PhD Admissions

The PhD in Philosophy at the University of Chicago

Overview:

The PhD Program in Philosophy offers an intensive course of study in preparation for a career as a scholar and teacher of philosophy.  The research interests of our faculty are diverse, but special strengths of the program include Ancient Philosophy, Kant and Post-Kantian German Philosophy, Practical Philosophy (including Ethics and the Philosophy of Action), Epistemology (especially Formal Epistemology), and the Philosophy of Language.

Key Information:

Time to Degree

6-7 years; 7 years maximum

Courses per Quarter

An average of 3 courses a quarter, some taken for quality credit, some for pass credit

Average Size of PhD Cohort

3-7

Degree Milestones

PhD students must complete 16 graduate courses (8 taken for quality credit, and 8 for pass credit) with area distribution requirements, required workshops, a qualifying (“Topical”) exam, a language exam (required only if necessary to their dissertation area—e.g., Ancient or German Philosophy), a pedagogy program, and a dissertation defense

Teaching Requirements

PhD students must complete 5 or 6 teaching experiences as a Teaching Assistant and also have an opportunity to serve once as a course instructor.

Outcomes

See our placement page on this website for outcomes for our recent PhDs.

Apply for Admission:

Application Requirements

We request that writing samples be 15-20 double-spaced pages; if the sample is an excerpt from a longer work, please supply a very brief explanation as to how the sample fits into the longer work. We do not require GRE scores.

Financial Aid for Prospective Students

All admitted PhD students are guaranteed to have full funding support from the University and external sources, or a combination of the two for the duration of their program (seven years in Philosophy).

Applicants do not need to apply separately for funding.

Questions?

Additional Resources for Prospective Students: