Applications for M.A. Programs
Admission to the Graduate School at AUR is on a competitive and rolling basis. Applications for the following year will be accepted starting in September. Non-EU/EEA citizens/residents please read below for more information about the student visa process.
The application deadline to be eligible for Merit Scholarships is February 1st.
Application Fee (non-refundable)
- 50 Euros for citizens and permanent residents of countries other than the United States or Canada.
- 50 US Dollars for U.S. citizens and permanent residents and Canadian citizens.
The application fee covers the administrative cost of processing all applications received. It is not refundable under any circumstances. It is payable online.
For U.S. Veterans, Peace Corps Volunteers, AUR students, and alumni the application fee will be waived - email gradschool@aur.edu to notify us of your eligibility.
Checklist of required documents
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A completed online application form
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Official university transcripts from all institutions attended. Applicants must have earned a minimum grade point average of 3.0 or equivalent
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Curriculum Vitae
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A motivation letter (minimum 700 words) that explains your career goals and interest in the relevant M.A. program
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At least one academic letter of recommendation (from an academic advisor or professor at the undergraduate/graduate level), and one professional letter of recommendation (applicants in the workforce for more than 5 years may submit two professional letters of recommendation)
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A scan of the student's passport photo page or European Union ID
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For students whose previous degrees were conducted in a language other than English: Official TOEFL results (minimum scores Paper-based: 637, Computer-based: 270 and Internet-based: 110) or IELTS Academic (minimum score 7) or DuoLingo English Test results (minimum score 130). An academic writing sample is strongly recommended to demonstrate the candidate's mastery of the language and critical thinking skills.
Recommended for Merit Scholarship Applicants
The admissions committee highly recommends that all candidates submit a sample of academic writing demonstrating research abilities. This will be taken into consideration during both the admissions process and the merit scholarship selection process.
Official Documents
All admissions decisions are conditional on receiving official/original documents:
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Official Final Transcripts must show the final GPA, a complete list of courses, and date/description of degree conferred. To be official, U.S. and Canadian transcripts must be delivered in a sealed envelope or via certified PDF. For students of international universities, official documents may be shown and photocopied in person.
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Official ESL Test Scores must be sealed and sent by the test provider.
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Letters of Reference: if scanned or sent by anyone other than the author, please provide an email address and telephone number where the referee can be reached.
Interviews
Personal interviews are required of all applicants. They may be conducted face-to-face, on the phone, or via video-conferencing. Upon completion of the application, students will be contacted by the Admissions Office to schedule an interview.
Letters of Recommendation
Applicants without any significant professional experience may submit two academic letters of recommendation, while those who are returning to university from the workforce may submit two professional letters of recommendation instead. Professional letters are meant to demonstrate an applicant's maturity and work ethic. There is no requirement for applicants to have professional experience in their chosen field of study.
GRE results
GRE results are not required for admission into AUR's M.A programs, however, test results are always welcome in addition to the documents listed above. They are recommended (but not required) for students applying for merit-based scholarships. Scores can be reported using the code 4029 (American U Rome).
Feedback
Students applying by the February 1st deadline for the program scholarship will receive a decision notification via email no later than March 1st. When rolling, completed applications will receive a decision within one month of the final interview.
Deposit Deadline
Students accepted up through April 1st must deposit no later than April 15th to ensure their place in the program. Those in need of an Italian Student Visa will not be issued documents until the tuition deposit has been paid.
Late applicants must deposit as soon as possible to ensure adequate time for the student visa application process.
Student Visa
Non-EU/EEA citizens and residents must apply for a student visa upon acceptance. The necessary documentation will be provided to each accepted student once the deposit has been paid. It is the student's responsibility to ensure the student visa is obtained before arriving in Italy. As it may take several weeks to obtain an appointment with the local Italian Consulate, we recommend that appointments be scheduled as soon as possible for a date no more than 90 days prior to arrival. Please contact your admissions counselor if any issues arise during the process.
Deferred Admission
A student who has been accepted to The American University of Rome but cannot enroll immediately may request a deferral. Students who wish to defer are required to pay the (non-refundable) tuition deposit of 500 Euros or 500 US Dollars. Enrollment can be deferred for up to one academic year, after which the student loses their deposit and must re-apply for admission to the University.
The University reserves the right not to run an M.A. program if it does not enroll sufficient numbers of students. Acceptance to an M.A. program does not automatically guarantee that the program will run.
