To qualify for admission to the Master of Science in Innovation Economics, Law and Regulation, (MIELR) you must have earned your bachelor's degree in any field, within or outside of the United States, by the time you enroll in our program. Students are required to have a solid foundation in mathematics, including calculus.
If you are currently earning your bachelor’s degree and will complete it prior to the start of your studies, you may be admitted, but will be required to complete certain continuing registration requirements. You must submit final transcripts showing your degree was awarded before you may begin your studies.
Applicants must submit official transcripts from all colleges, universities, and other post-secondary institutions previously attended. Transcripts and other academic records must be issued directly by the registrar’s office of your previous school(s) and bear the official registrar’s stamp/signature. Unofficial records such as student portal print-outs are not acceptable for the purposes of admission review. If you hold a degree from a university within the United States, USC Graduate Admissions requires that it must be a regionally accredited institution. Applicants who completed their previous studies outside the United States must check our country-specific requirements to determine if we need original language copies of their academic records.
We do not require work experience or an LSAT or a GRE score to be considered for admission.
Fall 2024 applicants will be charged a $90 application fee. USC offers many options for graduate application fee waivers. If you believe you may qualify for an application fee waiver, please review their criteria for more information.
We offer a fall start only. Below is the start date and application deadline:
| Program Start Date | Deadline | Final Deadline |
| Fall 2025: August 25, 2025 | February 1, 2025 | June 1, 2025* |
*Final Application Deadline for international students who require initial I-20 documentation for their student visas is May 1, for the Fall semester. We highly encourage you to apply by our Priority Deadline in order to provide sufficient time to process any required documents, including I-20 documentation for student visas, and to apply for USC campus housing.
If you are planning to take the TOEFL or IELTS exam after our priority application deadline, we highly recommend that you go ahead and submit your application (and any other completed materials) prior to taking the exam and we will accept your test scores after you receive your official results. The Admissions Committee will make a final admissions decision upon receipt of your complete application file.
Our Admissions Committee will provide admissions decisions generally within 3-4 weeks after receipt of completed applications. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis only as space is available until our final application deadlines listed above. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis only as space is available until our final application deadlines listed above.
All applicants will be automatically considered for a scholarship award and do not need to submit any further documents to request an award.
To apply for admission, the following information and documents must be submitted:
1. Online USC Graduate Admission Application
Note: Once you start your application by clicking above, you will be directed to complete your online application through the USC Office of Graduate Admission application.
2. Personal Statement
Provide a two or three-page document that answers the following question: How will earning the Master of Science in Innovation Economics, Law and Regulation (MIELR) help you achieve your personal and professional goals? Please highlight your quantitative experiences in math and economics, such as your previous coursework or research projects.
Your personal statement should be uploaded directly to your online application.
3. Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Provide a record of your employment history and a list of any distinctions, publications, and licenses/credentials. Your resume/CV should be uploaded directly to your online application.
4. Official Transcripts and Degree Verification
You must have earned your bachelor's degree by the time you enroll at USC. Following the directions provided in your online application, submit official transcripts from all institutions attended.
You must upload all of your materials into the USC online application system. Please see transcript information on the USC Graduate Admission website:
Per USC requirements, upload scanned copies of your official, up-to-date transcripts. The Department's admissions team will review those uploaded transcripts for an admission decision.
International Applicants: International applicants may be required to submit English translations of transcripts and diploma(s)/degree certificate(s); review country requirements above for further information.
If you hold any degree from outside of the U.S., USC does not accept or recognize credential evaluation reports from outside agencies. Only records issued by your previous institution will be accepted.
If you are admitted to USC, you may receive instructions to verify your degree with the International Education Research Foundation (IERF). For detailed information on how to obtain an IERF verification report, please refer to the Degree Progress website.
5. English Proficiency
If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you must take the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). TOEFL/IELTS waiver requests will only be considered if (1) your native language is English, or (2) you possess an undergraduate degree from an institution in which English is both the language of instruction and the only officially recognized language of the country, in accordance with USC Graduate Admissions Requirements.
The LSAT or GRE exam is not required for admission. In addition, letters of recommendation are not required.
The Admissions Committee will not review your application until all transcripts and supporting documents are received. It is your responsibility to ensure that all of your documents are submitted by the final application deadline. Be sure to regularly check the email address you have provided on the application in the event that the Admissions Committee requests additional materials or information.
If you are admitted, you will be required to provide a financial statement that certifies that you have sufficient funds available to meet your living (housing, meals, etc.) and tuition expenses while at USC (unless you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or have been granted political asylum). At that time, you also must submit a copy of the photo page of your passport (and passport copies of any dependent(s) traveling with you).
To ensure you have submitted a complete application, please refer to the USC Graduate Admissions checklists. Our office will contact you via email for any missing or additional requirements. Please contact our office directly at [email protected] with any questions.
Admissions decisions are made upon receipt of complete application files. We encourage you to apply early, as our Admissions Committee expedites admissions decisions within three to four weeks for complete applications received by our priority deadline. You will be notified via email. No admissions decisions will be released over the phone. We will contact you if the Admissions Committee feels that an interview or additional documentation is necessary.
