How to Apply to the Graduate Program

Application Requirements

Students are admitted to the graduate program for the fall term of each year only. The application materials listed below must be submitted through the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences' online application system, between October 1st and December 1st. NOTE: Applicants interested in the masters program must secure the sponsorship of a faculty member before submitting an application; applications to the masters program that are submitted without such sponsorship will not be considered. 

• Statement of purpose: please address the following questions in a statement of 500 to 1000 words: What research or life experiences do you bring that you think will make you successful in our PhD program? What fields are you interested in pursuing and why? What approaches would you like to use in your PhD research? What faculty in our program do you think would be well-suited to guide you in this work? What are your personal and professional goals, and how do you think our program will help you achieve those goals?
• Transcripts: you may submit unofficial transcripts with your application; if you accept an offer of admission, you must arrange for your previous school to submit your official transcripts directly to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.
• Two letters of recommendation: Include contact information for 2 references in your application, and they will receive emailed instructions for submitting recommendation letters on your behalf; letters must be received prior to the December 1st application deadline for an application to receive consideration. Seek recommendations from faculty in your proposed field of study who are sufficiently familiar with your work to make a comprehensive evaluation of your abilities. If you have already undertaken a graduate program, at least one of the letters should be from a faculty member who is familiar with your academic performance at the graduate level.

• Test of English as a Foreign Language: Scores from the TOEFL, IELTS, or DET exam are required for international applicants whose first language is not English and who did not earn an undergraduate degree at an institution where English was the primary language of instruction. The scores must come from a test taken within two years of the application deadline. Applicants will be asked to enter their scores in their electronic application. Only those applicants who accept an admission offer are required to submit official scores. Official scores sent from ETS are automatically matched to the application once received; IELTS and DET scores are matched once received from their respective testing services.

  Minimum Score Requirements: 

  • TOEFL. The minimum internet based (iBT) TOEFL score requirement depends on the test date:
    Taken before 1/21/26: 90 overall, with sectional minimums of 22 in speaking, 22 in writing, 23 in reading, and 23 in listening.
    Taken after 1/21/26: 4.5 overall, with sectional minimums of 4 in speaking, 4.5 in writing, 4.5 in reading, and 5 in listening

  • IELTS. Applicants may submit IELTS scores instead of TOEFL scores. The minimum IELTS score is 7.0 in each section.

  • DET. Applicants may also submit Duolingo English Test (DET) scores instead of TOEFL scores. The minimum DET score is 130 overall, with sectional minimums of 125 in speaking, 130 in writing, 130 in reading, and 125 in listening.

    Admissions committees will still consider applications with scores below these minimums.

    TOEFL Waivers
    Automatic waivers. The TOEFL requirement is automatically waived for applicants who have earned or will earn an undergraduate degree entirely at an institution where English is the primary language of instruction. To receive this waiver, submit supporting evidence, such as a transcript or a primary language certificate, as part of the electronic application.

    TOEFL Waiver requests. Applicants who do not qualify for the automatic waiver may submit along with their application alternative proof of English language proficiency for consideration. Supporting documentation may include, but is not limited to, the following:

    • Expired TOEFL, IELTS, or DET scores
    • A master's transcript from a university where English is the primary language of instruction
    • Evidence of a teaching assistantship in a course where English is the primary language of instruction
    • A thesis document

    • A video of a thesis defense

      This list is not exhaustive. Submitting any of these items does not guarantee that a waiver will be granted. Contact your prospective program directly if you need further guidance on acceptable proof of english proficiency.

  • ​​An application fee of $85

The Admissions Committee begins reviewing applications in early December and offers are generally made by late February.  For more information, please visit The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences’ website, including the page of Frequently Asked Questions about admission.