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Dates and Deadlines

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The online application is now open for 2024 entry.

Application Deadlines

Application deadlines vary by program and range from November to March for full-time programs. Before you apply, check the application deadline for your program on the Explore Graduate Programs page .

The application closes at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on your program’s deadline.

Decision Notification

Decision timelines vary by program, and the graduate program to which you applied will communicate the admission decision to you in accordance with the program’s notification timeline.

Graduate School

Important dates & deadlines for programs.

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Important Dates & Deadlines for Programs

Important dates & deadlines.

Important Dates & Deadlines can also be viewed on the Grad School Dates & Deadlines Google calendar.

August 2023

• August 1 Fall term bill due date 
• August 27-28 Graduate Student of Color Orientation
• August 23-25 International Graduate Student Orientation
• August 29-30 All-Student Orientation for PhD & MFA Students
• August 31 Resource Fair

September 2023

• September 1  (estimated date) Online applications open in CollegeNET (PhD, MFA, BioMed Master's)
• September 1  Fulbright Fellowship  initial application deadline (internal) at 4:30 pm
• September 8  Deadline for October graduates to submit the Application to Graduate via Banner
• September 11-29  Fulbright campus interviews

October 2023

• October 2  Banner-based Application to Graduate open to students who expect to complete in February (Registrar's requirement)
• October 2 Research Mobility Fellowship applications due for Spring travel
• October 10  Brown final submission deadline (internal) for Fulbright Fellowship at 4:30 pm
• October 13  Spring term Fellowship appointments and funding due to Graduate School via GSIM (doctoral and master's students). Non-Fellowship appointment (TA/RA/Proctor) entry deadline TBA
• October 15-16  Fall Preview Day
• October 30   DAAD  applications due to the Graduate School at 4 pm (internal deadline)

November 2023

• November 1  Deadline for students on leave to notify the Graduate School of a desire to return in the spring and to submit materials for readmission
• November 16*  Spring term bills generated (see Bursar website )

December 2023

• December 1   Horace Mann medal  submissions due in UFunds.
• December 8  Application deadline for  Brown Executive Scholars Training (BEST) Program

January 2024

• January 1  Spring term bill due date
• January 12  Deadline for February graduates to submit the Application to Graduate via Banner
• January 12  Thesis and dissertation submission deadline for February graduates
• January 15  Banner-based Application to Graduate open to students who expect to complete in May (Registrar's requirement)
• January 22  Deadline for entering Spring Progress Evaluation and uploading Standing Letters to GSIM
• January 30  Mae Williamson Simmons Fellowship nomination deadline
• January 30   Recruitment Activities Summary  submission deadline

February 2024

• February 12   Open Graduate Education  application deadline
• February 16  Application deadline for  Brown/Wheaton Faculty Fellowship
• February 29 Application deadline for Joukowsky Summer Research Award
• March 1  Nominations due for the  Faculty Mentoring and Advising Award  and  the  Excellence in Teaching Award
• March 1  Deadline for DEP applications (submit through  UFunds ) for Humanities & Social Science students who will be beyond the sixth year (can also be submitted after this date to be reviewed on a rolling basis)
• March 14  STEM Diversity and Inclusion Divisional Meeting
• March 18  Super Monday
• March 19  Humanities Tuesday
• March 21  Humanities & Social Science Diversity and Inclusion Divisional Meeting
• March 22   Research Mobility Fellowship  applications due for Fall travel
• March 22  Deadline for student applications for  Deans' Faculty Fellowships  (nominations and recommender forms due on March 29)
• Joukowsky Outstanding Dissertation Prize
• Outstanding Academic Accomplishment by a Master’s Student
• Master’s Award for Professional Excellence
• Master’s Award for Engaged Citizenship and Community Service  
• April TBA  Optional Spring Divisional meetings (all divisions welcome)
• April 12   Interdisciplinary Opportunity  program application deadline
• April 15  PhD and MFA admissions response date (admitted applicants must accept admissions offer by this date and cannot be asked to decide in advance of this date)
• April 16  Summer appointments and departmental funding due to the Graduate School via GSIM (doctoral and master's)
• April 19  Deadline for May graduates to submit the Application to Graduate via Banner
• May 1  Thesis and dissertation submission deadline for May graduates
• May 1  Deadline for students on leave to notify the Graduate School of a desire to return in the fall and to submit materials for readmission
• May 23  Summer term bills generated (see  Bursar website )
• May 24-26  Commencement weekend
• June 1  Deadline for submitting Summer Progress Evaluations and Standing Letters to GSIM
• June 5  Deadline for each program to set online application deadline cutoff for next admission cycler and request application changes (e.g., requirements or program-specific questions)
• June 5  Fall  appointments and departmental funding due to the Graduate School via GSIM (doctoral and master's)
• June 11  Summer term bill due date
• June 22  Fall term bills generated (see  Bursar website )
• June 22  Deadline for programs to communicate change in chair and DGS for next academic year
• June 30  GSIM Appointment Management closed for changes for fiscal year end. Via GSIM: 1) Add and/or update progress evaluations in the current term with prior term performance 2) Update of milestones 3) Update advisors (current and prospective terms)
• July TBA  Banner-based Application to Graduate open to students who expect to complete in October (Registrar's requirement)

August-September 2024

• August 1  Fall term bill due date 
• August 21-23  International Graduate Student Orientation
• August 25-26  Graduate Student of Color Orientation
• August 27-28  All-Student Orientation (Wednesday half day for PhD/MFA only)
• August 29 Resource Fair, 1-4 pm
• August 31  Deadline for entering Fall Progress Evaluations and uploading Standing Letters to GSIM

*Tentative date

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Gre prep online guides and tips, grad school deadlines: when you need to apply.

With your academic future at stake, it’s critical that you don’t miss a grad school deadline! Luckily, in this total guide to grad school application deadlines, we’ll review when most graduate school deadlines are and some special application deadline situations. Finally, we’ll help you figure out how you should best approach grad school deadlines in your own planning.

When Are Grad School Applications Due?

For most programs that begin in the fall—when the school year traditionally starts— deadlines for graduate school applications are in December or January. It’s rare for programs to have application deadlines earlier than December, but of course, there are exceptions.

Another sizable chunk of programs have deadlines in February or March. Grad school deadlines later than March aren’t very common, but some programs do have them.

Sometimes a particular school will have a very late application deadline, but most of the actual individual programs have much earlier deadlines for grad school applications. For example, University of Illinois at Chicago has a school-wide application deadline of August 1, 2018  for students applying to enter in fall 2018. However, you can see in the actual list of programs that most of the on-campus degree programs have a required or recommended deadline before February 15 for fall admission.

Of course, if you want to know the deadline of a particular program, the best thing to do is look it up!

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Grad School Application Deadlines: Special Situations

There are also some special situations you might encounter for graduate school deadlines. We’ll go over them below.

Rolling Admissions

Some graduate school programs have a rolling admissions policy. This means that applications are considered as they come in and results are mailed out as soon as a decision about an application is reached. A general rule with rolling admissions is that it’s better to apply earlier if you can because admissions will be less competitive. Essentially, the earlier you apply, the more space remains in the class.

For rolling admissions, admissions usually open about a year before the program begins and close when the class is full. Once the class is full, you will no longer be able to apply.

As an example, many of the master’s programs at the Penn Graduate School of Education have rolling admissions. Penn reports that admissions usually reach capacity in mid or late spring.

Some other graduate programs do admissions in rounds or phases. This means that there are several deadlines for sending in applications at different points in the year. When a deadline is reached, the applications for that phase are all considered in a batch, and then offers are made.  Then the process repeats itself one to three more times (creating two to four rounds) to assemble the class.

If your application is ready for the first round of admission, it’s a good idea to submit it then. Admission rates are usually higher in the first round. However, if your application will be much stronger in a later admissions cycle, wait. So don’t write your entire personal statement overnight in an attempt to make the first round!

The rounds process is particularly common for business school. For example, Stanford Business School has three admission rounds. They advise that their second round has grown much more competitive in recent years. This means that if possible, students should apply for the first round. Additionally, students need to apply in the first or second round to be eligible for need-based financial aid and on-campus housing.

This is a situation where planning ahead really benefits you!

Starting in a Different Term/Semester

Some programs allow you to apply to start the program in a spring or summer term instead of the fall term. In this case, you’ll have a different deadline —usually in the early fall for spring semester entry. For example, many programs at Purdue University—West Lafayette allow entry in the spring or even the summer. You can start their Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics in the fall or the spring. The deadline for the fall is January 1st, and the deadline for the spring is September 15th.

Be aware that if you do start in a different term, it may affect your financial aid, scholarship, and campus housing application eligibility and/or processes. On the other hand, since schools receive fewer applications in “off” terms, admission may be less competitive. Check all of that out before you decide to apply in an off-cycle.

Meeting “Recommended” Grad School Deadlines

Some schools have “recommended” or “priority” grad school application deadlines. There are typically two kinds of recommended or priority deadlines: admissions priority deadlines and funding priority deadlines.

For admissions priority deadlines, applications received by this date are guaranteed full consideration for admission. Applications received after the deadline may not be reviewed based on space constraints. For example, Electrical and Computer Engineering at Duke had a priority deadline of 12/1/2017 for fall 2018 entry that guarantees full review. However, they will still consider applications based on available space until the application closes on  2/28/18 .

The second kind of recommended or priority deadline is a funding priority deadline. Some programs guarantee that applications received by a particular date will receive consideration for all funding opportunities. Applications received later than the priority date will receive limited consideration for financial aid (or none at all, depending on the program). For example, the Bioethics and Science Policy master’s program at Duke has a hard deadline of  3/31/2018  for guaranteed review of your application, but the priority deadline for financial aid consideration is  1/31/2018 .

If your program does have a recommended deadline, be sure to check exactly what the priority deadline means: is it for admission, for financial aid, housing, or some combination? This may affect your decision to apply or wait if you can’t get everything together by the deadline. For instance, if the priority deadline affects financial aid and you know that you will need financial aid to attend graduate school, it may be best to wait for the next admissions cycle if you can’t make the priority deadline.

As a general rule, if there is a recommended or priority deadline, it’s definitely to your advantage to get your application filed by that date!

How to Plan for Grad School Application Deadlines

Filling out graduate school applications is typically a process that takes many months. There are many moving pieces that require your attention—requesting transcripts, getting recommendation letters, writing a personal statement, taking the GRE, etc. To that end, I recommend planning ahead and starting the whole process about a year before any deadlines.

Here’s my four-step plan to grad school deadline management success:

A Year In Advance: Start to Identify Programs of Interest

You should start thinking about what programs you are interested in applying to as soon as you start thinking about going to graduate school! About a year before you intend to submit applications, take a few months to research schools and programs and hone in on a list of schools you want to apply to. You can of course make tweaks to this list throughout the process. But try to have your core list of schools mostly finalized by about eight months before any deadlines . So if I was applying to start a master’s in Fall 2019, I would want to have my list of programs finalized around May 2018, about eight months before December/January deadlines.

7 Months in Advance: Identify Application Tasks

Once you have a list of programs, identify everything you will need to do to complete the applications for each those programs. Make a list of those tasks. What tests will you need to do? How many recommendations do you need for each program? What are the essay prompts? Look through the application requirements online for all of your schools to figure it out.

You should also think about timing so that you can get everything completed before your deadlines. Don’t just ask: when are grad school applications due? You also need to consider more granular questions about all of the parts that go into each application, like “when do I need to ask for recommendations?” and “when should I submit my transcripts?” or else things will fall through the cracks.

The tasks you will need to complete will vary by program, but here’s a general guideline to things you’ll most likely need to get done and when you should think about completing them:

• Prepare and take the GRE (or other tests): If you’re able, it’s best to take your first GRE at least four months before any graduate school deadlines. This way, if you don’t get the score you want the first time around, you’ll still have time to prepare more and take the test again .
• Ask for recommendation letters: It’s best practice to ask for recommendation letters at least eight weeks in advance of any deadlines. Be sure to give your recommenders all the necessary information they’ll need to submit your letters!
• Request transcripts: Request all transcripts at least a month in advance to account for processing times.
• Essays: There’s a little more wiggle room here because you have total power over when your essay is completed and submitted. There’s no waiting on bureaucracy! But you should definitely have a first draft done at least a few weeks in advance of grad school application due dates so you’ll have time to revise and edit.

6 Months in Advance: Create a Planning and Tracking System

Once you’ve got a list of tasks that you’ll need to do complete and a general idea of when those things need to be completed, make a clear, organized planning and tracking system for your tasks.

I personally recommend making a spreadsheet for this purpose. List your programs along one side of the sheet and all of your requirements on the other side. You can use the spreadsheet to indicate the status of all of your tasks, goal dates for completing tasks, when they’re completed, and so on. You can even put useful links (like to the application portal!) in your spreadsheet.

Here’s an example of what a tracking and planning spreadsheet might look like:

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Of course, these are just suggestions—you can format your own plan whatever way is most intuitive for you. But making some kind of visual representation that places all the information you need right in front of you, as well as your deadlines and status, is an enormous help in meeting deadlines. You’ll be able to see everything about your status at a glance.

Until Deadlines: Complete and Track Tasks

Once you make your plan to meet all of your grad school application deadlines, the next thing to do is start completing and tracking your tasks! This means preparing for the GRE, starting essays, requesting transcripts, asking for recommendations, and so on.  Refer to your plan often (at least once a week) so that you know what tasks are next. Also be sure to keep the status of each task updated in your plan. This will keep you organized and prevent scrambling all the way up until you submit your completed applications.

Should I Rush to Meet a Grad School Deadline?

If you realize on October 15 that your true calling is to get a master’s degree in agricultural sciences and the deadline is on December 1st, should you rush to get everything in on time or wait another term or year? In general, I advise against rushing. But here are three things to consider:

Can You Still Put Forth a Strong Application?

A last-minute application won’t be as strong as one you crafted with tender love and care over many months. But this doesn’t mean you can’t put forth a decently strong showing. If you already have strong, valid GRE scores, some recommenders who really like you and are willing to expedite a recommendation for you, and a lot of available time to work on your essay and application forms, you can probably make it work. However, if you don’t have any of those key ingredients, you may really struggle to create a strong application in a short time frame.

Is It Worth the Expense and Strain?

Trying to pull together an application as quickly as possible is expensive and stressful. Not only will you incur all the expenses associated with graduate school applications very close together, you may find that you’ll need to pay extra to do things like expedite transcripts to meet deadlines.

Also, pulling together everything at the last minute will be stressful for you (and probably anyone significant in your life). Perhaps even more critically, asking recommenders to quickly write recommendations for you can put a strain on those relationships. It’s pretty inconsiderate to ask for recommendations less than 6 weeks in advance at the very least; giving recommenders at least 8 weeks is much better. If you really want both a high-quality recommendation and to maintain a positive relationship with recommenders, it may be a lot better to wait.

What’s Your Worst-Case Scenario Plan?

Worst-case scenario is, of course, that you won’t get in. In this case, if you still want to go for graduate school, you’ll need to reapply for another term. Schools generally won’t hold the fact that you’ve applied before and been rejected against you just so long as you put a demonstrably stronger application in front of them the second time.

Of course, you could also get in and be offered less funding or support than you would have with a stronger application. In this case you’ll have to consider if it’s worth it to accept the offer or try again next year.

The upshot is that if you can afford the expense and stress of a rushed application process that’s not as likely to be successful, you don’t necessarily have a lot to lose in terms of your future prospects if you do apply. But you definitely need to moderate your expectations when you’re scrambling to complete everything at the last possible moment.

Graduate School Deadlines: Key Takeaways

For programs that begin in the fall, most graduate school application deadlines are in the preceding December or January. You’ll also see a few in February and March, and maybe even a few in other months!

There are a few special types of grad school application deadlines you may encounter:

• Rolling admissions:  Admissions committees consider applications as they receive them and accept applicants until the program is full. So it’s to your advantage to apply early.
• Rounds:  Admissions committees consider applications in several batches. Earlier rounds are typically less competitive than later ones.
• Applying for different terms: Some programs accept applications to start studies in the spring or summer. You may find that applying for an off-term is less competitive. However, you might also have less access to things like housing and funds, so investigate all of this before you commit to a course.
• Priority or recommended deadlines: These deadlines give you the highest consideration for admission and/or funding. Admissions committees may still look at applications after priority or recommended deadlines. However, they may not receive as close of consideration or have as much funding available.

Here’s my four-step plan to dealing with graduate school deadlines:

• 12 months before applying: Investigate programs and make your list of schools
• 7 months before applying: Identify the tasks you’ll need to complete for each application
• 6 months before applying: Create a detailed planning and tracking system for all the tasks you need to complete for your graduate school applications.
• Until deadlines: Closely following your planning and tracking system, complete essential application tasks and submit applications!

What’s Next?

Want more information on graduate school? See our decision guide for graduate school . And check out if you need to take the GRE to apply !

Stumped by grad school admissions tests? We’ll help you figure out whether to take the GRE or the GMAT , how long to study for the GRE , how to make a GRE study plan , and when to take the GRE .

Not sure if your scores can get you in to school? See our analysis of average GRE scores by major  and by school . Plus see our in-depth guide to retaking the GRE .

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Author: Ellen McCammon

Ellen is a public health graduate student and education expert. She has extensive experience mentoring students of all ages to reach their goals and in-depth knowledge on a variety of health topics. View all posts by Ellen McCammon

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Graduate Academic Calendar

The calendar below is to be used by Engineering Graduate, on-campus master’s and PhD, students. Students enrolled in Penn Engineering Online should only consult their calendar .

The below calendar supplements the university’s Three-Year Academic Calendar , which is created primarily for undergraduate use. Students enrolled in the Accelerated Master’s degree and still have not graduated with the undergrad degree, must follow undergrad deadlines for their home school. External 4+1 accelerated master’s students should discuss deadlines with their home school and Graduate Engineering Advisors to stay compliant with the 4+1 policies between the institutions.

2024 Spring Term

2024 summer sessions.

Please note Engineering does not follow the change grade status in Summer sessions listed on the LPS Summer calendar . Please refer to our Summer calendar listed above only. If you have questions, please talk to Graduate Engineering advisors .

2024 Fall Term

• Guide to Applying for Graduate School

The process of preparing for and applying to a PhD program can be overwhelming. The University of Pennsylvania has created this webpage to help prospective PhD students think through the process so you can put together a strong application.

A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is the highest degree one may obtain within a particular field of study. This ranges from studies in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields; Social Science fields such as Education, Economics, Political Science, and Sociology; as well as Humanities fields such as English, History, Music, Philosophy, and more. The PhD degree aims to prepare people to think critically, develop research, and produce scholarship that may be used for further research or implementation . The PhD historically prepared students to take on faculty roles in colleges and universities, and that is still the goal for many students pursuing the PhD. However, today the PhD is a sought-after degree in many other industries including pharmaceutical research, arts organizations and other nonprofits, publishing, government policy, big tech, finance, and more.

• Who can apply to a PhD program?   PhD education is available to people from various educational, occupational, socioeconomic, and demographic backgrounds.
• Who should get a PhD?  People interested in uncovering new ideas, solutions, or processes within a specific area of study through conducting independent research.
• Why is it important for diverse candidates to become PhD holders?   Our world thrives on heterogeneous ideas and experiences, which is why it is indispensable to include students with diverse perspectives in our PhD programs. These students will generate important and original research.

Most PhD programs are fully funded, meaning that for a specific number of years, the program will pay for your tuition and fees and health insurance, as well as provide you with a stipend for living expenses . The structure of this funding varies by field. Below is an outline of general funding information as well as trends according to field of study.

• Teaching Assistantships or Research Assistantships: Part-time service that provides teaching and research training opportunities within your area of study.
• Funding packages provided through faculty research grants: Many STEM fields fund students through research grants awarded to faculty. In these cases, students perform research alongside the faculty. 
• Fellowships: Internal or external merit-based funding. Some fellowships require an application while others are given via nomination. Educational institutions typically have a resource listing fellowship opportunities. Winning a competitive fellowship looks good on your resume.
• Grants: Requires an application with supporting materials of either your grades, scholarly work, and/or anticipated research. These are available through internal and external means. Grants greatly vary so be sure to always understand the requirements. Educational institutions typically have a resource listing grant opportunities. Winning a competitive grant looks good on your resume.
• Employment: For example, serving as a residential advisor, on-campus jobs, etc. Some PhD programs restrict additional employment, so be sure to check before applying for jobs.
• The funding opportunities described here often can be combined.

Choosing a school or program that provides the most potential funding may be a challenging decision. The value of the same amount of funding will differ depending on the cost of living in different geographic locations. Admitted applicants should investigate cost-of-living tools (available on the web) and be sure to understand how their funding will be structured. Ask questions when you are admitted, such as: 

• Could you share more about your program’s funding mechanism?
• For how long is funding guaranteed? How does that compare to the average time-to-completion? Historically, what percentage of students have received funding beyond the guaranteed funding package?
• Does funding cover tuition, fees, books, health insurance?
• Does the funding rely on teaching, research, or other service? How much and for how long? 

Choosing a program for your studies is a personal decision that should reflect not only your research interests, but your work style, and interests outside of the classroom. Here we have identified five key tips to consider when selecting schools. 

• Ask about which programs are strong in your area of interest, which have high completion rates, and which have career outcomes that align with your goals. 
• Explore the websites of the professional academic associations in the field(s) that interest you. Many will have a directory of doctoral programs and other resources for graduate students. For example, see the American Economic Association’s list of graduate programs and their preparing for graduate school page .
• Conduct a general internet search with terms related to your research interest.
• Determine your geographic and personal preferences. Does the area meet your community needs? Is it important that the university aligns with your sociopolitical values? Do you prefer a large city or a smaller/college town? Is there a particular region(s) that has better access to resources needed to conduct your research?
• Access your current or former university career center. These services are often still available for former students!
• As you narrow your choices, try to identify at least 3 faculty in the programs of interest with whom you’d like to study. Also note how many of them have tenure. If relevant, research which of those faculty are taking on advisees in your year of matriculation.
• Read articles from faculty with similar research interests.
• Note the number of awards, publications, and service activities of faculty.
• Identify research opportunities funded by both your program and university at large.
• Connect with current and former students in the program for informational interviews.
• Connect with campus Diversity Offices.
• Whenever possible, before submitting your applications, make an appointment to visit the campuses and department(s) that interest you.
• Use  LinkedIn  to see what graduates of your program are doing and how they are involved in their communities.
• Estimate your feasible cost of living by geographic location and compare to the funding package offered.
• Consider availability of health insurance, childcare, housing, transportation, and other fringe benefits.
• Connect with a local bank or your prospective university’s financial services office for budgeting, savings, and other financial wellness advice.
• Research the career outcomes for PhD graduates from the institutions that interest you in your specific field.
• Your First Year in a Ph.D. Program
• What Does Academic Success Mean and How to Achieve it?  (STEM)
• Pathways to Science  (STEM)
• 7 Advantages PhDs Have Over Other Job Candidates  (Industry)
• During your undergraduate/master’s education, you should pursue coursework and/or research that will prepare you for the higher expectations of a PhD program; for example, taking a research methods course, pursuing a summer research experience, or conducting research with a professor at your home institution.
• Identify instructors who could write a letter of recommendation. Share with those instructors your interest in doctoral studies; faculty can be excellent resources for advice as well as recommendations!
• Experiences outside of higher education can also strengthen your PhD application. These may range from project management to volunteer work.
• Develop soft or hard skills. A soft skill that is most useful from the first day of your PhD program is networking. This is necessary not only for meeting other students but also to find collaborators with similar research interests and selecting faculty for your dissertation committee. Learning how to negotiate will also serve you well when approaching collaborative projects. Hard skills related to your field might include learning statistical analysis software, economic theory, a foreign language, or search engine optimization. In short, identify a few soft and hard skills that you can familiarize yourself with prior to your program’s start date.
• Finally, prepare by identifying leading researchers and practitioners in your field , exploring peer-reviewed literature and/or publications, and gain familiarity with research methods.
• Typically, PhD applications are due 10-12 months in advance of the program’s start date (i.e. apply in November to start the following September). A good rule of thumb is to begin your application process 6 months before the deadline. 
• The availability of reduced application fees or fee waivers varies and sometimes depends on financial status and/or experiences (AmeriCorps, National Society of Black Engineers, attending certain conferences, etc.). If you are interested in a reduced fee or waiver, reach out to the program coordinator for details.
• Be sure to address all the specific questions/topics in the statement prompt. 
• Clearly state why you want to pursue a PhD.
• Propose your research interest.
• Identify the faculty you’d like to study under. 
• Discuss the unique qualities/experiences you offer to the program/school.
• Outline what you hope to do with your degree.
• Ask for recommendation letters early in the process, at least 2-4 weeks before the deadline. A good letter takes time to write!
• Provide recommenders with your resume, information about the program, your statement of purpose and/or information about your research interests and research goals.
• Consider your current/former instructors, supervisors, colleagues. These should be people who can speak to your work ethic, academic abilities, and research interests.
• Test scores (i.e. TOEFL, GRE, GMAT, etc.) may or may not be required.
• All transcripts including those for coursework completed abroad and transfer credits. Some programs require official transcripts, which take longer to procure.
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Writing sample (field dependent): Include a graduate-level sample and update any statements, statistics, etc. as needed. It is highly encouraged that you edit your previous work.
• Diversity statement: Many institutions offer an optional short statement where students can expand on their diverse backgrounds and experiences that may contribute to the diversity interests/efforts of the school.
• Dress professionally, even if the interview is virtual. You don’t necessarily need to wear a suit but dress pants/skirt and a blouse/button down shirt would be appropriate.  
• Develop an engaging elevator pitch, a 30-60 second summary of your research interests and what you hope to gain by becoming a student at that particular university. Practice your pitch with a career counselor, faculty advisor, or friends, and ask for honest feedback.
• Prepare 2-3 questions to ask during the interview. These could include questions about program expectations, the experience and success of their PhD students, and (academic/financial/mental health) support for PhD students.
• Some interview programs will include multiple activities including a social event. Be sure to maintain a professional attitude: do not drink too much and keep conversation on academic/professional topics.
• This is also your opportunity to decide whether this campus is a good fit for you.
• Academia Insider  is a good resource. 

Unlike undergraduate and master’s level education, coursework is just one component of the degree. A PhD comes with additional expectations: you must independently conduct scholarly research in your field of study, train in specific activities such as teaching or lab/field research, pass “milestone” requirements along the way, such as comprehensive exams, and complete the process by writing a dissertation. Furthermore, some fields require you to write multiple articles (number varies by field/program) for conference presentation and/or peer-reviewed publication.

There are other important elements as well:

• Student/Advisor relationship. This is one of the most valuable relationships you can have as a PhD student. Your faculty advisor not only assists you with learning how to approach your research topic, but also typically serves as the lead supervisor of your dissertation research and writing, and ideally mentors you throughout the PhD experience. The selection process of choosing your advisor varies so be sure to know what is expected of you as a student and what is expected of the faculty member. Whenever possible, it is important to align your personality and work style with that of your faculty advisor. Many universities publish expectations for the PhD student/faculty advisor relationship;  AMP’ed  is Penn’s guide.
• Other relationships: Your faculty advisor is far from the only important person during your PhD career. Other faculty members will also serve on your dissertation committee and be potential mentors. Students in your program can also provide good advice and guidance along the way.
• Coursework: Most programs have a number of required courses all students must take regardless of research interests. Once you have finished this requirement, the classes you choose should closely align with your research topic. Choose courses that will help you learn more about your dissertation topic and research methods. It is a good idea to discuss elective course selection with your advisor. 
• The dissertation is a large-scale, written document that explores a narrow research topic of your choice. It is the final step before receiving your degree and must be presented and “defended” to your dissertation committee (made up of faculty members) for approval. Defending means that you have to answer in-depth questions about your topic. While this might sound daunting, the dissertation is simply a demonstration of all the knowledge and expertise you have acquired through your PhD education. 
• Networking comes in many forms and includes connections with your fellow classmates, faculty members, and scholarly community. Formal networking events typically take place at academic conferences, where scholars and students present research. Increasing your academic circle will not only allow you to have study buddies, but offer you the opportunity to collaborate on articles or even gain employment. Your school’s career center can provide best practices for effective networking. 

Explore  graduate programs at the University of Pennsylvania  and click on the programs that interest you to learn more about admissions and academic requirements.

Upcoming Penn recruitment events include:

• Fontaine Fellows Recruitment Dinner (by invitation only): every March
• IDDEAS@Wharton  (Introduction to Diversity in Doctoral Education and Scholarship): April 18-19, 2024. Deadline to apply is January 31.
• DEEPenn STEM  (Diversity Equity Engagement at Penn in STEM): October 11-13, 2024. Application opens in March 2024.
• DivE In Weekend  (Diversity & Equity Initiative for Mind Research): Fall 2024

National conferences to explore:

• The Leadership Alliance  supports students into research careers
• McNair Scholar Conferences
• SACNAS , the largest multidisciplinary and multicultural STEM diversity event in the U.S.
• ABRCMS , the annual biomedical research conference for minoritized scientists
• The PhD Project  for students interested in business PhD programs

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• Applying to graduate school

When to Apply for Graduate School | Month-by-Month Timeline

Published on February 17, 2021 by Lauren Thomas . Revised on June 1, 2023.

Once you’ve decided to apply for graduate school , you need to carefully plan out the application process, leaving yourself enough time to:

• Choose which schools you’ll apply to
• Gather transcripts and recommendation letters
• Write your personal statement or statement of purpose
• Take any standardized exams you might need

In general, you’ll need to start preparing your application at least 6 months in advance of the deadline. Most application deadlines are about 7–9 months before the program’s start date.

Table of contents

When is the right time to apply for graduate school, month-by-month timeline for grad school applications, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about applying to grad school.

Some students apply to grad school straight from undergraduate degrees, but it’s also common to return to school later in life. If you’re not sure yet whether you’re ready to apply for graduate school, ask yourself these questions.

Career and field

• Do you want to change your career? Many individuals attend graduate school to enter fields like nursing, physical therapy, medicine, business, marketing, communications, etc.
• Do you need a graduate degree to progress in your field? In some fields (like law, research, most of health care, and business), a graduate degree is usually necessary to progress. In others (like software engineering or data analytics), degrees are less important.
• How much work experience do you need before applying to graduate school? For instance, MBA programs usually expect you to have several years of work under your belt, whereas many people start medical school right out of undergrad or soon after.

Personal considerations

• Are you at a place in your life where you can focus most of your attention on school?
• Are you prepared to move across the country or even to another country if needed? If not, you should only apply to graduate schools near you.
• Does your family situation permit you to go back to school?

Money matters

• Do you have enough money saved up or a realistic plan to finance graduate school? If you plan to take out government loans, carefully consider how much you will have to pay back after graduation with your expected earnings.
• Can you leave or cut back on your job without drastically harming your financial health?
• Do the graduate programs you’re interested in allow you to work part-time? For instance, medicine rarely allows you to attend part-time. This may also be subject to visa restrictions if you’re planning to study outside your own country.

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You should generally start thinking about graduate school around 18 months before you plan to start. Most program deadlines are 7–9 months before the start date, so you’ll have 6–9 months to get all your materials together, ask for recommendation letters, and take any necessary exams.

Note that some graduate schools—notably medicine—follow a different timeline. Also, some fields, particularly law, use rolling deadlines, meaning the earlier you get in your applications, the better!

The timeline below represents the most typical one, with a December submission deadline. If your deadline is earlier or later, you should adjust your timeline to match.

Decide which type of graduate program you’d like to apply for and start researching schools that fit your criteria. Discuss which programs you should be aiming for with your former professors or current supervisors.

Most programs provide statistics about the test scores, undergraduate grades, or work or research experience of the students they accept. Aim high, but be realistic about your chances. Make sure to choose some programs that are likely to accept you.

Sign up and begin studying for whichever standardized test you need. Different programs require different exams, so you should make sure to check the website of the program you intend to apply to.

Continue studying for standardized tests. Study books can often be checked out for free from your local library. Aim to do at least a little bit of studying every day—that way, it becomes a habit.

Begin the process of asking for recommendation letters.

Take the necessary standardized test for the first time. You aren’t penalized for taking the test multiple times and can send your best score, so don’t panic if you don’t meet your target score on the first try. However, note that each attempt costs (a significant amount of) money, so don’t completely slack off!

Make a list of the specific programs you’re going to apply to. One tip: organize your information in a spreadsheet with required materials, application fees, links to the online application sign-in, recommenders for each program, and deadlines. This will aid you later in the process!

Follow up on rec letters. Now is a good time to begin face-to-face meetings with potential recommenders. Update your resume so that you can send it to recommenders and they can write you a strong letter.

Decide if you need extra funding. To plan your finances, make a monthly budget with expected rent, food, transportation, prorated monthly tuition/fees, and any other potential costs. If the cost is more than what you have in savings or expected financial support (including loans), then you’ll need extra support.

If you need funding, look into potential options—many, such as the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program , require extra essays and have earlier deadlines.

Now is a good time to begin requesting transcripts, if you haven’t already. For most graduate applications, you must ensure you’ve requested transcripts from every university you’ve attended, even if you only studied there for a semester or it is located in another country.

Retake any standardized exams if you weren’t happy with the scores the first time around.

Begin writing your statement of purpose . A statement of purpose is a short essay that discusses your professional and academic interests and background.

You may also be required to write a personal statement , which should talk about your personal story and personal motivations for applying to graduate school. It may include your potential to bring an underrepresented perspective or add to the diversity of the program you’re applying to.

Send off your statement of purpose and personal statement to recommenders to aid their recommendation letters and to receive feedback.

It’s also a good idea to have your statements checked by a friend, family member or professional editor , who can help make sure your writing flows clearly and catch any grammatical mistakes.

A statement of purpose should be understandable to any professional in your field, even if they don’t specialize in your sub-discipline. Most graduate programs rely on a committee of professors throughout the field to evaluate applications, so there’s no guarantee yours will be read by an expert in your particular interest.

October is generally your last chance to retake any standardized exam whose scores you’re not happy with.

Perfect your statement of purpose and personal statement. It’s a good idea to take a week-long break from your applications so that you can approach them again with a fresh eye.

Many graduate applications are due this month. Remind your recommenders of the final deadlines, and finish up your application.

Ensure you have your perfected resume, transcripts, and final personal statement ready. Upload them—and don’t forget to pay the application fee if that’s required!

If you’re American and think you might want to take out any amount of loans to fund your degree, you should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) . Once completed, you’ll be eligible for a loan to fund up to 100% of the total cost of your degree, including both tuition and living costs.

February to April

Most graduate school results will come back in this time period. Many graduate schools offer in-person visit days in March and April. Some will even pay for your transportation and hotel costs. These visits will allow you to ask questions to faculty members and current students.

When choosing a graduate program, make sure to pay attention to how well the program fits your interests as well as its prestige. You should also pay attention to placement or job outcomes after graduation.

If you’re in a research degree, your supervisor is vitally important to your potential success—carefully evaluate your potential options (but remember that some advisors could leave, so you shouldn’t choose a program for just one potential supervisor!)

Try to hang out with current students in an informal setting to ask them questions you might not otherwise be comfortable asking. Ask what the work expectations are like—do they get time off? Do they feel like they’re being treated fairly? This is especially important for doctoral programs, which are several years long.

Make sure to read the fine print of any funding that you might receive. Will you have to teach or work in a certain position for a certain number of years afterwards? Choose carefully!

If you want to know more about college essays , academic writing , and AI tools , make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

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• College essay examples
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A good starting point to aim for is about 18 months before you would start the program, or 6–9 months before the applications are due.

In the first few months of the process, research programs and study for any standardized exams you might need.

You can then begin writing your personal statements and statements of purpose , as well as contacting people to write your letters of recommendation . Ensure that you give recommenders plenty of time to complete their letters (ideally around 2–4 months).

Most graduate school applications for American graduate programs are due in December or January for a September start.

Some types of programs, especially law school, are rolling applications, meaning that the earlier you apply, the earlier you’ll hear back. In this case, you should aim to apply as early as possible to maximize your chances.

Medical school follows a completely separate timeline with much earlier deadlines. If you’re applying for medical school, you should speak to advisors at your university for more information.

Some students apply to graduate school straight from undergrad, but it’s also common to go back to school later in life. The ideal time to do so depends on various financial, personal, and career considerations . Graduate school is a big commitment, so you should apply at a time when you can devote your full attention to it.

Your career path may also determine when you should apply. In some career fields, you can easily progress without a graduate degree, while in others—such as medicine, business, and law—it’s virtually impossible to move up the career ladder without a specific graduate degree.

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Rigorous, discipline-based research is the hallmark of the MIT Sloan PhD Program. The program is committed to educating scholars who will lead in their fields of research—those with outstanding intellectual skills who will carry forward productive research on the complex organizational, financial, and technological issues that characterize an increasingly competitive and challenging business world.

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Click here for answers to many of the most frequently asked questions.

PhD studies at MIT Sloan are intense and individual in nature, demanding a great deal of time, initiative, and discipline from every candidate. But the rewards of such rigor are tremendous:  MIT Sloan PhD graduates go on to teach and conduct research at the world's most prestigious universities.

PhD Program curriculum at MIT Sloan is organized under the following three academic areas: Behavior & Policy Sciences; Economics, Finance & Accounting; and Management Science. Our nine research groups correspond with one of the academic areas, as noted below.

MIT Sloan PhD Research Groups

Behavioral & policy sciences.

Economic Sociology

Institute for Work & Employment Research

Organization Studies

Technological Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Strategic Management

Economics, Finance & Accounting

Accounting  

Management Science

Information Technology

System Dynamics  

Those interested in a PhD in Operations Research should visit the Operations Research Center .  

PhD Program Structure

Additional information including coursework and thesis requirements.

MIT Sloan Predoctoral Opportunities

MIT Sloan is eager to provide a diverse group of talented students with early-career exposure to research techniques as well as support in considering research career paths.

Rising Scholars Conference

The fourth annual Rising Scholars Conference on October 25 and 26 gathers diverse PhD students from across the country to present their research.

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The goal of the MIT Sloan PhD Program's admissions process is to select a small number of people who are most likely to successfully complete our rigorous and demanding program and then thrive in academic research careers. The admission selection process is highly competitive; we aim for a class size of nineteen students, admitted from a pool of hundreds of applicants.

What We Seek

• Outstanding intellectual ability
• Excellent academic records
• Previous work in disciplines related to the intended area of concentration
• Strong commitment to a career in research

MIT Sloan PhD Program Admissions Requirements Common Questions

Dates and Deadlines

Admissions for 2024 is closed. The next opportunity to apply will be for 2025 admission. The 2025 application will open in September 2024. 

More information on program requirements and application components

Students in good academic standing in our program receive a funding package that includes tuition, medical insurance, and a fellowship stipend and/or TA/RA salary. We also provide a new laptop computer and a conference travel/research budget.

Funding Information

Throughout the year, we organize events that give you a chance to learn more about the program and determine if a PhD in Management is right for you.

PhD Program Events

May phd program overview.

During this webinar, you will hear from the PhD Program team and have the chance to ask questions about the application and admissions process.

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Complete PhD Admissions Event Calendar

Unlike formulaic approaches to training scholars, the PhD Program at MIT Sloan allows students to choose their own adventure and develop a unique scholarly identity. This can be daunting, but students are given a wide range of support along the way - most notably having access to world class faculty and coursework both at MIT and in the broader academic community around Boston.

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Profiles of our current students

MIT Sloan produces top-notch PhDs in management. Immersed in MIT Sloan's distinctive culture, upcoming graduates are poised to innovate in management research and education.

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The PhD Program is integral to the research of MIT Sloan's world-class faculty. With a reputation as risk-takers who are unafraid to embrace the unconventional, they are engaged in exciting disciplinary and interdisciplinary research that often includes PhD students as key team members.

Research centers across MIT Sloan and MIT provide a rich setting for collaboration and exploration. In addition to exposure to the faculty, PhD students also learn from one another in a creative, supportive research community.

Throughout MIT Sloan's history, our professors have devised theories and fields of study that have had a profound impact on management theory and practice.

From Douglas McGregor's Theory X/Theory Y distinction to Nobel-recognized breakthroughs in finance by Franco Modigliani and in option pricing by Robert Merton and Myron Scholes, MIT Sloan's faculty have been unmatched innovators.

This legacy of innovative thinking and dedication to research impacts every faculty member and filters down to the students who work beside them.

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“MIT Sloan PhD training is a transformative experience. The heart of the process is the student’s transition from being a consumer of knowledge to being a producer of knowledge. This involves learning to ask precise, tractable questions and addressing them with creativity and rigor. Hard work is required, but the reward is the incomparable exhilaration one feels from having solved a puzzle that had bedeviled the sharpest minds in the world!” -Ezra Zuckerman Sivan Alvin J. Siteman (1948) Professor of Entrepreneurship

Sample Dissertation Abstracts - These sample Dissertation Abstracts provide examples of the work that our students have chosen to study while in the MIT Sloan PhD Program.

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Studying a PhD in The USA - The Complete Guide

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The USA is a favourable postgraduate study destination for international students due to the high standard of academic study and the wide variety of subjects. By undertaking a PhD in the USA, you will find yourself becoming an internationally recognised expert in your chosen field.

A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the USA is considered the highest awarded degree in many US universities and institutes for most fields of study. For many international students, it's a dream course that offers an exciting new life chapter.

Attending Grad School for a PhD in the USA is not the same as undertaking a PhD in Europe or the UK , it can often be a different experience. However, studying abroad will improve your global cultural understanding in addition to your network of contacts for your future career. A PhD degree is often required when you apply for high-level management jobs, government expert positions, and careers like a university professor, researcher, or scientist in many fields.

There are a multitude of reasons why the United States is a fantastic choice for your PhD studies. Here’s everything you need to know about studying a PhD in the USA.

1. PhD course length

The total length of a PhD in the USA is between 4-8 years for full-time students and 8-10 years for part-time students, depending on your field of study. PhDs can be completed in 4-5 years for students with a masters degree in an appropriate subject. Students typically dedicate 1-4 years on coursework, followed by 2-4 years of dissertation work. In the USA, the academic year is divided into two teaching semesters: August to December and January to May. 

Having a longer duration for your PhD allows for greater opportunities to adjust to your course and find your footing. This enables you to concentrate on developing a more comprehensive understanding of your chosen subject at a more relaxed pace.

2. World-class universities

The US repeatedly tops the charts of worldwide ranking universities, so what better place to do your PhD studies? Although rankings shouldn’t be the main deciding factor when making your PhD choice, they're a great indicator of educational expertise.

There are many factors to consider when choosing the location for your PhD. Does the university have a high employability rate after graduation? Are you wanting to go public or private university? What kind of research facilities do they have? 

Be sure to do some research before making a decision on your perfect place of study.

3. International community

The United States is a popular choice for international students from all over the world – making it an inspirational and cosmopolitan choice for your PhD studies. No matter what your choice of academic study is, you are guaranteed to find a diverse community that welcomes students from all backgrounds. 

4. Affordable tuition fees 

There are various tuition fee options available for PhD students regardless of your budget. The American higher education system is often associated with high fees and substantial student debt, but in fact, studying at an American university isn't always expensive, and many institutions offer affordable courses. For instance, PhD costs range from $28,000 to $55,000, which shows that finding a PhD course that’s more affordable is possible. 

5. Student experience

American universities typically have vibrant campus communities with a wide range of extracurricular activities, clubs and organisations. As a student, you will have the opportunity to engage in various social, cultural and recreational activities alongside your academic studies.

6. Student Support

American universities typically provide comprehensive support services to assist you on your PhD journey. These services may include academic advising, counselling, career services, libraries, writing centres and various student organisations aimed at fostering your personal and professional development.

7. Land of opportunity

It's fair to say that student life in the USA offers something for everyone, regardless of what you're looking for from a PhD. With 50 states, six time zones, and thousands of higher-education providers, there's an opportunity waiting for every individual across the globe.

So let’s take a look at some of the key factors to consider when studying for a PhD in the USA.

Studying a PhD in the USA: top tips

Who is eligible for a phd in the usa.

To be eligible for PhD in the USA, generally students should have completed a graduate degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0, provide proof of English language proficiency, GRE scores and other supporting documents.  The eligibility criteria for a PhD in the USA can vary depending on the specific university and program. 

Can I get a PhD without a masters degree?

Yes, you can pursue a PhD without having a masters. Universities in the USA do not require a masters for you to apply. Because of the graduate programs in the US, you will receive your masters degree once you have completed your coursework stage. This practice combines the masters and PhD into one.

The eligibility criteria and requirements for direct entry PhD programs vary among institutions and fields of study, so it is advisable to check the entry requirements of the specific university or course you are interested in.

How to apply for a PhD in the USA

When applying for your chosen subject in the USA, you should expect to provide relevant information and statements to the university. This will include:

Completed application form – provided by your preferred university.

A personal statement – on why you want to study the subject, your research interests and career goals. Be sure to include any extracurricular activities and achievements within the body of your statement.

References – universities will expect that your referees will recommend you for the chosen course.

Test scores and grades – you will generally need to submit scores from standardised tests like the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). 

English Language Proficiency – international applicants whose native language is not English usually need to provide proof of English language proficiency through tests like the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). It varies from institution to institution, but international students in the USA are required to have a TOEFL score of about 90.

Samples of work – it is recommended that you provide some work you have done that is relevant to your chosen subject. You may even be asked to complete a small task during the application process.

The application fee. 

Method of study

Compared to the UK and Europe , studying a PhD in the USA involves several key differences. Students in the USA are usually in direct contact with their professor, compared with those in the UK where students might find that their PhD program is headed by a professor who gives them a little less flexibility to change their research and study areas. There can be several cultural differences between UK, Europe, and USA university lifestyles. US students are expected to undertake a great deal of teaching and marking, as opposed to PhD students in Europe. 

As a result, you may have less free time outside of the university when pursuing a PhD in the USA.

Application for PhD In USA

When applying for your chosen subject, you should expect to provide relevant information and statements to the university. This might include:

A personal statement on why you want to study the subject. Be sure to include any extra-curricular activities and achievements within the body of your statement.

References. Universities will expect that your referees will recommend you for the chosen course.

Test scores and grades. It is important that you provide a list of your awarded grades from previous courses you have studied.

Samples of work. It is recommended that you provide some work you have done that is relevant to your chosen subject. You may even be asked to complete a small task during the application process.

UK and Europe students decide on their PhD thesis subject area before they apply . While taking classes at a graduate level, prospective PhD students in the USA spend up to a year or two deciding on their specific research subject. It is normal to apply for up to six institutions for a PhD in the USA, and students apply to each institution separately as there is no central organisation. 

Students in the UK and Europe are expected to apply with an understanding of the subject already, usually in the form of a masters degree, and be ready to start studying at the PhD level straight away. In the USA it is expected that students do not have an in-depth understanding of their subject as they usually only have an undergraduate degree when they apply. 

When should I start applying for a PhD in the USA?

Deadlines for applications to PhD programs in the USA tend to be between December and February, and institutions should let you know about your application by April. Most US institutions recommend that you apply as far in advance as you possibly can to give them, and you, plenty of time to make arrangements. 

Universities in the USA do not require a masters for you to apply as well. Because of the graduate programs in the US, you will receive your masters degree once you have completed your coursework stage. This practice combines the masters and PhD into one.

It varies from institution to institution, but international students in the USA are required to have a TOEFL score of about 90.

Funding your PhD in USA

PhD students are very likely to receive financial support in the form of PhD scholarships ; some USA PhD students also receive PhD studentships .

Making your PhD application in plenty of time allows you more time to apply for and arrange your PhD funding. Many students find that funding can cover much, or all, of the cost of their PhD studies in the USA, which ranges between $28,000 and $40,000. Deadlines for funding applications can be as early as December before starting your studies in the Autumn/Fall. 

There are two types of PhD funding: fully funded, which pays for the student's graduate school tuition fees, accommodation, and living expenses, or partially funded, which pays for the student's tuition only partially or fully.

Can a PhD be fully funded?

Yes, many top universities in the USA offer fully funded PhD programs for eligible students. This funding pays for the student's graduate school tuition fees, accommodation and living expenses. Partially funded PhDs only cover the student's tuition in part or in full.

Some PhD students will receive a stipend from their institution with an assistantship position, but this varies between institutions and between departments within institutions. Other students can find funding from both their own and the American government, and there are plenty of American government schemes like The Fulbright Program that offer funds.

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How long does it take to study a PhD in the USA?

For part-time students in the USA, a PhD can take eight to ten years, but it usually takes five to six years for full-time students. PhDs can be completed in four to five years rather than five or six for students with a masters degree in an appropriate subject.

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PhD Programs

• Accounting & Management
• Business Economics
• Health Policy (Management)
• Organizational Behavior
• Technology & Operations Management

Students in our PhD programs are encouraged from day one to think of this experience as their first job in business academia—a training ground for a challenging and rewarding career generating rigorous, relevant research that influences practice.

Our doctoral students work with faculty and access resources throughout HBS and Harvard University. The PhD program curriculum requires coursework at HBS and other Harvard discipline departments, and with HBS and Harvard faculty on advisory committees. Faculty throughout Harvard guide the programs through their participation on advisory committees.

How do I know which program is right for me?

There are many paths, but we are one HBS. Our PhD students draw on diverse personal and professional backgrounds to pursue an ever-expanding range of research topics. Explore more here about each program’s requirements & curriculum, read student profiles for each discipline as well as student research , and placement information.

The PhD in Business Administration grounds students in the disciplinary theories and research methods that form the foundation of an academic career. Jointly administered by HBS and GSAS, the program has five areas of study: Accounting and Management , Management , Marketing , Strategy , and Technology and Operations Management . All areas of study involve roughly two years of coursework culminating in a field exam. The remaining years of the program are spent conducting independent research, working on co-authored publications, and writing the dissertation. Students join these programs from a wide range of backgrounds, from consulting to engineering. Many applicants possess liberal arts degrees, as there is not a requirement to possess a business degree before joining the program

The PhD in Business Economics provides students the opportunity to study in both Harvard’s world-class Economics Department and Harvard Business School. Throughout the program, coursework includes exploration of microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory, probability and statistics, and econometrics. While some students join the Business Economics program directly from undergraduate or masters programs, others have worked in economic consulting firms or as research assistants at universities or intergovernmental organizations.

The PhD program in Health Policy (Management) is rooted in data-driven research on the managerial, operational, and strategic issues facing a wide range of organizations. Coursework includes the study of microeconomic theory, management, research methods, and statistics. The backgrounds of students in this program are quite varied, with some coming from public health or the healthcare industry, while others arrive at the program with a background in disciplinary research

The PhD program in Organizational Behavior offers two tracks: either a micro or macro approach. In the micro track, students focus on the study of interpersonal relationships within organizations and the effects that groups have on individuals. Students in the macro track use sociological methods to examine organizations, groups, and markets as a whole, including topics such as the influence of individuals on organizational change, or the relationship between social missions and financial objectives. Jointly administered by HBS and GSAS, the program includes core disciplinary training in sociology or psychology, as well as additional coursework in organizational behavior.

Accounting & Management  

Business economics  , health policy (management)  , management  , marketing  , organizational behavior  , strategy  , technology & operations management  .

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Doctor of Philosophy

Doctor of philosophy (phd), ignite your future with a columbia nursing phd.

The Columbia University School of Nursing PhD program is a full-time, research-intensive curriculum that prepares nurses for careers as nurse scientists who will conduct research across a broad range of populations and health conditions. Importantly, much of our research is focused on health disparity populations with the long-term goal of informing health policy and clinical practice across the lifespan.

Columbia Nursing provides three years (eight semesters) of funding for tuition, related fees, health insurance, and a stipend for full-time PhD students.

Program Design

Our PhD program provides students with an understanding of the philosophical and theoretical underpinnings of nursing science and a strong foundation in research methods (design, statistics, measurement, quantitative and qualitative methods) for clinical, translational and health services research. All students are mentored by research advisors with active programs of research as they move toward independent research and assume the roles of doctorally prepared nurse scientists.  

As a Columbia Nursing PhD student, you will learn to:

• Design, conduct, and report multidisciplinary research studies that increase knowledge to improve the health and well-being of patients and families across the lifespan
• Advance the state of the science in a substantive area of research through application of innovative and rigorous methods
• Promote health and well-being for individuals and families in the context of their communities
• Provide leadership in improving the health care delivery system at local, national, and international levels
• Collaborate with other professionals to evaluate and develop policies for delivery of health service
• Translate evidence accumulated through research into practice and policy at multiple levels

As part of Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC), Columbia Nursing enjoys a unique collaboration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Mailman School of Public Health, and the College of Dental Medicine. CUIMC provides myriad opportunities for interprofessional collaboration in research . 

The PhD curriculum builds on the foundation of nursing science by bringing together practice, policy, translational research, and leadership. The core courses provide the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct relevant and well-designed research studies. Electives strengthen an area of clinical interest or intensify understanding of a specific research or analytic method. 

Both post-master's and post-BSN students admitted to the program will complete a minimum of 57 credits. The curriculum plan is designed to make it possible to complete the program in three years for those students with clearly defined plans for their dissertation research.

PhD courses are offered in three major areas:

• Theoretical foundations of nursing science
• Analytical foundations of nursing science
• Electives and application

Students must be registered as full-time for the duration of the program (typically three to four years). The minimum number of semester credits in required coursework is 37 (four semesters) for eligibility to progress to the qualifying exam. Six of the 37 credits required to be completed prior to the qualifying examination are elective courses tailored to the student’s dissertation topic and/or dissertation methods. The PhD program requires nine credits of elective courses. A minimum of 57 total credits is required for program completion. 

Concurrent with Coursework

• Research Experience (participating in faculty research projects and/or a research practicum)
• Research Faculty Training

Request a Sample Academic Program Plan

Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination helped me to combine the content I learned in my courses and my research interests so I could further articulate my research question. Performing a scoping review on my topic of interest immersed me in the current literature and was crucial to the development of my dissertation. This experience prepared me to successfully work independently through the rest of my Ph.D.

 Kylie Dougherty, BSN, RN, M.Phil.

In addition to coursework, students must successfully complete a qualifying examination with written and oral components. The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) is awarded after successful completion of the qualifying examination and the student enters doctoral candidacy status.

Dissertation

Students are expected to successfully defend a dissertation reporting original research. Four dissertation credits are required each semester during the dissertation phase of study. 

Scholarship Expectations

My advisor and the Columbia Nursing faculty provided me exceptional guidance throughout the PhD program to extend my learning beyond the classroom with the goal of becoming an independent nurse scientist. I learned valuable skills and knowledge to successfully obtain a NIH-funded predoctoral training award, present research findings at local, regional, and national conferences, and publish manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals with good impact factors.

Joseph Belloir, MSN, RN, PMHNP-BC

• Publication: At least one manuscript published in an appropriate peer-reviewed journal.
• Grantsmanship: At least one grant application submitted to an appropriate funding agency or organization.
• Presentation: At least one abstract submitted for presentation as a poster or oral presentation at an appropriate professional meeting.
• Networking: Student will attend at least one regional or national research meeting.

Preparation for Postdoctoral Fellowship: Research Career Next Step 

The coursework and research mentoring at Columbia Nursing helped prepare me for the next steps in my education and career post-PhD. In addition to structured coursework and educational seminars, the school provided beneficial informal support and resources. Feedback sessions with both peers and faculty were very helpful in preparing me to present posters and presentations at research conferences. The school also provided funds for travel to conferences where I presented my research. The grant writing workshop and mock reviews of grant applications provided me with tools and feedback needed to successfully apply for additional funding for my research. Finally, interdisciplinary research collaborations with faculty provided me with opportunities to work with researchers from several disciplines to complete my dissertation.

Melissa Beauchemin, PhD '19, MS '10, RN

PhD Student Handbook

The Columbia Nursing PhD student handbook provides information to aid doctoral students in planning coursework and proceeding through all phases of the program.

Request a PhD Student Handbook

What is it like to be a PhD student at Columbia Nursing?

Required courses (excluding electives).

Building upon the foundations provided in the quantitative and qualitative research method courses, in this course students examine advanced methods and frameworks frequently used in studying health policy, health services research problems and comparative effectiveness research. In addition to a critical review of the methods, the course examines the relationship among science, policy and healthcare delivery, and identifies critical questions shaping the future policy research agenda.

Interdisciplinary research is an approach to advancing scientific knowledge in which researchers from different disciplines work at the borders of those disciplines in order to address complex questions and problems. Successful interdisciplinary efforts require mastery of specific competencies. This seminar will introduce students to competencies in interdisciplinary research through a combination of readings, case studies, and lectures in each necessary aspect, chosen from fields essential to successful interdisciplinary research. It is intended to assist learners to understand why and how different professional disciplines must work together to generate and disseminate knowledge. We will examine: different conceptualizations of interdisciplinary; barriers to and facilitators of interdisciplinary research; approaches, benefits, and limitations of collaboration and team science; methods for measuring interdisciplinary collaboration; the intersection of translational and interdisciplinary scientific strategies; and individual researchers' experiences with and evaluations of their own interdisciplinary scientific projects. Learners will develop a set of skills to be effective members and leaders of interdisciplinary research teams.

The student works with a faculty member or other scientist who is conducting a research project. The specific nature of the experience depends on the nature and stage of the research, but might include search and review of relevant literature, data collection, data analysis and/or grant preparation.

This course is intended for PhD students who are engaged in relevant scholarly activities that are associated with dissertation research.

This foundational course will examine the philosophy of nursing knowledge including foundations of nursing theory, concept development, and its application to research. Students will explore approaches to the analysis and development of concepts and the application of nursing concepts and frameworks to clinical practice and research. Ideas, assumptions, events, people, and writings are examined for their influence, inter-relationships, and significance to nursing. Types of reasoning will be evaluated within the context of nursing and health. Major theories, frameworks, and concepts of nursing and health and their implication for research will be discussed. The focus of the course will be on development of critical thinking skills in analyzing key elements of philosophies, concepts, and conceptual frameworks.

In this foundational course students will study the links between theory and the psychosocial and biophysical measures used in nursing research.  Students will employ the principles of classical test theory and item response theory to evaluate the reliability and validity of measurement.  Application of computational techniques will be covered in the lab portion of the course.  Course topics include types and uses of measures, item/scale development and validation, survey methods, reporting for publication, and the relationships between measurement and research ethics, cultural competency, and health disparities.

This course provides a foundation for quantitative research methods and design. Research process topics examined include: appraisal of the quality of existing evidence; identification of gaps in the literature; formulation of researchable questions and testable hypotheses; types of research variables; sampling designs and power analyses; and the uses, strengths, and weaknesses of various experimental and quasi-experimental research designs.

This course provides an in-depth examination of qualitative study designs and methods through a combination of theoretical discussion and hands-on practical experience. Topics include paradigm distinctions, theoretical perspectives, designs and methods, critique of research reports, and ethical issues in qualitative research.

The course is intended for PhD students who are engaged in relevant scholarly activities that are not associated with the required course sequence. Such activities must accrue more than 20 hours/week.

This course is intended to provide a hands-on introduction to delivering data visualizations to serve as a critical lens through which individual and population level health can be examined. The proposed course will combine concepts and theory in data visualization and exploration and practice to enable the student to gain the necessary knowledge to use graphics and statistics to explore the data, find and construct a narrative, and share findings in ways colleagues and decision-makes can readily understand and act upon.

This course is designed to provide the tools for the doctorally prepared nurse to evaluate, translate and integrate published research results into clinical practice. During the course, students will learn how to conceptualize clinical practice problems and transform them into answerable clinical research questions, how to search for the best clinical evidence, and how to assess clinical evidence using basic epidemiological, biostatistical and scientific principles. The course will culminate in a systematic review or meta-analysis of a body of research relevant to advanced practice nursing.

Total Credits:

University of Florida

Graduate School Academic Calendars

Spring 2024 graduate school calendar , december 2023, january 2024, february 2024.

Projected dates. Specific dates and times of ceremonies for colleges and schools will be made available at http://www.commencement.ufl.edu once approved by the University Commencement Committee and as soon as plans are finalized. Please do not anticipate exact dates and times until the website has been updated.

At this time, the doctoral degree ceremony will fall on Thursday, May 2 nd , from 9 am to 11 am (with the processional to begin at 8:40 am) at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, with the University-wide ceremony falling on Friday, May 3rd at 7:00 pm (with the processional to begin at 6:30 pm) at the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.  Visit the link for more information regarding College Recognition Ceremonies .

NOTES: All dates and deadlines are subject to change and will be updated accordingly. Prospective students should contact the appropriate academic unit for admission application deadlines.

SUMMER 2024 GRADUATE SCHOOL CALENDAR

August 2024.

Projected dates. Specific dates and times of ceremonies for colleges and schools will be made available at https:// www.commencement.ufl.edu once approved by the University Commencement Committee and as soon as plans are finalized. Please do not anticipate exact dates and times until the website has been updated.

NOTES: All dates and deadlines are subject to change and will be updated accordingly. Prospective students should contact the appropriate academic unit for admission application deadlines.

Fall 2024 GRADUATE SCHOOL CALENDAR

September 2024, october 2024, november 2024, december 2024.

1 Projected dates. Specific dates and times of ceremonies for colleges and schools will be made available at  https:// www.commencement.ufl.edu  once approved by the University Commencement Committee and as soon as plans are finalized. Please do not anticipate exact dates and times until the website has been updated. 

Spring 2025 GRADUATE SCHOOL CALENDAR 

January 2025, february 2025.

1 Projected dates. Specific dates and times of ceremonies for colleges and schools will be made available at  https:// www.commencement.ufl.edu  once approved by the University Commencement Committee and as soon as plans are finalized. Please do not anticipate exact dates and times until the website has been updated.

SUMMER 2025 GRADUATE SCHOOL CALENDAR 

August 2025, print options.

Print this page.

The PDF will include all information unique to this page.

This PDF includes all graduate catalog information.

Important Dates

Applicants must complete and submit an online application by December 1. There is a fifteen day grace period allowed for receipt of supporting materials, such as letters of recommendation. The Admissions Committee will begin reviewing completed applications in early December and extend interview invitations to applicants on a rolling basis. Interview slots and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

September:  Application opens   December 1:  Application deadline December 15: All application materials must be received February 1: All interview invitations sent by this date March 15: All admissions decisions sent by this date   April 15:  Applicants must inform Skaggs Graduate School of their decision August 1:  Program start date and rotations begin September : Courses begin

For a list of supplemental materials applicants are required to submit, visit the How to Apply page and scroll down to the second paragraph.

For more answers to common questions, visit our FAQ page .

PhD General Information

• There are two start dates each in summer, fall, and spring.
• PhD courses are seven-weeks in length, with the exception of one research design course and the three dissertation courses, which are semester long.
• The average PhD student takes two courses for a total of 6 credit hours per semester (one each 7-week session), which is considered a full load at the doctoral level. While there is flexibility with course load, most students are balancing professional careers, family, and personal responsibilities, and find that two courses per semester is reasonable and feasible.
• The PhD is the pinnacle degree awarded by any university, and students are expected to possess extremely high-level competencies. Students earn the PhD after gaining a strong grounding in research and analytical tools to write a robust dissertation and produce new knowledge in the field.

PhD Degree Requirements

• The maximum time limit to complete the program is seven years or 150% of the credits, whichever the student reaches first.
• A minimum of 37 credit hours must be completed at CU.
• Up to 50% of the required credit hours can be transferred into the program.
• Graduation is contingent upon the completion of 73 hours of prescribed courses with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 and no more than one C. Students must complete all coursework, pass the written comprehensive examination, and successfully write, present, and defend their dissertation.
• Continuous enrollment (a minimum of one course per semester) is required Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters.
• In the event of extenuating circumstances, a PhD student may request in writing one Leave of Absence of up to two semesters. A PhD student who remains inactive for longer than two semesters must reapply to the program. Special accommodations will be extended for military deployments. The LOA does not “stop the clock” on the 7-year time limit for degree completion.

PhD Residency

Students are required to attend a one-week on-campus residency the first time it is offered after acceptance, typically in conjunction with their first summer semester of attendance. The residency is a highlight for students as they develop competencies in dissertation choice, design and methodology, and APA writing style and format. It is an opportunity for students to build relationships with professors and grow their networks with fellow students.

Students can stay in university housing for a fee or stay in area hotels. Details are provided before registration for the event.

As an option, Learners who have already attended the first Residency can choose to attend Residency for the second time to work on a draft of their Dissertation Alignment Document or Chapter 1.

As an option, learners who have started Dissertations I, II, or III can attend PhD Residency to receive one-on-one coaching to work on their proposal.  NOTE: Learner must receive approval from their Dissertation Chair.

While students have the option to participate synchronously or asynchronously in their core classes, students must attend the PhD Residency in person. Under no circumstance will Learners be allowed to attend PhD Residency Virtually.

PhD Comprehensive Examination, Dissertation, and Oral Defense

The PhD student will submit and pass a written comprehensive examination upon completion of 55 hours of coursework before moving forward on the dissertation research.

The PhD dissertation is a formal treatise that advances a proposition based on scholarly research. Included among the criteria of a successful dissertation are the following: appropriate topic, valid research question, original research, sound methodology, coherent argumentation, critical evaluation, effective style, conformity to deadlines, and contribution of scholarship.

The presentation and oral defense of the written dissertation will be scheduled through the committee chair.

John Wesley School of Leadership Leave of Absence

In the event of extenuating circumstances, a student may request in writing one Leave of Absence (LOA) from the School of Leadership. Students must consult with their academic advisor to review the effects an LOA will have on their academic plan and create a post-LOA academic plan to maintain continuous enrollment, which will also be submitted to the Dean. Contingent upon Dean approval, the student will be allowed a maximum leave of absence of two consecutive semesters (summer semester included). A student who remains inactive for longer than two semesters must reapply to the program. Special accommodations will be extended for military deployments (please see information on military withdrawal in the Academic Information section of the catalog).

F1 Students

F1 students are not eligible for a LOA during any semester wherein they are required to be a fulltime student. Because continuous enrollment is a requirement of PhD programs, F1 students eligible for annual vacation may take an approved vacation and maintain continuous enrollment in the program by opting to complete courses online without requesting an LOA.

An LOA does not “stop the clock” on the 7-year time limit for earning the degree. 

Working with a Committee

In order to be effective, all communication between the Learner and Committee members must be timely, open, and honest. All interactions should maintain a positive, respectful, and professional tone.

Learners should communicate regularly with their Chair via the Learning Management System and/or CU channels only (i.e., CU Email). Responses to all communications, regardless of sender, should be within 48 hours. Chairs may also choose to communicate with Learners via phone or videoconference.

As per Carolina University’s Attendance Policy (2023-2024), if a Learner is inactive for more than three consecutive weeks in a 15-week course (RES 877, RES 878, RES 879, and RES 880 Continuation), it will be considered course abandonment. This policy will apply to grandfathered dissertation courses (REX 877, REX 878, and REX 879) as well. Course abandonment will result in the student being withdrawn from the course. For F1 students, course abandonment (Unauthorized Withdrawal) will result in termination of their SEVIS record.

Unlike the core classes, the Dissertation Classes (RES 877, RES 878, RES 879 and RES 880) will be graded on a Pass/Fail basis. To avoid failing the Dissertation Classes, Learners must submit deliverables at the designated due dates agreed upon between the Learner and the Dissertation Chair. Additionally, the Learner must actively participate in some weekly or bi-weekly activity (i.e., submitting a literature review matrix, Chapter 1 revisions, Zoom meetings, etc.). Not submitting deliverables or not participating in scheduled activities may lead to course failure, and the Learner will repeat that specific class (RES 877, RES 878, RES 879 or RES 880). The pass/fail policy will apply to grandfathered courses (REX 877, REX 878, and REX 879) as well. NOTE: If receiving Financial Aid, the Learner must contact the Financial Aid Office to find out how this will impact their Financial Aid. 

© 2012-2024 Carolina University

Computer Science & Engineering

UCSD CSE Graduate Admissions

Updated December 2023

We appreciate your interest in the graduate program in the Department of Computer Science & Engineering at UC San Diego. We offer PhD and MS degrees in both computer science and computer engineering. We also have a streamlined 5-year BS/MS program for highly qualified UCSD CSE undergraduates. Undocumented students are welcome to apply.

Department Overview

The UCSD Application for Graduate Admission  opens for  Fall 2024 admission from September 6, 2023 until December 20, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Admission is given for Fall quarter only . We do not admit new students in Spring quarters. All application materials must be submitted through the online application.

The GRE is not required for PhD and MS applications for Fall 2024.  Applicants may still submit valid scores if they have already taken the test. 

The TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition will be accepted for admission at both the Master's and PhD levels. However, the TOEFL ITP Plus for China Solution cannot be used to substitute for a standard TOEFL iBT test. The Department will also now accept IELTS scores to verify English language proficiency. 

For information about the online application and required supplemental documents, please refer to: Application Checklist and Guidelines.

About the Admissions Process

Admission to the CSE graduate program is very selective. Our department receives over 6,000 applications annually. (For Grad Data, please click here ).

We seek applicants with a strong academic background in computer science and engineering and/or a related field and a demonstrated potential for success in graduate school. Each application undergoes a comprehensive review by the CSE Admissions Committee, which examines every component of the application and supplemental materials when considering an applicant for admission. (Standardized test scores and grade point averages (GPA) are an integral part of the evaluation process, but admissions decisions are NOT made based on these components alone.)

The MS and PhD degree programs are mutually independent.  You may only apply for one program or the other ; applications for both the MS and PhD programs will not be accepted. ( An MS degree is not required for admission to the PhD program.)

Current or former UCSD students in the MS program who wish to continue/transfer to the PhD program, will complete the  UCSD Application for Graduate Admission  by the general application deadline for the year they are seeking admission ( Admission is ONLY given in the Fall quarters. ) The application will be reviewed along with those of the external PhD applicants for that admissions cycle. MS to PhD students must complete their application online, but will NOT be able to "submit" the application. Once you have completed your online application, please email [email protected] to notify the team, so we can track your application. When sending an email, please include "MS to PhD Transfer Application Submission", in the subject line. For a complete list of all of the supplemental materials required for the graduate application, please visit our Graduate Application Checklist . 

If you are interested in enrolling in Computer Science and Engineering classes without being matriculated in a degree program you may do so through the Concurrent Enrollment Program .

The CSE department has a limited number of application fee waivers available for PhD international students. Our department will be granting these waivers to students based on factors that include: contributions to diversity; social justice experience; overcoming adversity. Unfortunately, we are not able to grant application fee waivers on the basis of financial need alone.   If you would like to request a CSE department fee waiver, please fill out the Fee Waiver Application. (CLOSED on December 1st for Fall 2024 admission.)

Graduate Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the minimum university and departmental requirements outlined below. All application documents are submitted to the Graduate Division Online application at UCSD Application for Graduate Admission . For a complete list of all of the supplemental materials required for the graduate application, please visit our Graduate Application Checklist . 

Additional questions about admission into our graduate program may be answered on our Graduate Admissions FAQ page. Please also see the Prospective Student web pages on the Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs (GEPA) . 

Undocumented Students : Undocumented students are welcome to apply. For additional Information: Undocumented Student Services

Prerequisites

A bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or mathematics is preferred, but not required. Applicants with a degree in another discipline will be considered for admission if they have completed the minimum required CSE courses or their equivalent. However, it is recommended that applicants without a CSE background take courses beyond the minimum to demonstrate an ability to understand more advanced concepts in computer science and engineering:  My bachelors degree isn't in CS. What kind of background should I have before applying to the program?

Academics and GPA

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree or the equivalent from an accredited institution in the United States or from a recognized university-level academic institution abroad. At least a B average (3.0 GPA) or its equivalent is required for admission. Satisfaction of minimal standards does not, however, guarantee admission, since the number of qualified applicants far exceeds the number of places available. International and U.S. Applicants should refer to the UCSD Academic Policies - Admissions . 

Test Scores

GRE: The GRE is not required for PhD and MS applications for Fall 2024. Applicants may still submit valid scores if they have already taken the test. 

Applicants with valid GRE test scores should request that ETS submit the scores directly to the UCSD institution code  4836.  The department codes are not necessary . Information about the GRE is available from the  Educational Testing Service  (ETS) website. 

TOEFL/IELTS: The Test of English as a Foreign Language ( TOEFL ) OR the International English Language Testing System ( IELTS ) is required for international applicants whose native language is not English and who have not studied full-time at a university-level institution where the sole language of instruction is in English.

The UCSD TOEFL Institution Code is 4836.   No department code is required.   The university minimum TOEFL score required for admission is 550 for the paper-and-pencil version, 213 for the computer-based test or 85  for the internet-based test (iBT). The TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition will be accepted for admission at both the Master's and PhD levels. However, the TOEFL ITP Plus for China Solution cannot be used to substitute for a standard TOEFL iBT test. For more information on the TOEFL, visit the TOEFL website . An official ETS-reported score must be submitted for an applicant to be admitted into the graduate program.  The Test of Spoken English (TSE) is not required.

The university minimum IELTS score required for admission is Band Score 7 . To submit official test scores to UC San Diego Graduate Division, applicants must contact the IELTS test center where they took the test to request their official test results to be sent to the address below. UC San Diego does not accept unofficial copies of IELTS Test Report Forms from students. An institution code is  not  required.

• University of California, San Diego Graduate Admissions 9500 Gilman Drive #0003 La Jolla, CA 92093-0003

Duplication of Degrees

NOTICE -  Normally, UCSD does not permit the duplication of advanced degrees. (Previous professional degrees, however, are not included in this restriction.) Holders of a master's degree in one field may be considered under certain circumstances for admission into a master's degree program in another field (after the admissions faculty committee reviews all application files in any given admissions cycle).   Holders of a PhD, in any field, are advised not to apply for admission to the CSE department's PhD program. For more information, please refer to  here .

To learn more about UC San Diego Graduate Student-related data or data about a specific department before applying, please visit the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs website linked here .

Future Events

If you are interested in attending future recruitment events and fairs where you are able to connect with Computer Science and Engineering MS and PhD advisors, please complete the following interest form . By submitting this form, you will receive information from UC San Diego. 

Here are some upcoming events where the Graduate Division will speak with prospective students and offer guidance on everything from admissions to graduate student life.

Contact Information

If you still have questions for which you could not find an answer on our website, please email either one of the following:

PhD Admissions at [email protected]

MS Admissions at [email protected]

The University of California, San Diego does not discriminate on the basis of race, color,  national origin, religion, sex, disability, age or sexual orientation in any of its policies,  procedures, or practices, including but not limited to academic admission, financial aid, educational services, and student employment.

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Doctor of Philosophy

A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is an internationally recognised graduate research program that will enable you to become an independent researcher. 

With the guidance of an advisory team, you'll undertake a research project, produce an 80,000-word thesis and complete an oral examination.

A PhD takes 3 to 4 years full-time. Under guidance, you'll develop advanced research skills and knowledge in your chosen field.

The thesis is a substantial document that makes an original contribution to your field of research. Your thesis may involve an alternate format .

You'll need a strong academic background and you may need to submit a research proposal and other documents to support your application. About 1,000 PhD candidates join UQ each year researching a wide range of topics.

Research at UQ

UQ is one of Australia’s top research-intensive universities. Our research makes an impact on the world's cultural, environmental, economic and social challenges.

Learn more about UQ's research

Program highlights

• Be inspired and challenged to explore new ideas and develop greater understanding of complex questions with leading researchers.
• Access premier resources including one of Australia’s largest libraries, with more than 2 million physical resources and 116,800+ journal subscriptions.
• Foster and improve your skills through the Career Development Framework, created with industry.
• Learn from researchers whose work addresses national and global cultural, environmental, economic and social challenges.

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CWTS Leiden Ranking 2023

51 in the world

Academic Ranking of World Universities 2023

Supervision

You have to find and contact a thesis supervisor before you apply

This supervisor will support, guide and mentor you through your research, and can introduce you to professional networks that will start your career.

Find a supervisor

3-Minute Thesis

The showcase event for research candidates is the 3-Minute Thesis (3MT). 

3MT is held each spring.

Learn more about the 3MT

Career development

UQ offers a range of development opportunities via the Career Development Framework (CDF) to help you develop portable skills for any career or industry.

Learn more about the CDF

Studying at UQ gave me the flexibility to expand my knowledge across different areas of science outside of my chosen specialty. Keeping my scientific and translational skills broad has allowed me to adapt to different environments and opportunities throughout my career.

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Entry requirements

Gpa equivalent.

Select where you studied and your qualification to see the GPA you need to be considered for this program.

Meeting the GPA requirement doesn’t guarantee admission.

Academic entry requirements

You have to prove you are prepared for PhD study. You do this by showing you:

• have completed some research experience
• have completed an approved university degree  and
• can meet the English language requirements.

Approved degrees

An approved degree needs to be:

• in an area relevant to your proposed PhD project and
• completed no more than 10 years ago.

You need one of the following approved degrees to apply for a PhD:

• Master of Philosophy (or another research master’s degree); or
• Bachelor’s degree from an approved university with at least honours class IIA or equivalent; or
• Coursework master’s degree with an overall grade point average of 5.65 on the 7-point UQ scale which includes relevant research experience, approved by the dean; or
• Postgraduate degree (at least one year full-time or equivalent) with an overall grade point average of 5 on the 7-point UQ scale, together with demonstrated research experience equivalent to honours class IIA will be considered on a case-by-case basis; or
• Bachelor’s degree plus at least 2 years of relevant research experience , including research publications.

Research experience

You'll meet the requirements for admission into a PhD in terms of 'research preparedness' if you can provide evidence that you've planned and executed project work and/or a body of research with some independence.

To demonstrate this, we'll ask you to provide one of the following:

• with completed courses that aim to develop research skills (minimum value of #1 unit e.g. 50 per cent of a #2 unit course), and/or
• the completion of a supervised research project that includes an individually graded written report with a combined minimum course volume equal to #4 units at UQ.
• Scholarly papers involving a substantial contribution as an author, appearing in recognised academic journals or in volumes published by recognised academic publishers.
• Research or technical reports prepared for industry, government or business, which adhere to the broad conventions of academic publishing (i.e. contain an up-to-date review of relevant literature, a description of relevant research methods and an evaluation of results, etc.) and which identify you as a significant contributor.
• A portfolio of published creative work together with published critical discussion of some or all of that work, or of a comparable body of work by others, and which demonstrates your development of a scholarly approach to creative work as research investigation.
• Demonstrable industry or work experience where you can demonstrate that you have planned and executed a project, working with a high level of independence.

Student visas

International students who are accepted into full-time study in the Doctor of Philosophy are eligible to apply for an Australian Student visa (subclass 500).

This program has two CRICOS codes:

• 0100213 – Architecture, creative arts, education, health, information technology, management and commerce, mathematical sciences, social and cultural studies
• 0100214 – Agriculture and environmental studies, dentistry, engineering, human movement, medical studies, natural and physical sciences, pharmacy, psychology, veterinary science

Discuss your proposed project with us to determine which CRICOS code is most relevant for your visa application.

There are a number of requirements you must satisfy before a visa is granted, including the genuine temporary entrant (GTE) requirement.

Learn more about student visas

Additional entry requirements

Many departments will have additional entry requirements and may request documents to support your application, such as a research proposal. You should discuss these additional requirements with your potential thesis supervisor.

Additional application information

Minimum English language proficiency requirements apply, please refer to the English proficiency policy .

English language requirements

There are a few ways you can meet our English language requirements. If you sit a test, the following scores are needed for PhD admission:

Read our English language requirements

Scholarships

There are several types of PhD scholarship:

• tuition fee scholarship : this covers the fees charged by UQ for PhD study
• living stipend scholarship: this is a   fortnightly payment (or stipend) to support your daily expenses
• top-up scholarship: may be provided by external organisations, supervisors, or philanthropic donations. When awarded, they provide an additional payment on top of a living stipend scholarship. They cannot be held without a living stipend scholarship.

Each year, we award more than 600 scholarships to attract and support the highest quality higher degree by research applicants.

View all postgraduate research scholarships

University scholarships

UQ scholarships include:

• Graduate School Scholarships
• Graduate School Tuition Fees Scholarship
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scholarships
• Earmarked Scholarships
• The Graduate School Scholarship

Other scholarships

Throughout the year we advertise a range of other research scholarships, including top-up scholarships, travel grants and external scholarships, including:

• Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship

How to apply for a scholarship

You can apply for many scholarships using the same form as your PhD application. External scholarships might have different ways to apply. 

Our Scholarships website explains how to apply for each scholarship. If you are applying for a non-UQ scholarship, outcome dates may vary.

Fees and costs

Tuition fees.

Your fees will vary according to your academic field, study load and whether you study internally or remotely.

Learn more about postgraduate research fees

Research costs

The department you enrol with will meet all necessary costs for your project, including:

• resource and facility costs: at UQ, which may include other organisations in Australia or overseas
• travel costs: to complete fieldwork, collect data, or to visit libraries or other repositories
• coursework costs: for courses studied outside the department
• relevant training: in particular methodologies or techniques.

How to apply

Before you apply, 1. check your eligibility.

Check your eligibility by reviewing the entry requirements for UQ's Higher Degrees by Research. If applying for a scholarship, check the scholarship's eligibility and important dates.

2. Approach a potential supervisor or find a project

You'll either need to find:

• a supervisor in your field who will support your proposed project.  Identify a researcher .
• a project you can join that suits your interests.  See available projects .

If you're choosing a researcher, you'll need to find one with relevant expertise and get agreement to support your PhD and project.

Many departments will require additional information to make a decision around your motivation, understanding, commitment, and financial support required.

They may request documents to support your application, such as a research proposal. You should discuss these additional requirements with your potential thesis supervisor.

3. Gather your documents

You will need to compile the necessary documents. We will accept scanned copies of original documents, but you will have to keep all original documents for the duration of your studies.

Upload all documents as PDFs and name your files like this: LASTNAME_firstname_document-name.pdf

If any of your documents is in a language other than English, you will need to send both the original document and an official translation.

Send the following documents with your application:

An academic CV assists us to determine your readiness to commence a higher degree by research. For the purposes of this application, your academic CV should be current (i.e. no more than 6 months old) and include information under the following headings:

Personal details

• your full name
• your contact details (phone number, email address, city and country of residence)
• nationality
• languages spoken and proficiency level for each
• your ORCID ID or other research output identifier (such as Google Scholar) if you have one (see the ORCID ID and research identifiers information provided by UQ Library).

As the purpose of this academic CV is to determine your academic suitability for a higher degree by research program at UQ and your competitiveness against other applicants, we only require information that is of direct relevance to our decision-making processes. With this in mind, please do not include the following in your academic CV:

• photographs/head shot
• marital status
• driver’s license
• date of birth/age
• hobbies and interests.

Educational qualifications and academic awards

List each of your formal educational qualifications in reverse chronological order (i.e. with the most recent formal educational qualification listed first). For each qualification, include:

• the commencing and end dates (month and year) for the qualification
• the full title of the qualification (e.g. Bachelor of Arts instead of B.A.)
• the institution attended and the enrolling school/administrative unit
• the city and country where the institution is located
• your Grade Point Average (GPA) for the overall qualification
• any academic achievement awards (e.g. Dean’s awards, subject prizes, University medals, thesis prizes etc.) received for the qualification
• if a research thesis was part of the qualification, include the title and word length of your dissertation.

As part of your application, please submit academic transcripts and degree certificates for each educational qualification you list.

Please do not include:

• high school qualifications
• the individual subjects/courses undertaken throughout your qualifications or the grades awarded for these
• training courses/professional development activities not resulting in a formal qualification.

Professional affiliations and memberships

List any professional/disciplinary associations or committees that you a member of and include:

• the commencing and end date (in years) for the affiliation/membership
• the name of the professional association or committee
• your membership type (e.g. student member, affiliate member, full member etc.) or role (e.g. committee member, secretary, president etc.).

Employment history

List each of your previous employment roles in reverse chronological order (i.e. with the most recent/current employment listed first) and include:

• the commencing and end dates (month and year) for the employment
• the title of each position
• the name of the employing organisation, the city, and country where you were based
• your main duties or accountabilities in that role, providing detailed information on any research-related activities
• any achievements during that role that are relevant to your proposed field of research .

Other research experience

List any voluntary, unpaid, or extra-curricular research-related projects or experiences you have undertaken (e.g. summer research projects, internships etc.) and include:

• the commencing and end dates (month and year) of the experience
• the name of the organisation, the city, and country where you were based

Research outputs

In reverse chronological order (i.e. the most recent output first) list your research outputs,  including for example research published or accepted for publication, research reports, and research by creative practice.

If needed, use sub-headings to separate refereed journal articles, published conference proceedings, edited book chapters, books, creative works, industry reports, invited papers, patents, media commentary, conference presentations and posters, invited talks etc. If applicable, use additional sub-headings to indicate if outputs are published , accepted for publication (but not yet in print), or (submitted but) under review .

Do not include any outputs/publications that are ‘in preparation’ .

For all research outputs, include:

• the output/publication reference using an official bibliographical style (such as Turabian/Chicago, APA, Harvard), including listing all authors in the order that they appear in the work with your name in bold
• the Digital Object Identifier (DOI), PubMed Identifier (PMID), International Standard Book Number (ISBN) or URL where applicable
• the standing of the journal or conference and the impact of the work (e.g. impact factors, citations and other metrics indicators)
• relevant indicators of national or international significance
• rejection rates for the outlet etc.
• how much of the original research you were responsible for (i.e. what was your role in the conception and design of the project and how involved were you in the analysis and interpretation of the research data on which the publication is based?)
• the extent to which you authored the paper.

Research grants and relevant awards

Include only those research grants and relevant awards that you have received at the time of making your application (i.e. do not list grants or awards that you applied for and did not receive or are awaiting a decision on). For each research grant/award, include:

• the name of the granting/awarding body and the country in which they are based
• the name of the grant/award
• the year(s) in which the grant was active or the year in which the award was made
• the amount of the research grant/award
• if relevant (e.g. for research grants), the title of your application.

Applicants from creative and professional-based disciplines may also include non-research grants and awards related to their creative or professional practice.

Research achievements relative to opportunity (optional)

In recognition of the diverse personal and professional pathways that applicants have experienced, you are invited to provide information ( maximum 200 words ) to contextualise your research outputs and achievements, relative to the opportunities that you have had to participate in research-related activities.

This section of the CV is optional and should only be included if you believe there are factors relevant to your research achievements that you would like the selection panels to know. Examples of factors include (but are not limited to):

• study/career disruptions due to illness, caregiving, natural disasters etc.
• non-linear academic or career progression, or a change in career direction
• reduced ability to take up research-related opportunities (e.g. attend conferences) due to caregiving responsibilities.

Academic referees

Please provide us with two referees who can comment on your academic work. For each referee, include their:

• honorific and name
• employing organisation and the city and country where they are located
• contact details, including office address, telephone, fax and email (preferably an institutional, rather than private, email address)
• an indication of the capacity in which you know this person (e.g. were they a lecturer or thesis supervisor, an employer, how long you’ve known them etc.). 

If possible, please include at least one:

• senior person (preferably your supervisor or the head of your organisational unit) closely associated with your current work, and
• person who is not a member of your proposed advisory panel/supervisory team.

Formatting and document specifications

We recommend that you use the below formatting settings to improve the readability of your CV:

• margins of at least 1.5 centimetres
• single line spacing
• no smaller than 12 point Times New Roman font (or equivalent)
• left justify text (not full justify)
• include your name and page number on each page
• be consistent in your formatting and spelling throughout
• limit the use of bold, underline, italics, and multiple font types.

Please proofread your CV carefully before uploading it to your application.

Save as a PDF and name your file: LASTNAME_firstname_CV.pdf

There is no page limit to your academic CV – it can be as long as required to include the information requested here.

Please include in your CV all the headings listed above – if you do not have any content to add for a particular heading please list ‘None to date’ under that heading .

An academic CV for employment purposes within Australia would not include the information requested here outlining your three most significant publications or your research achievements relative to opportunity. It would, however, include information about professional and service activities undertaken and may include a summary of your relevant research/teaching interest areas and skill sets – this information is not required in the CV you submit here for application to an HDR program.

This should show all study you have undertaken since secondary school, whether complete or incomplete, including the institution grading scale. The grading scale is often found on the final page or the reverse page; be sure to include all pages.

An academic transcript can also be called an:

• academic record
• diploma supplement
• statement of learning
• record of achievement.

A degree certificate is a legal document, imprinted with a university seal. It should state the name of your qualification and areas of study.

Include all degree certificates (testamurs) for post-secondary study with your application. If you studied in China, you must provide a:

• award certificate and
• graduate statement/certificate.

All applicants have to prove they can meet English language requirements . Any test scores have to be valid at your proposed commencement date.

Include a copy of the information page (with your photo) in your passport. This will verify your identity and ensure we can make offers correctly.

Include the contact details of two referees who will support your application. These referees will need to provide insight into your research experience.

We will contact your referees for a report, but you will need to enter their details into the application form.

Other documentation, originals or certified copies, may be required depending on your individual circumstances, for example:

• evidence of change of name
• proof of citizenship, if you are not a citizen of Australia or New Zealand by birth
• evidence of your Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status
• previous research program information .

If you don't provide us with all documents it will take us longer to process your application. Your start date might then be delayed, or you might miss an admission or scholarship deadline. 

4. Apply online

Once you have prepared your application and contacted a potential supervisor, use the online application form to apply. Your application can only be assessed once your referees have responded to us, and all outstanding documents and school/institute endorsements have been received.

Important dates

The academic year for research students is divided into four research quarters (RQ).

Candidates applying for a Student Visa or UQ scholarship may need to apply earlier. Make sure you check  scholarship round application deadlines  and outcome dates before applying.

The agreed start date will be included on your Confirmation of Enrolment.

Find out more about research quarter dates

The academic year for research students is divided into four research quarters (RQ). You can start a PhD in any quarter, as long as the Census Date hasn't passed.

Candidates applying for a UQ scholarship may need to apply earlier. Make sure you check scholarship round application deadlines and outcome dates before applying.

The agreed start date will be included on your offer of admission.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants

For support with applying – or if you have any questions about university life – get in touch with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit.

Contact the ATSIS Unit

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Graduate Application Timeline

Our admissions process operates on a rolling basis, however, we do recommend following the application guidelines below to ensure you can begin during your desired start term. If you are an international student, please consult the international admissions deadlines .

Graduate Domestic Deadlines (US Campuses)

International students requiring F1 student visas should consult the following website for their specific deadlines:  https://cps.northeastern.edu/admissions-aid/international-admissions/applications/international-application-timeline/ .

Canadian Campus Deadlines (Domestic)

International students requiring study permits should consult the following website for their specific deadlines:  https://cps.northeastern.edu/admissions-aid/international-admissions/applications/international-application-timeline/ .

Doctoral Applicants (US Campuses)

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Graduate College

See below for important deadlines. Planning for a future semester? All Graduate College deadlines are also found at the Registrar’s Office Academic Deadlines Calendar . 

Spring 2024

October 2, 2023, january 29, 2024, february 23, 2024, february 24, 2024, march 5, 2024, april 15, 2024, april 16, 2024, april 23, 2024, may 9, 2024 - may 12, 2024, summer 2024, may 17, 2024, may 24, 2024, june 7, 2024, june 8, 2024, june 10, 2024, june 11, 2024, june 21, 2024, june 28, 2024, july 16, 2024, july 22, 2024, july 23, 2024, february 5, 2024, september 9, 2024, october 4, 2024, october 5, 2024, october 15, 2024, november 18, 2024, december 2, 2024, december 9, 2024, december 19, 2024 - december 22, 2024.

Academic Calendar: Academic Calendar

Please note quarter and semester start and end dates for the 2022–2023 and 2023-2024 academic years. Click on the links below to access detailed calendars for either the quarter-based programs or the semester-based programs. 

Walden University’s academic calendar is broken up into quarter-based terms (fall, winter, spring, and summer) and semester-based terms (fall, spring, and summer). These calendars provide term-specific information and list the last day to add or drop a course (with refund) and the last day to withdraw with a grade of “W.” For specific state refund policies, please see the  Refund Policies  in this student handbook.

Students who need to access calendars from previous academic years should refer to the archived student handbooks .

Calendar at a Glance

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2023-2024 Quarter 

Fall Quarter 2023: August 28, 2023 - November 19, 2023

Winter Quarter 2023-2024 : November 27, 2023 - February 18, 2024

Spring Quarter 2024 : February 26, 2024 - May 19, 2024

Summer Quarter 2024: May 27, 2024 - August 25, 2024

2024-2025 Quarter 

Fall Quarter 2024:  August 26, 2024 - November 17, 2024

Winter Quarter 2024-2025 : November 25, 2024 - February 16, 2025

Spring Quarter 2025 : February 24, 2025 - May 18, 2025

Summer Quarter 2025:  May 26, 2025 - August 17, 2025

2023-2024 Semester 

Fall Semester 2023 : September 4, 2023 -December 24, 2023

Spring Semester 2024 : January 8, 2024 -April 28, 2024

Summer Semester 2024 : May 6, 2024 - August 25, 2024

2024-2025 Semester 

Fall Semester 2024 : September 2, 2024 - December 22, 2024

Spring Semester 2025 : January 6, 2025 - April 27, 2025

Summer Semester 2025 : May 5, 2025 - August 24, 2025

Tempo Learning®

December 4, 2023 - March 3, 2024

January 1, 2024 - March 31, 2024

February 5, 2024 - May 5, 2024

March 4, 2024 - June 2, 2024

April 1, 2024 - June 30, 2024

May 6, 2024 - August 4, 2024

June 3, 2024 - September 1, 2024

July 1, 2024 - October 6, 2024

August 5, 2024 - November 3, 2024

September 2, 2024 - December 1, 2024

October 7, 2024 - January 5, 2025

November 4, 2024 - February 2, 2025

December 2, 2024 - March 2, 2025

Walden Tempo Learning® terms are 3 months long and provide students with the opportunity to complete as many competencies as possible within that time frame. Instead of traditional semester or quarter start dates, students may start their Tempo Learning® program on the first Monday of any month. The date that students begin in the Tempo Learning® modality marks their first term. Students will continue to enroll in subsequent 3-month terms until they successfully complete all of their program’s Competency Assessments and graduate.

Subscription term end dates cannot be extended.

Quarter-Based Terms

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