Admission Requirements

Candidates to the dual program in International Peace and Conflict Resolution/International Relations and Diplomacy may apply to start at either of the two participating institutions: at Arcadia University, in the United States, or at the American Graduate School in Paris, in France. Applications must be made to the institution where they wish to start.

Please note that admission into the other institution to pursue the second degree will follow on the condition that the student is in good academic standing at the first institution. Additional elements to transition to the second institution may be asked of the candidate at the discretion of the Program Director.

Students pursuing one of the two degrees individually may decide during the course of their studies to opt for the dual degree option. They will then have to work with the Academic Coordinator of each program to ensure that their curriculum meets the degree requirements. However, applicants are encouraged to determine in advance if they wish to follow the dual degree track.

Program-Specific Admission Requirements: Arcadia University welcomes applications for this program from college graduates of all majors, especially those who have demonstrated scholastic excellence and a commitment to international peace and conflict resolution. Related experience and achievements, either domestic or international, also are desirable. The program requests the following from applicants:

1. A graduate application, including personal statements, to be completed online with this Graduate Program Application.
2. A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a recommended GPA of 3.0 or higher,
3. One official transcript from each college, university, or professional school attended. Transfer credits included on a transcript must include grades earned; if not, an official transcript from the original school must be submitted. Transcripts must be sent from the issuing school in a sealed envelope and contain the appropriate signatures and seals to be considered official.
4. Three letters of recommendation from persons who are able to judge the applicant’s qualifications to undertake graduate work abroad. At least two recommendations must be from professors.
5. International applicants should visit the International Student Admissions information page for detailed information on admission requirements and application procedures. Official results from the TOEFL or IELTS are required for all students for whom English is a second language except for non-native speakers of English who hold degrees or diplomas from post-secondary institutions in English-speaking countries (e.g. the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand). A course-by-course evaluation of all transcripts by an independent evaluation service based in the United States also is required.

GREs are not required for admission to the IPCR program. In exceptional cases, after reviewing an applicant’s academic record and non-academic experience, the Director may waive one or more prerequisites.

The General Admissions Application Deadline for the IPCR program is Feb 1st and rolling after the deadline until the class is full.

If an offer of admission is accepted, a $500 deposit must accompany the acceptance reply.  This deposit is applied to the first semester’s tuition and is non-refundable. Specific deposit deadline dates will be noted on acceptance letter.

A student admitted to the program who wants to defer admission for one year must submit a request to do so in writing to the Director. Deferrals will be granted by the program on an individual basis. Once the deferral is granted, a student must submit the required deposit to reserve his or her seat in the class. This deposit will be credited toward tuition. A student who is granted a deferral must understand that he or she will be subject to the prevailing tuition at the time of matriculation to the program. 

Applicants to this program are expected to meet the admission requirements set forth by Arcadia’s partner institution, the American Graduate School in Paris, in coordination with Arcadia University.

1. The American Graduate School in Paris Admissions Committee welcomes students from all nationalities and from a variety of educational backgrounds. The program requests the following: The M.A. in International Relations and Diplomacy application form, to be completed online by visiting the American Graduate School in Paris application form.
2. A personal statement (500-1,000) words
3. Current CV or resume
4. Official transcripts of all previous university-level studies with a 3.0 GPA
5. GRE score. Note that this requirement is waived for applicants who have been out of school for more than five years.
6. Two letters of recommendation from professors who have instructed the candidate in a degree program. A professional recommendation letter will be accepted if out of the University for more than four years.
7. For non-native speakers of English who did not graduate from an English language degree program in an English-speaking country: a standardized test of English: TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score
8. An application fee of €50, non-refundable; this can be paid online by visiting the American Graduate School in Paris payment form.  
9. In some cases, applicants may also be asked to provide additional material and/or arrange an interview with a member of the Admissions Committee.

Note: All documents in a language other than English or French must be accompanied by certified translations. All documentation submitted will be confidential. Application materials cannot be returned once submitted to the American Graduate School in Paris.

There are two intakes every year for the International Relations and Diplomacy program. The application deadline for the Fall semester is July 15th; the application deadline for the Spring semester is December 15th.

Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis. Notification of admission status will be mailed to the applicant within four weeks of receipt of a completed application.

Tuition for this dual degree option comprises the full tuition of the three term program at Arcadia University in Glenside or the full two-year tuition at AGS in Paris. Tuition for the additional three terms is paid directly to the second institution.

Full-time cohort track: $30,770/year.

*Part-time IPCR students are charged $1285/credit

Fees

• Registration: $50 per semester
• Technology: $100 per semester
• Parking: $55 per semester or $100 per year (Fall and Spring) before 4 p.m. No charge after 4 p.m.

• Books and supplies: $1,000 (estimated)
• Room and Board: Off Campus
• Travel: Varies

Additional Year in the IRD Program (in Euros): According to a typical curriculum, students follow six courses at the American Graduate School in Paris in the last year of the dual program. Total tuition is adjusted to specific curricula.

2020-2021 AGS tuition per course:  www.ags.edu

Other Fees: Registration fee - €100 per semester

Additional Expenses: See estimated living expenses and other attendance costs

• IRD two-year full time program tuition and fees (in Euros; rates are subject to change): 
• 2020-2021 Tuition  www.ags.edu 
• Optional French language course: €2,200
• Registration fee - €100 per semester

See estimated living expenses and other attendance costs by vising the American Graduate School in Paris financial aid.

Financial Aid is available to assist qualified students in covering tuition and related expenses, as well as living costs. For information on scholarships, graduate assistantships and student loans:

• Arcadia University Financial Aid
• At the American Graduate School in Paris financial aid.