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Elliott School of
International Affairs

 

Fall Admitted Students

Welcome to the Elliott School!

Admission Checklist

Considering Your Offer of Admission
Accepting Your Offer of Admission
  • Complete the online admission response form by logging into your online application account and reviewing your decision letter.
  • In the decision letter, click the green button on the bottom right that says “Reply to Offer." The deadline to respond is in your offer of admission.
  • Submit a $500 non-refundable tuition deposit online via the GWeb Information System by credit card or electronic bank transfer. Find detailed instructions on paying your non-refundable admissions deposit here. Active duty military, National Guard, reserve, and veterans; Clarke DS, Payne, Pickering, and Rangel Fellows; incoming Fulbright Foreign Student Program scholars; and Elliott School combined bachelor's/master's students are not required to submit a tuition deposit.
  • Claim your GW identity to obtain your new @gwu.edu email address, and begin checking your GW email regularly. All emails from GW will be sent to your GW email address as soon as it's activated.
  • Your GWid is at the top left corner of your online decision letter. This number will be crucial during your time at GW. Please memorize it.
Enrolling and Beginning Classes
  • Request official transcripts from all institutions you have attended. All documents uploaded to the application by the applicant are unofficial. Check our website's 'Transcripts' tab for transcript requirements for enrolling students.
    • Official transcripts must be submitted by Monday, August 25, 2025. 
    • Send official transcripts via email to esiagradatgwu [dot] edu (esiagrad[at]gwu[dot]edu)
    • Send official transcripts via post to 1957 E St. NW, Suite 301, Washington DC 20052
    • Please ensure your degree has been conferred and noted on the transcript (if applicable). 
  • Read Graduate Student Services' (GSS) New Student Information page and follow the necessary steps.
  • Submit Student Immunization Records as soon as possible. Students under age 26 must also provide proof of certain immunizations prior to registration.
  • Begin checking your new GW email frequently. Read all emails from GW. You will be hearing from many offices on campus!
  • Register for classes once you receive the email from GSS that registration is open 
  • eBills for fall tuition and fees will be released 4-6 weeks before the start of the semester.
  • Classes begin Monday, August 25, 2025.

International Students

Needing an F-1 Visa? Important Dates to Keep in Mind! March 3: International Services Office starts processing i-20 (for F-1) requests for Fall. May 9: Deadline for students outside of the U.S. who are required to take an EAP course on-campus to submit I-20 (for F-1) request documents. June 23: Deadline for students outside of U.S. who are exempt from EAP course(s) to submit I-20 (for F-1) request documents. July 25: Deadline for students in the U.S. who are transferring their SEVIS number form a U.S. insti
Visa Request Webinar

View the Visa Request Webinar

View the Visa Request Webinar Slides

Deadlines

Initial I-20 requests (for students who need EAP courses) – May 9

Change of Level (COL) requests and Initial I-20 requests (for students exempt from EAP courses) - June 23

Transfer I-20/SEVISs – July 25

Resources and Forms

Please send all documents to esiaisoatgwu [dot] edu (esiaiso[at]gwu[dot]edu) in PDF format in the correct orientation.

Steps to Obtaining your Visa
Simple guide that explains the process for obtaining the F-1 Visa

Acceptable Bank Documents
Guidelines for and examples of acceptable bank documents.

Documents Checklist - I-20 Initial
Checklist of required documents for international students needing an I-20 Initial Visa.

Documents Checklist - Transfer (2 pages)
Checklist of required documents for international students needing an I-20 Transfer (including OPT).

Documents Checklist  - Change of Level (COL)
Checklist of required documents for international students needing a Change of Level (COL).

Visa Request Form (AY 2025-26)
Required of all admitted international students requesting an I-20 issuance or transfer process for their F-1 visa.

Visa Request Form (EAP Summer 2025)
Required of all admitted international students taking EAP courses in-person during the summer and are requesting an  I-20 for their F-1 visa.

SEVIS Transfer Form
Required from admitted students who are currently on F-1 Student or F-1 OPT status.

Source of Funds, M.A. (all M.A. programs besides M.A. in International Economic Policy)
Step-by-step guide on how to fill in the "Source of Funds" section on page 2 of the Visa Request Form for students in an M.A. program (except for the M.A. in International Economic Policy). Students in the M.A. in International Economic Policy program should use the form below.

Source of Funds, M.A./M.S. in International Economic Policy
Step-by-step guide on how to fill in the "Source of Funds" section on page 2 of the Visa Request Form for students in the M.A./M.S. in International Economic Policy program. Students in all other M.A. programs should use the form above.

Source of Funds, M.I.P.P.
Step-by-step guide on how to fill in the "Source of Funds" section on page 2 of the Visa Request Form for students in the M.I.P.P. program.

Source of Funds, M.I.S.
Step-by-step guide on how to fill in the "Source of Funds" section on page 2 of the Visa Request Form for students in the M.I.S. program.

Dependent Information Form
Required for admitted students who plan to bring a spouse and/or child. Must be accompanied by a copy of the biographical page of the passport of each dependent.

I-94 Example
​​​Example of the I-94 form required of admitted students who are currently on an F-1 or J-1 visa or have previously had an F-1 or J-1 visa.

OPT Forfeit Letter
Required from admitted students who are currently on F-1 OPT. Must be accompanied by a copy of the front and back of the EAD card.

Campus Resources 

Paying Your Admission Deposit Online

In order to secure your place in the incoming class, you must submit a $500 non-refundable deposit. The deadline for payment of your deposit will be detailed in your letter of admission. You may pay your deposit online via the GWeb Information System. GWeb is the university system that you will use throughout your time at GW to register for courses, view your grades, and access your student account.  GWeb will allow you to pay your deposit either through credit card or electronic bank transfer. Detailed instructions for paying your deposit are available on the GW Graduate Study page.

Active duty military, National Guard, reserve, and veterans; Clarke DS, Payne, Pickering, and Rangel Fellows; incoming Fulbright Foreign Student Program scholars; and Elliott School combined bachelor's/master's students are not required to submit a tuition deposit.

Graduate Tuition & Fees

Information on tuition and fees can be found below and also on the GW Student Accounts Office website. For planning purposes, you can use the Cost of Attendance worksheet provided by GW's Office of Student Financial Assistance to determine an estimated cost of attendance based on a specific loan period, tuition rate, and campus of attendance. Students admitted to the JD/MA or MBA/MA are billed at the JD/MBA tuition rates. 

Please note that tuition and fees are subject to change. Students should generally anticipate an increase in tuition and fees each academic year. Please check the GW Student Accounts Office Website for updates, announcements, and disclosures.

Tuition

All tuition rates are effective at the beginning of the first summer semester. More information can be found on the GW Student Accounts website.

Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Spring 2026

Tuition, per credit: $2,280

Tuition, non-degree: $2,230

  • Master of Arts Programs (besides International Economic Policy) are 40 credits
  • Master of Arts in International Economic Policy and Master of Science in International Economic Policy are 30 credits.
  • Master of international Policy and Practice is 27 credits
  • Master of International Studies is 19 credits
Fees

The below excludes course-specific fees.

Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Spring 2026

Student Association Fee (per credit, to a maximum of $45 per semester): $3.00

Elliott School of international Affairs Fees

  • Matriculation Fee (charged to each entering student): $100
  • Elliott School Service Fee (per credit): $100

University Fees

  • Application fee: $80
  • International student fee (charged each Fall and Spring to students on F-1 or J-1 visas): $45
  • Registration for off-campus and online programs: $35
  • Late payment fees: found at https://studentaccounts.gwu.edu/late-payments
  • Late authorization fee for third-party payment: $100
  • Returned check fee (charged for a check improperly drafted, incomplete, or returned by the bank for any reason): $35
  • Transcript Fee: $8
  • Replacement of lost or stolen picture identification card: $35
  • Replacement of diploma: $50

Federal Loans

Are you a U.S. citizen thinking about applying for federal, district, or private alternative educational loans to finance graduate school in 2025-2026?

Detailed information on the application process is available on the Office of Student Financial Assistance website.