When you decide on pursuing a degree, the admission requirements and whether you meet them may be one of the first things that come to your mind. For most academic degrees, there are various types of that same degree. For example, for a master’s in geology, you can choose a Master of Arts in geology or a Master of Science in geology. The admission requirements for both differ slightly. Therefore, you will need to scrutinize the various admission requirements of the program and the degree type you intend to pursue to check if you are eligible to apply for such programs. However, there are various standard admission components for most colleges regardless of the degree type you are planning to apply for; some of these include:

Academic Transcripts

All institutions require you to typically submit unofficial and/or official transcripts of all the previous educational qualifications you have acquired. Based on these transcripts, the admissions office may also decide to admit prospective students with an associate’s degree at a reduced GPA requirement.

Standardized Tests

All candidates for whom English is not a native language must submit proof of their English Language proficiency. Students must submit Test of English as a Foreign Language or TOEFL^[3] or International English Language Testing System (IELTS)^[4] scores at admission. This requirement could be waived when candidates have completed at least four years of education at a secondary school where they had English as a second language. Other English language tests include Kaplan iBT, Duolingo English Test, Pearson Test of English, and so on.

Applying students may also submit their  Graduate Record Examination or GRE^[5] for graduate programs. Additionally, there are program-specific standardized tests, like the Graduate Management Admission Test or GMAT^[6], required for entry into business programs.

Statement of Purpose

A Statement of Purpose or SoP is a letter of intent or research statement you write for the admission panel. In it, you inform them about your interests, personal or professional contributions, career paths you want to pursue, and the reason for pursuing the particular degree from your school of interest.

Résumé

A Résumé or Curriculum Vitae (CV) is often a necessity for graduate-level and higher programs. Regardless of whether it is necessary, submitting a graduate résumé is generally a good idea if you can do so, as it highlights your establishment, making you stand out from other applicants.

Letters of Recommendation

Typically, schools will ask you to provide two or three Letters of Recommendation or LoRs from your previous academic institutions. It involves getting LoRs from teachers you have worked with, who can judge your academic caliber. For graduate or professional degrees, one submits LoRs from a person of authority in a previous workplace, along with academic LoRs.

What are the Admission Requirements for a Master’s Degree?

Getting a master’s degree can be a good way to advance your career in your field of study. While some requirements are specific to the program, school, and degree, a few standard master’s degree application requirements can be expected across the board. Here is a list of some common requirements:

• Complete, submit, and pay for your master’s application before the deadline
• master’s program require you to have a previous academic degree like a bachelor’s in the same field as your master’s or a related discipline
• Official transcripts from your previous education institutions are necessary, especially if you want to be considered for transfer credit
• Schools typically expect candidates to have a good academic standing with a GPA of 3.0 or more (some institutions accept applicants with lower GPAs as well)
• Some number of prerequisites courses must be completed before your master’s program for example a prerequisite course of English, Math, etc. (if one does not have the necessary prerequisites, they can take them up with their regular curriculum)
• GRE/GMAT scores may be mandated by some schools; however, many colleges are increasingly waiving off this requirement or making it optional
• English Languge proficiency must be demonstrated by international students and those whose native tongue is not English
• Most prospective students are required to submit a résumé highlighting their professional experiences
• All graduate schools generally require applicants to submit at least two to three Letters of Recommendation, especially from individuals who can verify your professional experience and academic preparedness for the program
• Your graduate program may require you to complete an interview in the department from where you will pursue your master’s.