How to Apply

Supplemental Material: In addition to a writing sample, applicants to Linguistics should prepare and upload a document that lists all courses the applicant has taken or will have taken by the time of enrollment which have relevance to graduate study in linguistics (in particular, language courses and courses in linguistics, mathematics/statistics, computer science, psychology, anthropology, and language of philosophy). This list should include the complete title of each course, the instructor's full name, the grade earned (if available), and a brief (at most a paragraph) description of the contents of the course (a list of topics covered, for example), along with the titles and authors of any texts used or papers read.

Writing Sample: Applicants to Music are required to submit two writing samples (composers are required to submit one writing sample), double-spaced, each approximately 20 pages in length. Click here for information about the desired content for a writing sample.

Composition Applicants: Applicants in Composition and Sound Practices should upload 2-5 creative works. Please include the following documentation if it applies to the nature of the work: *scores (including text, graphic, classical, and contemporary), *audio recordings, photos, video documentation, artist statements, and installation and performance sketches. Please submit the written documentation in PDF format, and recordings in any of the standard media formats, such as .wav or mp4 files (you can also provide a PDF with links). For files exceeding 2GB, please contact ahd-admissions@uchicago.edu prior to the application deadline to arrange a webshare.

Writing Sample: Applicants to Romance Languages and Literatures should submit a writing sample that is 15-20 pages long, double-spaced. The writing sample should be in the language of specialization. Click here for information about the desired content for a writing sample.

Curriculum Vitae: Applicants to Romance Languages and Literatures are also required to admit a current CV or Resume.

The Theater and Performance Studies (TAPS) PhD program is a joint-only PhD program, and does not admit students who are not also admitted to another program. Applicants must choose a TAPS partner department (the "home department") and submit an application to that department, indicating their interest in also being considered for admission to TAPS. The applicant must submit all materials required for the home department application along with supplemental materials for the TAPS application. TAPS Partner Departments are Art History, Cinema and Media Studies, Classics, Comparative Literature, East Asian Languages and Civilizations, English Language and Literature, Germanic Studies, Music, and Romance Languages and Literatures.

GRE Scores: Applicants to Theater and Performance Studies are not required to submit GRE scores. TAPS applicants should submit GRE scores only if the home program to which they are applying requires scores.

Statement of Interest: Applicants to Theater & Performance Studies should provide a statement of interest for the TAPS joint PhD program in addition to the Statement of Purpose for the home program.

References: Applicants to Theater and Performance Studies should supply two references specifically for the TAPS program. If one or more of the references to the home program can serve as TAPS references, they do not have to be additional references. However, applicants can add as many references as necessary in the online application.

Optional Items: Applicants to Theater and Performance Studies may submit any or all of the following optional materials:

• A TAPS-related Writing Sample (maximum 25 pages);
• An Artistic Resume;
• Media of past creative work, such as performance videos;
• Other supporting materials they feel are relevant to their application.

Artist's Statement: Applicants to Visual Arts will submit an artist's statement rather than a statement of purpose. The Artist's Statement should comprise one or two pages illuminating your artistic practice by discussion of such questions as sources of influence, character of the inquiry, and some suggestion of future directions you wish to explore.

Portfolio: In lieu of a writing sample, applicants to Visual Arts should submit a portfolio consisting of twenty digital images. Alternatively, students who work in time-based media may submit a selection of work as video files. A significant number of the images should represent work done within the last twelve months. Three-dimensional works should show the surrounding space and context. Portfolios are submitted online as part of the online application. The portfolio submission interface will allow you to label each image with a title, a date of completion, the materials used, and a brief description of the work. Digital files must adhere strictly to the specifications outlined below. Do not format images in any presentation program (e.g., PowerPoint, Keynote), or include composite images (more than one work per file). Still image files may be sent in jpeg, png, bmp, or tiff format. Videos will be accepted in QuickTime, AVI, FLV, MP4, or WMV format. Video files should be no longer than two minutes in length, and the size of your video uploads is limited to 250 MB. Please note that videos are considered as part of your selection of twenty files, not as additional material. Do not include titles or credits within the video files.

Writing Sample: Applicants to the Master of Arts Program in the Humanities should include a sample of their critical writing that is 10-15 pages in length, double-spaced. Click here for information about the desired content for a writing sample. Applicants to the MAPH Creative Writing Option must also submit a creative writing sample relevant to the proposed focus of study.

MAPH Two-Year Language Option (MAPH TLO): Applicants interested in the MAPH TLO will indicate their interest in the application. They are expected to submit an additional statement of interest specifically addressing their reasons for applying to the TLO, and to provide information about their language(s) of interest on the supplement page in the online application.

If you are also applying to a program in another Division, you should follow the instructions available from the other division or school to submit an application to one of their programs. You can find links to the relevant information for all the Graduate Divisions and Professional Schools at UChicagoGRAD.

If you would like to apply to more than one graduate program in the Arts & Humanities Division, please start and submit a separate application at https://apply.artshumanities.uchicago.edu/apply/. You will need to submit two separate complete applications. This includes uploading all materials for each application and paying two application fees.

Applicants interested in the joint Ph.D. program in Theater and Performance Studies and the M.D.-Ph.D. Program in Medicine, the Social Sciences, and Humanities should indicate this in the online application. Theater and Performance Studies applicants are required to submit additional materials to their application. Applicants seeking a joint Ph.D. in other fields may petition to be admitted into a second department only after completing at least one year in a Ph.D. program.

Doctoral Programs

Students starting a doctoral program in the Division of the Arts & Humanities with graduate level coursework completed outside of the department may petition the department to have previous coursework counted toward the program requirements.  By divisional policy at least half of the coursework must be accomplished within the department.  The departmental faculty will determine whether the student will receive credit towards the degree for each previous course completed outside of the department.  Each department may determine the maximum number of courses for which a student may receive course credit.

Master’s programs

Students starting a master’s program in the Division of the Arts & Humanities with graduate level coursework completed at the Graduate Student-at-Large program in the Graham School of Continuing and Professional Studies may petition the program to have previous coursework counted toward the program requirements.  The program will evaluate and determine whether the student will receive credit towards the degree for any of the previous coursework completed at the Graham School of Continuing and Professional Studies for a maximum of two courses.  Other graduate level coursework completed outside of the program is not eligible for course credit toward the program requirements.

Our online application system does retain materials from one application cycle to the next. In order to reuse materials and information, you should log on to the application site using the same email address and password that you used previously. This should allow you to access any materials from your previous applications that have been retained. If you were admitted to one of our programs, declined your offer for that current academic year, and you are now reapplying for next year, please send an email to ahd-admissions@uchicago.edu for assistance.

All divisional programs begin in Autumn Quarter each year. Enrolling students cannot begin their studies in any quarter other than Autumn.*

Enrolling PhD and MFA students cannot defer their offer and must begin their studies in the year they were admitted unless there are significant extenuating circumstances and with departmental approval.

Enrolling MA students can defer their enrollment one year to the following Autumn Quarter only. We do not permit two-year deferrals or non-Autumn quarter starts. The only exception is if an individual is active duty or reserve military and is unexpectedly deployed between the time they accepted their offer and their matriculation date.

*Students admitted to some MA and PhD programs may, with permission of their program/department, enroll in coursework in the Summer Quarter prior to the quarter for which they have been admitted. In those cases, PhD students will officially matriculate in Summer Quarter and have their stipend and time to degree begin. Students in Master’s programs who enroll in courses during the Summer prior to beginning the program may not have those courses be counted towards degree requirements, and the student matriculates into the program in the Autumn.

*See the instructions for your program(s) of interest (above) for details about the required writing sample.

The writing sample is intended to demonstrate your ability to engage in critical academic writing. Ideally it should involve interacting with both primary and secondary sources. It does not need to be specifically about any desired future research topic, but it should fall within your proposed program’s field of study. Most applicants use a course paper from previous study (modified as necessary to meet the length requirements), though some submit new works if they do not feel they have a suitable paper. Other applicants submit an excerpt from a longer work, such as an undergraduate or master’s thesis. If you do submit an excerpt you should include a one-page summary of the whole to provide some context.

*Applicants to Visual Arts, see the Special Instructions.

For most programs, we recommend that the statement of purpose be 1-3 pages long, single-spaced. The Department of Philosophy asks that you limit the Statement of Purpose to one page. Some departments have additional guidelines for statements of purpose, so be sure to check the website for your program of interest.

All applicants are required to provide the names and contact information for at least three recommenders. More than three recommendations may be provided if you wish. Please give your recommenders adequate time to write supporting letters in order to ensure that your application is complete by the deadline.  While we will continue to accept letters of recommendation whenever they arrive, we cannot guarantee that letters received more than one week after your application deadline (PhD and first round Master's applications only) will be taken into consideration. Second round applicants to Master's programs should note that, due to the short application review time, recommendations should be received by the application deadline. Letters will still be accepted after the round 2 deadline but they may not be reviewed. It is recommended that your letters be written by a professor from the institution where you got your degree, who knows you well or at least has evaluated you academically in some capacity. Someone with an advanced degree who has supervised you at a job or internship in your prospective field of study could also be appropriate. It is best if all three letters are from people who fit these descriptions, but if you are unable to find three such recommenders, it is acceptable to seek letters from other people.

A transcript should be submitted for each post-secondary institution you have attended, showing details of all coursework and grades.  If an institution does not use a grading system it is not necessary that your transcript or marksheet contain grades or GPA. If your school does not provide grades or an overall GPA, you should also ask your references to comment in more detail on your academic performance in their courses and, if relevant, grades you received on papers or presentations. If you are still completing your degree, you need only submit your transcript showing your coursework to date.

If you attended an institution through an exchange program and the coursework is listed on the transcript for your degree-granting institution, you do not need to submit an additional transcript from the exchange institution. Please email us in this case so that we can waive the transcript requirement for that institution.

For the application you are not required to submit official copies of your transcripts. Scans of official transcripts or downloaded transcripts, whether official or unofficial, should be uploaded to the online application. If you receive and accept an offer of admission you will be required to provide official, final transcripts for your previous degrees.

Credentials written in a language other than English must be accompanied by an official translation. This should be prepared or verified by someone whose position requires knowledge of both English and the other language (e.g., a professor of English at a French university). Translations must bear the signature and stamp of the translator. Please include the original transcript along with the translations.

GRE general test scores are optional for applicants to the Ph.D. program in Philosophy. All other programs do not consider GRE general test scores when reviewing applications. GRE subject test scores are also not required by any programs in the Division of the Arts &​​​​​​​ Humanities. For applicants who choose to submit GRE general test scores, the scores must be from within the preceding 5 years. There is no minimum GRE score required for admission. An official score report should be sent to us at institution code 1832, and we do not use department codes so applicants may enter any department code they wish.

If you are an applicant who needs a test score to meet the English Language Proficiency Requirement, your TOEFL or IELTS scores must be no more than two years old on the day you submit your application. The ETS institution code for submitting TOEFL scores is 1832. We do not use department codes so you may enter any department code you wish.