Intra-Faculty of Arts and Sciences Transfer Information

*For HILS Students, please see FAS Transfer Information for HILS PhD Students. 

Students currently enrolled in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) should complete an Intra-Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) Transfer Application if they wish to make one of the following kinds of transfers:

 Related Information

Intra-Faculty of Arts and Sciences Transfer Information and Application

Recommendation Letter

  1. Transfer from one department to another within GSAS.

  2. Transfer from a joint AB-AM or AB-SM program to a PhD program.

  3. Transfer from a Master's degree program to a PhD program.

  4. Transfer from a PhD program to a Master's degree program.

  5. Transfer from a departmental PhD program to a PhD program under an ad hoc committee:  Students must also file an ad hoc Program of Study form.

(Students who wish to transfer from one subject to another within the same department and at the same degree level should file an Application for Change of Subject with the Registrar's Office. Forms are available at the Graduate Records Office, 20 Garden Street.)

It is recommended that before applying, students discuss their proposed transfer with faculty members in the department to which they are seeking admission. Students will only have the opportunity to apply for a transfer three times, with a maximum of two times in one year.

Transfer applications must be filed in the Dean's Office, Holyoke Center, 350 by December 15th. DO NOT SEND ANY MATERIALS TO THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE. There is no application fee.

Transcripts, letters of recommendation, GRE, and TOEFL scores from your original application to GSAS, as well as the application itself, are included when your transfer application is sent to the department for consideration.

 Along with the completed application, please submit the following:

  1. Current offical GSAS transcript
  2. Two NEW letters of recommendation (preferably from faculty members who can comment on your ability to carry on graduate study in your proposed field)
  3. Any additional material required by the department (check with department directly)
  4. Financial Aid application*

*To apply for financial aid, current first-year students should file the appropriate application forms from the Statement of Financial Resources in the Guide to Admissions & Financial Aid Applications; second-year and above students should file a continuing student Financial Aid Application, available at the ADMISSIONS & FINANCIAL AID OFFICE, Holyoke Center, 3rd Floor (617-495-5396). You should keep a copy of the completed application form for your records.

Questions may be e- mailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it You may also call the Dean's Office at 617-495-1814.