We know you’ve got a lot of options when it comes to graduate programs. We’re proud of the fact that our programs are some of the best in the country and that we attract students from all over the world. We’re especially proud of our reputation for being a place where faculty, staff, and alumni take a genuine interest in your professional and personal development.
You can find details about our programs on the following pages. Before you apply, please note that some departments have a specific application deadline (see schedule below for details). Departments that do not have specific deadlines offer rolling admission. All application materials must be received by the application deadlines below. If the application deadline to the program in which you are applying to falls on a weekend, your application materials will be processed the following business day.
Before you spend a fortune on a big, shiny PhD in the US, make sure you have all your ducks in a row.
Looking for a PhD program in the USA? Here’s what you need to know about the process, from deadline dates to funding opportunities to application requirements.
Who Can Apply for PhD Programs in the USA?
The first thing you need to decide is if you’re eligible to apply. Do you meet the following criteria?
Are you a student who has already earned an undergraduate or master’s degree? Are you at least 18 years of age and not yet 55 years old? Is your native language not English? Did you study under a GPA of 3.0 or higher? If so, then yes—you can apply to PhD programs in the USA!
You probably already know that there are tons of deadlines for these programs. Collegelearners.com is here to help by explaining when each one is, and what types of deadlines there are.
When are PhD Program Deadlines in the USA?
Below, we’ve included information about when PhD deadlines are in general, as well as information about individual deadlines for specific schools. Colleges typically give students ample time between the last day of classes and the deadline itself, although it varies from college
PhD Deadlines in USA
A PhD usually involves students engaged independently in original and significant research in a specific field or subject prior to the production of a publication-worthy thesis. By undertaking a PhD, you will become an expert, possibly an international expert, in your chosen field. A doctorate is the highest academic degree that can be awarded by a university. In Germany, studying for a doctorate means working intensively on a specific subject or research project over a long period of time. The duration of the doctorate also varies. Three to five years is typical. If you decide to take a doctorate, you can choose between different forms of study.
Doctoral applicants should apply for admission through the UTSA Online Graduate Application. Because of the time needed to prepare doctoral summaries, applicants are encouraged to have their admission file completed as early as possible but no later than one month prior to the applicable application deadline.
Doctoral application deadlines are specific to the college and program. Deadlines may also be specific to the applicant type, domestic vs. international. Additionally, doctoral application term offerings vary by program. Most programs grant admission only for the Fall semester, with some offering Spring admission as well. Lastly, deadlines will also determine those who are considered for financial assistance (grants, scholarships, graduate assistant positions, etc.). Please find your college and program below to determine the terms the program accepts applications for and the appropriate deadline(s).
It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure completion and submission of the application, a nonrefundable application fee, and all required supporting documents are on file with the Graduate School by the appropriate application deadline. We also highly advise that applicants make their recommenders aware of these deadline dates to ensure all items are turned in on time.
All applications are to be submitted by 5:00 PM Central Time Zone (U.S.). When the published deadline falls on a weekend, the application remains open until 5:00 PM Central Time Zone (U.S.) on the following open business day. Deadlines are subject to change.
COLLEGE OF SCIENCES
COS PhD Program | Fall Priority Deadline | Fall Final Deadline | Spring Final Deadline |
Cell and Molecular (Ph.D.) | Nov. 1 | Dec. 1 | Not Available |
Chemistry (Ph.D.) | Nov. 1 | Feb. 1 | Not Available |
Computer Science (Ph.D.) | Nov. 1 | Feb. 1 | Sept. 1 |
Neurobiology (Ph.D.) | Nov. 1 | Dec. 1 | Not Available |
Physics (Ph.D.) | Nov. 1 | Feb. 1 | Sept. 1 |
COLLEGE FOR HEALTH COMMUNITY & POLICY
HCAP PhD Program | Fall Priority Deadline | Fall Final International Deadline | Fall Final Domestic Deadline | Spring Final Deadline |
Applied Demography (Ph.D.) | Jan. 15 | Jan. 15 | May 1 | Not Available |
Psychology (Ph.D.) | Nov. 15 | Feb. 1 | Feb. 1 | Not Available |
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
COB PhD Program | Fall Final Deadline* | Spring Final Deadline |
Accounting (Ph.D.) | Feb. 1 | Not Available |
Applied Statistics (Ph.D.) | Feb. 1 | Not Available |
Finance (Ph.D.) | Feb. 1 | Not Available |
Information Technology (Ph.D.) | Feb. 1 | Sept. 1** |
Management and Organizational Studies (Ph.D.) | Feb. 1 | Not Available |
Marketing (Ph.D.) | Feb. 1 | Not Available |
*Includes funding consideration
**For part-time students only
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL AND FINE ARTS
COLFA PhD Program | Fall Priority Deadline | Fall Final Deadline | Spring Final Deadline |
Anthropology (Ph.D.) | Not Available | Jan. 5 | Not Available |
English (Ph.D.) | Nov. 1 | Feb. 1 | Not Available |
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
COEHD PhD Program | Fall Priority Deadline | Fall Final Deadline | Spring Final Deadline |
Counselor Education and Supervision (Ph.D.) | Nov. 1 | Feb. 1 | Not Available |
Culture, Literacy and Language (Ph.D.) | Nov. 1 | Feb. 1 | Not Available |
Educational Leadership (Ph.D.) | Nov. 1 | Feb. 1 | Not Available |
Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching (Ph.D.) | Nov. 1 | Feb. 1 | Not Available |
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
The following College of Engineering (COE) deadlines apply to domestic and international applicants who are applying to a COE doctoral program. Deadlines vary by applicant type and program so please review the directions carefully.
Early Deadline (1): The early deadline applies to all applicant types including domestic and international applicants. All applicants who submit by the early deadline will receive priority review. Recognizing the complexity of applying as an international student, we highly recommend international applicants who reside outside of the United States and require processing of a student visa, submit application materials by the COE early application deadline.
Hey there! The standard deadline is the date by which an admitted student must submit all application materials, including but not limited to: official transcripts, letters of recommendation, and test scores. In addition, an admitted student must accept a space in a degree program by this date or forfeit the spot. For international students who do not hold an active United States student visa, given the time-frame to complete the admissions process will vary by program and the time-frame to complete the visa process will vary by home country, we cannot guarantee an admitted international student will successfully enroll for the intended term. In some cases, an international student may need to consider deferment to the next available term by program. Thus, we highly encourage international students to apply as early as possible within your admissions cycle. Please do not wait for the posted deadline(s) to submit.
Late Deadline (3): The late deadline applies to Domestic applicants only. Those who meet the late application deadline are not guaranteed a decision for the applied semester. Late applications may be deferred for consideration to the next available admission term by program.
COE PhD Program | Fall Early Deadline | Fall Standard Deadline | Fall Late Deadline | Spring Early Deadline | Spring Standard Deadline | Spring Late Deadline |
Biomedical Engineering (Ph.D.) | Nov. 1 | Feb. 1 | Jul. 15 | n/a | Sept. 15 | Nov. 30 |
Civil Engineering (Ph.D.) | n/a | Feb. 1 | Jul. 15 | n/a | Sept. 15 | Dec. 1 |
Electrical Engineering (Ph.D.) | Nov. 1 | Feb. 1 | Jul. 1 | n/a | Sept. 1 | Dec. 1 |
Environmental Science and Engineering (Ph.D.) | n/a | Feb. 1 | Jul. 15 | n/a | Sept. 15 | Dec. 1 |
Mechanical Engineering (Ph.D.) | Nov. 1 | Feb. 1 | May 1 | n/a | Sept. 1 | Oct. 15 |
PhD Application Deadlines US Universities
What is the deadline for fall 2021 in USA?Fall 2021 MS Deadlines for Other Top Universities in USA
University | Fall 2021 Deadline | |
---|---|---|
Boston University | Jan 15 | Official Page |
UC Irvine | Dec 15 / Jan 15 | Official Page |
Northeastern University | Jan 15 (Funding) / May 15 (Final) | Official Page |
Vanderbilt University | Jan 15 | Official Page |
What is the deadline for college applications 2021?
Can I still apply for university after the deadline?
Universities aren’t required to wait until the deadline to make offers, but treat applications equally. … Applying after the deadline means some popular courses won’t have spaces left once offers start to be made, but most courses will still accept late applications.