The online Master of Health Administration program from MGH Institute of Health Professions is designed to provide you with the essential skills and knowledge required for successful leadership in the complex and dynamic healthcare industry.

We look for applicants who are passionate about advancing the field of healthcare, even if they don’t have previous health-related work experience. To be eligible for admission into the program, you will need to have completed a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, or international equivalent. Applicants that have earned a degree from a non-U.S. institution are required to submit a course-by-course credential evaluation. 

See below for more information on the application process and requirements.

The online MHA program offers three start dates per year. 

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so the sooner you apply, the sooner you can receive an admissions decision and begin planning your future.

MGH Institute of Health Professions promotes a culture of inclusivity and diverse perspectives. We welcome applications from individuals who are passionate about advancing the field of healthcare, even if they don’t have previous health-related work experience. 

All applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, or international equivalent. Applicants that have earned a degree from a non-US institution are required to submit a course-by-course credential evaluation. 

The MGH Institute reviews applications holistically. We prioritize your academic and professional journey over standardized test scores. That means GMAT/GRE scores are not required to apply. In addition, there are no application fees.

You will need to submit the following materials to be considered for admission:

• Online Application

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  Complete the online application for the January 2025 cohort or the May 2025 cohort.

• Transcripts

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  Submit a transcript from each college and/or university attended, even if a degree was not received from that institution. You may submit unofficial transcripts for the application review process, but official transcripts will be required of all accepted and enrolled students, prior to matriculation. 

  Unofficial transcripts uploaded after application submission must contain the name of the institution, the name of the student, and a transcript legend. If an unofficial transcript is received without this information, it will not be accepted. We cannot accept grade reports, copies of diplomas, or screenshots of a document.  

  For official transcripts, the Office of Admissions strongly encourages applicants to order electronic transcripts, which can be sent directly via email by your former institution to admissions at shlappsvcs@onlineprograms.mghihp.edu. If your institution does not participate in electronic transcript delivery, please request official transcripts to be sent to the mailing address listed below:

  Mass General Hospital Institute for Health Professions
  Application Processing Center
  Mass General Online Programs
  P.O. Box 30096 037-001
  College Station, TX 77842

• Resume or CV

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  Submit your current resume or CV, and be sure to list any relevant professional and academic experience, including volunteer work.

• Statement of Intent

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  Your personal statement of intent should be created in written format (one to three pages, typed). If you would like to supplement your written statement, you may also submit an optional video (three to five minutes). To submit a video, please include a publicly available link via an uploaded document within the online application. 

  Please address all the following areas in your written statement:

  1. What is your “why”? Speak to your healthcare experience, the path that has led you here, the impact you wish to have and your purpose for choosing this MHA program.
  2. How will you contribute to the quality of this learning community?
  3. What aspects of yourself do you hope to develop in the program that will allow you to stretch outside of your comfort zone?
  4. What will success in this program look like to you?

  Upload your statement of intent (and document containing the public video link, if included) directly to your online application.

• Letter of Recommendation

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  You will need to provide one recommendation letter. You may include a second recommendation letter if you believe it will add to your overall application. All recommendations are processed through our online application. Please provide contact information for your recommender(s) within the online application.

  Recommendation letters should come from an individual who is able to address your academic ability, character and integrity, as well as your potential for graduate professional study. If you graduated from an academic program within the last five years, the letter should come from an academic reference.

• Diversity Statement (Optional)

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  If you choose, you may also upload a diversity statement to your online application. Your essay should be 12 pt. font, double spaced, and two pages in length. The statement should respond to the following prompt:

  ​MGH Institute of Health Professions is committed to an inclusive campus climate that welcomes students who will enrich the diversity of thought and perspective, and therefore enhance the learning experiences for all. In what ways might you personally contribute to improving the experience of the campus as a welcoming and inclusive place to learn? 

• Considerations for International Applicants

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  Applicants that have earned a degree from an institution outside the U.S. are required to submit a course-by-course credential evaluation from one of the following NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) members: 

  • Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
  • SpanTran: The Evaluation Company
  • World Education Services (WES)
  • The Center for Educational Documentation

  If you earned your bachelor’s degree outside of the U.S., this credential evaluation must document minimum equivalency of a U.S. baccalaureate degree or higher.

  TOEFL or IELTS Test Scores

  The language of instruction at the MGH Institute is English, and a high level of proficiency in both written and spoken English is required. Applicants who have not completed either an undergraduate or graduate program where English is the language of instruction must demonstrate English language proficiency as part of your application to the MGH Institute of Health Professions. 

  The IHP accepts either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). The test must have been taken within two years of the application deadline, and official score reports are required.   

  TOEFL: The minimum TOEFL (internet-based) score accepted is 89. To forward your TOEFL score please contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The MGH Institute of Health Professions code is D873.

  IELTS: The minimum IELTS score accepted is 6.5. A Test Report Form may be mailed to MGH Institute of Health Professions, and score information will be verified by the MGH Institute directly. You may designate up to five schools to receive Test Report Forms at the time you register for the test. To request additional Test Report Forms, contact your test center.

  You are exempt from the English proficiency requirement if you meet either of the following criteria:

  • You are a citizen of Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, Guyana, an Anglophone country of Africa or an English-speaking country of the Caribbean.
  • You are a candidate for graduation from an accredited degree-granting program in the United States or at an English-speaking school in one of the countries listed above. Acceptance to the IHP will be contingent upon successful completion of this degree prior to matriculation.

  Please note that in some circumstances, demonstrating English language proficiency may be required by the academic program even if you are a citizen of a country in which the (or one of the) national language(s) is English. Decisions about the need for TOEFL or IELTS scores are at the discretion of the academic program to which you are applying in coordination with the department of OES.

  If you have questions about the language requirements, please contact an admissions counselor.

• Background Check (Before Enrollment)

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  As a new student at the MGH Institute of Health Professions, you will complete one requirement for criminal background checks. Once you have been admitted and before you enroll, you will submit your enrollment deposit and will then receive an invitation from HireRight with instructions on how to complete this requirement shortly thereafter. 

  Please note, you cannot register or start classes until this requirement has been completed and you has been cleared by Massachusetts General Hospital Police and Security. You will not receive a refund of your deposit if you do not clear this process. 

  Details of the background check and next steps are below. 

  Comprehensive Background Check 

  These background checks will be conducted by HireRight, a company used by Mass General Brigham. You will receive an email from HireRight asking you to complete this important requirement. All background checks must be completed and approved prior to the start of classes.