How to Apply
PhD Application Deadline is December 3.
The Department of Anthropology is not accepting applications for admission to the Biological Anthropology subfield for Fall 2027 admission.
Admission to Our Program
Admission to our graduate program is competitive. Only a small percentage of applicants are admitted to the graduate program each year. Currently, we admit four or five PhD students annually across all three subfields of archaeology, biological anthropology, and sociocultural anthropology.
You may apply for the PhD program with either a BA or MA degree. We do not admit students to the MA degree program in the three primary subfields. However, if you are primarily interested in a Master's degree, please consider the Masters of Heritage Studies & Public History program, which offers a terminal Master's degree.
Submitting Your Application
Applicants should review the Graduate School's application instructions. Please contact the anthropology graduate program with any questions.
Applicants should include their subfield preference when applying for admission to the PhD program. The Anthropology PhD program is only accepting applications for the Archaeology and the Sociocultural Anthropology subfields for the current Fall 2027 application cycle.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Anthropology faculty directly to discuss your research interests and to inquire if they are accepting advisees for this admissions cycle.
There is an application fee required by the Graduate School: Application Fees. If you are a McNair Scholar, you may be able to request an Application Fee Waiver through the Graduate School Diversity Office: McNair Scholar Resources.
Applicants should also review Chapter 1 of the Graduate Handbook: Admission to the Graduate Program for additional information on the admission process for the Department of Anthropology.
Application Materials
All application materials should be submitted electronically via the Graduate Application. We accept admissions to the program for fall semester only.
| Materials | How to submit |
|---|---|
| Statement of Purpose |
This statement should include information about your research questions and intellectual interests, academic background, and reasons for applying to the University of Minnesota (including faculty you would like to work with). Please limit your submission to a maximum of two single-spaced pages. The Extenuating Circumstances Statement is not required, but you may submit them if you wish. |
| DOVE Statement |
Diversity of views and experiences is fundamental to the University’s mission, and the University’s faculty, staff, and students share responsibility for the collective achievement of this goal. Please describe the distinctive perspectives or life experiences, such as successfully overcoming obstacles or hardships, that you would bring to your graduate program. Describe how these perspectives or life experiences could contribute to the education and enhanced perspective of fellow students in Anthropology at the University of Minnesota. |
| Unofficial Transcripts | Unofficial copies of your transcripts should be uploaded into the "Educational Background" section of the application using the “Upload Transcripts” button. You must upload a transcript from each college or university you have attended. |
| TOEFL Scores International students only |
The Department of Anthropology is in line with the Graduate School’s operational standard for admission of test scores and English language proficiency. Exceptions to these minimum scores can be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Review the Graduate School's English Language Proficiency web page for the options available to provide proof of English language proficiency. |
| Letters of Recommendation (3) | You must submit three letters of recommendation. Recommenders must submit the letters using the admissions application and should address the applicant’s capabilities in research and scholarly production. Please email the program at [email protected] if recommenders are not able to submit letters using the application system. |
| Writing Sample | The writing sample should be a substantive work that reflects your ability to think critically, and to articulate and investigate ideas in an anthropological context. It might be a 20-25 double-spaced page seminar paper, an undergraduate research paper, a chapter of a senior or master’s thesis; or it might be a published article, a presentation poster, or a digital exhibit. The writing sample can be interdisciplinary and does not have to be in the context of an anthropology course or major. |
| Resume/CV | A resume/CV is required for submission. |
More information
See chapter one of our graduate handbook or contact the Graduate Program Coordinator at [email protected].