Admission to the Ph.D. Program in History is quite competitive. Students applying must submit a completed application form, at least two letters of recommendation, preferably from professors of history or related fields, official transcripts from previous colleges or universities, scores from the Graduate Record Examination General Test, and a writing sample of no more than fifteen pages.

All applications are reviewed by a committee of faculty and students. The application is considered in its entirety, but the committee pays particular attention--in no particular order--to the student's record of academic achievement as reflected in the transcripts, the student's potential for graduate work as demonstrated by recommendations, the quality of the writing sample, the GRE scores, and the student's background and reasons for pursuing a Ph.D. at The Graduate Center, as expressed in the personal statement.

We admit students with or without master’s degrees, with no preference given to either group. Most applicants have majored in history as undergraduates, though this is not a requirement.

The program admits students for the Fall term only. The application deadline for students wishing to be considered for fellowships or financial assistance is January 15; for admission only, March 1st. Only in unusual circumstances are students admitted on a provisional basis as non-matriculants for up to but no more than eight credits. Such students must be applicants for admission to the program, and they must be prepared to provide substantial evidence of their qualification for admission. They must then demonstrate excellence in their coursework, as evidenced by grades and recommendations from their instructors, to be admitted to the program as matriculated students.