résumé or CV should highlight your educational background and professional experience, including voluntary work and internships, in one or two pages. Most of our graduate programs do not have specific professional experience requirements.

Scholarship Statements

Scholarships are only available for in-person programs. To be considered for merit and need-based scholarships, please include personal scholarship statements with your online application. Start your application to find out the scholarship statement details.

Application Fee

Through our online application, you will be able to pay the $65 application fee with a credit or debit card. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express credit or debit cards. Application fee waivers are available for students affiliated with our partner organizations or schools.

Undergraduate Transcripts

Digital copies of your (official or unofficial) transcripts can be uploaded to your online application or emailed to enroll@middlebury.edu to expedite the review of your application. If admitted, you will need to ensure that your official transcripts are mailed directly to our office (address below) or sent via e-transcript to enroll@middlebury.edu.

  Middlebury Institute of International Studies 
  Attn: Admissions Office 
  460 Pierce Street 
  Monterey, CA 93940  

If you are currently attending a bachelor’s degree program, we can grant you admission with the condition that you satisfactorily complete your degree and provide final official transcripts.

If your college or university does not provide original transcripts, we will accept certified copies. Please provide certified English translations for non-English language transcripts.

Letter(s) of Recommendation

Although we only require one letter of recommendation for admission, we encourage you to submit two. We accept recommendations from both academic and professional references, such as university professors, employers, supervisors, or commanding officers. Please provide the contact details for one or two recommenders through your online application. 

Your references should receive an email requesting that they submit the letter of recommendation but we have had issues with spam filters or recommenders simply missing our email. To ensure we receive your recommendation letter on time, please contact your reference(s) as soon as possible after you submit your online application and ask them to send your recommendation letter to enroll@middlebury.edu. There are no format requirements for the recommendation letter.

Interview

Your interview can either be done in person or online. Submit your online application to access our How to Ace Your Admissions Interview guide. If you have already submitted your application and have not received the guide please, contact your enrollment advisor.

GRE or GMAT

We do not require GRE or GMAT scores for our master’s programs. However, competitive scores may strengthen your application and positively influence scholarship decisions.

Please use our four-digit institution code [4507] to send us your scores.

TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge

If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence of English proficiency from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT), International English Language Testing System (IELTS academic) examinations, or Cambridge (B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency). 

TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for two years after the test date. Cambridge scores do not expire.

If necessary, you may have the opportunity to improve your English language skills through our English Preparation for Graduate Studies program, for which scholarships are available. 

Based on our review of your scores, English may be required as your language of study (in-person programs only). 

TOEFL/IELTS/Cambridge exemptions are automatically granted to applicants who have completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in the United States, Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Ireland, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, or Singapore. Please contact your enrollment advisor if you have any questions.

You can submit your online application without your TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge scores and provide them later via enroll@middlebury.edu.

Required scores for EPM, IPD, NPTS, joint BA/MA, Certificates (Nonproliferation, Terrorism Studies, Financial Crime Management), online MPA in Sustainability, online Cybersecurity, online Organizational Leadership:

• TOEFL preferred minimum: 80
  • Sub-score minimum for Reading, Listening, and Speaking: 19
  • Sub-score minimum for Writing: 23
• IELTS preferred minimum: 6.5
  • Sub-score minimum for Reading, Listening, and Speaking: 6.0
  • Sub-score minimum for Writing: 6.5
• Cambridge (B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency) preferred minimum: 176
  • Sub-score minimum for Reading, Listening, and Speaking: 169
  • Sub-score minimum for Writing: 176

Required scores for T, TI, CI, IDE, TLM, joint T/TLM, joint TI/TLM, joint CI/TLM, Online IEM, Online TESOL, Online Localization Project Management:

• TOEFL preferred minimum: 100
  • Sub-score minimum for Reading and Listening: 25
  • Sub-score minimum for Speaking: 23
  • Sub-score minimum for Writing: 27
• IELTS preferred minimum: 7.0
  • Sub-score minimum for Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing: 7.0
• Cambridge (B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency) preferred minimum: 185
  • Sub-score minimum for Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing: 185

Second Language Proficiency

Visit the How to Apply page for your program of interest to see if your program requires proficiency in a second language, has an option for studying a second language, what proficiency you need to show, and how we can help you meet that proficiency before you enroll.

Accelerated and Advanced Entry

Visit the How to Apply page for your program of interest to see if Accelerated Entry or Advanced Entry are available and the related requirements for admission.