In the Division of the Arts and Humanities, admissions for the 2026-2027 academic year are paused in all doctoral programs except for Philosophy and Music Composition and Sound Practices, and in all master's programs except for the Master of Arts Program in the Humanities and the Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts. This is a one-time pause for the 2026-2027 academic year.
If you are a prospective applicant, we encourage you to stay connected with us and to explore other AHD degree programs that may match your graduate education interests. Questions and requests for additional information should be sent to ahd-admissions@uchicago.edu.
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:
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?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Request for Information
- Questions about the application process may be directed to ahd-admissions@uchicago.edu or (773) 702-5809
- Students do not need to contact faculty before applying
- Contact William Weaver (wweaver@uchicago.edu) for department-specific questions (if applicable)
Additional Resources for Prospective Students:
- Visit Campus
- Living in Chicago
- Cost of Attendance
- Division of Arts & Humanities
- International Students
- Follow Arts & Humanities on Instagram