Eligibility for Admission To be eligible for admission to the Graduate School, applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, which is awarded prior to the date of enrollment at Princeton. International equivalents to the bachelor's degree may, in some cases, have a normal program length that is shorter or longer than four years. No degree with a normal program length shorter than three years will be considered equivalent to a bachelor's degree. Applicants may submit one application per year only. This one application can be to one department, program, or combined program. The Graduate School will not offer admission to an applicant seeking a second Ph.D. in the same or similar field of study. Princeton University does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, or veteran status in any phase of its admission or financial aid programs, or other aspects of its educational programs or activities. Before Getting Started Review program descriptions and requirements. Please be sure to carefully review the description of the degree program and its requirements. Prepare your files. Applicants are encouraged to review the file upload requirements. Review appropriate deadlines and fees. Departments and programs have varied application deadline dates. Please note that no late applications will be accepted and there are no refunds for submitted application fees. See Deadlines & Fees. Elements of the Application Graduate admission decisions at Princeton University are made by faculty in the proposed field of study. The Graduate School coordinates the admission process and establishes minimum requirements for admission. Application deadlines and additional requirements vary by degree program. Statement of Academic Purpose Highlight your future plans, past experience, and goals as part of your Graduate School application. Resume / Curriculum Vitae Demonstrate your experience including employment, community service, education, honors, and activities. Letters of Recommendation Reinforce your application with recommendations from faculty members and others well acquainted with your work. Transcripts Upload a transcript as part of your application that tells the story of your work at other colleges and universities. Personal Essay Highlight your personal experiences and journey and how they led you to graduate study. Fall Semester Grades Understand the requirements for reporting your fall semester grades during the application process or after it is submitted. Required Tests Submit the test scores required by your degree program, including the GRE and English Language Tests. Writing Sample Showcase your writing skills, if required, with a sample aligned with the expectations of your field. Statement of Financial Resources Meet the financial expectations for graduate study as a master’s student (specific programs only). FAQs Are there any new sources available to help me complete my application? There are many resources available to help you prepare a competitive Graduate School application. Please take time to review the resources as you prepare your materials. Students interested in receiving support for their applications are welcome to attend our virtual application workshops. May I apply to more than one department or program? No, only one application may be submitted each year. Do I need a master’s degree to apply to a Ph.D. program? No. A bachelor’s degree or its foreign equivalent is required. Princeton offers a Ph.D in my field, but I don’t see a master’s degree listed. Can I apply just for a master’s degree? No. If you do not see a master’s degree on the fields of study page for that department or program, it is not offered and you may not apply for it. Princeton offers a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in my field of study. If I apply for one and you do not make me an offer, can I be considered for the other? No, you may only apply to one degree program, for one degree per year.
