About PhD Program,
The Doctor of Philosophy in Information Studies (PhD) program at the UMD College of Information (INFO) prepares students to address the hardest social and technical problems of today and tomorrow. Working side-by-side with world-renowned faculty and at internationally recognized research centers and labs, students conduct research on pressing information issues, which often entwine social and technical innovation. We draw on core values of information studies, including justice, inclusion, and access, and use these principles to facilitate the discovery of new knowledge.
Students also master research methodology/design, interdisciplinary theory, knowledge of previous research in their area, the ability to synthesize and apply this knowledge, and how to create and disseminate original research.
With a multidisciplinary faculty focusing on diverse information science research areas such as online communities, information systems, information policy, human-computer interaction, and digital cultural heritage, the UMD INFO College cultivates doctoral students from a wide range of backgrounds. Today’s hardest social and technical problems have information at their core. We’re seeking PhD students who have hard, unanswered questions about information problems. Explore our Expertise Areas.
We guarantee funding for all admitted full-time students. We also welcome self-funded part-time students working in areas that complement their doctoral research.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
It’s a good idea to reach out to the faculty that you want to work with because they will most likely review your application. An awareness of the research being done in the INFO College and a readiness to talk about how you could add to it is incredibility beneficial. Additionally, drawing connections between your own research interests and the work of specific faculty demonstrates that you are familiar with the INFO College and can offer a detailed proposal for why you would be a good addition to the program. Search through our directory to find faculty that are accepting PhD students.
It can be helpful to get in touch with potential advisors before you apply. They can tell you directly whether or not they’re looking to take on new PhD students and whether or not your research interests are a good match with theirs. However, as individual faculty members do not make admissions decisions on their own, they cannot answer whether an applicant will be accepted or not before they apply.
PhD Funding Coverage,
All graduate students are expected to pay the University graduate tuition and fees as linked to above. In addition, a $50 per credit fee is applied to all 499-799-level INST, LBSC, and INFM courses in the INFO College. This is applied to all students, regardless of course format (i.e. online, in person) and regardless of home college/department. There is no longer an additional, higher fee for online courses.
Each fall current UMD College of Information (INFO) students are able to apply for INFO scholarships and travel awards. Current students are notified by email in the fall when the application window opens. The Fall 2024 application period is now closed. The awards committee will review all submissions submitted by the deadline. Winners will be announced in late October.
Please note that two travel awards have separate application forms and deadlines, listed in the Travel Awards section below. Travel awards may be available throughout the year.
Budgetary constraints limit the number of awards, so while you are encouraged to apply, you should also explore other sources of aid. For additional information on other sources of aid, please see the Additional Financial Aid Options section below.
Please visit our giving page if you would like to make a gift to support College of Information scholarships.
Application Requirement,
- Complete theUMD Graduate School application, including the $75 application fee.
- The Graduate School waives the application feefor applicants from selected organizations and/or preparatory programs.
Upload transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate courses at each institution you have attended.
- In the online application to the Graduate School, you will be able to upload a copy of your unofficial transcript in the Previous Education section. The copy of your unofficial transcript is sufficient for the purposes of the review process of your application. However, if you are offered admission and choose to enroll in the University of Maryland, you will need to submit your official sealed transcripts. Click herefor more information about delivery/submission of official transcripts.
- Applicants must have earned a four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or an equivalent degree from a non-U.S. institution.
- Applicants must have earned a minimum 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in all prior undergraduate and graduate coursework. If you do not meet this requirement, please provide more information and context about your GPA within the Statement of Purpose.
Provide a Statement of Purpose describing your experiences and interests that will help you succeed in the program. If your undergraduate GPA is below a 3.0, please provide more information about that in this statement. In the Statement of Purpose, applicants must respond to the following questions:
- What is the specific area of your research interest? How have you developed your interest in this area?
- What skills and/or prior experience will help you pursue your research interest?
- Which faculty members (please name between 2-4) at the UMD INFO College would you be interested in working closely with, and why?
- What are the goals you would like to achieve in your doctoral study at the UMD INFO College? What is your plan to achieve your goals
- What kind of career would you like to develop after earning your Ph.D.?
- To help us understand your background and skills, feel free to optionally include:
- Descriptions of challenging professional or academic projects that you have successfully completed;
- Notes about coursework that demonstrates your quantitative skills or writing and argumentation skills;
- Links to, as appropriate: relevant projects you have completed, papers or articles that you have published, code you have written, or visualizations you have created.
Submit contact information for three references
- In the application, enter the names and contact information for three individuals who will provide letters of recommendation. Letters should come from current/former academic and/or professional references.
- Letters of recommendation are due on the application deadline. Applicants have the ability to send recommendation requests before submitting the application. There is a “Save and Send Request” button for each recommender. The recommendation form is emailed within a few minutes of clicking this button.
Upload a current resume or CV
Upload an academic writing sample
One academic writing sample is required. A second academic writing sample is optional.
Submit exam scores
GRE/GMAT (optional for all applicants): INFO faculty use the GRE scores in widely diverging ways. Some find standardized tests to be less useful indicators than essays and grades; others find the GRE to be a useful measure of quantitative reasoning and/or perseverance when facing a difficult challenge. If you choose not to submit GRE scores, we highly encourage you to include other potential indicators of your skills and experience in your Statement of Purpose, such as:
- Descriptions of challenging professional or academic projects that you have successfully completed;
- Notes about coursework performance that demonstrates your quantitative skills or writing and argumentation skills;
- Links to, as appropriate: relevant projects you have completed, papers or articles that you have published, code you have written, or visualizations you have created.
TOEFL/IELTS/PTE (required for most international applicants):
- International applicants do not need to submit the English Proficiency Score if they received their degree from an education institution in the U.S. or a nationally recognized university in one of the countries listed at the bottom of the Graduate School’s English Language Proficiency Requirements Note: Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens but the TOEFL/IELTS/PTE is required.
- See the Graduate School’s English Language Proficiency Requirementsfor instructions on submitting scores and minimum score requirements. The University of Maryland’s TOEFL Institution Code is 5814.
- You can find English language proficiency requirements here. Please note that your English proficiency scores (including listening, writing, reading, and speaking sub-scores) must satisfy the criteria for full enrollment to be accepted to the PhD program. The PhD is a very rigorous program that requires an excellent command of the English language. Therefore, Bridge and Intensive English programs are not an option for applicants to the PhD program. Please see the minimum English Proficiency Scores Requirements for full admission below:
- iBT TOEFL Requirements
Additional information (if applicable)
- In-state tuition/Maryland residency: If you are a residentof the State of Maryland or believe you qualify as one, be sure to fill out the Maryland Residency section of the Graduate Application. If you have questions about Residency Classification, email resclass@umd.edu.
- International applicants: The University of Maryland (UMD) is dedicated to maintaining a vibrant international student community. The UMD office of International Student and Scholar Services(ISSS) is a valuable resource of information and assistance for prospective and current international students. International applicants are encouraged to explore the services the ISSS office offers and contact them with related questions. The UMD Graduate School offers admission to international students based on academic information; however, it is not a guarantee of attendance. After receiving an admission decision from the graduate school, admitted international students will receive instructions about obtaining the appropriate visa to study at the University of Maryland, which will require the submission of additional documents. Please see the UMD Graduate Admissions Process for International applicants for more information.
Application Deadline,
Dec 03, 2024
Application Fee,
Complete the UMD Graduate School application, including the $75 application fee
