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Brandeis University

Massachusetts, United States
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  • Private Type
  • 5,600 Students
  • 1948Founded
  • YesAccept Int. Studs
  • YesDistance learning

About

Brandeis University is a private research university located in Waltham, Massachusetts. Founded in 1948, it was established on the principles of academic excellence, social justice, and inclusivity. The university is committed to fostering a diverse community of scholars and students who pursue knowledge with a strong emphasis on ethical responsibility and public service. Brandeis offers a broad liberal arts education alongside professional studies, nurturing critical thinking and preparing students for leadership in a changing global society.

Nickname Judges
Motto / Slogan Truth, Even Unto Its Innermost Parts
Colour Blue
Mascot The Judge and Ollie the Owl
Founded 1948
Location Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
Address Brandeis University, 415 South St, Waltham, MA 02453, United States

Mission

Brandeis University is a community of scholars and students united by their commitment to the pursuit of knowledge and its transmission from generation to generation. As a research university, Brandeis is dedicated to the advancement of the humanities, arts and social, natural and physical sciences. As a liberal arts college, Brandeis affirms the importance of a broad and critical education in enriching the lives of students and preparing them for full participation in a changing society, capable of promoting their own welfare, yet remaining deeply concerned about the welfare of others.

Brandeis University

Main Academic Divisions (Faculties)

  • School of Arts and Sciences
  • Brandeis International Business School
  • Heller School for Social Policy and Management
  • Rabb School of Continuing Studies

Reasons to Study at Brandeis University

  1. Be Who You Are Become Who You're Meant To Be.

    At Brandeis, students are empowered through a close-knit, welcoming community and a shared commitment to changing the world. As a medium-sized, top-tier research university, Brandeis offers rare access to faculty, strong peer connections, outstanding undergraduate research, and flexible academics—letting you combine interests or take graduate-level courses. Here, your path is truly your own.

     

  2. Openness and Inclusion are In Our DNA.

    Brandeis was established in 1948 by the American Jewish community at a time when Jews and other ethnic and racial minorities, and women, faced discrimination in higher education. Our visionary founders established a nonsectarian research university that welcomed talented faculty and students of all backgrounds and beliefs. From the outset, Brandeis focused on undergraduate education while building a pioneering research enterprise.


     

  3. Our Students Are Our Story.

    Ask yourself what truly inspires, energizes and moves you. You're likely to find Brandeisians — in class, in clubs and activities and out in the world — who share those passions. At Brandeis, you'll discover and explore so many ways to create change. Whether through groundbreaking scientific discovery, volunteering in your community or simply questioning the status quo, we empower you to make a difference — and pursue a lifetime of impact.

     


     

Fees

Undergraduate Tuition

Indigenous Students USD 69,934
International Students USD 69,934

Postgraduate Tuition

Indigenous Students USD 36,600
International Students USD 69,934

Other Fees

UNDERGRADUATE:

  • Application fee: $80

 

POSTGRADUATE:

  • An application fee of $75 

Admission

Undergraduate Admission Requirement

  • Official copies of all high school transcripts and/or GED certificate and/or marks from any externally graded national exams. (If the original documents are not in English, please submit both original documents and English translations.) This should include transcripts for courses taken for credit outside your high school. Transcripts must include official grades from all years of secondary school.
  • A school report and a letter of recommendation from a secondary school official.
  • High School Senior Grades: Send your senior midyear grades as soon as they become available. We understand this may not be until late January or early February for some students, though we encourage you to send them as soon as possible. Senior grades are required for Regular Decision applicants. 
  • A letter of recommendation from a teacher who has instructed you in a core academic course (math, science, history, foreign language or English). (Homeschooled students, see the tabs below for more details.)
  • Optional standardized test scores
  • A completed Early Decision Agreement Form (pdf). If you're applying for Early Decision I or Early Decision II

 

International Students:

  • English Proficiency: If you're an international student for whom English is not your native language, you should submit results of an English proficiency exam. You have the choice of submitting scores from one of the following exams. Scanned copies of the TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge Assessment exams are accepted; Duolingo (DET) scores must be submitted directly from the testing agency.
    • TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language) TOEFL iBT is the world’s most trusted and accepted English proficiency test to demonstrate your academic readiness. Take it at home or in a test center in less than 2 hours. Register now to begin your path.
    • IELTS (International English Language Testing System) 
    • Duolingo English Test (DET) 
    • Cambridge Assessment English Qualifications (C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency)
    • If you have spent four or more years attending a high school where the full academic curriculum is in English, you may be exempt from this requirement, and can submit a  request for a waiver in your DEISconnect portal after applying.
    • If you're applying directly from a United World College (UWC) campus, you are also exempt from this requirement.
  • Financial documentation: 
    • If you are not applying for financial aid, you must submit:
      • The Certification of Finances for International Students through your DEISconnect portal.
      • Supporting financial documentation demonstrating the funds that the family will contribute to your education for the first year of study. Examples are statements of earnings from employers, certification of finances from banks or other financial institutions, or tax returns if available.
    • If you are applying for financial aid, you must submit:
      • A completed CSS Profile.
      • Supporting financial documentation demonstrating the funds that the family can contribute to your education for the first year of study. Examples are statements of earnings from employers, certification of finances from banks or other financial institutions, or tax returns if available.
  • Additional recommendations:
    • Visits: We encourage you to participate in a virtual visit.
    • Interviews: We strongly encourage international applicants to interview through third-party services like InitialView or Vericant, which conduct interviews in person and through online video platforms around the world. Due to the large demand, interviews with undergraduate admissions at Brandeis University are available to admitted students by invitation only. Students using these services should note the following deadlines:
      • Early Decision I : Record and submit by November 15.
      • Early Decision II / Regular Decision: Record and submit by January 15.

Postgraduate Admission Requirments

International Students:

English Proficiency Exam Requirement for Application

Applicants must show proof that they have received an acceptable score on an English-language exam in order to be eligible for admission. Applicants who belong in one of the groups below are exempt from this requirement:

  • citizens of any country for which English is an official language 
  • students who will have graduated from an accredited degree program at an English-speaking institution prior to starting their Brandeis graduate program
  • current Brandeis students or alumni

Applicants required to submit results from an English-language exam will be prompted to do so during the application process. To fulfill this requirement, they must submit an official score report from one of the following:

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, and TOEFL iBT Paper Edition)
  • Duolingo English Test
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic)
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE-Academic)
  • Cambridge English Qualifications (B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency)

Please note that we do not accept ETS MyBest scores, IELTS One Skill Retake scores, or scores from the TOEFL Essentials exam. Applicants should check with the appropriate testing agency to ensure that their scores are still valid and that the agency will be able to send an official score report.

How To Apply For Admission

UNDERGRADUATE:

 

POSTGRADUATE:

Admission Contacts

Email: [email protected],[email protected]
Phone : +1 781-736-3500, +1 781-736-3410

Apply For Admission

Campus Tour

Facilities

  • Classrooms
  • Library
  • Laboratory
  • Research Center
  • Accommodation
  • Hospital
  • Sports
  • Gym
  • ICT
  • Cafeteria
  • Accommodation: As an incoming first year, you're guaranteed on-campus housing for your first four consecutive semesters (or three, if you're part of the midyear class). For your first year, you'll live in either Massell or North Quad — classic college residence halls with doubles and triples. Juniors and seniors can request suite- and apartment-style residences.

 

  • Cafeteria: well-fed Brandeis student is a happy Brandeis student. Luckily, there's no shortage of dining options on campus: Usdan Student Center is home to two separate food courts: Upper Usdan Food Court, which offers soups, salads, sandwiches, burritos and sushi, all prepared fresh daily, and Lower Usdan Resident Dining — an all-you-care-to-eat facility that offers an even wider selection, from vegan and vegetarian options to international cuisine, pizza, salad and more.

 

  • Sports: No matter what your game, you'll find it at Brandeis — whether you're a Judges varsity athlete, an intramural all star or just looking to stay fit in both mind and body. Fielding 19 Division III varsity programs, Brandeis competes in the University Athletic Association (UAA) — and our athletes relish the chance to prove themselves against the best that DIII has to offer.

School Contact

Address

Brandeis University, 415 South St, Waltham, MA 02453, United States

Phone Number

+1 781-736-2000

Website Address

https://www.brandeis.edu/

Accreditations

New England Commission of Higher Education

Vice Chancellor

Arthur Levine

A 1970 Brandeis graduate, Levine has dedicated his career to advancing higher education and building institutions so that they might fulfill their mission and benefit society. As a leader and researcher, he is a nationally sought expert on addressing the challenges facing colleges and universities.

Levine has a history of being a transformational leader.

Serving as President of Teacher... read more

s College, Columbia University, from 1994 to 2006, Levine reoriented the school’s mission with a focus on closing the equity gap in American education and launched what became the Center for Educational Equity. He oversaw the largest and most successful capital campaign conducted by a school of education to date, as well as significant investments in the campus, a reorganization of the academic departments, and faculty growth.

As President of the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation (now the Institute for Citizens & Scholars) from 2006 to 2019, Levine greatly expanded the organization’s reach and impact. Under his leadership, the Foundation launched a fellowship program that collaborated with 31 universities in six states to recruit and prepare STEM teachers for careers in high-need schools.
 

Academic Staff

  • Carol A. Fierke

    Provost Carol A. Fierke serves as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, with a faculty appointment in the Department of Biochemistry. She earned a PhD in biochemistry at Brandeis in 1984.... read more

    Prior to returning to Brandeis in her current role, Fierke was provost and executive vice president at Texas A&M University. Before that, she was dean of the Rackham Graduate School and vice provost for academic affairs, graduate studies, at the University of Michigan, where she also served as chemistry department chair for nearly a decade, and was the Jerome and Isabella Karle Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry.

    A world leader in her field, Fierke is the recipient of the American Chemical Society’s Repligen Award in Chemistry of Biological Processes, the Protein Society’s Emil Thomas Kaiser Award, and the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology’s Mildred Cohn Award in Biological Chemistry for her contributions in the application of chemistry to the study of enzymes. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health and a number of other agencies and foundations, including the National Science Foundation, the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, the Office of Naval Research and the Keck Foundation.

  • Andrea Dine

    Vice President of Student Affairs Andrea Dine is the Vice President of Student Affairs. In her previous role as Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs, she oversaw the Hiatt Career Center, Brandeis Counseling Center, Health Cente... read more
    r, and the Prevention, Advocacy and Resource Center. She also manages Divisional Finance, Information Technology and Human Resources, and is passionate about assessment and diversity, equity and inclusion work.

    Dine has experience in a variety of areas of university administration and student services, including career services, residential life, orientation, women's center, student activities and registrar's office.

    Before coming to Brandeis, Dine worked at a variety of institutions, including Macalester College, University of Minnesota, University of Cincinnati and Wesleyan University.

  • Jim La Creta

    Chief Information Officer Jim La Creta is the chief information officer at Brandeis University. His responsibilities includes overseeing academic and administrative systems and services, including enterprise resource planning ... read more
    systems, learning management systems, the campus network and telephone system, information security and project management.

    Since 2002, La Creta served as the executive director for technology and capital projects for Brandeis International Business School. He is also the program chair for the Masters of Science in technology management at Brandeis Graduate Professional Studies, as well as an adjunct professor since 2008.

    La Creta has more than 20 years of experience working in technology and communications. In addition, he is active within several local and national IT consortia, presenting on change management and organizational leadership.

  • Meredith Ainbinder

    General Counsel and Senior Advisor to the President Meredith Ainbinder is the general counsel and senior advisor to the president of Brandeis, responsible for the legal affairs of the university. Before serving in this role, she was chief of staff and ... read more
    senior advisor to the president.

    Prior to joining Brandeis, Ainbinder served as vice president and general counsel at Emerson College, where she provided legal guidance and direction on governance, risk management and institutional priorities, among other areas directly relevant to higher education. Before her time at Emerson, she held a number of roles and leadership positions in the legal field, including as a partner in the litigation group of intellectual property boutique Sunstein, LLP, and as senior in-house litigation counsel at Osram Sylvania.

    Ainbinder earned a BA from Brown University and a JD from Boston College Law School, and is a past president of the Women’s Bar Association of Massachusetts.

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Notable Alumni

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History

Middlesex University was a medical school located in Waltham, Massachusetts, that was at the time the only medical school in Massachusetts that did not impose a quota on Jews. The founder, John Hall Smith, died in 1944. Smith's will stipulated that the school should go to any group willing to use it to establish a non-sectarian university. Within two years, Middlesex University was on the brink of financial collapse. The school had not been able to secure accreditation by the American Medical Association, which Smith partially attributed to institutional antisemitism in the American Medical Association.

Smith's son, C. Ruggles Smith, was desperate for a way to save something of Middles... read more

ex University. He learned of a New York committee headed by Israel Goldstein that was seeking a campus to establish a Jewish-sponsored secular university. Smith approached Goldstein with a proposal to give the Middlesex campus and charter to Goldstein's committee, in the hope that his committee might "possess the apparent ability to reestablish the School of Medicine on an approved basis." While Goldstein was concerned about being saddled with a failing medical school, he was excited about the opportunity to secure a 100-acre (40-hectare) “campus not far from New York, the premier Jewish community in the world, and only 9 miles (14 km) from Boston, one of the important Jewish population centers.” Goldstein agreed to accept Smith's offer, proceeding to recruit George Alpert, a Boston lawyer with fundraising experience as national co-chairman of the United Jewish Appeal.

Alpert had worked his way through Boston University School of Law and co-founded the firm of Alpert and Alpert. Alpert's firm had a long association with the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, of which he was to become president from 1956 to 1961. Alpert was chairman of Brandeis from 1946 to 1954, and a trustee from 1946 until his death. By February 5, 1946, Goldstein had recruited Albert Einstein, whose involvement drew national attention to the nascent university. Einstein believed the university would attract the best young people in all fields, satisfying a real need.

In March 1946, Goldstein said the foundation had raised $10 million that it would use to open the school by the following year. The foundation purchased Middlesex University's land and buildings for two million dollars. The charter of this operation was transferred to the foundation along with the campus. The founding organization was announced in August and named The Albert Einstein Foundation for Higher Learning, Inc. The new school would be a Jewish-sponsored secular university open to students and faculty of all races and religions.