Applications to the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences Graduate Program must be completed online. Paper applications are not accepted. The application, unofficial transcripts, and letters of recommendation must be submitted by December 1 for admission the following September. Items received after the deadline will be added to your file. The Graduate Admissions Committee begins reviewing applications shortly after the deadline, so materials received late may not be reviewed.

The Office of Graduate Education (OGE) is offering graduate application fee waivers for US citizens and US permanent residents who demonstrate financial hardship, are current or former members of the United States Armed Forces, or who have participated in special fellowship programs, including MIT-sponsored diversity programs (e.g., MIT Summer Research Program, CONVERGE). Fee waivers are also available for prospective students the OGE has met during diversity recruitment events. International students attending US colleges and universities who have participated in MIT sponsored programs, such as CONVERGE or MSRP, are also eligible to apply for a fee waiver. More information and the fee waiver request form can be found here.

The MIT Graduate Admissions page has information about all graduate programs at MIT (master's and doctoral), information for international students, and a grad student blog.

For more detailed information regarding the cost of attendance, including specific costs for tuition and fees, books and supplies, housing and food as well as transportation, please visit the SFS website.

We require one copy of transcript(s) from each university attended. Original, official transcripts are not required until after a student has been admitted. Official transcripts for admitted students should be sent to: 

Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences 
Academic Office (Room 46-2005)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 
77 Massachusetts Avenue 
Cambridge, MA 02139-4307

Transcripts are verified upon receipt. Any discrepancy between uploaded and official transcript(s) will result in withdrawal of our admission offer.

Does the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences offer clinical, counseling, or social psychology?
No, we do not offer studies in these areas.

Will I be notified about the status of my application?
You will receive notification of application status within two weeks of the deadline. The only information you may view in our online system is confirmation of receipt of letters of recommendation.  

Do I have to complete the area of the application that asks about subjects taken?
Yes, but only include relevant subjects. This section is designed to gather information not included on transcripts, such as textbooks used for particular courses. 

What if I completed a course that did not use a textbook or the textbook is unknown?
In these cases, leave that area of the application blank. 

Are GRE scores required?
No.

What are the requirements to demonstrate English language proficiency?
Applicants who have received instruction in English in their primary and secondary schools and applicants who have been in the United States for four years or longer and have received a degree from an American institution are eligible for a waiver of the English proficiency exam requirement by sending a written request to bcs-admissions@mit.edu. Applicants who do not meet those requirements must take either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Duolingo English Test (DET).
 
In addition to the TOEFL/IELTS/DET, all students whose first language is not English are required to take the English Evaluation Test (EET) at MIT during the week prior to Registration Day. This examination is a diagnostic test whose purpose is to help students identify their strengths and weaknesses in written and oral English. English classes may be recommended as a result of the applicant’s EET score.
 
Do you accept old TOEFL/IELTS/DET scores?
We follow the guidelines set by Educational Testing Service, IELTS, and DET, all of which state that scores are valid for two years.

Why can’t I choose cognitive neuroscience as a research area on my application? 
If you enroll in our program, you will have opportunities for interdisciplinary studies in many areas, including cognitive neuroscience. On your application, please select either cognitive science or systems neuroscience, whichever category is more applicable to your area of interest.

Is it possible to send more than three letters of recommendation? 
Yes, you can have up to 5 letters of recommendation sent.

When will I hear if I’m accepted? 
Emails regarding final admissions decisions are typically sent in April.

The academic community prospers when talents from different backgrounds come together to solve scientific problems. Since 2019, the BCS Application Assistance Program (AAP) has been striving to narrow the information gap and share social capital in STEM.
 
The AAP is a volunteer-based, student-run initiative that allows current graduate students to offer support to and share personal experiences with prospective students during the graduate application process. AAP volunteers are happy to answer questions related to student life, career planning and graduate application.
Our volunteers are enrolled in the BCS PhD program and working in labs in computational, molecular, systems, and cognitive research domains of the department. Each volunteer comes from a unique set of personal trajectory, training experience and cultural background, and therefore represents their own views rather than the stance of BCS as a department. Personal information shared with the AAP volunteers will not be shared outside of the group, or with BCS faculty.
 
Applicants may sign up for the AAP here starting Sept 1, 2023. Enrollment to the AAP closes on Nov 20, 2023 (i.e. a few days before the PhD program’s application deadline).