How To Apply

We admit students for graduate study at the PhD level only and do not accept applications for a master’s. Students entering the PhD program must hold at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in the U.S. or a comparable degree from outside the U.S. A major (at the undergraduate and/or master’s level) in American Indian and Indigenous Studies or related discipline is required.

Overview of the Application Process

The American Indian and Indigenous Studies (AIIS) PhD program is a new doctoral program accepting its first cohort for Fall 2025 admissions. 

We invite you to learn about our programreview our curriculum, and email us at amingrad@umn.edu to request a meeting with our Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) if you would like to discuss the program in greater detail.

Review our Admissions Requirements and Guidelines and Application Steps and Instructions to prepare materials for your application file. Applications are reviewed holistically, so only complete applications received by the January 2 deadline are eligible for review.

Additional guidance is provided for international applicants, who will need to meet English Language Proficiency requirements.

To apply, you must submit an application through the Graduate School’s online application portal by the January 2 deadline. This is a University-wide application system; specific requirements set by the Department of American Indian Studies are provided on our Application Steps and Instructions page. Please follow this guidance carefully to ensure your application is complete.

Faculty review of application files begins immediately after the January 2 deadline. Monitor the email account you used for your online application and respond promptly if the department or the Graduate School contact you with questions or requests for additional information. 

All students admitted to the PhD program receive departmental funding; a separate application for funding is not required. Applicants selected for admission are also considered for relevant admissions fellowships.

All applicants will be notified by email when admissions decisions are finalized, typically in January or February. You can check the current status of your application materials in the online application portal.

Graduate Admissions: General application instructions, resources for applicants, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Graduate School Diversity Office: Admissions and application consultations (email gsdo@umn.edu to schedule).

Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) Fee Waiver Program: Designed to increase access to graduate education for students from diverse backgrounds. Note: For the Fall 2025 cycle, applicants to the AIIS PhD program will automatically have their fee waived. No request is necessary to obtain this waiver.

Contact Us

Questions about our program or your application? Email us at amingrad@umn.edu.