Frequently Asked Questions About the Graduate Program

1. How many students are admitted to the program?
   • We receive around 400 completed applications out of which we admit students with a target incoming class of 12-15.
     
2. What financial aid is available?
   • Availability of financial aid varies from year to year. In a typical incoming class, we will have the following aid:
     a) Six full fellowships - full tuition waiver and an annual stipend ranging between $14,500. and $20,000.
     b) The remainder of the students will typically either have a 100% or 80% tuition waiver.
     c) Most aid in the first year is without duties.
     
   • Subject to satisfactory performance, students can expect a research or teaching assistantship in years 2, 3, 4, and most likely 5. This means a full tuition waiver and an annual stipend of at least $14,500.
     
3. Are foreign students at a disadvantage regarding financial aid?
   • No. Financial aid is distributed solely on the basis of merit. In recent years, full fellowships were awarded to citizens of Brazil, China, Czech Republic, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Israel, Poland, Romania, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and United States as well as other countries.
     
4. Must applicants take the GRE?
   • Yes. All applicants must take the Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical portions of the GRE.  GREs can be used for up to 5 years from the actual date of the test. Ex: 10/1/02 - 10/1/07.
   • The JHU GRE code is 5332 and the code for the Department of Economics is 1801.
     
5. Must foreign students take TOEFL or TSE?
   • All applicants who have not done their undergraduate work in a university where English is the language of instruction must take the TOEFL. The test scores can be used for up to 2 years from the actual date of the test. We have a minimum required score of 250 (which is equivalent to 600 using the old metric). The TSE is not required.
   • The JHU TOEFL code is 5332 and the code for the Department of Economics is 84.
     
6. How is admission determined?
   • Three primary factors:
     i) GRE scores (especially quantitative and analytical);
     ii) academic record (especially in economics and mathematics courses); and
     iii) letters of recommendation.
     Work experience is also considered when appropriate.
     
7. Do we accept transfer students?
   • No. All graduate students must go through the first-year curriculum though in rare cases students with graduate level courses may be able to have Statistics and Mathematical Methods waived.
     
8. Can we be given a preliminary indication of the likelihood of acceptance or of receiving financial aid?
   • No. It is our policy not to offer such preliminary evaluations. Students must go through the application process at which time we will make an admission and aid decision. We request that applicants do not ask us to make a preliminary evaluation.
     
9. Do we consider applications after January 2nd?
   • Yes. However, an applicant runs the risk of not being admitted - because all slots have been allocated - or receiving financial aid - because all aid has been distributed. Very late applications can not be considered.
     
10. Can students enter the program in the spring semester?
    • No. We only admit students for entry in the fall semester.