About PhD Program,
With one of the nation’s premier doctoral programs in Communication, the Annenberg School is a tight-knit, supportive community of scholars committed to advancing knowledge of our media environment.
Founded through the generosity and vision of publisher, diplomat, and philanthropist Walter Annenberg, the Annenberg School for Communication is devoted to furthering our understanding of the role of communication in public life through research, education, and service. Our five-year doctoral program has a strong reputation as one of the best in Communication, based on Annenberg’s unparalleled combination of world-class faculty, students, and alumni, as well as access to the larger intellectual and cultural resources of the University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
We do not have set requirements for acceptance, but the selection process is highly competitive, so you should do your best to get as high a score as possible.
The minimum course requirement for the Ph.D. is 17 courses. All Ph.D. students must take at least one separate course with each of at least five different ASC standing faculty members. The intent of this is to foster students’ knowledge of a diverse range of approaches to communication.
Students with a master’s Degree may request transfer of up to 6 courses. All transfer requests are considered on a case-by-case basis by the student’s advisor and the Graduate Studies Committee. Students who receive credit for five transfer courses must complete the remaining 11 courses at the University of Pennsylvania. Transfer credit requests may not be submitted until the student has completed a full academic year at the school.
PhD Funding Coverage,
All students accepted to the doctoral program, including international students, who continue to make appropriate academic progress receive four years of fellowship support. As of the 2023-2024 academic year, this consists of an annual stipend of $42,745. A fifth year of fellowship funding is available to students after they successfully defend their dissertation proposal. We also provide full tuition, personal health insurance for all five years, and travel and research reimbursement of up to $1,700 per year. Beyond the fifth-year students are not eligible for any fellowship or stipend funding. Domestic students are federal financial aid eligible throughout their period of enrollment (not to exceed the maximum time frame).
Please note that the Annenberg School may alter any of the described benefits going forward, but admitted students would remain eligible for the support that was in place at the time of their admission to the school.
Application Requirement,
Three Letters of Recommendation
GRE Scores (optional)
TOEFL/IELTS Scores (for non-native speakers of English)
Writing Sample (optional)
Read on for more details about each of these application elements.
Application Deadline,
Dec 01, 2024
Application Fee,
