Doctor of Philosophy

How to Apply

Instructions

Candidates are able to apply using our online system. All materials, including statements of purpose and letters of recommendation, can be submitted online except for scores on standardized tests and academic transcripts. We ask that hard copies of these be sent to the relevant Admissions Office. In addition, candidates applying for financial aid may have to submit hard copies of supporting documents.

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Important Dates

  1. Ph.D. application deadline
    Dec15
  2. Admissions/aid decisions released to Ph.D. applicant pool online
    Mar1
  3. Open House for Admitted Students
    Apr10
  4. Reply Deadline
    May1

Application Checklist

Applications are received and processed by the Office of Admissions. The individual field directors for each program review qualified applicants and nominate selected candidates to the Faculty Ph.D. Committee, which reviews the nominated candidates and makes the final admissions decision.

  • Application fee ($85)
  • Online application form
  • Résumé
  • Statement of purpose
  • Dissertation topic
  • Writing sample
  • Official transcripts for all college-level course work
  • Two (2) letters of recommendation
  • GRE or GMAT score reports
  • TOEFL or IELTS score reports (non-native English speakers only)

Mailing Application Materials

Please send hard-copy application materials (e.g. transcripts, paper recommendations) to:

The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies
The Johns Hopkins University

Office of Admissions
1740 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036

Note: Transcripts must be sealed to be considered official. Letters of recommendation must still be sealed in their original envelope.

Reapplying to SAIS

The SAIS Office of Admissions retains application files for one year after a decision is rendered. Applicants within this time frame are required to complete only the items on the checklist below. Applicants who previously applied earlier are considered new applicants and must resubmit all application materials.

Reapplicants to SAIS must submit the following:

  • Application fee ($85)
  • Online application
  • Updated resume/CV
  • Reapplicant essay: Explain how you have improved your candidacy since your last application. This essay should be no more than 1,000 words in length.
  • Transcript(s) of any additional courses you have taken since you last applied (include grades not finalized at the time of your last application)
  • One new recommendation letter, preferably from your current employer. If you have already used your current employer for a recommendation, please choose someone else in a supervisory role or a client.

Ph.D. reapplicants must also submit a new dissertation topic if their topic has changed.

Additional Resources

Resources for How to Apply



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