Applicants must show proficiency in the English language. A TOEFL or IELTS test is required if the applicant's undergraduate degree was not conducted in English. 

Applicants must show proficiency in the English language. Applicants whose medium of instruction in their undergraduate studies is not in English must sit for either TOEFL or IELTS. More information can be obtained from the TOEFL website and the IELTS website. SMU’s institution code for TOEFL is 9014.

GMAT is compulsory for all applicants. More information about GMAT is available at the GMAT website. Candidates should take the GMAT as soon as possible. The results should be sent directly from Educational Testing Service (ETS) to SMU (code for SMU MPA: F8D-3B-56). If the official GMAT scores are not ready yet, candidates may submit their MPA application using the unofficial scores and submit the official results later. We have not set a minimum GMAT score. We adopt a holistic approach in our selection process and the overall quality of the applicant determines the admission to the programme. This would include prior academic performance at university, work experience, referees reports, interview scores, etc. However, we consider scores above 600 to be competitive.If the rest of your application is completed, you can send it to us, even if you have not taken the GMAT. However, we will require your GMAT score to evaluate your application. You should fax us your unofficial scores as soon as you receive them and arrange with the test centre for the official score report to be sent to SMU. SMU's GMAT institution code for MPA is F8D-3B-56.We require applicants to take the GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test). GMAT measures basic verbal, mathematical, and analytical writing skills that you have developed over a long period of time in your education and work. The score report gives separate scores for the quantitative and verbal sections of the test, as well as a total score. There is also a short analytical writing section. The GMAT is used to ensure fairness, objectivity and validity in selection and provides supplementary information to that contained in the application form.