Direct Matriculation Program: Master’s in International Relations (MAIR)

The Direct Matriculation Program: Master’s in International Relations (MAIR) allows qualified students with a strong interest in international studies to pursue a combined bachelor’s/master’s degree from our Krieger School of Arts & Sciences (our undergraduate school) and the prestigious Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) (our graduate school) with campuses in Washington, DC; Bologna, Italy; and Nanjing, China. 

This is a five-year consecutive degree program that allows you to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree. Once matriculated at Hopkins, admitted DMP students cannot defer their enrollment at SAIS or take a gap year. 

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How To Apply

All first-year applicants, regardless of intended major, are welcome to apply to the DMP: Master’s in International Relations (MAIR). You must indicate you are applying to this program on your undergraduate application under the Hopkins Supplemental Questions section. You may only apply for admission to one DMP.

After submitting your admissions application, you will see a separate essay requirement appear in your applicant portal. You must submit an essay in response to the prompt below.

Additional Essay Prompt

Describe your reasons for applying to the Direct Matriculation Program. What experiences have prepared you for participating in this accelerated consecutive degree program that combines undergraduate and graduate study in international affairs? Please answer in 400–500 words.

Program & Eligibility Requirements

• Complete Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, and any Hopkins statistics course before attending SAIS
• Maintain a cumulative 3.5 GPA throughout their undergraduate years

Students who are admitted to the Direct Matriculation Program (DMP) are guaranteed admission into a two-year master’s degree from SAIS if they maintain the required academic standards and complete the necessary undergraduate courses. After three years of undergraduate study on the Homewood campus, students may decide to spend the following two years at SAIS in Washington, DC or attend one of their international campuses for the first year followed by two to three semesters at the DC campus.

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