Admissions Process
CLICK HERE TO APPLY TO THE MA PROGRAM
ISET strives to attract the best students from all countries and regions of the Caucasus. ISET selects participants on the basis of merit and in the spirit of open competition. Admission to the program is open to any citizen of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and neighboring countries who holds an undergraduate diploma from an accredited institution of higher education.
Students are encouraged to apply for admissions to ISET Master's Program in Economics beginning in February 2010. Qualified applicants will receive a generous financial aid package, including subsidized student loans, scholarships, and stipends. The most outstanding applicants are eligible for stipends of up to $500/ month.
Preparatory training
ISET will be offering short courses in Baku, Yerevan, and Tbilisi to help students prepare for the entrance examinations in English and Math. These courses will be delivered free of charge in Armenia and Azerbaijan. A fee of USD 50 per course will be charged for participation in Tbilisi; however, it will be reimbursed to those students admitted to the MA program. The courses aim to introduce students to the structure of the exam and to provide practice with the types of exercises which may be included on the exam. The prep courses in all three countries will take place in April. The exact schedule for each country is available here: Click here to see the schedule.
Applicants who have submitted their application to the master's program by March 22 are eligible to participate in the preparatory courses. (Applicants from Georgia need to complete payment for the preparatory course no later than March 22.
An optional free training course, entitled "International Trade Theory and Practice" is available to interested MA program applicants and others. The course will take place between March 11-April 18, and will culminate in a prize competition and regional conference. This course requires a separate application process. Click here for more information.
Admissions process and procedures
The admission process consists of three main stages: (1) online submission of an application package, (2) admission exams, and (3) interview. Additionally, Georgian citizens are required to pass the Georgian National Master's Exams in order to enroll at ISET.
(1) Online submission of a full application package:
Applications are to be submitted online as follows (deadline: 3 pm, May 3, 2010):
- Complete an application form
- Upload a statement of purpose - a one or two-page essay explaining your motivation to study economics and how a master's degree in economics is related to your career goals and intellectual interests (in Word of PDF format).
- Upload any diplomas and transcripts from previously attended educational programs. The original documents should be scanned and attached in PDF format.
(2) Admissions exams in English and Mathematics
Exams will be held simultaneously in Baku, Tbilisi, and Yerevan. Applicants from outside the South Caucasus region who find it difficult to travel to one of the three testing centers may submit GRE General and Math Subject scores in lieu of the ISET admissions exams.
- The English exam assesses reading comprehension. Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their listening comprehension and speaking skills during the interviews which will be conducted during the week following the exams. There is no writing section of the exam. All questions will be in multiple choice format similar to that of the reading comprehension sections of the TOEFL exam, which can be found online at http://www.ets.org/.
- The Mathematics exam assesses basic mathematical knowledge, thinking, and problem-solving skills. It covers topics from basic algebra, basic mathematics of finance and basic calculus. The exam consists of two separate parts. Part 1 is similar to the quantitative section of GRE General Test. It tests your basic mathematical abilities. Part 2 is similar to GRE Mathematics Subject test. It tests your specific mathematical knowledge. (More information about these tests, as well as practice questions, can be found at http://www.ets.org/).
ISET Admission Exam Papers 2009
(3) Interviews
Following the admissions exams, some candidates will be invited to an interview with the ISET Selection Committee. During the interviews, applicants should show maturity and serious motivation to study economics, demonstrate the ability to independently analyze events currently happening in their countries and express themselves in English.
If you have questions related to admissions please contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@iset.ge.
