Admissions Process
When is the deadline for applications?
All materials must be submitted by December 5, 2024 for the Fall 2025 cohort.
Can I submit revised or corrected materials after the deadline?
No, once the deadline has passed, do not send us any additional materials unless we request them (including revised papers, updated transcripts, or omitted documents). Unsolicited material will not be seen by the admissions committee.
When will I be notified if I have been admitted?
No later than March 15th.
What are my chances?
We typically receive between 200 to 290 applications for our Ph.D. program, and we aim for a class of about 5 students per year. It is invariably true that we have many more qualified applicants than we are able to admit.
Do I have a better chance of being accepted if I already have an M.A.?
For students with strong undergraduate backgrounds in philosophy (this usually means having majored in philosophy) and excellent grades in their philosophy courses, acquiring a Philosophy M.A. will not necessarily help their prospects for admission into our Ph.D. program. For students who have taken fewer undergraduate courses in philosophy, or feel they could have performed better in their philosophy courses, an M.A. from a strong program is likely to increase the chances of admission.
What if my undergraduate degree is in an area other than philosophy?
This does not rule out a successful application if you have excelled in highly rigorous courses. However, your transcript must show at least 5 philosophy courses, or courses that in your undergraduate institution are cross-listed under another subject.
Is there a minimum GPA required to apply, and what are my chances if I do have a low GPA?
There is no minimum undergraduate GPA. However, successful applicants nearly always have an average GPA higher than 3.8 in their philosophy courses. (They also tend to have exceptional overall GPAs, but we pay most attention to grades in philosophy courses.) In considering your GPA, we will certainly take into account the varying difficulty of courses, the varying degrees of grade inflation among institutions, and any relevant circumstances you discuss in your personal statement.
How do I apply?
Please visit our Application to Ph.D. page.
What if I am locked out of my application account?
Please contact the Rackham Admissions Office at rackadmis@umich.edu. You should receive a reply within 1 business day
What should be in my “Academic Statement”?
Please explain briefly the nature of your study in philosophy or related fields thus far, your current primary areas of philosophical interest, what studies you would like to pursue in graduate school, and whether there are any Michigan faculty members with whom you would especially like to work. If you are interested in Michigan’s interdisciplinary Program in Ancient Philosophy, please note this in your academic statement and explain your background in philosophy and in classical studies (e.g., your knowledge of Greek and Latin).
What should be in my “Personal Statement”?
The Rackham Graduate School requires a statement of purpose of not more than 500 words. Please use this statement to help us understand how you have come to be interested in philosophy, what special challenges you might have faced, what relevant experiences you might have had, and what aspirations you have for the future. We also suggest that you use your personal statement to address any aspects of your application that you suspect might require special explanation (though it is not worth your time to explain GRE scores or your GPA, see below). Also, if you feel that you might be eligible for a Rackham Merit Fellowship please provide information about your suitability as a nominee by reviewing the award eligibility and commenting on the relevant criteria. Students must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or undocumented students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) in order to be considered.
Am I required to take the GRE exam?
No.
How long are GRE scores valid?
GRE scores are valid for 5 years.
How many letters of recommendation should I submit, and who should they be from?
We require three letters of recommendation. While we read all letters we receive, those written by professional philosophers who know you and have read your work are especially valuable. That said, letters from non-philosophers can be quite valuable if much of your course work was done outside philosophy or if you intend to focus on particularly interdisciplinary areas of philosophy. (For example, if you are planning to pursue ancient philosophy then a letter from your Greek professor might be useful, or if you want to work in the philosophy of physics then a letter from your thermodynamics professor might be called for.) Ideally, at least two letter writers should have served as your professor in college classes.
Can letters of recommendation be sent electronically?
Yes, all application materials, including letters of recommendation, are accepted electronically through the Rackham Graduate School's online application process. Electronic submission is strongly recommended.
Do we accept letters of recommendation from Interfolio?
No. All letters should be submitted via the application system. Please let your recommenders know that they will receive a link via email and will be asked to upload the letter for you into the Rackham application.
What is the recommended length of a writing sample?
While we have no fixed requirements, please limit your writing sample to 8,000 words (inclusive of notes). We recommend that you send us an example of your philosophical writing at its very best since our admissions process places heavy emphasis on the quality of writing samples.
Do I need to send the Philosophy Department an official transcript?
Official transcripts should be sent directly to the Rackham Graduate School, not to the department.
When you apply, you only need to submit an electronic copy of your unofficial transcript. If you're offered admission, at that point your home institution will need to send a copy of your official (final) transcript to Rackham. You won't be formally admitted to the university until Rackham has received and verified your official transcript.
Can I visit the department?
Admitted and waitlisted students are invited to visit campus and our department over a two-day period, which typically occurs at the end of March or early April.
Financial Support
What financial support is offered to graduate students?
The Department guarantees six years (12 semesters) of full financial support to all Ph.D. students who are making satisfactory academic progress and performing adequately as classroom teachers. Students do no teaching during their first year in the program, and can expect to receive at least three, and often four, additional semesters of non-teaching fellowship support during the dissertation-writing period (years four, five and six). Students will be supported by teaching assistantships during their remaining semesters in the program. For more information, visit our Support page.
How much teaching will I do during semesters when I am not enjoying a non-teaching fellowship?
Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs) in philosophy are normally responsible for running two discussion sections drawn from a large lecture course taught by a faculty member. Each section enrolls 20-25 students, and the GSI is expected to do the grading (under the supervision of the faculty member leading the course). Workload varies by course, but students generally spend about 18-20 hours per week (all inclusive) on instructional duties. Advanced students have the opportunity to teach their own courses.
Will I receive health care benefits? What are the out-of-pocket costs to me?
All graduate students in good standing receive a standard package of medical and dental benefits, at no cost. We do not offer vision benefits.
International Students
If I am an international student, do I still receive financial support?
Yes, international students receive the Department’s standard support package.
If I am an international student, do I have to show that I can support myself financially?
Yes, the United States Government (INS) requires you to prove that you can support yourself during graduate school. However, you may legitimately count the fellowships and stipends you would receive from us as financial support.This is should be sufficient to appease the INS. If you are admitted, Rackham will facilitate this process via the International Center.
What is the minimum TOEFL score required?
Minimum scores are: 84 (internet based), 220 (computer based) and 560 (paper based).
How long are TOEFL scores valid?
TOEFL scores are valid for 2 years.
Can the TOEFL score be waived?
Yes, if the official language of instruction in which you received your undergraduate or previous graduate degree was English, the TOEFL score may be waived. More information is found on Rackham's page about English Proficiency Requirements.
Miscellaneous
May I come to Michigan just for a M.A.?
Yes, but in practice we rarely admit M.A. students who are not pursuing advanced degrees in other academic units at Michigan. Ph.D. students in our program can obtain a Master’s en passant.
Can graduate courses taken elsewhere be transferred?
Students who have completed graduate coursework elsewhere may be able to count some of it towards the satisfaction of the Department’s program and distribution requirements. There is, however, a maximum of four course credits that can be transferred, and transfer is not automatic. In general, a student who desires to transfer credits will bring a petition to the Graduate Studies Committee at the beginning of their second year in the program. It is important for students who plan to make such requests to keep documentation from all relevant courses (syllabi, reading lists, completed papers, tests and homework, and so on). The Department does not grant transfer credit for courses taken during a student’s undergraduate career, even when these are taught at the graduate level.
What is the typical timeline for achieving the Ph.D., i.e., when will I be done?
The Ph.D. requirements are designed to be completed in five to six years (ten to twelve semesters). Typically, the first five semesters are dedicated to coursework, and the sixth is used to achieve candidacy and defend a dissertation prospectus. The dissertation is meant to be written during semesters seven through ten (years four and five). Students should expect to enter the academic job market in their sixth year, though some enter in the fifth or even fourth. For more information see: FAQs: Timeline to Ph.D.
How much of the program can be completed through online classes or distance learning?
None. You need to be in residence for all your course work. Students who have achieved candidacy and are actively writing their dissertation can, with special permission, work from afar provided that they make plans to return to Ann Arbor as least once a semester for meetings with their dissertation committees. We encourage our graduate student candidates to visit other graduate programs that are relevant to their interests during the terms in which they are not teaching.
In what areas of Philosophy does Michigan specialize?
You can find faculty research interests by reviewing our list of Faculty.
What is the cost of housing in Ann Arbor?
Most graduate students live in apartments or houses around town. The costs vary greatly depending upon the sort of dwelling and its location. You can learn more about housing options in Ann Arbor here, and the cost of living here.
