PhD How to Apply
In order to apply to our graduate programs, you must submit several materials to the Graduate School online application system.
Follow our instructions for application carefully.
Frequently Asked Questions:
If you are a US citizen/permanent resident who has participated in certain federal programs to expand access to graduate education, you may request a FreeApp using the process detailed on Big 10 Academic Alliance Fee Waiver Program.
If you are an international applicant from one of these countries with extreme currency devaluation, you may apply for one of our limited fee waivers by contacting the Director of Graduate Studies 2-4 weeks before the January application deadline: Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, South Sudan, Somalia, and Ukraine.
Please see list of countries from which college education in English qualifies you for a waiver of UMN's English proficiency requirement. If your country is not on this list and you are proficient in English, please contact the DGS to ask about the exception process for requesting an exemption from the testing requirement. This process includes providing evidence of an MA thesis in English or publications in English.
No, you will choose your advisor in the second year of the PhD program. However, if you are
interested in working with a particular professor you may note this in your Statement of Purpose.
No, we admit students only on a PhD track. If you do not have an MA when you enter our
program, we offer two paths to completing the MA by your second year here. You would thus
have both an MA and a PhD when you graduate from the program.