Carnegie Mellon University Africa Admission 2027

Admission at a glance

CMU-Africa admits master's students for the fall semester only. Applications for all programmes open on 1 October, the early admission deadline is 15 December and the final deadline is 15 January; applications received after the early deadline are considered only with a valid Duolingo English Test, IELTS or TOEFL score. Admission decisions are shared in April and May, and the semester begins in September. There is no application fee, and CMU-Africa pays the Duolingo test fee for first-time applicants who apply by 15 December. The university recommends TOEFL 81, IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 120, and the GRE was not required for the fall 2026 intake. Tuition for 2025-2026 is USD 16,000 a year for African students and USD 60,300 for international students, and includes a laptop, textbooks, health insurance and campus shuttle service. Financial aid is need-based and requires a separate form after applying; the FAQ states that only admitted applicants of African nationality are eligible. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program covers tuition and fees, health insurance, travel and basic living expenses for selected admitted students.