About PhD Program,
Princeton’s graduate program in German has long been recognized as one of the leading programs of German studies. Students are offered the chance to participate in a vibrant intellectual community and to work with scholars whose expertise encompasses the breadth of German literary tradition as well as interdisciplinary approaches to the study of German culture and the history and theory of media.
Each year the department admits a small number of highly motivated students to its Ph.D. program. The Ph.D. program is normally a five-year program. The department does not offer a program of study culminating in the terminal M.A. Instead, an M.A. degree is awarded upon request after successful completion of the general examination. During at least one of the program’s two years of coursework the student is expected to live in Princeton in fulfillment of the University’s residency requirement. in addition to seminars in the Department of German, most students opt to complete some courses in other departments. Beyond the successful completion of coursework, the major formal requirements for the Ph.D. are the general examination and the dissertation. Students typically complete the first part of the general examination, the so-called “erudition exam,” in the fall of the third year of study, after having completed twelve courses over four semesters, both within the German department and in other departments. The second part of the general examination, the so-called “special exam,” is typically completed in the spring semester of the third year (either in the January/February or the April/May exam period. The dissertation prospectus colloquium generally takes place in the third year or beginning of fourth. Students who come to the program with previous graduate training in the field (e.g., an M.A.) may in some cases be permitted to reduce their coursework and complete the general examination earlier. Following the successful completion of the general examination and the dissertation prospectus colloquium, individual courses of study vary, although most students choose to go abroad during the fourth year to conduct dissertation research and then return to write the dissertation in the fifth and, if needed, sixth years.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
Sample of written work, circa 20 pages. Applicants should be fluent in German.
PhD Funding Coverage,
All admitted students are offered a full five-year fellowship package that includes tuition, fees, and a competitive annual stipend. In addition to these University fellowships the department has at its disposal several teaching assistantships that it assigns to students in accordance with their need to gain teaching experience. Normally one of the five years of financial support is a teaching assistantship; during the remaining four years of support, our students are free to concentrate on their studies, unburdened by a heavy teaching load. No graduate student is expected to teach before completion of the general examination, allowing our students to concentrate intensively on their work in the seminars as well as on their preparation for the general examination. For details on awards and financial assistance, students should consult the Graduate School website.
A key component of the comprehensive financial foundation provided to Princeton doctoral students, fellowships offer generous stipend and/or tuition support. This creates freedom and flexibility in a student’s academic journey. Guaranteed to all first-year students, fellowships from the Graduate School and our campus partners are also part of a strong funding mix throughout regular enrollment. These are often complemented by prestigious external fellowships with added benefits from government, foundation, and corporate sponsors.
All fellowships and additional funding sources are coordinated to ensure that students maintain guaranteed full support throughout regular enrollment.
Assistantships provide a tuition and stipend contribution, paid as salary, for research or teaching. While requirements vary by department, Princeton believes strongly that assistantships are an integral part of one’s academic training and professional development.
Application Requirement,
- Academic Statement of Purpose
- Personal Statement
- Resume / Curriculum Vitae
- Letters of Recommendation
- Transcripts
- Fall Semester Grades
- Required Tests
- Writing Sample
Application Deadline,
Jan 03, 2025
Application Fee,
The application fee of $75 is nonrefundable.
