How to Apply

Overview of general application requirements

Complete and submit the application through the IU Graduate Centralized Application Services (or IU Graduate CAS) for the term in which you seek to begin the program. The very first thing you’ll need to do is create an account if you don’t already have one.

Then, use the blue filters button to locate the program you are interested in applying for. Apply the campus filter to ensure you are applying to the IUB O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs located on the IU Bloomington campus. Specific application names of our programs can be located in the program-specific dropdown box. To select a program to apply to, hit the blue + sign.

The O’Neill School requires transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended (except Indiana University), regardless of if a degree was conferred.

Domestic Applicants: Upload transcripts in the ‘Academic History’ of the application. Be sure to include a transcript for all institutions attended. If admitted, an official copy of your transcript will be required to start course work at O’Neill.

International Applicants: Submit academic records in the original language from every postsecondary school you have attended, whether or not you obtained a degree. If the original is not in English, also include a certified, literal translation. For the application process, we can accept unofficial or official academic records.

While we do recommend for our international applicants to submit official academic records to the Office of International Services, you are welcome to upload an unofficial transcript to your application directly in the Academic History section. We send all unofficial transcripts to OIS directly for review. Please note that if unofficial records are utilized during the application process, official records will be required prior to enrolling in the program.

Please note that unofficial transcripts downloaded through a student portal will not be acceptable. In addition, WES evaluations cannot be accepted.

If submitting official transcripts, records must be issued by the registrar or record-keeping official from the institution at which the work was completed. Notarized copies of academic records are not acceptable. If you studied in the United States or Canada, have official transcripts sent directly to International Admissions from the issuing institution’s records office. International transcripts must be sent to the Office of International Services (OIS) at:

Ferguson International Center
Room 100
330 N Eagleson Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47405-7513

When possible, recommendation letters should come from academic references. We will also accept recommendations from individuals who have had a direct supervisory or instructional relationship with you. Recommendations from friends, colleagues, or family members will not be accepted. In all cases, your references should come from individuals who can objectively evaluate your preparation for graduate school. On the online application, you will be asked to provide contact information for three recommenders. Once the contact information has been entered, an email notice will prompt your designated recommenders to upload their letters.

Upload your personal statement to the online application as a PDF document. Please answer the prompt for your program of interest, which can be found in the Ready to Apply section below. While there is no word limit, this statement is usually two pages or about 800 words.

Upload your resume or CV to the online application as a PDF document.

O’Neill requires international applicants’ to submit either TOEFL or IELTS scores as part of their application process.

  • O’Neill baseline TOEFL scores for admission consideration are 100, with a strong recommendation of at least 25 in each section. Scores should be sent electronically through ETS to Indiana University, institution code 1324. A department code is not necessary.
  • O’Neill baseline IELTS overall scores for admission consideration are 7.0. We only accept IELTS results that are delivered to the Office of International Services electronic download account by the IELTS test center. No paper test report forms will be accepted. An institution code for IELTS is NOT required. Please contact the test center where you took the IELTS test directly, and request that your test scores be sent to the following e-download account using the IELTS system. All IELTS test centers worldwide are able to send scores electronically to our institution. You must provide the following information to the test center where you took the test when requesting your scores:

Office of International Services
Indiana University
Eigenmann Hall Room 525
1900 E. Tenth Street
Bloomington, IN 47408


TOEFL iBT® is a trusted test of academic English and is the only one that measures all four skills — reading, listening, speaking and writing — in an academic setting so you can feel confident you will thrive in a U.S. university.

Institution code: 1324
TOEFL iBT® minimum score: 100

Register at www.ets.org/toefl

Stand Out with the TOEFL IBT Test


We are able to waive the TOEFL or IELTS requirement automatically under the following circumstances:

  • The applicant has completed an undergraduate or graduate program at a U.S. domestic institution – this includes IU.
  • The applicant has completed an undergraduate or graduate program in a country where English is the official or the predominate language.

GRE or GMAT scores are not required for admissions to the O’Neill Master’s programs. If you would like to submit them as supplementary material, please review the information below:

  • GRE scores can be sent electronically through ETS to Indiana University, institution code 1324. A department code is not necessary.
  • GMAT scores can be sent electronically through GMAC to Indiana University-Bloomington, School of Public and Environmental Affairs.

We’ll review your application for its overall merit. There is no “make-or-break” section.

O'Neill student Chloe Dukes on her decision to apply.

Description of the video:

I would tell anybody who's interested in doing this program to do it. Don't doubt yourself. I waited four years, when I knew that this is what I wanted to do. I wasn't sure if I was smart enough, if I could keep up. But the faculty and your colleagues that you're going to go through this program with, they're here for you. They will support you. The program is made and tailored and crafted and curated with students at mind and it's been a great experience.