Fully Funded PhD in Theology and Religious Studies at Georgetown University

About PhD Program,

In light of the need for intercultural and interreligious understanding, and in light of the related challenges to religious studies and theology, the Department of Theology and Religious Studies offers a doctoral program which focuses on the phenomenon of religious pluralism as it impacts theological and religious studies. The department has faculty resources in both religious studies and theology, and the methods and discourses of each discipline will be represented in the program.

To carry out the study of religious plurality adequately, the department believes that it is necessary for students to recognize the real diversity of religious traditions and to study in their integrity the beliefs and practices of more than one religious tradition. As a result, comparative work is an essential part of the program. Students will complete coursework and comprehensive exams in both a primary and secondary religious tradition. They will be expected to achieve a level of mastery in both traditions sufficient for conducting comparative research and teaching on the university level.

PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,   

  • 36 credit hours, excluding dissertation
  • Two foreign languages
  • The program will normally take five years of full-time study – two years of course work, six months to one year to prepare for the comprehensive examinations and two years for the dissertation
  • If you attended only one school in the U.S. and the GPA is calculated on a 4.0 scale, please report the cumulative GPA provided within your transcript.

PhD Funding Coverage,

We’re here to help you navigate the cost of your graduate degree by providing financial support, merit-based aid, fellowships and other funding opportunities. Georgetown offers two kinds of financial aid to graduate students: merit-based aid and need-based aid. Our separate Office of Graduate Fellowships & Awards can assist in navigating external funding.

We offer four types of competitive merit-based scholarships to both incoming and current students: scholarships, Ph.D. assistantships, Ph.D. fellowships and Master’s stipends. Merit-based awards are given on the recommendation of each academic program and are designed to assist graduate students in their academic pursuits.

Application Requirement,

  • Application Form
  • Non-Refundable Application Fee
  • Academic Statement of Purpose
  • Optional: Statement on Diversity, Personal Background & Contributions
  • Writing Sample
  • Letters of Recommendation (3)
  • Transcripts – Applicants are required to upload to the application system copies of official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended. Visit the Office of Graduate Admission’s Application Informationpage for additional details and FAQs.
  • Resume/CV
  • GRE Score (optional)
  • TOEFL/IELTS (if applicable)
  • TOEFL = 80 minimum
  • IELTS = 7.0 minimum

Application Deadline,

Dec 15, 2024

Application Fee,

The application fee for the 2024 application cycle is $90.