About PhD Program,
The University of Chicago leads the world in the study of political science. Its faculty and students are engaged in critical inquiry on a wide range of topics, from American elections to the origins of the modern state. Chicago values this breadth of scholarship. You will also find emphasis on the profound questions of political life, from the sources of war, to the meaning of justice, to the development of representative democracy. It is this commitment to understanding fundamental issues that distinguishes the University of Chicago and its graduate program.
To foster such scholarship, the department has developed a sophisticated and flexible program of graduate training, built around seminars with leading scholars. Students can select courses of considerable diversity, supplemented by guest lecturers and special seminars throughout the year.
Students distribute their coursework among at least two of the five fields of the discipline. They may choose from political theory, American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and methodology. In the process, all students can sample a wide variety of theoretical perspectives and develop essential research skills.
Doctoral research is the culmination of graduate study. This marks the transition from taking courses to becoming an independent scholar who conducts original and significant work. As scholars, they join faculty and fellow graduate students in advanced workshops, which meet throughout the year to consider new research. Active participation in workshops is one of the University of Chicago’s greatest strengths. Such involvement shapes their own research programs and grants opportunities to discuss and present their ideas.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
We do not require GRE scores as part of our application for admission. If submitted, we do not use any threshold of GRE scores to be considered for admission. We want to be confident that applicants will be able to develop the technical and communication skills to succeed at doing research, and GRE scores are one indicator among many that we can use to make this determination. A faculty committee makes admission decisions based on a holistic assessment of all of the materials required in the University application: candidate statement, transcripts of grades, letters of recommendation, analytical preparation, and the writing sample. Committee members want to know what applicants find intellectually exciting and why they want to study at the University of Chicago.
We do recommend that students submit GRE scores if applying to the International Relations, Comparative Politics, and Methods subfields. While consideration is given to applicants who do not submit GRE scores in those fields, GRE scores are an important indicator of quantitative skills. If GRE scores are not included with your application, you should demonstrate (through coursework, research experience, or other ways) your ability to develop these essential quantitative skills. (If you are applying in American Politics or Political Theory, but are proposing to work quantitatively, we would also expect you to demonstrate your quantitative skills in some way, whether that is prior experience or a GRE score.)
- Applicants must be in good academic standing and not on leave during the time of the travel/training. (We reserve the right to rescind the award if the leave is extended beyond the date of the travel/training.)
- Applicants must be presenting a paper/poster at a scholarly or professional conference for conference funding. Attendance only cannot be funded; presentations at graduate student conferences or invitational seminars at other institutions also cannot be funded.
- Applicants may not receive more than one award of each type per academic year.
PhD Funding Coverage,
All Political Science students are guaranteed, without application, a one-time $500 award that can be used at some point during their time in the department. Please notify the Placement Administrator to access those funds.
Additionally, you can apply for two travel funding resources each academic year. The academic year begins in the summer quarter. Applications will be due the Monday before the start of each quarter. Students will be notified by the second week of the quarter with the results of their application.
- Conference Travel Funds: Students can apply herefor up to $600 for domestic travel or $800 for international travel to present at an academic conference, such as APSA or ISA.
- Professional Development Funds: Students can apply herefor up to $600 to support travel to a professional development workshop (such as IQMMR or ICSPR).
Application Requirement,
- Unofficial transcripts for all post-secondary schools attended
- Three letters of recommendation
- Candidate statement
- Resume/CV
- Writing sample
- Official GRE scores (Only required for some programs, view list by program here)
- Official TOEFL or IELTS scores, if required per the University English Proficiency Policy
- Application fee (view waiver options here)
Application Deadline,
Dec 05, 2024
Application Fee,
$90 for all programs
