How to Apply

Application requirements

To apply, submit an online application at the link above. You will also need the following materials:

  • Three letters of recommendation from professors with whom you have studied. (If you have taught German, one of these letters could come from the supervisor of your teaching work.)
  • A statement of purpose, outlining the reasons you are pursuing an M.A. and/or Ph.D., your goals for graduate study, your research interests, your career goals, and the names of at least two faculty members in the Department who could potentially supervise your research.
  • Two writing samples that demonstrate your research and analytical skills. These may be in German or English (preferrably one in each language).
  • For students whose native language is not English and who do not have a university degree from an English-speaking country (specified here): TOEFL scores.
  • (GRE scores are no longer required.)

Applicants who wish to be considered for financial support should turn in all application materials by December 15 (December 1 for international students) for Fall enrollment. Applications received after these dates will be given every consideration possible, although late application may prevent the applicant from being considered for financial support in the first selection round. Students who do not need financial support may apply for admission at any time, preferably several months before matriculation.

If you have questions about any aspect of the application at any time, please contact our director of graduate studies.

If you experience technical difficulties with the application website, please do not hesitate to contact our department administrator. If, for example, you have difficulty adding an attachment, you can also email it directly to the department administrator.

Financial aid

Generous financial support, in the form of fellowships and Associate Instructorships, is offered annually to entering students entering in the Fall semester. Support is not ordinarily available for students entering in the Spring, although exceptions may be considered.

There is no separate application for financial support: all qualified applicants who apply by the deadline will automatically be considered for a funding package. For more information, contact the Director of the Institute of German Studies.