The next priority deadline to apply to Harris is Thursday, February 22—apply now. We also wanted to share some information about GRE test requirements and waivers before you get started.

The GRE waiver attestation is completed as part of your application for admission. Your transcript and resume documents, as well as your work experience section, education information, and additional information provided in your application are the support for your GRE waiver attestation. These elements will be used for verification during the admission review process. You do not need to send GRE waiver documentation separately from your application.

Applicants to the full-time master’s programs that begin in fall of 2024—Master of Public Policy (MPP), MA in Public Policy (MA), MS in Computational Analysis and Public Policy (MSCAPP), and MA in Public Policy with Certificate in Research Methods (MACRM)—must either meet one of the four waiver criteria below or submit a GRE test. Applicants will submit this information as part of their application. Students will attest to the criteria and provide supporting documentation in the application. Please note, this information should not be sent via email, and must be uploaded and submitted as part of your application in order to be considered by the admissions committee.

Waiver Criteria

1. Qualifying Professional Experience. At the time of application submission, applicants must indicate in their work history and on their resume that they have completed five or more years of full-time relevant professional work.  

  • Relevant may be defined as related to policy, government, business, economics, education, or social services.   
  • Applicants in other fields may attest that their work experience is relevant to public policy study.  
  • Five or more years are calculated as the time between  completion of bachelor's degree and the date of application submission. 

2. Military Service. Completed five years of active duty national military service (in any country)

3. Documented coursework. Completed the equivalent of college-level, credit-bearing, Calculus I and/or beyond with a grade of B or better. Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus may satisfy this requirement if it appears on the undergraduate college transcript as college credits.

Approved GRE Test Substitutions  

  • Applicants to the JD/MPP may submit the LSAT  
  • Applicants to the full-time master’s programs—MPP, MA (full-time), MSCAPP, and MACRM— may submit the GMAT 
  • Applicants to the University of Chicago Medicine partner programs for physicians may submit the MCAT 

The GRE is not required for the Evening Master’s Program (EMP), the Five Year Master in Public Policy with the College (BA/MPP),and Five Year MS in Computational Analysis and Public Policy with the College (BA/MSCAPP) programs.*  

*Please note: only currently enrolled undergraduate students at the University of Chicago are eligible to apply to the BA/MPP and BA/MSCAPP programs. 

You may submit self-reported (unofficial) GRE or GMAT scores for admission review. Official scores must be provided upon accepting an offer of admission. The Harris Public Policy institution code is 1849 or 1832. Either code will be accepted. Make your reservations with ETS directly: http://www.ets.org/gre.

Hardship Requests 

Applicants for whom a recent natural disaster or other major, widespread disruption has affected their ability to complete an application may submit a Hardship Request. For more information and questions about the Hardship Request, please contact gradadmissions@uchicago.edu.   

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