The Johns Hopkins Krieger School of Arts and Sciences offers rolling admissions for the Master of Science in Psychology program. Our priority deadline is March 15, and our standard application deadline is May 15, 2026. We encourage international students to apply as early as possible, allowing sufficient time for visa processing. This program includes a $75 application fee, and the standard graduate admission costs will apply.
Master of Science in Psychology requirements
Your application to Johns Hopkins University will include the following:
- Prerequisite degree: Before enrolling in this graduate program, you will need to have earned one of the following:
- B.S. or B.A. in STEM or a related discipline
- B.A. in a non-STEM major, coupled with coursework in Psychology, Cognitive Science, or Neuroscience
- Prerequisite courses: Coursework in the following areas is not required; however, most successful applicants will have a strong academic record in these areas:
- Psychology (e.g., Psychology, Cognitive Science, Philosophy of Mind or Language, Computer Science)
- Biological and/or Physical sciences (e.g., Biology, Neuroscience, Mathematics through Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, Statistics, Engineering)
- Transcripts: List all the colleges and universities you have attended and upload a transcript from each school.
- Statement of interest and career objectives (a maximum of one page): The statement should include your motivations for pursuing a graduate degree in psychology at Johns Hopkins, describe your scientific preparation (research experiences), and include your long-term career goals. This statement should enable the admissions committee to determine that:
- You are committed to pursuing a master’s degree in psychology and understand what is needed to succeed in graduate school
- You are intellectually engaged in science and well prepared for a research-intensive experience
- The master’s program in psychology at Johns Hopkins is a good fit for your research and career interests
- You clearly state which faculty members in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences with whom you would be most interested in conducting research, should you be admitted
Your statement should also explain the research you will conduct in the lab that interests you and why your prior coursework, research, or non-academic experiences make you a good fit for this type of research. Applications that do not identify one or more potential faculty members as targets of interest will not be considered.
- Letter of recommendation: Identify two people who are familiar with your work and provide contact information for these references. This contact information will be entered into the application, and the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences will contact the references and ask them to submit letters of recommendation on behalf of the applicant. Letters should preferably come from faculty members or other professionals in a position to comment on your aptitude for independent research and motivation for applying to the program.
- Additional master’s in psychology requirements:
- Curriculum vitae (up to two pages, showing experience)
- Competitive candidates will be invited for an online interview with PBS faculty
Please note that GRE scores are not required.
International requirements
International students whose native language is not English are required to complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
When taking the exam, applicants should request that official scores be reported to Institution Code 5316 (the Department Code is not necessary).
To report official IELTS test scores, please include the Test Report Form (TRF) verification number on the application. Scores must be received before the application deadline.
The TOEFL requirement is waived if you:
- Studied at a university in the U.S.
- Received your degree from an institution where English was the primary language of instruction (e.g., Britain, Hong Kong, etc.)
Additionally, students who studied in Puerto Rico do NOT have to submit a TOEFL score.
All elements of the admissions application, including transcripts and letters of recommendation, must be in English. WES is the approved transcript service for use by international students.
Welcome event details
Each year, we offer a fall welcome event to aid the orientation of first-year master’s students. During the event, students will register for an introductory meeting with the host lab for their research experience. This meeting helps lay the foundation for identifying an advisor and research to complete during the master’s program.