Application Fee Waived for All Applicants
To reduce the financial barrier and encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds and perspectives to apply, YSE does not charge an application fee!
How to Apply
Ready to have an impact? Whether it is at the local or global level, we help students develop the skills, knowledge, and perspective to navigate complex global environmental issues and help build a sustainable future.
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YSE Admissions Application Timeline & Key Dates
- Application Open: September 1, 2025
- Application Deadline: December 1 , 2025
- Financial Aid Application Deadline: February 1, 2026
- Decision Release: Beginning to Mid-March, 2026
- Enrollment Deposit (Non-Refundable) Deadline: April 15, 2026
- Final Transcripts Due: July 15, 2026
For guaranteed consideration of your application, all materials must be completed and submitted electronically no later than the deadline of 11:59 PM EDT, December 1, 2025.
Application files completed by the deadline are guaranteed to receive a review by the Admissions Committee. We encourage serious applicants to submit all necessary materials prior to the December deadline.
Note: All materials must be uploaded to the electronic application. Extra materials will not be included in your application file. Materials become the property of Yale School of the Environment and will not be returned to applicants or enrolling students.
Questions concerning admission or the application process should be directed to admissions.yse@yale.edu, 203-432-5106 or 800-825-0330.
Application Materials
- Completed online application form.
- Essays and Statements
- Résumé or curriculum vitae
- Three letters of reference
- All undergraduate and graduate transcripts
- Official test score report — TOEFL/IELTS
- Explanation of gaps in resume (Optional)
- Official test score report — GRE, GMAT or LSAT (Optional)
Review the Detailed Application Materials List
Review Process
We look for students capable of making effective contributions to scientific knowledge or to professional service in addressing environmental problems. Special weight is given to relevant experiences after graduation from college. Clarity regarding professional career goals is a critically important part of the applicant's personal statement. Admissions staff and faculty review teams read the applications submitted to the Master’s degree program. Final admissions decisions rest on an integrated assessment of the components described above.
Policies
Deferral Policy
As a policy, the Yale School of the Environment does not typically grant enrollment deferral requests that will allow you to defer admission to a later year and instead asks you to reapply. (i.e. Requests for financial reasons, educational reasons, professional opportunities, etc.).
The Yale School of the Environment will only consider enrollment deferral requests for the following reasons:
- Fulbright Scholarship
- Extenuating serious Medical Emergency
In the event a deferral request is approved, the deferral will only be granted for a one year time period. Requests for deferral must be submitted in writing via the YSE Official Deferral Request Form with relevant supporting documentation. Please contact the admissions for more information: admissions.yse@yale.edu.
Deposit Extension Policy
Students who are offered admissions into YSE must submit a non-refundable $500 enrollment deposit by 12:00 pm Eastern Standard Time on the deposit date for the application round. As a policy, YSE does not offer deposit extensions.
Please note: Students who are offered admission from the waitlist will be expected to submit a deposit by the corresponding waitlist deposit deadline.
Reapplying to Yale School of the Environment
Previous applicants to the School of the Environment and applicants who declined a previous offer of admission must submit a new application. Applicants, who have been denied admission three times by the School of the Environment, whether by one or more departments, may not file further applications.
Yale University’s Nondiscrimination/Title IX Statements
The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and affirmatively seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons of diverse backgrounds. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual's sex, race, color, religion, age, disability, status as a protected veteran, or national or ethnic origin; nor does Yale discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.
University policy is committed to affirmative action under law in employment of women, minority group members, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans./p>
Inquiries concerning these policies may be referred to Valarie Stanley, Director of the Office for Equal Opportunity Programs, 221 Whitney Avenue, 3rd Floor, 203.432.0849. For additional information, see www.yale.edu/equalopportunity.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 protects people from sex discrimination in educational programs and activities at institutions that receive federal financial assistance. Questions regarding Title IX may be referred to the University’s Title IX Coordinator, Stephanie Spangler, at 203.432.4446 or at titleix@yale.edu, or to theU.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 8th Floor, Five Post Office Square, Boston MA 02109-3921. Telephone: 617.289.0111, Fax: 617.289.0150, TDD: 800.877.8339, or Email: ocr.boston@ed.gov.
