The deadline is always January 5th, every year. You must apply online by that date to be considered for admission.
The process begins with the application to the UW-Madison Graduate School.
Answer all required questions and be sure to submit the following:
- Reasons for Study (also called Statement of Purpose)
- Names of at least 3 professors and their email addresses for letters of recommendation
- Proof of English proficiency for international degree-seeking applicants
- Supplemental application (questionnaire about what philosophy courses you’ve already studied)
- Writing sample (4,500-6,000 words recommended, which is 15-20 pages double-spaced, devoted to a philosophical subject)
GRE scores are not required, and will not be looked at.
International degree-seeking applicants must provide proof of English proficiency. For more information, including Graduate School minimum English proficiency score requirements, please visit the Graduate School’s Requirements for Admission page.
The Department of Philosophy’s minimum preferred scores for the TOEFL are 100 overall and at least 26/30 on the iBT TOEFL speaking section of the test. Preferred minimum scores for the IELTS are 7.5 overall and 8.0 on the speaking section of the test. The Department of Philosophy does not accept Duolingo scores for admission to our PhD program.
For domestic students, the Graduate School offers a limited number of application fee grants to make sure that the application fee is not a barrier for students from our key recruiting initiatives.
If you have questions about the process of applying, contact Miriam Fagan, Graduate Coordinator, Department of Philosophy at 608-263-5278.