If you wish to apply to the Graduate Program in Economic Development, you may apply on-line or request an application to be mailed to you by contacting the Program:

Applicants must meet the requirements for admission to the Vanderbilt University Graduate School. The minimum requirement is a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent (preferably with a major in economics) and a grade average of B or its equivalent.

TOEFL

Students whose native language is not English, or who have not attended an institution where English is the medium of instruction, must present proof of proficiency in English. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is strongly recommended. Students should have a grade of 550 (paper- based) or 213 (computer- based) to comfortably take a full academic load. Vanderbilt offers instruction in English as a second language for students with lower TOEFL scores. See English Language Center below.

GRE

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a requirement for admission to the Vanderbilt University Graduate School. It may be waived in some cases for students applying to the Graduate Program in Economic Development. However, the GRE must be taken by all applicants who are considering Ph.D. study. The GRE General Test is mandatory for students applying for Ph.D. study; the GRE Subject Test is optional.

The following are required for application to the Program:
- Completed application form
- Statement of purpose
- Official transcripts from all universities previously attended
- Copy of your undergraduate diploma (and graduate diploma if you have a graduate degree)
- Three letters of recommendation to be sent directly by persons writing the letters to:

The Graduate Program in Economic Development
Vanderbilt University
VU Station B #351828
2301 Vanderbilt Place
Nashville, Tennessee 37235-1828

Students who have been admitted for a particular semester and find they cannot enroll at that time may defer their admission to the following spring or fall (one or two semesters). Requests must be made in writing. Students who defer one or two semesters are not required to resubmit an application.

Students who have been admitted to the Graduate Program in Economic Development may wish to attend a preparatory program in English and/or Calculus during the semester prior to enrollment in the Master's program. The following programs are offered at Vanderbilt.

English Language Center

Vanderbilt's English Language Center offers a variety of courses in English for international students at all levels in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Courses are offered each semester (including two terms in the summer). For detailed information regarding course offerings and information on how to apply, visit the English Language Center web site at: www.vanderbilt.edu/ELC.

Calculus

Intermediate-level calculus is also offered at Vanderbilt during the summer months. For information regarding calculus courses, contact the GPED office by e-mail or fax at the addresses shown above.

Courses Offered by the Economics Institute in Boulder, Colorado*

The Economics Institute in Boulder, Colorado offers a wide variety of courses in Economics and Math, as well as statistics, computer skills and other related courses. In addition, courses in GMAT, GRE and TOEFL preparation help students improve their performance on these standardized tests. Individual programs for students range in length from five weeks to one year. For more information on the Economics Institute, visit their web site at http://www.economicsinstitute.org/.

NOTE: *The Economics Institute in Boulder, Colorado is currently not offering classes or taking applications for upcoming terms due to a reorganization.

When making plans to enroll in our Program, you will find a great deal of useful information provided by the International Student and Scholar Service office at Vanderbilt. To access this information, visit their web site at http://www.vanderbilt.edu/isss/ .

Back to Home