Master in City Planning (MCP)

Entry requirements

Accepted English tests

International applicants: IELTS (minimum 7), TOEFL iBT (minimum 100) or Duolingo English Test (minimum 135); scores must be less than 2 years old. Automatic exemption (MIT Graduate Admissions policy, https://oge.mit.edu/graduate-admissions/admissions-policies/elp-test-requirement/elp-exemptions/) only if English is your primary language, or if within the last 5 years you attended an English-speaking university for 3-4 years and attained an undergraduate degree there in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the US; English-medium degrees from other countries (and branch campuses abroad) do not qualify automatically. Departments may separately consider waiver requests.

Other requirements

Required: online application, statement of objectives, three letters of recommendation, transcripts, CV or resume, English test scores (international applicants), application fee USD 90. Optional: design portfolio (recommended for applicants to the City Design and Development group) and writing sample. GRE optional for the MCP (required only for the SM); GRE scores must be less than 5 years old. Students come from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds; a design background is not required. The department "strongly encourage[s] applicants to pursue meaningful work experience after their BA degree before applying"; most applicants have strong academic records and some work in the field. Two-year professional degree; about 55-60 students enrol each year from 400+ applicants, about 30% international. Admitted MCP students are offered 80% tuition plus student health insurance. No minimum GPA or China-specific requirement published.