About PhD Program,
The PhD Program in Philosophy offers an intensive course of study in preparation for a career as a scholar and teacher of philosophy. The program in particular consists of four major components. (1) Completing coursework in the three main areas of contemporary philosophy and in the history of philosophy. (2) Participating in a paper revision workshop, in which students significantly revise an essay originally written for a seminar in consultation with faculty and other students. (3) Defining an intellectual project and writing the PhD dissertation under the direction of a faculty committee. (4) Teaching as assistants in faculty-taught lecture courses and then as lecturers in stand-alone tutorials and small courses. In addition to these major components, students and faculty also participate in a variety of workshops and reading groups in which students present their own work for criticism by their peers and faculty. Throughout the PhD program, students and faculty join together in a continuous, rich philosophical dialogue. And faculty also support that dialogue and students’ intellectual work through advising, mentoring, ongoing academic evaluations, and canny career advice.
Note: The PhD Program in Philosophy is the only graduate program to which the Department of Philosophy admits students; those students interested in a masters degree can apply directly to the Masters of Arts Program in the Humanities (MAPH). This is a standalone program in the Division of Humanities within which students can take a number of graduate courses in philosophy. Elsewhere on this site we have a more thorough explanation of how our faculty interests serve our MAPH students.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
The Division of the Humanities does not have minimum required GRE scores or GPA to be considered for admissions. Average GRE scores and GPA vary from department to department, so it is best to contact individual departments with this question.
The GRE is not required for applicants to programs in the Division of the Humanities.
Should you choose to share your GRE scores, self-reporting your scores in your application allows us to better review your application while we await the arrival of your official scores from ETS.
PhD Funding Coverage,
The availability of aid to master’s degree candidates varies widely, with many programs offering some partial- to full-tuition merit awards, a few offering need‐based aid, and some programs offering little or no institutional aid.
PhD students receive competitive funding packages, which cover tuition and student health insurance, as well as a stipend for living expenses and research support. Students must be legally authorized to work in the United States for the University of Chicago in order to meet the degree requirements to earn a PhD. (Note, the F-1/J-1 student visa permits on-campus employment when a student is active in their program; for more information, please visit the Office of International Affairs webpage related to on-campus employment.) Applicants are encouraged to review applicable program requirements.
The goal of the University’s commitment to ensuring that students are supported is to allow students to prioritize their studies and prepare for rewarding careers. We expect students to remain in good academic standing and to be making progress toward completing degree requirements.
Additional fellowships and awards are available to support language study, conference travel, and research travel.
Application Requirement,
- Astatement of purpose written in English (“Artist’s Statement” for MFA in Visual Arts);
- 3 letters of recommendation;
- Transcriptsfor all previous degrees and coursework;
- TOEFL or IELTStest scores from within the preceding 2 years if needed to meet the English Language Proficiency Requirement; and
- Applications will be evaluated on the basis of materials submitted by the deadline, and we cannot guarantee that materials received after the deadline will be given consideration. Late applications will not be considered.
Application Deadline,
Dec 02, 2024
Application Fee,
An application fee of $90.
