Applications are open for the Georgetown Global Human Development Scholarships 2027 for students interested in pursuing a master’s degree in international development in the United States.
Georgetown University offers the Master of Global Human Development (GHD) through its Walsh School of Foreign Service in Washington, D.C. The two-year programme combines academic training with practical experience in international development.
International students can compete for merit-based scholarships. In particular, Georgetown provides at least one full-tuition scholarship and several partial-tuition scholarships for students from Sub-Saharan Africa.
Therefore, qualified applicants from Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana and other Sub-Saharan African countries can apply.
Students seeking scholarship consideration should submit their complete application by 15 January 2027.
Georgetown Global Human Development Scholarships 2027 Overview
University: Georgetown University
School: Walsh School of Foreign Service
Programme: Master of Global Human Development (GHD)
Country: United States
Location: Washington, D.C.
Degree Level: Master’s
Duration: 2 years
Study Mode: Full-time
Programme Credits: 48 credits
Funding: Full and partial tuition scholarships
Eligible Applicants: Domestic and international students
African Applicants: Eligible
Scholarship Deadline: 15 January 2027
Final Admission Deadline: 1 April 2027
Fee Waiver Deadline: 1 December 2026
Application Fee: $90, with waivers available to eligible applicants
Entry: Fall 2027
About the Georgetown Master of Global Human Development
The Master of Global Human Development prepares students for careers in international development.
The programme focuses on major global challenges such as poverty, inequality, sustainable development and inclusive economic growth. Students also develop practical skills in quantitative analysis, project management, programme design, monitoring and evaluation.
In addition, practical experience forms an important part of the degree. Students complete a Washington, D.C. internship and an international summer internship. They also work on a client-based capstone project.
The programme consists of 48 credits and normally takes two years of full-time study to complete.
Georgetown keeps the GHD cohort relatively small. As a result, students study in a close academic environment while gaining access to development organisations and institutions based in Washington, D.C.
Georgetown GHD Scholarship Benefits
Georgetown offers merit-based financial support to students admitted to the Global Human Development programme.
Available awards include:
- Full tuition scholarships
- Partial tuition scholarships
A scholarship awarded during the first year can generally continue at the same amount during the second year. However, recipients must maintain the required academic standards.
Scholarship funding remains competitive. Therefore, receiving admission to the programme does not guarantee financial support.
Applicants who need funding should indicate their interest in merit aid when completing their application.
Scholarships for Sub-Saharan African Students
The dedicated funding for African students makes this programme particularly attractive.
Georgetown provides Sub-Saharan African applicants with access to:
- At least one full-tuition scholarship
- Several partial-tuition scholarships
These awards provide an important opportunity for talented African students who want to pursue graduate education in international development.
Applicants from Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and other Sub-Saharan African countries may compete for the awards.
Nevertheless, applicants must satisfy all admission requirements. Georgetown also selects scholarship recipients competitively based on the overall strength of their applications.
Is the Georgetown GHD Scholarship Fully Funded?
Not necessarily.
Georgetown offers a full-tuition scholarship, but full tuition is different from a fully funded scholarship covering every study and living expense.
A full-tuition award can cover tuition costs. However, students may still need money for:
- Accommodation
- Food
- Health insurance
- Student fees
- Books and supplies
- Visa expenses
- Travel
- Personal expenses
Therefore, applicants should prepare a financial plan for expenses that their scholarship may not cover.
Partial scholarship recipients will also need to finance the remaining tuition and living expenses.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree before starting the programme.
Georgetown also expects applicants to have completed introductory courses in:
- Microeconomics
- Macroeconomics
- Statistics
Students should generally have earned at least a B grade or equivalent in these subjects.
However, applicants do not necessarily need to have completed every prerequisite before submitting their application. They must complete the required courses before enrolling at Georgetown.
The university reviews applications holistically. Therefore, an applicant who still needs to complete a prerequisite course can still submit an application.
Is Work Experience Required?
Georgetown strongly recommends professional experience.
Ideally, applicants should have approximately one to two years of full-time professional experience after completing their undergraduate degree.
Experience studying, living or working internationally can also strengthen an application.
However, Georgetown presents these as recommendations rather than strict minimum admission requirements.
Relevant experience could come from areas such as:
- International development
- Government
- NGOs
- Community development
- Research
- Consulting
- International organisations
- Social enterprises
Because GHD has a strong practical focus, applicants should clearly demonstrate how their previous experiences connect with their development interests.
Can Cameroonians, Nigerians and Ghanaians Apply?
Yes.
Applicants from Cameroon, Nigeria and Ghana can apply for the Georgetown Master of Global Human Development.
Furthermore, these countries are in Sub-Saharan Africa. Applicants can therefore compete for the scholarships Georgetown specifically offers to students from the region.
Students from other Sub-Saharan African countries can also apply.
However, nationality alone does not guarantee a scholarship. Applicants must meet the academic and application requirements and compete through the normal selection process.
English Language Requirements
International applicants must demonstrate sufficient English proficiency unless they qualify for an exemption.
The programme currently lists the following minimum scores:
IELTS Academic: 7.0
TOEFL iBT: 100 under the original scoring system
Georgetown also provides requirements for applicants taking the revised TOEFL scoring system introduced in 2026.
Some applicants may qualify for an English-language exemption based on their previous university education.
For example, applicants who earned an eligible degree from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction may satisfy Georgetown’s English requirement without submitting IELTS or TOEFL.
Applicants should check the university’s current exemption conditions carefully before deciding whether they need an English test.
Second-Language Requirement
Language ability is also an important part of the GHD programme.
Students must demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in English and another language.
Before graduating, GHD students must pass an oral proficiency examination in a second language.
Applicants who already speak languages such as French, Spanish, Arabic or another international language may therefore have a useful foundation for meeting this requirement.
Required Application Documents
Applicants should prepare the following:
- Online application form
- Resume or CV
- Statement of Purpose
- Academic transcripts
- Three letters of recommendation
- English proficiency evidence, where required
- Application fee or approved fee waiver
- Optional additional statement
- Optional GRE or GMAT scores
International applicants should prepare their academic documents early.
Furthermore, documents that are not in English may require an acceptable English translation.
Georgetown GHD Statement of Purpose
The Statement of Purpose is one of the most important parts of the application.
Applicants have a maximum of 500 words to address two main questions:
- What motivates you to work in development?
- Where do you think you will be and what will you be doing in 2030?
Therefore, applicants should avoid submitting a generic graduate-school motivation letter.
Instead, explain the experiences that shaped your interest in development. Then connect those experiences with your future professional goals.
Your essay should also show how the GHD programme fits into your planned career.
Recommendation Letters
Applicants need three letters of recommendation.
Georgetown encourages applicants to use a combination of academic and professional referees. This approach allows the admissions committee to understand different aspects of the applicant’s abilities.
Because GHD focuses heavily on practical development work, applicants should consider including at least one professional referee.
Choose referees who know your work well and can provide detailed examples of your abilities.
A strong recommendation from someone who has directly supervised your work can be more useful than a generic letter from someone with a prestigious title.
Is GRE or GMAT Required?
No.
GRE and GMAT scores are optional for the Georgetown GHD programme.
Therefore, applicants with strong academic profiles do not need to take either examination simply to satisfy an admission requirement.
Nevertheless, a standardised test score may strengthen some applications.
For example, submitting a GRE or GMAT score could be useful if:
- Your undergraduate GPA is relatively weak
- Your grading system is difficult to interpret
- You have limited quantitative coursework
- Your economics or statistics background is weak
- You completed your quantitative courses several years ago
Applicants should decide whether submitting a test score adds meaningful evidence to their academic profile.
Application Fee and Fee Waiver for African Applicants
The standard graduate application fee is $90.
However, eligible applicants from Sub-Saharan Africa can request an application fee waiver.
This opportunity can reduce the initial cost of applying for students from Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana and other eligible African countries.
Applicants must request the waiver and provide the necessary supporting information.
Georgetown recommends requesting the waiver before submitting the application. Therefore, applicants should not wait until the scholarship deadline to begin this process.
For Fall 2027, the published fee waiver deadline is 1 December 2026.
How to Apply for Georgetown GHD Scholarships 2027
Step 1: Check Your Academic Eligibility
Confirm that you hold or will obtain a bachelor’s degree before enrolment.
Next, review your transcript for introductory courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics and statistics.
Step 2: Prepare Your CV
Create a professional CV covering your education, employment, internships, leadership, volunteer work and other relevant achievements.
Your CV should make your development-related experience easy to identify.
Step 3: Write Your Statement of Purpose
Prepare your statement within the 500-word limit.
Focus specifically on your motivation for development work and your professional goals for 2030.
Step 4: Select Three Referees
Choose three people who can provide detailed information about your academic or professional abilities.
Where possible, include at least one professional referee.
Step 5: Prepare Your Transcripts
Collect transcripts from all relevant higher-education institutions.
If necessary, arrange acceptable English translations.
Step 6: Prepare English-Language Evidence
Check whether you qualify for an English-language exemption.
Otherwise, prepare an accepted IELTS or TOEFL result.
Step 7: Request a Fee Waiver
Eligible Sub-Saharan African applicants should request the application fee waiver before the applicable deadline.
Step 8: Request Scholarship Consideration
Indicate your interest in merit-based financial aid within your GHD application.
The standard GHD merit scholarships do not require a separate scholarship application.
Step 9: Submit Before January 15
Complete your application by 15 January 2027. if you want Georgetown to consider you for GHD scholarship funding.
Do not wait for the April admission deadline if you need financial assistance.
Georgetown GHD 2027 Important Dates
Fee Waiver Deadline: 1 December 2026
Scholarship/Priority Deadline: 15 January 2027
Final Admission Deadline: 1 April 2027
Programme Entry: Fall 2027
Applicants may continue applying for admission after January 15 until the final April deadline.
However, applicants who submit after the scholarship deadline will not receive consideration for GHD scholarships.
Therefore, students seeking funding should treat 15 January 2027 as their main application deadline.
Why African Applicants Should Consider Georgetown GHD
Georgetown GHD stands out because the programme specifically identifies Sub-Saharan African students as a scholarship group.
Eligible African applicants can compete for at least one full-tuition award and several partial scholarships.
In addition, eligible Sub-Saharan African applicants can request an application fee waiver.
The programme also combines academic training with practical experience. Students gain exposure to development work through internships, projects and other professional activities.
However, applicants should remember that even a full-tuition scholarship may not cover all living expenses in Washington, D.C.
Final Thoughts
The Georgetown Global Human Development Scholarships 2027 offer an important opportunity for students interested in international development in the United States.
Georgetown provides full and partial tuition scholarships, including at least one full-tuition scholarship and several partial scholarships for Sub-Saharan African students.
Applicants from Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana and other Sub-Saharan African countries can apply.
The programme requires a bachelor’s degree and academic preparation in microeconomics, macroeconomics and statistics. Georgetown strongly recommends professional experience, while GRE and GMAT scores remain optional.
Applicants who need scholarship funding should submit their complete applications by 15 January 2027. Those seeking an application fee waiver should act earlier because the fee-waiver deadline is 1 December 2026.
Official Links
Georgetown Global Human Development – How to Apply:
https://sfs.georgetown.edu/ma-global-human-development/admissions-tuition/how-to-apply/
Georgetown Global Human Development – Scholarships and Financial Aid:
https://sfs.georgetown.edu/ma-global-human-development/admissions-tuition/financial-aid-scholarships/
