Admissions

Yale Graduate School Admissions

The deadline for submission of the application for the East Asian Studies graduate program is January 2.

The application to the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is an ONLINE process—all policies, procedures, instructions, frequently asked questions, as well as access to the on-line application, can be found at the Graduate School Admissions website.

Official Yale Graduate School of Arts & Sciences program information is available on their website here.  For the Graduate School office directory, please visit here.

Information regarding funding opportunities, financial aid, tuition and living costs, as well as student loans, can be found at the Graduate School Office of Financial Aid.

Required Application Materials

Your application to the East Asian Studies M.A. program must include:

  • a Personal Statement of Purpose;
  • a Writing Sample;
  • 3 Letters of Recommendation;
  • Academic Transcripts; and
  • Standardized Test scores (see below). 

The personal statement purpose is expected to be 500-1,000 words explaining why you are applying to the Yale University Graduate School. Describe your research interests and preparation for the East Asian Studies M.A. degree program, including prior research and other relevant experiences. Explain how the faculty, research, and resources at Yale would contribute to your future goals.

There is no strict limit on page or word length for the writing sample, but it should reflect your academic interests and skills.

Examination Requirements

GRE Requirement

The Graduate Record Examinations General Test (GRE) is required of all applicants. Other standardized tests, such as the GMAT or the LSAT, may not be substituted for the GRE. 

Applicants must receive a minimum GRE score (combination of verbal and quantitative scores) of 1200 (prior scale) / 308 (current scale).

The Educational Testing Service (ETS) in Princeton, New Jersey, administers the GRE in the United States, as well as abroad. Testing dates and information are available here.

The Graduate School does not require the use of Department or Program codes. If you are required to enter a Department or Program code for the GRE please use “0000” (Undecided).


TOEFL Requirement

International applicants whose native language is not English must receive a minimum TOEFL score of 105 on the internet-based test offered by ETS.

The TOEFL requirement is waived only for applicants who will have received a baccalaureate degree (or its foreign equivalent) prior to matriculation at Yale from a university or college where English is the primary language of instruction.

If you are required to enter a Department or Program code for the TOEFL please use “99” (Undecided).

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores are acceptable in addition to or in lieu of TOEFL test scores. International applicants whose native language is not English must receive a minimum IELTS score of 7.5 for the East Asian Studies M.A. Program. At the time of test-taking you will want to specify ‘Yale University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.’


As part of the application process, official score reports for the GRE and TOEFL must be “released” to Yale University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (code 3987).

Paper copies are not acceptable and scores released to other schools of Yale University cannot be transferred or used.

Information for International Applicants

General information regarding admissions and fellowship opportunities for international students can be found at the Yale and the World admissions page.

Additional information regarding services for international students can be found at the Office of International Students & Scholars.