Admissions | Committee on International Relations

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The Committee on International Relations enrolls approximately 70 to 80 students into our one-year program each year. In the last two years, we have welcomed students from over 30 different countries. Students come to CIR from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds - we value all experiences and viewpoints in our program.

Application Rounds

There are three application rounds:

Early Action – November 14th
Round 1 – January 7th
Round 2 – May 1st

Application Requirements

Applications are submitted through the Division of the Social Sciences. Required documents include:

Unofficial transcripts
Candidate statement
Writing sample
Resume/CV
Three letters of recommendation
Short answer essay
TOEFL/IELTS scores (if required)
Application fee

Learn more about our application requirements.

Admissions Events

Want to learn more? Meet our admissions team and program academic staff at a virtual event. View a list of events.

Alumni Perspectives

CIR alumni pursue a wide range of careers and further graduate education.

Joy Lin, AM'16 Presidential Management Fellow

"The CIR program was both challenging and rewarding. I truly appreciated the high level of academic rigor, the opportunities for career development, and most importantly the people I've had the pleasure to meet and call my friends."

Drew Stommes, AM'15 PhD Student at Yale University

"During my time at CIR, rigorous graduate-level coursework, weekly academic workshops, and a master's thesis project considerably sharpened my analytical skills and refined my research interests within the areas of political violence and comparative politics. Working closely with my faculty thesis advisor, CIR preceptor, and other faculty at the University of Chicago proved essential in preparing me for a doctoral program in political science and ultimately, an academic career."