Frequently Asked Questions
Below you will find some questions we are often asked, divided into two categories — one for general questions about the admissions policies and requirements, and one for specific questions about the application process (scroll down).
If you are an international student, be sure to read our International Applicants page.
General Questions
1. Does the Laney Graduate School offer counseling services to assist applicants in choosing which program will best suit my academic needs and research interests?
Please contact the programs you may be interested in, and discuss with them what your interests are and how those interests may fit within the program structure. See our Degree Programs page.
2. Does Emory offer campus tours?
The Laney Graduate School does not offer campus tours. Please visit Emory's Explore pages, which contain a great deal of information about our campus. We also have a campus tour video geared towards the gradaute experience.
3. What is the application deadline?
Deadlines vary by program, and dates range from December 1 until mid January (for PhD programs) and June (for Masters programs). Each program deadline is listed on our Program Admissions Requirements page.
The deadline falls at 11:59PM EST of the deadline date of each program.
4. When can I expect a decision on my application?
Programs start reviewing applications after the application deadline. The Council of Graduate Schools recommends that offers of financial support for PhD applicants be made by April 15. You can expect to hear from programs between their application deadline and April 15. Masters program applicants will hear from their programs several weeks after the applicaiton deadline has passed.
5. Can I apply to more than one program?
Yes. You must submit separate applications to each program and pay a non-refundable $75 application fee for each application.
6. Can I start graduate school in spring or summer semester, or must I start in the fall?
We admit students for fall semester only. (There is one exception: the The Master of Science in Biomedical Innovation and Development – Advanced Therapeutics program begins in the summer term.)
7. Must I take the GRE?
It depends on which program you are applying to. Visit our Program Admissions Requirements page.
8. If I need to submit scores, what is the Emory code for the GRE, GMAT and TOEFL?
5187. No department codes are needed.
9. If a program offers a PhD, can I apply to study for a master’s degree only?
You can apply to study for a master’s degree only in programs that offer this as a distinct degree path. You can see those programs on our Degree programs page, but filtering on Degree Type / Master. All other programs are PhD programs and do not admit students for terminal master's work.
10. Can I earn a second bachelor's degree at Emory?
No. If you already have a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent), you may enroll in the Laney Graduate School as a student in special standing and take undergraduate and graduate classes without obtaining another degree. Visit our Non-Degree Students page.
11. Do I need a masters degree before applying to a Ph.D. program?
The only programs that require master’s degrees before admission are Behavioral Sciences and Health Education and the Graduate Division of Religion. Other programs may recommend that applicants have a masters degree or some other relevant education or experience. For information about this, visit the website of the program you are interested in applying to -- you can find links on our Degree Programs page.
12. Can I enroll in more than one school at Emory?
No. Emory students may not be enrolled in more than one school of the university at the same time.
13. What options are available for people who only want to take classes and not apply them toward a degree?
Applicants not interested in pursuing a degree at Emory may apply for admission in special standing. The graduate admissions office processes these applications; for more information, visit our Non-Degree Students page. Individuals wishing to take courses in the school of Allied Health, Law, Medicine, Nursing, Theology, Public Health, or Business should contact these schools directly. NOTE: non-degree student may not audit courses, but must take courses for a grade.
14. What does it cost to attend Emory?
Information about costs is on our Tuition and Fees page. The Laney Graduate School offers tuition scholarships and stipend support to most doctoral students, and in some cases offers partial tuition scholarships to master’s students. You can view our Cost of Attendannce planning resource here. For more information, visit our Financial Assistance Overview page.
15. What is the cost of auditing a class?
The tuition is the same whether you are auditing a class or taking it for a grade. NOTE: non-degree student may not audit courses, but must take courses for a grade.
16. Can I transfer credits for graduate work I've done at another university?
Yes, to a limited degree. If that coursework was not applied towards a degree, you may be able to transfer up to 9 semester hours of course credit to count towards your degree at Emory. In rare cases, you may be able to transfer more than 9 credits, but in no case will more than 18 total hours be transferred. Transfer credits must be approved by the Laney Graduate School with strong support from the program.
17. If I am admitted, can I defer admission?
Requests for deferrals should be made to the program you have been admitted to.
19. Does the Laney Graduate School offer conditional admission?
No.
Application Process Questions
1. How much is the application fee?
$75 US. The fee is non-refundable, and can be paid by credit card as part of the online application.
2. When exactly is the application deadline?
The deadline falls at midnight, U.S. Eastern time, on the deadline date of the each program. Each program deadline is listed on our Program Admissions Requirements page.
3. May I request a fee waiver?
Yes. Our application fee waiver page explains our waiver policy.
4. Should I wait until I have my official test scores before submitting my application?
No. Complete the online application at your earliest convenience. When we receive your scores, we will match them with your application.
5. Do I need to submit non-degree transcripts?
Yes. Admissions committees consider your complete academic record.
6. If my undergraduate degree is from Emory, do I need to request a transcript from Emory?
Yes. You will need to upload one as part of your online application. (If you are offered admission and accept, you will not need to submit an official copy, since we are able to verify the one you uploaded.)
7. If I participated in an exchange program while an undergraduate, do I have to request that transcript?
If you took some courses at a university as part of an exchange, like a study abroad program, and those course credits (course name, credit hours, and grade) are reflected on the transcript that includes your degree, then you do not need to submit a separate transcript from the university where you studied as part of an exchange. If you list that exchange experience as a separate educational experience on your application, you will need to upload either a separate transcript or a note explaining to us that the credits are included in another transcript.
8. If I am a non-degree seeking applicant, do I need to submit transcripts?
Yes, all new students must submit official transcripts to verify the educational credentials on your application for admission.
9. How should I submit my transcripts in the application?
Scan and upload them through the online application. Unofficial transcripts issued by the Registrar to you (the student) are acceptable.
You are required to submit one transcript from each post-secondary institution attended, present school included. International transcripts must be translated and notarized.
Please do not mail paper transcripts. If you are admitted and decide to attend Emory, then you will need to submit official copies of your transcripts before you can enroll. But for your application, the scanned, unofficial versions are all that's needed.
10. Does the recommendation letter have to be on the Emory form?
We strongly encourage the use of the online recommendation system. If a recommender is unable to use this system, contact the program you are applying to for instructions.
11. Must letters of recommendation be submitted by the application deadline?
It is possible to submit letters of recommendation after the application deadline, but it is not advisable. Most programs begin to review applications very soon after the deadline, and an application is not considered complete unless it has three letters of recommendation.
12. Can I make changes to my application after I have submitted it?
No. Contact the graduate program to which you are applying for advice. You can find contact information on our Degree Programs page.
13. Can I reactivate my application from last year?
No. Applicants who wish to reapply must submit a new application, application fee, and supporting credentials.