Introduction to the Application Process
Applicants must hold either a US bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a regionally accredited institution. If the degree was granted by an institution outside of the US, the institution must be accredited by the governing educational body of the country (such as the ministry of education).
We recommend that candidates who completed a degree at an international institution obtain a certified course-by-course evaluation of their degree(s) by a third-party service. This evaluation will confirm if your degree is equivalent to a US 4-year bachelor's degree. Documents should be in both English and the native language. If the institution does not provide English translations, students are responsible for obtaining a certified word-for-word English translation.
Review the application requirements carefully before starting the application. For more information please contact your program of interest directly.
If you are ready to join our scholarly community then APPLY TODAY!
Vanderbilt Graduate School Degrees
For degrees that are offered by the Graduate School– Ph.D., M.A., M.S., M.F.A. in Creative Writing, and M.L.A.S. – you must apply directly to the Graduate School. Applicants with bachelor’s or comparable non-U.S. degrees may use the same application.
Vanderbilt Professional School Graduate Degrees
For discipline-specific programs offered at a school or college that grant their degrees independently (i.e. M.Ed. from the Peabody College of Education and Human Development), begin by searching for the program on the main university program finder and navigating to the admissions page of the professional school where your intended degree is housed.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI should not be used to generate or substantially rewrite application content, personal narratives, or research interests. Applicants are expected to be the primary author of all submitted materials and are responsible for the accuracy and authenticity of their application.
Our admissions committees seek to understand your individual experiences, motivations, and potential as a scholar. The most compelling applications are those that genuinely reflect your own voice.
Vanderbilt University recognizes that many applicants use generative AI tools during the writing process. Applicants may use AI to support brainstorming, organization, grammar, spelling, or general editing. However, all application materials, including personal statements, statements of purpose, essays, short answer responses, research statements, and other written submissions, must reflect the applicant's own experiences, ideas, judgment, and writing.
We value authenticity over perfection. Applicants should submit writing that reflects their own voice and experiences. A thoughtful, genuine statement provides far greater insight than one that has been overly polished by artificial intelligence or another person.