Apply through GradCAS. The form is available from October 1 through January 15 for the following academic year. 

Submit short responses to the prompts in the Questions tab of the Program Materials section. These responses help us understand your interest in pursuing graduate study in the School of Design.

Upload your CV/resume that clearly outlines the location, nature, and duration of your educational and work experiences, along with any relevant accomplishments.

Upload your portfolio in the Documents tab in the Supporting Information section. Submit 5-9 pieces or projects showing a range of work and your interests and abilities. 

Your portfolio should demonstrate design skills and knowledge (e.g., communication/graphic design, product design, industrial design, architecture). Your work should show a clear demonstration of design processes, research, iteration, critique, prototyping, and form resolution. 

We evaluate portfolios from multiple viewpoints including visual/verbal communication skills, critical and analytical thinking, craftsmanship, and creativity.

Requirements:

• Submit 5–9 pieces or projects that show a range of work.
• Upload one PDF containing your 5- 9 pieces or one PDF with a URL to your portfolio website and any required passcodes.
• Include a brief description for each piece: content, context, and duration.
• Include process documentation, when possible, to show your creative and problem-solving approaches.
• Upload excerpts for long works (e.g. theses, book designs, software applications) that best represent your strengths.
• Identify your role clearly for collaborative projects, including your specific contributions.

Upload a one-minute video via the application’s SlideRoom section that answers the following question: 

Imagining that you have just completed your master’s degree in the School of Design, what do you envision as your next steps in design and what did you gain from your graduate studies that enable you to realize your goals?

You are welcome to include visuals that support your story. Keep in mind that this piece is intended to provide us with insight into who you are and what excites you, so we encourage you to be authentic and communicate clearly.  Please consider the relevance and quality of any AI-generated assets in your video. 

Note, the video will be cut off after one minute regardless of upload length.         

Request an official electronic transcript from U.S. schools you attended when completing your application in GradCAS. Select the appropriate electronic transcript vendor and follow the instructions for Sending Transcripts Electronically found in the GradCAS help center: https://help.liaisonedu.com/GradCAS_Applicant_Help_Center. GradCAS accepts electronic transcripts from Parchment and National Student Clearinghouse. If your school does not use one of these services, your transcript must be sent by mail from your school’s registrar to:

GradCAS Transcript Processing Center
PO Box 9217
Watertown, MA 02471

Official international transcript(s) that cannot be sent electronically using Parchment and National Student Clearinghouse must request a certified transcript evaluation from ECE or WES. The electronic transcript evaluations can be ordered in GradCAS and when WES or ECE completes your evaluation, they'll send it to GradCAS. We do not accept unofficial or paper transcripts or evaluations in the School of Design. If a transcript is not in English, there must be an original or certified translation as part of the transcript(s).

Request three letters of recommendation via the Recommendations tab in the Program Materials section. 

Choose a variety of individuals who are familiar with your work. Ask each recommender to write a substantive letter addressing your qualifications for graduate study in design, including previous study, research, and professional experience. 

Once you save the recommendation request, an email is sent to your recommender. Advise them to check their inbox, and spam or junk-mail folders, as these emails may be filtered. 

All references submitted in this section are program specific. If you remove this program from your application, the associated letters will be deleted. 

To support your recommenders, give them at least one month’s notice so they have adequate time to write and submit their letters before the deadline. 

If English is not your native language and you are not a U.S. citizen, submit one valid score (TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo). Submit your highest overall score by the application deadline.

TOEFL iBT or Home Edition
For exams taken before Jan. 21, 2026
Overall score: 102 recommended
Subscores: 25 minimum in each section
Score code: B886 (send official scores to GradCAS)

TOEFL (new)
For exams taken on or after Jan. 21, 2026
Overall score: 5 minimum 
Subscores: 5 and above receive consideration
Score code: B886 (send official scores to GradCAS)

TOEFL Essentials
Overall score: 11 minimum
Subscores: 11 and above receive consideration
Score code: B886 (send official scores to GradCAS)

IELTS or IELTS Indicator
Overall score (composite): 7.5 recommended
Subscores: 7 minimum in each section 
Score delivery: Sent electronically to the GradCAS E‑Delivery account
Score code: Not required

Applicant action: You must contact the IELTS test center where you took the exam and request that your official Test Report Form be sent to the GradCAS E‑Delivery account.

Duolingo English Test (DET)
Overall score: 130 recommended; 120 minimum
Subscores (minimum / recommended):
Literacy: 120 / 130
Comprehension: 125 / 135
Production: 90 / 100
Conversation: 105 / 115
Score code: Not required

Each applicant must submit a $75 application fee through GradCAS as well as pay a $5 fee for the use of SlideRroom.