How to Apply

You must start the program with a good base in a regional language by demonstrating that you have completed the equivalent of at least three years of college-level study in a language of the region relevant to your proposed course of study. You may satisfy the language proficiency requirement with a language of the region other than Russian.

If the admissions committee believes that you can satisfy the language requirement without three years of experience, you will be considered for admission.

If you haven’t had three years of language study, you might consider enrolling in an intensive summer language course before the program begins.

Contact Director of Academic Programs Lisa Gordinier at lag33@georgetown.edu with questions.

Demonstrating proficiency

A college transcript is the best way to demonstrate completion of three years of regional language coursework. The admissions committee looks for rigorous, graded coursework in Russian, Turkish, Persian, Polish or Ukrainian. We also consider coursework on transcripts from study abroad or intensive summer language programs. If you were unable to study a regional language during your undergraduate program, indicate when and how you did study a regional language (for example, “I studied Russian three times a week for ten months with a private tutor in Chelyabinsk while I worked as a Fulbright ETA”).

Native speakers

If you are a fluent speaker of a regional language and can speak, read and write it at the university level, we will waive this language requirement. To indicate language proficiency in your application, please tell us briefly how you learned the language (e.g., “I grew up in Bulgaria and completed high school there”). Upon entering the program, you must take a proficiency exam.

Applications are submitted through our online application portal.

You must upload a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) to your online application.

In your 500-word statement of purpose, describe your academic and professional interest in the region and your compatibility and preparation for the program. This is an opportunity to tell us why you are a strong candidate. We recommend that you:

• Outline your academic and professional interests and goals.
• Describe what you hope to accomplish during and upon completion of the program.
• Demonstrate your compatibility and preparation for the program, including background information on the language that you plan to study to proficiency.

Transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended are required. Review the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Transcript FAQs for more information.

Academic transcript submissions

• Step 1: Request a copy of your official transcript from your institution(s).
• Step 2: Upload the transcript to your application.

An acceptable transcript is a copy of an official transcript produced by the institution, including:

• Scanned copies of paper transcripts issued by the institution.
• Electronic transcripts issued by the institution (not a download from your institution’s web portal).

We do not accept screenshots, photos or downloads of the “student’s view” from your institution’s website.

Non-U.S. college or university academic transcripts 

Applicants who have attended institutions outside of the United States are strongly encouraged to upload their transcripts in the form of World Education Services Credential Evaluations or to utilize other credential evaluation services that are members of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. If the evaluation does not include a copy of the evaluated transcripts, you must upload both the transcripts from the institution and the credential evaluation as one document to the application.

• Transcripts not in English must be accompanied by an English language version provided by the academic institution. If your institution does not provide English language copies, you must provide a certified or notarized translation with a copy of the original transcripts. You may upload an evaluation from a credential evaluation service that must include course and grade information. Both the evaluation and original transcript should be submitted in the application as one document.
• If you have study abroad and/or transfer coursework listed on your undergraduate transcripts with the grades earned, you do NOT need to list these institutions separately or upload transcripts. If courses are not listed on your primary institution’s transcript or the transfer courses do not show course grades, please list the institution(s) separately and upload the transcript(s).

Admitted students 

If you receive an offer of admission, you will be required to submit official transcripts, which are transcripts submitted directly to Georgetown University by the institution you attended, for verification before enrolling. Do not send electronic or paper copies of your official transcripts before receiving an offer of admission. Georgetown reserves the right to request any missing transcripts or an official copy of a transcript at any point during the application and/or admission process. Georgetown also reserves the right to withdraw any offer of admission already made if there is any discrepancy between a transcript uploaded in the application and the final official transcript received.

All applicants are required to demonstrate a level of proficiency in the English language sufficient to meet the admission requirement of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. Proficiency can be demonstrated by:

• Receipt of a bachelor’s or advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education in the United States or from a university where English is the primary language of instruction for the entire institution.
• Submission of an official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score report with a minimum score of 100 (internet test).
• Submission of an official International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – Academic Module score report with a minimum score of 7.5.

The TOEFL Special Home Edition and the IELTS Online version may be accepted for Fall 2026 admissions.

Submitting your TOEFL or IELTS scores 

The TOEFL and IELTS must be received directly from the appropriate testing organization. Photocopied or faxed documents will not fulfill this requirement. 

• Send your official TOEFL score through ETS to institution code 5244. There is not a specific department code. 
• Send your IELTS score electronically to Georgetown University, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.

You must submit three letters of recommendation, preferably by faculty who have taught you in class. If you are not a fluent speaker of a language of the region, one recommendation should be from a language professor who can assess your language ability or readiness for advanced language study. If you have been out of college for several years, it can be helpful to have one professional recommendation. If you are a recent college graduate or still in school, all may be from professors or advisors familiar with your academic work.

The online application utilizes a secure online recommendation system which will:

• Automatically email each recommender with instructions for online submission of the recommendation;
• Allow applicants to track recommendations received or not received and follow up with recommenders who still need to submit their appraisals;
• Expedite the processing of the recommendations, which will be included in the online application once submitted.

This should be a well-written academic or professional writing sample, approximately 10 to 15 double-spaced pages in length, including footnotes and bibliography. It should be written in English.

Ideally, you will submit an academic paper on a regionally related social sciences or humanities topic. If you do not have an academic paper on a regional topic that meets the criteria, you may submit a paper that relates to a different part of the world. Papers not written on topics in the social sciences or humanities or non-academic writing samples are less desirable but will still be reviewed.

While not required, you may choose to submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test scores. The admissions committee will holistically evaluate your entire application.

Submitting your scores

• Our GRE code is 5244. We do not have a specific department code.

As Georgetown is a diverse, global community, we encourage you to upload a brief statement of up to 500 words to help the Admissions Committee understand the contribution your personal background and individual experiences would make to our community. As appropriate, you may wish to address any educational, economic, and social experiences that have helped to shape your educational and professional goals; or how your background (e.g., first generation student, travels outside the U.S.) or activities (e.g., community service and leadership) will contribute to the diversity of perspectives and ideas at Georgetown University.