Timeline

Application Submission Deadlines

All applications must be submitted by the deadline; we do not accept late applications. However, please see the University’s Hardship Request policy for possible extensions related to widespread disaster or disruption of access to services. All deadlines are 11:55 p.m. U.S. Central Time.

PhD Programs

• Anthropology: December 1
• Comparative Human Development: December 15
• Conceptual and Historical Studies in Science (CHSS): December 15
• Economics: December 15
• History: December 1
• Political Economy: December 15
• Political Science: December 15
• Psychology: December 1
• Social Thought: December 15
• Sociology: December 1

Master’s Programs

Decisions are expected within 6-8 weeks of each deadline.

Note: Round 2 is on a space available basis only. Although we make every effort to accommodate later applications, we cannot guarantee full consideration to those received after the regular deadline.

Interviews

Only a few programs interview applicants. Those that do will issue invitations via the online application system in January or February. At the time interview invitations are issued, applicants who are not selected to move forward are notified of their decisions. The following programs conduct interviews:

• Anthropology (PhD)
• Comparative Human Development (PhD)
• Political Economy (PhD)
• Psychology (PhD)
• Sociology (PhD)

Decisions

The Office of the Dean of Students notifies applicants of their admissions decision via our online application system. In some cases, departments may informally notify applicants of decisions earlier. Only the formal offer of admission from the Dean of Students is official.

PhD programs typically issue decisions at the end of February or in early March. MA programs issue decisions approximately 8-10 weeks after the decision round deadline.

In some cases, PhD applicants whom the faculty feel would be very strong students but whom we cannot fund in our doctoral programs may be referred for consideration by one of our intensive master’s degree programs without a separate application process. Referred applicants are notified of this at the time they are notified their PhD application has been unsuccessful; a decision from the MA program typically follows 4-6 weeks later. Please note that referral is not guaranteed; PhD applicants who are also interested in our MA programs should submit a separate application if they want to ensure they are considered by both programs.

Offers & Response Deadlines

PhD Programs

We ask admitted students to respond to their offers of admission by April 15, in accordance with the Council of Graduate Schools April 15 resolution.

The Division does not defer admission to PhD programs, except when matriculating in sanctioned dual programs with the University of Chicago law school or medical school. Other admitted applicants are invited to reapply for the next academic year application cycle and may contact the SSD Admissions Office to have the fee waived.

MA Programs

The deadline to respond to an offer of admission to an MA program varies by the application deadline round. No offer of admission will require a response earlier than April 20. Individuals admitted during the final round are usually requested to respond within 4 weeks.