GRE Subject:
Not required
GRE General:
Not required
TOEFL/IELTS:
All international applicants whose native language is not English must submit an official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score.
Proficiency exams are not required for applicants who have earned a degree from an institution where English is the sole language of instruction or from a university in one of the following countries: Australia, Bahamas, Botswana, Cameroon, Canada (except Quebec), Ethiopia, Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, New Zealand, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Tanzania, Gambia, Uganda, United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales), West Indies or Zambia.
For TOEFL iBT exams taken on or before January 20, 2026, the minimum score is 105.
For TOEFL iBT exams taken on or after January 21, 2026, the minimum score is 5.5.
For IELTS, the minimum score is 7.5.
For additional information, please see the Graduate School language proficiency page.
Official Transcripts:
Required. All applicants may upload unofficial transcripts for application submission. Official transcripts are ONLY required for enrolling students before classes start. An international transcript evaluation (WES, ECE, or The Evaluation Company) is required for degrees from non-U.S. institutions before enrollment.
For applicants with an undergraduate degree from India, WES and ECE are the preferred evaluation services.
Letters of Recommendation:
Three (3) recommendations required. Letters must give a detailed, factual, and candid evaluation of the applicant's capabilities. Rankings and comparisons with other students are very useful. If you’ve completed internships, worked fulltime or part-time in a relevant field, or worked as an RA or TA, recommendation letters from your supervisors are highly recommended!
Letters from instructors are only valuable if you interact with the faculty regularly and they can give detailed evaluation. Ask your recommender to follow these guidelines and remind your recommenders of deadlines to ensure they are met.
Writing Sample:
Optional (a published or class paper in a relevant area)
Resume/CV:
Required
Additional Requirements
Program-Specific Questions
In lieu of a personal statement, applicants will be asked to answer a series of short form questions:
- Describe a skill, experience, or aptitude that sets you apart from other students interested in studying data science at Brown. (max 250 words)
- What are your goals and plans with the degree after graduation? How do your plans align with Brown and the DSI’s mission statement? (max 250 words)
Applicants will also be asked to record a short video to describe an internship, research or course project they particularly enjoyed working on.