The Hamilton Lugar School currently offers nearly 20 undergraduate majors and minors and more than 50 graduate and doctoral degrees, certificates, majors, and minors.
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Undergraduate admissions
The Hamilton Lugar school is dedicated to ensuring that our programs are diverse in thought and experience. Our students are leaders who are resourceful, adaptable and have a commitment to global engagement, knowledge, and understanding. Explore six undergraduate majors, in addition to minors and certificate programs:
Apply to IU beginning August 1 (the fall of your senior year of high school).
For the highest scholarship consideration, apply by the early action (non-binding) November 1 deadline. Scholarships are reviewed through the regular decision deadline of February 1. Questions? Connect with our recruitment team!
Test-optional policy
IU Bloomington has adopted a test-optional admissions policy. Regardless of whether a student chooses to have their test score considered or applies as test-optional, all students will be evaluated for admission to HLS after receiving their admission notification from the IU Office of Admissions. No additional material submission is required.
Step 1: Apply to IU
Apply and be admitted to IU Bloomington (the fall before your intended first semester). Applications are a reviewed on a rolling-basis through February 1.
Step 2: Evaluation for direct admission
The HLS admission committee will consider the following criteria for Direct Admission.
- High school academic performance (e.g., grades, breadth and depth of coursework, intellectual curiosity)
- Test scores (for those who choose to have their test scores considered)
- Community service, leadership, work and life experiences
- Interest in global learning and engagement, world cultures, or foreign language(s)
Note: Students are eligible for direct admission if they are admitted to IU Bloomington AND have selected a Hamilton Lugar School major on their application.
Additional options for admission to HLS
Submit a petition for direct admission reconsiderationIf a student is not directly admitted to HLS and would like to be reconsidered for direct admission, they are welcome to submit a petition application. We recognize that the global pandemic, along with other factors, may have impacted a student's academic performance and opportunities, and (or) personal life. This petition is an opportunity to provide additional context to their situation.
Admission via the standard process after enrolling at IUStudents who are not ready to declare a major on their application or who are not directly admitted to the school can gain admission to HLS after starting at IU and satisfying the following Certification requirements:
- Declare a major within the Hamilton Lugar School.
- Complete 26 credit hours of coursework toward their declared Hamilton Lugar School degree.
- Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000 in their College of Arts & Sciences courses.
- Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000 in their intended major in the Hamilton Lugar School. Satisfy the College of Arts and Sciences Education (CASE) English Composition requirements.
Graduate admissions
The Hamilton Lugar School currently offers more than 50 graduate degrees, including master’s degrees, certificates, and doctoral majors and minors. We also offer a Ph.D. minor in Global Studies and a Ph.D. minor in Human Rights, as well as numerous options for dual master's degrees in collaboration with professional schools at IU.
Connect with us
To learn more about applying to HLS as a graduate student, contact our Office of Graduate Administrative Services at hlsgrad@iu.edu or (812) 856-5614.
Application processes and funding
Application requirements
You will need to complete and submit an online application. When accessing the application, it is best to utilize the filters feature to locate your program of interest. At a minimum, you should utilize the school filter to ensure you are applying to the Hamilton Lugar School of Global & Internationals Studies. You will then be able to locate and select your specific program.
Be sure to review the application requirements that are specific to your selected program. After you have added your program in the online application, you can view program specific requirements by selecting Program Materials on your dashboard and then selecting the Documents tab.
The Hamilton Lugar School requires official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended (except Indiana University), regardless of if a degree was conferred. An official transcript is one that comes from the registrar's office of your university or college. Indiana University can accept an official transcript electronically if this is sent directly from your university or college. Indiana University can also accept a transcript in a signed envelope with an unbroken seal either from the applicant or directly from the conferring university or college. Note that the signed seal must be unbroken for us to accept the transcript.
Domestic applicants: Please send electronic transcripts to hlsgrad@iu.edu. Paper transcripts should be sent to:
HLS Graduate Administrative Services
Indiana University
Global and International Studies Building
355 North Eagleson Ave.
Bloomington, IN 47405-1105
International applicants: Submit official 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. 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 at:
Office of International Services
Poplars 221
400 East Seventh Street
Bloomington, IN 47405
International students may have official transcripts sent electronically to newtoiu@iu.edu directly from the issuing institution.
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. 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. After you submit the application and pay the application fee, an email notice will prompt your designated recommenders to upload their letters.
Your statement of interests should indicate your aspirations and motivations for pursuing a specific academic program. Your statement should describe your academic preparation, research interests, and professional goals. Be sure to discuss your thematic interests and regional focus. The admissions committee uses this information to assess whether the applicant's interests and goals align with the graduate program. Your statement should be uploaded and submitted with your online application. The required length of the statement of interest varies by program: on the online application, please view the program materials for the requirements specific to your chosen program.
If the specific academic program that you are applying to requires you to submit a resume or CV, please upload this to the online application as a PDF document. Please note that this is not a requirement for each program: on the online application, please view the program materials for the requirements specific to your chosen program.
If your chosen program requires you to submit a writing sample, please upload this to the online application as a PDF document. Please note that this is not a requirement for each program: on the online application, please view the program materials for the requirements specific to your chosen program.
The graduate programs of the Hamilton Lugar School will not require the submission of GRE scores for Fall 2023.
If your native language is not English, you must submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A minimum IELTS score of 6.5 or TOEFL score of 79 is required for admission to Indiana University. The testing service should report the TOEFL or IELTS score directly to Indiana University Bloomington. The Indiana University TOEFL code is "1324". Unofficial scores may also uploaded and submitted with your online application, however, your application is not complete until an official score is received.
Deadlines: Fall 2023
International
- International applicants must apply by December 1, 2022.
Domestic
- Domestic applications to programs administered by Central Eurasian Studies, East Asian Languages and Cultures, and Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures are due December 15, 2022.
- Domestic applications to programs administered by African Studies Program, Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, International Studies, Institute for European Studies, and Robert F. Byrnes Russian and East European Institute are due January 1, 2023.
Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies