yale phd application requirements

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Department of Physics

You are here, apply to the yale physics phd program.

The Yale Department of Physics welcomes applications to our matriculating graduate class of 2024 beginning around August 15th, 2024. The General GRE and Physics GRE scores are Optional for applications received by the December 15, 2023, submission deadline.

We recognize the continuing disruption caused by COVID-19 and that the hardship of taking GREs falls unequally on individual students. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment for all; therefore, we do not require these standardized tests for admission to our program. All applications are reviewed holistically, and preference will not be given to students who do or do not submit GRE scores.

Frequently Asked Physics Questions General Application Questions Application Fees and Fee Waivers* Accommodations for Applicants Facing Extenuating Circumstances

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• Guidance for International Students
• PhD/Master's Application Process

If you are an international applicant to a PhD or Master's degree program, you have the same general requirements as all other applicants.

Note: Applicants to a non-degree program, including Exchange Scholars , Visiting Assistants in Research , and Visiting Students , should visit the relevant page for information about admission to those programs.

Bachelor's Degree or International Equivalent

All entering students must have earned a bachelor's degree or its international equivalent prior to enrolling at the Graduate School. You may submit an application before receiving your degree, or while your degree is still in progress, as long as the degree will be completed prior to matriculation.

Some countries grant an undergraduate or bachelor's-equivalent degree in three years. In such cases, completion of a three-year degree will meet the application requirement.

English Language Testing (TOEFL/IELTS)

TOEFL or IELTS is required of almost all applicants whose native language is not English.

If you have received (or will receive) an undergraduate degree from a college or university where English is the primary language of instruction, you are exempt from the English Language Test requirement and are not required to submit the TOEFL or IELTS. You must have studied in residence at the undergraduate institution for at least three years to qualify. No exemptions are made on the basis of an advanced degree (e.g., MA/MS or PhD) from any institution. For more information, please see Standardized Test Requirements .

Although the Graduate School does not have test minimums for admission, individual departments may have a minimum requirement and will use these scores when they review your application. Please check with the department or program to which you are applying to see if it has a minimum requirement. The Graduate School requires incoming doctoral students who received a score of 25 or below on the TOEFL Speaking section or a 7.5 or below on the IELTS Speaking section to participate in a Summer English Language program at Yale in August prior to matriculation. These students are required to demonstrate English proficiency before they are permitted to teach.

Entry Term/Intake

All PhD and Master's students begin their studies at Yale in the fall term. No spring term entry is permitted. Application for admission to any of the Graduate School's programs begins in the summer or fall of the academic year prior to the one in which you propose to matriculate. Please submit your application by the program deadline .

Visa Questions and Processing

The Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) serves as the immigration adviser for all entering international students and their accompanying family members. Beginning in March, OISS will contact you with the necessary visa and immigration information if you have accepted Yale's offer of admission.

GPA and GPA Conversion

You may self-report a GPA and GPA scale in the “Academic History” section of the application. Please do not convert or recalculate your GPA. If your college or university does not report or compute a GPA, you should omit it.

Translations

All academic records and letters of recommendation uploaded to your application must be in English or accompanied by an English translation.

Fee Waivers

International students are eligible to request a fee waiver .

Department of Psychology

You are here, admissions application overview, description of program.

The Psychology Department offers doctoral training in the following areas: Clinical Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Neuroscience, and Social/Personality Psychology.

A student in the Psychology doctoral program typically requires five years of study to complete all Ph.D. requirements. An exception is the APA-accredited Clinical Area program which requires an additional sixth year for clinical internship training. Students interested in the Clinical Area should visit the Practicum Training ( https://psychology.yale.edu/graduate/training/practicum-training ) and Clinical Psychology ( https://psychology.yale.edu/research/clinical-psychology ) links for more information.

The Psychology Department does not offer a terminal Master’s degree program in any area (for example, we do not have a Master’s degree program in counseling psychology). However, Psychology Ph.D. graduate students may receive a Master’s degree after completion of their second-year requirements towards their Ph.D.

Our program is structured around the close mentoring of each graduate student by a faculty advisor (or a small group of faculty advisors). In the typical situation, an entering graduate student will join the research lab of their faculty advisor. It is thus recommended that prospective students consult our online faculty pages and lab websites to determine the best fit of their research interests to faculty interests.

The online application provides an opportunity for prospective students to indicate which faculty current members might serve as their advisor or advisors. Prospective students should consider choosing two or more faculty members as potential advisors when completing this section of the application.

The Yale Psychology Department includes many associated faculty members who hold primary appointments in other Yale departments. This makes for a greatly enriched advising environment for our graduate students. However, a student’s primary advisor must be a regular primary faculty member of the Department of Psychology.

Undergraduate Degree

All entering students must have earned a bachelor’s degree or its international equivalent prior to enrolling at the Graduate School. You may apply before receiving your degree, or while your degree is still in progress, so long as the degree will be completed prior to matriculation.

A BA or BS in the field of Psychology is not required to apply to the Psychology graduate program. 

International Undergraduate Degrees

Some countries grant an undergraduate or bachelor’s-equivalent degree in three years. If your three-year degree is equivalent to the U.S. Bachelor of Science or Arts degree, it meets the requirement to apply for a Doctoral degree at Yale University. Please visit Graduate Admissions Office – Guidance for International Students ( https://gsas.yale.edu/admissions/phdmasters-application-process/guidance-international-students )for more information.

GRE scores are not required to apply to the Yale Psychology Graduate Program.

Students have the option, however, to submit GRE scores. If you do opt to submit GRE scores, the GRE institution code for Yale University is 3987. Your scores do not need to be available at the time you submit your application, but please submit them as soon as you possible after submitting your application.

Please refer to the links below for additional information regarding the required tests and documents for admission. http://gsas.yale.edu/faq/admissions/standardized-test-questions

The TOEFL or IELTS is required of all applicants whose native language is not English. Applicants who have received or will receive an undergraduate degree from a college or university where English is the primary language of instruction are exempt from the English Language Test requirement and are not required to submit the TOEFL or IELTS. Applicants must have studied in residence at the undergraduate institution for at least three years to qualify.  No exemptions are made based on an advanced degree (e.g. M.A./M.S. or Ph.D.) from any institution.

TOEFL scores are valid for 2 years.  If ETS has the scores, the applicant should have them sent to us before they expire. The review page in the application system will alert you if a TOEFL score is required. 

The Graduate School requires incoming doctoral students who received a score of 25 or below on the TOEFL Speaking section or a 7.5 or below on IELTS Speaking section to participate in a Summer English Language program at Yale in August prior to matriculation. These students are required to demonstrate English proficiency before they are permitted to teach. 

For information about fee waivers, and an application form to apply for a fee waiver, please visit https://gsas.yale.edu/admissions/application-fees

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are required for your application to be considered complete. You may submit more than three letters. All letters should be submitted by December 1 st .

Prospective applicants can track submissions of letters of recommendation and scores by accessing the Slate dashboard.  A “Green” check mark will appear next to the information received and verified by the Graduate Admissions Officers at Yale University.

Interfolio Users

For Faculty recommenders who prefer to use Interfolio, please input the Interfolio-specific email address for that faculty member in lieu of their institutional email address. Please note, there are a few optional questions on the reference form that Interfolio users will not fill out.

If you have trouble with the Slate Application System, or for questions on using previously submitted letters of recommendation, please contact the Office of Admissions directly. 

Letters of Recommendation Process http://gsas.yale.edu/faq/admissions/letters-recommendation-process

Per the Graduate Admissions Office, during the application process you must upload your academic record/transcript, which may take the form of an electronic transcript. However, please ensure no additional authentication is required to view the transcript, as this will cause problems with your upload.

Following admission and acceptance of an offer of admission, you may request that your institution send your official electronic transcript to: graduateschool.transcripts@yale.edu

(Please Note: Transcripts sent to this address from applicants who have not accepted an offer of admission will be discarded.)

For additional information, please visit https://gsas.yale.edu/faq/admissions/transcripts or contact the Graduate Admissions Office directly.

All academic records uploaded to your application must be in English or accompanied by a translation to English.  For additional information, please visit:

https://gsas.yale.edu/admissions/admissions-faqs#overlay-context=admissions/admissions-faqs

Writing Sample

A personal statement is required. In addition, we encourage applicants to include a writing sample of their research or scholarly work. This may include an undergraduate research or review paper, or work conducted after graduation from your undergraduate institution.

For additional information about the Psychology Department graduate program requirements, please see detailed information here .  For all other questions please email the Psychology Department registrar .

For additional questions regarding the application, tests, and admission process, please visit or contact the Yale Graduate School Admissions:

Department of Psychology: Applying for Admission

Graduate School, Office of Admissions

Application for admission to the Doctoral Program in Management is made through the Yale Graduate School. The application deadline is December 15 of the year in which admission is sought.

Applications

Applications are considered only once per year, and all new students begin their doctoral studies in the fall term. Classes are not offered on evenings or weekends, nor is it possible to be a student in the program while holding a full-time job. Applicants are required to take either the GRE or GMAT test. You will find a full description of the application process on the Graduate Admissions Web Page.

Principles on Holistic Admission and Spring 2020 Grades

March 26, 2020.

Yale’s admissions offices for graduate and professional schools evaluate applicants holistically and will take the significant disruptions of COVID-19 into account when reviewing students’ transcripts and other admissions materials relating to Spring 2020. In particular, we will respect decisions regarding the adoption of Credit/Fail and other grading options during this unprecedented period, whether they are made by institutions or by individual students.

Financial aid

All students admitted to the program are given full financial aid for five years as long as they continue to satisfy the program's academic requirements. The aid consists of a tuition waiver and a stipend that is comparable to stipends offered by other leading schools of management.

Visit the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences for more information.

Additional information

Before submitting your query, please consult the    Doctoral Program Admissions Frequently Asked Questions .

If you have a question about the TOEFL please refer to the  Doctoral Program FAQ page  to see the School of Management’s policy  before you email your question.

For further information about the Doctoral Program in Management contact:

Professor Matthew Spiegel Director of Graduate Studies Doctoral Program in Management Yale School of Management Box 208200 New Haven, CT 06520-8200 Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Offices Hall of Graduate Studies 320 York Street PO Box 208236 New Haven, CT 06520-8236

Department of Statistics and Data Science

Ph.d. admissions.

The Ph.D. program admits only a small number of new students each year.  We received more than 300 applications for the Fall 2024 cohort; in general, we hope to make 15-18 offers and obtain an entering class of about six to eight students.

All applications for this program should be submitted directly to the Yale Graduate School Office of Admissions through the online application page.

Application requirements and guidelines

Scores from the GRE General Test are now optional.  A GRE Subject Test is also optional, although the Mathematics Subject Test is not recommended for students whose undergraduate major was not Mathematics. 

All applicants should have a strong mathematical background, including advanced calculus, linear algebra, elementary probability theory, and at least one course providing an introduction to mathematical statistics. An undergraduate major may be in statistics, mathematics, computer science, or in a subject in which significant statistical problems may arise.

For those whose native language is not English, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores are required. A strong command of English is essential for success at Yale.  This requirement is waived only for applicants who, prior to matriculation at Yale, will have received a baccalaureate degree or its international equivalent with three years of residency from a college or university where English is the primary language of instruction.

The offer of admission typically includes full tuition ($48,300 in 2023-24) and a generous stipend (roughly $40,300 for 2023-24) for five years.  Consult the Graduate School’s financial assistance page (UPDATE NEEDED) for additional detail on living costs and funding.

For incoming students whose TOEFL scores fall below the level required to satisfy the Graduate School’s Oral English Proficiency Standard, the Graduate School provides a stipend for support during a three week Immersive English Program , held late in summer on the Yale campus.

Tuition and Living Costs  (UPDATE NEEDED)

• Doctoral Admissions

How to Apply to the Doctoral Program

Our doctoral program offers scholars from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to pursue a highly individualized area of inquiry under the mentorship of a YSE faculty member. The research conducted by YSE PhD candidates spans global and disciplinary boundaries — and what’s more, it is fully funded. Learn more about how to join this vibrant and dynamic intellectual community.

On This Page

Doctoral Program Application Deadline

The application deadline for admission to the fall class in a given year is typically the preceding January 2 of that year.

Applications are submitted through the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) website .

Before You Apply

All applicants must identify and contact one or two faculty members who they think could serve as their major advisor. Applicants will not be accepted unless a faculty member in the Yale School of the Environment (YSE) agrees to become their mentor. We do not do lab rotations. Once an applicant is admitted they immediately work with the chosen advisor.

• Applicants should begin contacting prospective faculty advisors between late September and late October to discuss their research interests and determine if they and the prospective faculty member are a good match.  This initial contact is normally done by email.
• As part of that initial contact, applicants should explain in writing what research questions they would like to pursue during their doctoral studies, what kind research experience and expertise they already have gained, and why they wish to work with the prospective faculty member.  Applicants should provide a CV at that time they initiate contact.
• Applicants are also encouraged to contact current students and alumni from their potential advisor’s research group for more information about working with their advisor, the doctoral program, and life in New Haven.

Application Elements

The PhD application has several elements:

• Biographical information ,
• Transcripts of course work and proof of degrees,
• Test scores (e.g., GRE, and English language proficiency test (TOEFFL, IELTS) as appropriate). NOTE: The GRE is optional. Applicants should check with their prospective advisors whether or not they wish to see the scores.
• A CV describing research and professional experience and a list of any scholarly work,
• A personal statement describing the goals for graduate study including the dissertation research topic as well as professional aspirations beyond the PhD. (Note: The goal of the YSE doctoral program is to train students to pursue post PhD positions that align with their professional goals and aspirations. These may include academic or non-academic [public or private sector] careers.) 
• Three letters of reference that can describe the applicant’s character, abilities and professionalism, and attest to the applicant’s scholarly aptitude and future potential.  Ideally, at least two of the three letters should come from academic advisors or research mentors.
• Applicant may provide a writing sample (e.g. a pdf reprint of a publication) but this is not required.

All elements of the application will be given equal consideration in the decision-making; there are no cut-off’s for test scores.

How to Apply for Combined PhD Programs

Application Fee and Fee Waivers

The application fee for all degree-seeking applicants is $105.00. The fee must be paid, or a fee waiver must be granted, before an application will be reviewed. Application fees are non-refundable. Some applicants may be eligible for a fee waiver; U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and non-U.S. citizens are all eligible to request a fee waiver. Fee waivers may be granted on the basis of:

• Participation in a special program, event, fellowship, or status.
• Documented financial hardship

Examples are listed by GSAS .

The eligibility requirements and process to request a waiver are described in detail on the GSAS application fees and fee waivers page . Fee waiver requests are due by November 30.

Information on fee waivers can be found at:

Fee and fee waiver info Fee waiver request form

Application Review Process

Once the application is submitted to the Yale Graduate School it is forwarded to the doctoral program in the School of the Environment (YSE). This normally happens in the middle of January, at which time the doctoral admissions committee engages in the review of the applications.  

• Applications are reviewed by the doctoral admissions committee which is comprised of seven members of the YSE faculty that represent the breadth of the scholarly disciplines within YSE.
• Applicants are ranked for admissibility by the admissions committee.
• The top ranked applicants are invited to an open house, which takes place sometime in early February, at which time applicants have a chance to meet and engage with students and faculty in YSE.
• Following the open house, the admissions committee will decide which applicants will be recommended for admission to the doctoral program in the School of the Environment.
• The YSE doctoral committee recommendations will be sent to the Graduate School for final approval.  

Admission into the Program and Funding Information

Students approved for admission to YSE will be sent a formal letter of offer of admission from the Dean of the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. This normally happens in late February. The letter will explain: the terms and expectations of doctoral studies within the YSE, which includes a guarantee of 5 years of stipend funding, health care coverage and a waiver of tuition and an explanation of teaching expectations. 

Doctoral students at YSE receive 5 years of guaranteed funding. Funding packages consist of a stipend ($32,700 for the 2020-2021 academic year), full tuition coverage, and health insurance. For more information on funding and benefits for doctoral students at Yale, visit the following Graduate School of Arts and Sciences webpages:

Stipend Payments Funding PhD Students

Contact the Doctoral Program

Elisabeth Barsa is the contact for students interested in the YSE doctoral program.

Elisabeth Barsa

Doctoral Program Coordinator

Apply to the YSE PhD Program

Applications for the YSE PhD program are submitted through the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

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• Graduate Application FAQs

The Department of Economics offers a full-time Ph.D. program. Part-time study is not available. There is no MA program. The Economic Growth Center offers a one-year MA program in International and Development Economics. For more information on this program see  Economic Growth Center Program page .

Applicants to the program should submit the Yale Graduate School Application, three (3) letters of recommendation, personal statement, transcripts, GRE score. The TOEFL is required of all applicants whose native language is not English.  This requirement is waived for applicants who have received a baccalaureate degree, or its foreign equivalent, prior to matriculation at Yale, from a college or university where English is the primary language of instruction. If you do not qualify for a waiver but have taken the TOEFL within the last two years you will need to have your TOEFL scores released to us (code 3987). If your scores can no longer be released, you will need to take the test.  The test should be taken as early as possible to ensure that your scores are received in time to be incorporated in your file. Normally TOEFL scores will not be released if they are older than two years. If you took the TOEFL before and ETS will release those scores then you should not have to retake the examination.

We do not calculate or track average or minimum scores for admission.

The minimum TOEFL score necessary for admission is 250 depending on whether you take the computerized or written test. In addition, a minimum of 60 or 25 is required on the oral comprehensive section. For the TOEFL Internet Based Test (IBT) the minimum total score is 100; 26 on each section except writing which has a minimum of 22. More information about  TOEFL and IELTS tests  can be found on the Yale Graduate School website.

The average time of completion is five years, although some students finish in four years. Students are allowed 6 years of registration.

We do not make use of interviews for admission.

All applicants offered admission to the program are provided with a stipend that is adequate to live on in New Haven. They are also provided with six years tuition and health coverage fellowships

Our target size for the entering class is approximately 19-23 per year.

The Yale Graduate School does not accept transfer students. The presumption is that students who receive a Yale doctoral degree do their studies at Yale. Students currently enrolled in a Master’s or doctoral program elsewhere who wish to apply to a Yale doctoral program may do so through the normal admissions procedure. They must meet all the application requirements including the deadline for submission. Students may, after one year of course work at Yale, petition the Economics Department and the Graduate School to waive up to one year of course work at Yale in view of prior graduate-level course work completed elsewhere. All other requirements, including the comprehensive examination, the economic history requirement, oral examinations, and the econometrics paper, must be completed at Yale.

Applications are due December 1. Decisions are made and letters of acceptance mailed by early March. Applicants must make admission decisions by mid-April. See the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences  dates and deadlines page  for addtional information.

a) Adequate preparation in mathematics. Applicants should have multivariate calculus. Linear algebra, real analysis and probability theory and/or statistics also looks good.

b) A good grade record. This is not precise as standards vary widely among schools.

c) Informative letters of recommendation. It is helpful if these show the applicant is creative and enterprising.

d) Of the GRE scores we focus mainly on the quantitative score in percentage terms. Anything over 90% is fine; below 85% raises questions.

It is not possible to assess material and make a judgment on whether a candidate is suitable for the program. All application materials are taken into account when making decisions on admission.

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Admissions: Applying to the MD-PhD Program

We seek applicants who are committed to pursuing a career as a physician-scientists. We value students who are curious, creative, compassionate, and resilient, and bring a diverse range of personal experiences, viewpoints, and academic interests to our collaborative and innovative community.

Candidates must submit their application to the Yale School of Medicine which includes the AMCAS and the Yale Secondary Applications and indicate their interest in being considered for the MD-PhD Program. All applications are holistically reviewed to find candidates whose academic and personal experiences indicate exceptional potential and a commitment to pursue MD and PhD training at Yale. Among the things we look for in a candidate's application are:

• Significant research experience(s) with evidence of increasing independence, responsibility, and depth of contributions
• Outstanding letters of recommendation, including those from research mentors who can reflect upon your potential for success as a physician-scientist
• Personal statements that allow us to understand your reasons for training as a physician-scientist
• Activities that reflect your curiosity, compassion, maturity, leadership, grit
• Broad academic excellence, not reflected solely in MCAT scores or GPA

Admissions Timeline

Invitations for interview will be sent via email from September to January. All interviews are virtual and will be scheduled over a two-day period. Candidates have interviews with members of both the MD and MD-PhD Interviewing subcommittees, non-evaluative meetings with MD-PhD program faculty and students, and informational sessions with the program director and current students. Social events and student buddies will help you learn more about the MD-PhD community at Yale and about living in New Haven. As part of the invitation to interview, we will provide a survey link that allows you to request informal meetings with up to five Yale faculty whose research is of interest to you. These informal discussions are not part of the admissions evaluation but are made available to you so that you can get a more complete picture of what Yale has to offer. Applicants who are not invited to interview for the MD-PhD Program will be offered the option to have their application considered for MD-only admission.

Special Instructions for Applicants Interested in “non-traditional” PhD programs

MD-PhD applicants who plan to pursue their PhD in Anthropology, Economics, History of Science & Medicine, Philosophy, Religious Studies or Sociology must submit applications to both the MD-PhD program and to the PhD program. (A link to the PhD program application will be sent to such students when their complete MD-PhD program application is received.) Interview invitations will be made after both applications have been reviewed. Materials required to support the PhD program application are detailed below. Students interested in these programs are encouraged to contact the MD-PhD program to indicate their interest and to obtain the most up-to-date information about specific PhD program requirements. Please note: the completed MD-PhD application must be received by October 15th and the PhD application completed by November 1st to allow full review and consideration for interview.

Requested additional materials:

• Anthropology
• History of Science and Medicine
• Religious Studies
• Please upload a current resume/CV.
• Applicants to Economics (Only) – GRE Test Scores required

Important information to keep in mind:

• The " personal statement of academic purpose " is carefully evaluated by PhD program faculty; when requested, it should be prepared with this audience in mind. This document should be a succinct statement of 500-1,000 words explaining why you are applying to Yale for graduate study, describing your past research, your preparation for the intended field of study, your academic plans for graduate study at Yale (e.g. your proposed research project), and your subsequent career objectives. Explain how the faculty, research, and resources at Yale would contribute to your future goals.
• You may submit a letter of recommendation from the same individual as part of both the AMCAS and GSAS applications; we encourage you to ask the recommenders most capable of speaking to your preparation for the PhD program of study to submit their letters to both AMCAS and GSAS. Once you identify a recommender in the GSAS Admissions Portal, they will receive an email providing instructions and access information.
• No application fee to GSAS will be required to submit these additional materials.
• The MCAT will be accepted in lieu of the GRE except for candidates to Economics.

Gap years are not necessary for applicants . Nationally, >75% of MD-PhD students have taken at least one gap year after college 1 . Gap years can help applicants gain research or clinical experience necessary for deciding whether dual-degree training is right for them. Or they can provide time to travel, work, or take the MCAT and apply. But gap years per se are not necessary to be admitted to MD-PhD programs! The distribution of gap years taken by Yale MD-PhD applicants, interviewed or accepted candidates, and matriculated students for 2019-2023 shows a median “gap” of 2 years for interviewed, accepted, and matriculated applicants But 18% of our current students joined the program immediately after graduating from college.

Diversity and inclusion are central to our mission; our goal is to train students with a wide range of backgrounds, personal identities, and research interests to become physician-scientists. MD-PhD students who matriculated in the past five years completed their undergraduate degrees at accredited four-year institutions all over the United States and territories, and include students who have attended community colleges, historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and small, non-research-intensive colleges. Demographics of current students, as self-identified in their AMCAS medical school applications, are shown below. We encourage individuals with disabilities or who may be from economically, socially, culturally and/or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds to apply to our Program. Yale is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive environment to individuals with disabilities by ensuring that appropriate academic and technical accommodations are available to students. Please contact the MD-PhD Office and Student Accessibility Services for further information. U.S. citizens, permanent residents, refugees, asylees, DACA recipients and international students are all eligible to apply for admission to the MD-PhD Program.

1 Brass LF, Fitzsimonds RM, Akabas MH. Gaps between college and starting an MD-PhD program are adding years to physician-scientist training time. JCI Insight. 2021;e156168 [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]

Yale's MD-PhD Program grants full consideration to students who plan to pursue a PhD program in departments that are part of the Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS) , the School of Public Health (YSPH) , School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) , and some departments of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS ). Please click on the links for more information on specific PhD programs. Current students are pursuing their PhD training in the following programs and departments.

Department of Chemistry

Application process.

Thank you for your interest in pursuing doctoral studies in Chemistry at Yale University. Below is information regarding application deadlines and requirements.

Program Information

Please review the Chemistry section at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) Programs and Policies . Note the graduate program at Yale Chemistry is strictly a Ph.D. program. A master’s program is not offered at this time.

Application Requirements

Please note, the  electronic application   to start graduate program for Fall 2024 will be available in mid-August of 2023. 

The application is due December 1, 2023 , along with supplemental information: transcripts, GRE and TOEFL scores, three letters of recommendation, and a personal statement of purpose.  Applicants may find the Training in Teaching information helpful as they consider their application .  Note the application can be saved and reopened multiple times before final submission.

Some Ph.D. applicants may be eligible for a  fee waiver . Please review the instructions, eligibility factors, and required documents. We recommend doing this far in advance of the December 1 application deadline.

Once you submit your fee waiver request form, you will receive an email from the GSAS admissions office ( graduate.admissions@yale.edu ) within 2-3 business days indicating if you have been granted a waiver. 

Letters of Recommendation

A minimum of three letters of recommendation is required. These letters should be from individuals who can evaluate the applicant’s academic work, intellectual ability, or academic potential for graduate work. The letters should address one’s motivation for conducting research in this field; ability to take initiative, think critically, and engage in experimental design, data acquisition and analysis (if applicable); and perseverance in working towards an academic or research goal. The most effective letters originate from faculty members of the last institution you attended as a full-time student, research advisors in laboratories, or supervisors in work environments. It is generally most beneficial to choose recommenders who know the applicant well and can speak about their performance and approach with concrete examples. For other information, please review the  FAQs on Letters of Recommendation .

Statement of Academic Purpose

This statement of 500 – 1,000 words explains the decision to apply to Yale for graduate study, research interests, and preparation for the intended field/s of study, including prior research and other relevant experiences. This statement gives the admissions committee an idea of who the applicant is, what motivates them for chemistry graduate study, and how Yale’s faculty, research, and resources would contribute to their future goals. A successful personal statement provides a substantive description of prior research, puts background into context, indicates enthusiasm for research at Yale Chemistry, and shows how the candidate would enrich the intellectual community at Yale. Concrete and specific statements are more useful than broad generalities, though, of course, one does not need to know their future career plans in detail.

Personal Narrative

We are dedicated to fostering a community where students with diverse backgrounds and experiences are included and feel they belong. In 300 words or less, tell us about the personal experiences, interests, or perspectives that you would bring to the community at Yale. This narrative should demonstrate your perspectives on diversity, why it is important, and how you have contributed to or will contribute to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

GRE (Graduate Record Examination)

For this year’s application, the GRE General is recommended but not required. Scores for these examinations must be officially released to the Yale University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (institution code 3987). These scores are used as components of a holistic evaluation of an applicant’s qualifications, with due consideration of the limitations of the GRE score. More information is available at GSAS’s FAQs . Students from the USA with financial need can apply for the  GRE Fee Reduction Program  or request a Fee Reduction Voucher from  Graduate Academic Support.

Transcripts

A record of the applicant’s academic performance is required for each institution they list in the Prior Study section of the application. This academic record (a scanned copy of a transcript from the institution’s Student Information System Portal, an “issued to student” transcript, or a certified electronic transcript in PDF form) must be uploaded to the online application.

TOEFL or IELTS Academic tests

Students whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic. Scores from the TOEFL examination must be officially released to Yale University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (ETS code 3987). For the IELTS Academic test, please specify Yale University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The address in the IELTS system, is Warner House, 1 Hillhouse Avenue, room 302, New Haven, CT 06511.

The examination results must be officially released to Yale University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Scores released to other schools of Yale University cannot be transferred to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

The requirement for the TOEFL can be waived only for applicants who will have received a baccalaureate degree, or its foreign equivalent, from a university or college where English is the primary language of instruction before matriculation at Yale. Applicants must have studied in residence at the baccalaureate institution for at least three years to receive the waiver.

Admissions Decisions and Campus Visit

Applicants are typically notified of decisions regarding their applications before the end of January. Official notification that a decision has been made is by email from the GSAS only. Actual decisions are posted within the online application only.

Official campus visits for accepted students are held in March. An invitation to attend one of our visiting days will be sent to all accepted students.

Computer Science

Yale computer science phd program admissions faq.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Admissions to the Computer Science Department

What is the deadline for applying?

Graduate students are admitted starting in the fall term. The deadline for admission in the fall term, 2024, is January 2, 2024 for master’s student applicants. The deadline for applicants to the doctoral program is December 15, 2023.

There is no way to apply during a spring term, although once admitted a student may delay admission for a year or possibly less, with final permission from the Dean of the Graduate School. Admitted students must send a request to the Computer Science Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) for approval first.

Can I get the application fee waived?

In many cases, yes. Membership in a variety of professional organizations qualify you for a fee wavier. For example:

• National Society of Black Engineers ( NSBE)
• American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)
• Society of Women Engineers ( SWE)
• Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science ( SACNAS)
• The complete list is here

Past attendance at many conferences also qualify you. For example:

• Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC)
• Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference (Tapia)

Finally, if you have ever received a US Federal Pell Grant, you qualify for a waiver. More information, including the waiver request form, is available here .

What is the department’s policy on GRE Scores? 

The GRE score is not accepted for doctoral applicants.

What about grades?

It is good to have high grades, but we actually look at transcripts. If a student has a low grade-point average, we check to see if perhaps he or she did badly early in college, possibly through lack of motivation, then did better as intellectual curiosity grew. Or perhaps someone’s grades are low because he or she focused entirely on computer science and received bad grades in everything else. (Is that good? It’s impossible to answer without looking at the students’ entire record.)

How important are TOEFL scores to foreign students?

Very important, but only because we have nothing better. Your goal before admission should be to learn English, not to pass the TOEFL.

Yale University attaches a great deal of importance to the process by which graduate students learn to become teachers. Every student is required to TA two terms, and may TA more terms if desired. Being an instructor or assisting one requires interactions with undergraduate students. Yale administers its own test to students after they get here to be sure they know English well enough to talk to undergraduates. Failure to pass this test causes administrative problems for faculty and graduate students. The test is waived for students with a 4-year degree from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction; and for students who score 26 or higher on the spoken portion of the iBT test.

I didn’t major in Computer Science as an undergraduate. Can I still get in?

Yes. It helps to have a serious, specific interest in some aspect of the science of computing, over and above experience in programming computers. If you are unacquainted with complexity and decidability, or have only cursory knowledge of data structures, or don’t know the difference between an algorithm and a program, then you should consider taking (and doing well in!) undergraduate courses that address these matters before you apply to a graduate program.

Can you tell me in advance what my chances are of being admitted?

No. Many students ask us to do this, and if we acceded to all such requests, we would in essence be rehearsing the admissions process on the group that asked for advance notice. Not only would this be a lot of work, but the results wouldn’t mean anything, since the outcome when we see all the candidates would likely be different.

What financial support is available for me?

The Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is committed to supporting Ph.D. students for five years, including summers, by combinations of grants, university fellowships, and teaching Assistantships.

Do a student’s research interests affect his or her chance of being admitted?

Yes, a little. We expect every student to be open to many facets of Computer Science when they arrive, and encourage them to feel free to change their area of concentration after they get here. Our main criterion for admission is the applicant’s intelligence, curiosity, and ability to explore without detailed supervision. That said, if a faculty member in a research area is looking for students, the admissions committee tries to accommodate him or her by focusing a bit more than usual on applicants in that area. Of course, the applicants don’t know which areas fall in that category, so they shouldn’t worry about it.

Individual faculty members get many inquiries asking if they will be accepting new students during the next admissions season. As you should be able to infer from the previous paragraph, these inquiries are misguided; students are admitted to the department, not to the research group of a particular faculty member.

Do applicants apply directly to the Ph.D. program, or are they expected to apply to the MS program, and from there be admitted to the Ph.D. program?

Apply directly to the Ph.D. program. The two programs are completely separate, and it is unusual for a Master’s student to go on to the Ph.D. program. If they choose to do so, they must reapply to the Graduate School.

Can I be a part-time student?

Ph.D. students must be full-time students.

Where can I find out how to apply?

Remember that you must apply to the Graduate School of Arts & Science. You do not apply directly to the Department of Computer Science nor do you send any forms to this department. Information on applying for admission to the Yale University Graduate School can be found by going to the web page

http://yale.edu/graduateschool/admissions/

Information regarding how and when to apply is available at that web site.

What if I have a question that is not on this list?

If your question is about the Yale admissions process, check the Graduate School FAQ .

You are here

Applying to yale.

Students are admitted to graduate study (only in the fall) by the Graduate School on the recommendation of the Department. Entering classes average five to ten students. Students must apply either to the six-year PhD program or the one-year Master of Arts program, although applicants who are accepted to the PhD may elect to complete a three- or three-and-a-half-year MPhil degree instead. (For further details on this alternative, please consult the Yale University Graduate School Programs and Policies . )

Special Admissions Requirements for English

Application should be accompanied by a statement of academic purpose, and a writing sample of up to twenty double-spaced pages. Selection is based on the applicant’s undergraduate record; evidence of motivation supplied in the personal statement; evidence of ability to do advanced work as expressed in the writing sample and supported by three letters of recommendation; and preparation in languages sufficient to satisfy the language requirement. We do not require or accept GRE scores. The committee would like to see a sample of your best writing in a literary critical mode. If that sample is more than a few pages longer than the suggested 20-page limit (excluding works cited), you can submit an excerpt, with a brief explanation of how it fits into the larger paper at the top.

The application deadline is December 1. Note: The deadline for those applying for a combined program (e.g., African American Studies) is always the  earlier deadline of the two individual programs. The application is available online through the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Admissions page . All application materials, supporting credentials and recommendations, and application fee must be received by the deadline to be considered by Yale for admission. Admissions decisions are announced by early March.

Combined Programs

The Department of English offers combined PhD with  African American Studies , Early Modern Studies ,  Film and Media Studies ,  History of Art , and   Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies .

General New Student Information, Questions, and Referrals

The Office for Graduate Student Development and Diversity  is committed to building and maintaining a nurturing and caring community of scholars where students from diverse backgrounds and experiences are supported in their professional and intellectual goals and pursuits.

The McDougal Center serves as “information central” for incoming students. The Center can address new student questions about families, childcare, parking, travel, schedules, or other areas of life at Yale and in New Haven.

Living in New Haven  is a Yale-wide web page for all prospective & current students, faculty & staff. Pictures, video testimonials, neighborhood profiles and information links on community, housing culture, shopping, transit and services in New Haven are posted on the site.

The  Yale Visitor Center  offers tours, exhibits, attractions, lodging, directions, and more.

Gateway for New Students  provides information on Orientation and the New Student Checklist.

Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Programs and Policies . “The Blue Book,” listing policies, programs and courses, is available online in August each academic year.

Our Graduate Housing office begins to accept applications for on-campus dormitories and apartments on April 22, and Off-Campus and  Yale University properties begin leasing apartments now for summer. Apply promptly, as space is limited.

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PhD in Biostatistics

Biostatistics involves the development and application of sound statistical and mathematical principles to research in the health sciences. Because original theoretical research in biostatistics flows from medical research, the foundations of methodological development must be firmly grounded in sound principles of statistical inference and a thorough knowledge of the substantive area that provides the source of the medical questions being addressed. Thus, the Department of Biostatistics encourages excellent methodological work that is motivated by sound science that includes but is not limited to active collaborations with other investigators.

Students will be able to choose either the Standard Biostatistics Pathway or the newly created Implementation and Prevention Science Methods Pathway , directed by Professor Donna Spiegelman, director of the Center for Methods in Implementation and Prevention Science . The rigorous training in the theory of and methods of biostatistics, with a specialization in implementation and prevention science methods promotes the adoption and integration of evidence-based practices, interventions and policies into routine health care and public health settings to improve the impact on population health.

Research collaborations for biostatisticians take place both within and across departments in the School of Public Health, as well as with other departments in the School of Medicine and the University at large. Areas of current research include the development of general methods that have wide applicability across different areas of health research, as well as more specific techniques for dealing with the underlying processes that give rise to the data of interest. A broad range of health topics addressed by students in this department includes chronic diseases such as cancer, genetic epidemiology, clinical research, and mathematical models for infectious diseases.

Graduates of the doctoral program in Biostatistics are employed in universities throughout the country, as well as in such dedicated research institutions such as the National Institutes of Health. In addition, graduates have pursued careers in the pharmaceutical industry, in which they are actively involved in the evaluation of new therapeutic strategies.

This program requires General GRE test scores. Please send them to institution code 3987 (there is no department code).

More on Implementation and Prevention Science Methods Pathway

Yale’s new pathway is the first degree program to provide rigorous training in implementation and prevention science methods , including training in the development of new methods to advance the field. Other programs, importantly but quite differently, focus on the practice of implementation science and are targeted to those with subject matter expertise (e.g., in mental health or cancer prevention). Yale’s new program, by contrast, targets those wishing to develop scholarly methodological expertise.

If you plan to attend Yale, you will be able to choose this pathway or the Standard Biostatistics Pathway . You will have until the beginning of the spring term to decide which pathway you wish to follow.

2023 Biostatistics Information Session for the MPH, MS and PhD programs

Biostatistics Information Session for the MPH, MS and PhD programs.

November 16, 2023

• Shuangge (Steven) Ma -Department Chair and Professor of Biostatistics
• Mary Keefe - Director of Admissions
• Lisa Calvocoressi - Research Scientist in Biostatistics
• Michael Kane - Assistant Professor of Biostatistics
• Donna Spiegelman - Susan Dwight Bliss Professor of Biostatistics and Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine
• Kei-Hoi Cheung - Professor of Biomedical Informatics & Data Science; Professor of Biostatistics
• Katie Doucet - Assistant Director, Student Affairs

Learn more about the Department of Biostatistics

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