It's a pleasure to welcome you to the National Defense University's Class of 2026. You will find the year ahead to be professionally and personally rewarding. During your Time here, you will be interacting with colleagues from across the U.S. Interagency, as well as with our many International Fellows, as we embrace a mixture of people, cultures, and ideas. Our world-class faculty and staff are committed to providing you an inclusive learning environment that is intellectually challenging and academically rigorous -- this is a unique opportunity for you to study, reflect, and hone your abilities as a strategic thinker and leader across many disciplines.

As an in-residence institution, we have smartly and safely combined in-person instruction and engagement with a very successful virtual learning environment. Our flexible hybrid model can rapidly adapt to changing health protection or other emergent conditions as warranted, while continuing to provide you with the same superb quality of education for which the "Chairman's University" is renowned. 

Finally, I encourage you to visit this page often, as we are constantly updating and adding key information to help you make a smooth transition to your new assignment.

We look forward to your arrival and we are excited about accompanying you on your educational journey during the upcoming Academic Year.

• All AY27 Master's cohort programs at CIC, CISA, ES, and NWC (Fort McNair, D.C) will begin 3 August 2026 and end with graduation on 10 June 2027. 
• The AY27 CISA JSOMA program (Fort Bragg, N.C.) will begin 3 August 2026 and end with graduation on 4 June 2027. 
• The AY27 JAWS program at JFSC (Norfolk, Va.) will begin 20 July 2026 and end with graduation on 11 June 2027. 
• Calendars for other programs are available on their respective college’s website.

NDU's student information system is NDU Connect. Incoming military students who are selected by their branch of service incoming AY27 students will receive a welcome message from NDU Connect at the email address provided their service chair. Nominated federal agency and private sector students will receive a welcome message from NDU Connect at the email address provided by the agency or company point of contact with instructions for completing their application. Please ensure that NDU has a valid email address to which you have reliable access throughout the admissions and onboarding process; personal email addresses are preferred to ensure delivery of automated emails.

Upon receipt of the welcome message, you will follow the provided links and instructions in the email to set up your password and access the NDU Connect Student Portal.

Instructions for navigating the NDU Connect Student Portal -- and other important onboarding instructions -- will be provided on this website in early 2027. We recommend you review them prior to accessing the portal.

NDU Colleges at Fort McNair, D.C. – Resident JPME II Programs at CIC, CISA, ES and NWC 

• US Military Students (AY26-27 forthcoming)
• US Civilian Students (AY26-27 forthcoming)
• International Students (AY26-27 forthcoming)

CISA at Fort Bragg, N.C. – Joint Special Operations Master of Arts (JSOMA) Resident Program  

• US Military and US Civilian Students (AY26-27 forthcoming)
• International Students (AY26-27 forthcoming)

JFSC at Norfolk, Va. - Resident Joint Advanced Warfighting School (JAWS) JPME II Master's Program  

• US Military Students (AY26-27 forthcoming)
• US Civilian Students (AY26-27 forthcoming)
• International Students (AY26-27 forthcoming)

JFSC at Norfolk, Va. – Resident and Hybrid JCWS JPME II Programs for AY25-26 (AY26-27 forthcoming)

• US Military and US Civilian Students
• International Students 

JFSC at Norfolk, Va. – Joint Information School (JIS) Programs for AY25-26 (AY26-27 forthcoming)  

• Applicants for JFSC JIS Programs

CIC at Fort McNair, D.C. – Resident Cyber and CIO Leadership Development (LD) Programs 

• Applicants for CIC Cyber and CIO LD Programs (AY26-27 forthcoming)

CIC at Fort McNair, D.C. -- Cyber Work Force Master's (Part-Time) and Certificate Programs (Rolling admissions)

• Applicants for CIC Master's Part-Time and Certificate Programs