How to Apply

Your future could be now.

But first you have to apply.

We know the application process can be confusing, so we’re going to walk you through everything you need to know. If you have any questions, email our admin team at ajo-admin@nyu.edu. We’re happy to help.

To begin, you must apply through NYU’s Graduate School of Arts and Science admissions website. The user experience and the length of the application can be intimidating. Don’t worry, we’re here to help. Read through the checklist below to become familiar with what you’ll need to submit and how and when to do it. Then take a look at our step-by-step visual guide.

What’s the application fee: $110. Sorry, we can’t do anything about that. See below for details on how to pay the fee.

What do I need to apply?

• A bachelor’s degree in any field.
• An official transcript from every academic institution you’ve attended. See below for details on transcripts, and if you have even more questions on transcripts, click here.
• Three letters of recommendation from people who know your work. Learn how to request and submit your letters of recommendation.
• A personal statement about why you want to earn a master’s degree in journalism. Learn more about what’s required in yours.
• Three writing samples. They don’t have to be published. We want to see how you write–academic papers, articles, blog posts, write something new for us–whatever you think best reflects your writing ability. The writing sample requirement may also be met by including links to multimedia work posted on Vimeo or YouTube, etc.
• The GRE is NOT required. Even if you see during the application process that it is required, please disregard. Many of our programs have dropped this requirement, finding that it isn’t the best indicator of future success in journalism. Lucky you!
• The TOEFL or IELTS is required for non-Native English speakers, unless you have completed a degree at an institution where the language of instruction is English. See below for more details and learn more about how to send in your scores.

Note: All application materials (including test score reports) should be sent directly to New York University – Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS), not to the Carter Journalism Institute.

We are currently accepting applications for Spring 2025. The deadline is December 1st.

View GSAS REquirements

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Note for International Applicants

You must receive your undergraduate degree (U.S. baccalaureate or equivalent) from an institution of recognized standing before enrollment in the Graduate School. Students from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Bangladesh must show completion of both the baccalaureate and master’s examinations prior to registration in the Graduate School. The examinations for the Bachelor of Engineering and the Bachelor of Technology meet the application requirements for the Graduate School. GSAS does not accept three-year degrees from Australia. For students holding three-year degrees from Australia, an additional four-year degree is required to apply.

Details on transcripts

One (1) official academic transcript, mark sheet, or final grades sheet (and English translation, if required) from each institution you attended should be uploaded on one of the “Transcript Upload” pages as part of your online application.

If uploaded, do NOT send paper copies of your transcripts to Graduate Enrollment Services. If you are offered admission, then you will be requested to provide an official copy. The baccalaureate or equivalent transcript should clearly indicate conferral of your undergraduate degree. If you are currently completing your baccalaureate, you should upload a transcript showing your academic record through your most current year of study.

All application materials (including test score reports) should be sent directly to GSAS, NOT to the Carter Journalism Institute.

For more questions on transcripts, click here.

Details on the TOEFL and IELTS

GSAS recommends that applicants achieve a minimum TOEFL score of 100 on the internet-based test (equivalent to 250 on the computer-based test or 600 on the paper-based test). For the IELTS, a minimum overall band score of at least 7 is recommended. Learn more about how to send in your scores.

How to pay fees

You can pay with a credit card. Or:

U.S. applicants: Your check, money order, or monetary coupon should be made payable to “New York University–GSAS.” Do not send cash. Please put your full name, date of birth, student number or Social Security number, and department name on the check.

International applicants: NYU cannot accept checks drawn on foreign banks. The application fee must be paid in the form of an international money order or monetary coupon, made out to “New York University – GSAS.” Please put your full name, date of birth, student number or Social Security number, and department name on the check.

A Visual Guide To Applying

If you get stuck, email Bebe Nodjomi at ajo-admin@nyu.edu.

Step 1

Click here to access the application.

Step 2

Below is the first screen you’ll see. Click Create An Account.

Step 3

Click Start New Application

Step 4

Navigate to Personal Part 1, and fill in your information. Do the same for Personal Part 2.

Step 5

On the Program and Term page, choose Journalism–American Journalism (Online-Only) M.A. from the dropdown menu. It doesn’t matter whether you choose full-time or part-time at this point if you aren’t sure. Later, if you are accepted into the program, we can discuss which option will be best for you.

Step 6

On the Academic/Research page, it’s fine to leave the first box blank, but feel free to fill it with journalists you’d like to meet, learn from, or learn more about–it could give us a better idea of your interests.

Step 7

On the Education History page, click Add Institution at the very bottom.

Step 8

Then navigate through the drop down menus to fill out the location, institution, years attended, degree type, primary language of instruction etc. If you can’t find your institution, use this page to search for schools in the United States and this page to search for institutions outside the U.S.

Step 9

Upload a PDF or scanned version of your transcript. After clicking Save, repeat the process for every academic institution you’ve attended.

Step 10

On the Test Registration page, please note that we do NOT require you to take the GRE. Only non-Native English speakers who have not completed a degree at an institution where the language of instruction is English must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. You must arrange with the testing company to send your scores to New York University.

Step 11

Submit your 1,000-1,500-word personal statement (called Academic Purpose) on the Applicant Statements page. (Note that the Personal History section is optional.) Your essay gives us a sense of who you are, why you aspire to (or want to advance in) a career in journalism. It should address the following questions:

1. What do you expect to get from the program?
2. What aspects of your experience are most relevant to your interest in journalism?
3. Tell us about your background–your academic degree, intellectual interests, work experience, life experience, and other sources of inspiration–and explain how this background informs what you want to do as a journalist.
4. Experience is not required for admission into this program, but if you have published work, describe your existing “body of work” as a journalist, critic or just someone who writes.
5. If you have yet to be published, tell us what kind of writing you want to do. What issues and ideas most engage you? What publications do you read regularly and why? Which journalists do you admire and who has influenced you?

Step 12

The Journalism page asks you to acknowledge two things:

1. You understand the course work in the program is conducted in English, and all written assignments must be in English. The online journalism program is unique in that it offers English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) support for students who may need help.
2. You give us permission to recommend you to another journalism program at NYU if we think you would be a better fit for that area of study. We would only do this if we did not think you were the right fit for our program, but would be good for another. We just want to be sure that any incoming student is in the program that best fits their needs.

The video portion of this section is optional.

Step 13

The Writing Samples page is required, but your samples don’t have to be published. We want to see how you write–academic papers, articles, blog posts, write something new for us–whatever you think is best. The writing sample requirement may also be met by including links to multimedia work posted on Vimeo or YouTube, etc.

Step 14

Letters of Recommendation: We suggest reaching out to your recommenders ahead of time to be sure they are willing to write a letter on our behalf. Let them know about the program, why you are applying, and why they are positioned to speak to your qualifications. Then on this page, click Add Recommender, fill out their contact information, and click Send to Recommender. This will prompt an email to them telling them how they can submit their letter. Then click Add Recommender again–you must add contact information for three recommenders.

Step 15

You’re almost there! The Additional Information page is optional. Type your full name on the Signature page. Read the What To Expect page carefully. It tells you what will happen after you submit your application. And finally, the Review page tells you about any errors with your application.