How to Apply

Students can apply to the Philosophy PhD program or one of our dual-degree programs through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences portal. The application deadline for PhD programs, including joint MD and JD programs, is December 15. The application deadline for MD/MA and JD/MA programs is January 15. Please note: All application materials must be sent directly to the Graduate School, not to the Philosophy Department. Please read all Application Procedures and instructions carefully before beginning the application.

Requirements

Please read the complete admissions information found on the Graduate School website, including their FAQ for applicants. The Department requires all applications to be submitted electronically. We no longer require GRE scores and discourage including them in your materials. Applications must include:

  1. Official undergraduate and graduate transcript(s) from all tertiary institutions you have attended
  2. Three letters of recommendation
  3. A personal statement from the applicant of about 500 words
  4. Scores from a TOEFL or IELTS test of proficiency in English is required for non-native English speakers who do not have an undergraduate or graduate degree from an institution in which the primary language of instruction is English. You must have a score of 600 (paper test) or 100 (Internet-based test) or higher. 
  5. An application fee
  6. One sample of written work in philosophy, which should show evidence of the ability to do original work in Philosophy. It should not be more than about 6000 words
  7. An abstract of the writing sample
  8. A brief resume or curriculum vitae, with educational record, employment history, honors, and GPAs

TOEFL / IELTS (Foreign Applicants’ English Language Proficiency Requirement)

All applicants who are not native speakers of English are required to demonstrate a level of proficiency in the English language sufficient to meet the admission requirement of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Proficiency can be demonstrated by the receipt of a bachelor’s or advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education in the United States or from a university where English is the primary language of instruction (please note that applicants receiving degrees at universities in U.S. territories, such as Puerto Rico, are required to submit the TOEFL or IELTS unless the primary language of instruction at the institution is English). All other applicants must achieve at least a minimum score on either the TOEFL or IELTS test. Test scores must be received by the application deadline date. Applicants should allow six to eight weeks from the test date for the reporting of scores to the institution. Applications will not be considered without TOEFL/IELTS scores.

TOEFL: A minimum score of 600 (paper-based test) or of 100 (iBT test)  on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).  Internet: http://www.ets.org/toefl/
For information concerning the time and place where the TOEFL is given, applicants should contact:
Telephone in the U.S.: 609-771-7100
http://www.toefl.org/ (new window)
Georgetown University Graduate School ETS Code: 5244 

IELTS: A minimum score of 7.5 from the International English Language Testing System. IELTS Information: http://www.ielts.org/ 

Dual-Degree Applications

Applicants selecting approved dual programs or multiple programs can use one single electronic application form. Those applicants who wish to apply to more than one department, including applicants to dual degree programs, must pay an application fee and submit separate transcripts to each department to which application is being made. You will be able to make your program selections for dual or multiple programs in the program selection section of the online application.

Application Fee

The Department has a limited amount of funds to pay the application fees for competitive candidates for whom paying fees would be a serious hardship. To apply for these funds, an applicant should send an email to the Director of Graduate Admissions in the Philosophy Department, outlining his or her educational background and explaining why the funds are needed. All application materials other than the application fees should be filed as usual until the applicant hears from the Department about these fees.

If you have further questions, you may contact the current Director of Graduate Admissions at philosophy.gradadmissions@georgetown.edu.