All graduate students have a primary advisor from the start of the program, and so potential applicants are encouraged to contact at least one relevant faculty member in advance about whether they are recruiting students in the current year and whether they believe your research interest aligns with theirs.

An undergraduate degree in psychology or related field (e.g., cognitive science, neuroscience, computer science) is recommended. Successful candidates generally have significant research experience as part of their undergraduate program or afterward, such as in a research assistant position.

The School of Graduate Studies must receive all required materials before any formal action can be taken. Unofficial documents of GREs, transcripts, and unsealed letters of recommendation will not be considered. Students are accepted for fall admission only. To receive full consideration for Fall admission, all application materials must be on file in the Department of Psychological Sciences by the application deadline. Applications completed after this date will not be given full consideration.

THE DCAS PHD PROGRAM IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2023-24 ACADEMIC YEAR

Instructions/FAQ about the online application process can be found here.

You are able to submit your Application, Application Fee, Personal Statement, and CV during the online application process.

Hand completing a multiple choice exam.

You are also prompted to submit the e-mail addresses of your 3 recommenders. Your recommenders will be e-mailed instructions about how to submit their recommendations online. Previous transcripts should be sent directly from the institution to the Psychology Program.

We require the TOEFL from all candidates who complete their undergraduate degree at an institution where English is not the medium of instruction. For an international applicant who studied at a university where the language of instruction was English, this must be communicated on the official transcripts for the TOEFL requirement to be waived.

As soon as your application is received, a confirmation e-mail is sent to you.

DCAS Application Checklist

  • School of Graduate Studies Application submitted online
    • $50 Application Fee
    • Personal Statement
    • CV
    • Three Letters of Recommendation sent directly from the recommender (online)
  • Previous Transcripts sent directly from the institution to the Psychology Program (do not submit to the School of Graduate Studies unless asked to do so)
  • GRE Scores (institution code is 1105, no department code) **The GRE requirement is optional for the current application season. You may still submit it, but your application will not be weighed differently if you choose not to include it.

As we receive application materials, your application portal will be updated. Faculty will review completed applications from December through early January. In January, the faculty will meet to decide who to interview. Depending on a number of factors, applicants may be invited for an on-campus interview and visit or for a phone/videoconference interview. Please do not contact the department via phone for an update on your application. Students are accepted for fall admission only.

The School of Graduate Studies has general application requirements. Applicants should refer to the program website for application requirements and instructions specific to the program.