Apply to the Ph.D. Program

Admission to the graduate program in History is highly selective. Students are fully funded for five years and work closely with supportive, leading faculty mentors.

The History department accepts applications online through the Laney Graduate School beginning in early-to-mid September of each year. Before applying, students should contact History faculty members to discuss how your research interests align. 

The application fee is $75. Laney Graduate School offers fee waivers to students who attend certain programs that prepare them for graduate study and in cases where the fee presents a financial hardship.

1. Transcripts
2. Statement of Purpose: Articulates motivation and aspirations for graduate study in history, demonstrable track record of accomplishment, and perseverance.
   
3. Resume/CV
4. Three Letters of Recommendation 
5. $75 Application Fee
6. Diversity Statement (Optional)
7. Research Interest/s or Specialization/s: Interests may be general or specific, and multiple interests can be listed. Identify a network of Emory History scholars and resources to support your scholarly goals and, when applicable, potential to work across multiple focus areas.
8. Research Experience: Documents research projects and work experiences relevant to the graduate study of history and related career pathways. Such experiences need not have been in history, specifically, but should have provided relevant training and involvement.
9. Writing Sample: The sample can be a paper written for a course, an undergraduate thesis, or a chapter from a master's thesis. Select a finished piece of work that demonstrates your quality and originality of scholarly writing and analysis. Make sure this piece represents your best work, preferably on a subject related to your historical interests.
10. Research Languages/Skills (Recommended, not required): Demonstrates prior training and/or proficiency in research languages and/or specialized research skills such as digital humanities or quantitative methods.

Testing

• GRE Scores: GRE scores are not required.
• TOEFL and/or IELTS Scores: For students whose first language is not English, TOEFL and/or IELTS scores are not required.

Five years of financial support. Extensive supplementary funding to support your professional path. 

All incoming doctoral students in the History Department receive: 

1. A stipend of at least $36,376 (2023-24),
2. A full-tuition scholarship, and
3. A health insurance subsidy that covers the full cost of Emory's student health insurance.

This funding package is renewed annually for five years, contingent upon satisfactory academic performance.

Applicants, in applying, also compete for special admissions fellowships that supplement the base stipend. Programs nominate students for these fellowships, which are awarded by faculty committees in the Laney Graduate School. Special admissions fellowships include: 

• The George W. Woodruff Fellowship
• The Centennial Scholars Fellowship
• The Tam Institute for Jewish Studies Fellowship
• The Laney Graduate Fellowship

• September
  Application opens in early to mid-September.
• December 15
  Final application deadline is December 15.
• January to Early February
  Application review and preparation of admissions offers is underway. Faculty will contact select applicants to schedule a Zoom interview by mid to late January. If you have not heard from us, your application is still being considered.
• Late February-Mid March
  Recruitment Events for Admitted Students (Invitation Only)
• April 15
  Final Decision Deadline for Admitted Students