Requirements & Deadlines

We seek candidates with the academic preparation, intellectual ability, experience, and motivation to undertake a rigorous program in public policy studies, and who have the potential for academic and professional success. While no specific background or major is required or recommended, students with a strong liberal arts background and sound quantitative and analytical skills will be best prepared for the program. The Committee on Admission and Aid evaluates all official transcripts of academic work, personal essays, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities and community service, performance on standardized tests, and special factors brought to its attention. The Committee considers each application on the basis of all materials submitted and does not automatically eliminate applications based on grade point averages or test scores.

Admission and Financial Aid

• Application for admission
• Transcripts of all prior academic work at institutions of higher education
• Three letters of recommendation
• TOEFL scores (international applicants only - use institution code 1849) or IELTS scores
  Look here for more TOEFL info.
• $50 non-refundable application fee
• Official GRE or GMAT scores, or LSAT scores (if a joint M.P.P./J.D. applicant). Use code 1849.

The Committee on Admission and Aid will not review your application until all of the required materials are received. We highly recommend that you apply online and submit all documents in one package to avoid delays in processing your application.

The Harris School currently accepts only electronic applications. Contact the Office of Admission at 773-702-8401 or HarrisSchool@uchicago.edu for more information or if you have any questions.

Application Deadlines

Ph.D. candidates - January 3
All application materials for admission must be postmarked by January 3. We will announce admission decisions by mid-March.

Pre-Doctoral Fellowships in Educational Research - January 3
The University of Chicago is seeking applicants for five pre-doctoral fellowships in educational research. Fellowship recipients will be students admitted for the fall of 2006 to a Ph.D. program in the Division of Social Sciences, the Harris School of Public Policy, or the School of Social Services Administration. Students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

To apply for the Fellowship, you will need to complete both the IES Fellowship Application and an application for admission to the Harris School Ph.D. program.

Master's candidates - January 3
Priority deadline. All application materials for admission and scholarship must be postmarked by January 3. We will announce admission and scholarship decisions by March 15.

Late deadline. Provided the class limit has not been reached, we will consider completed applications postmarked by April 15, for admission but not necessarily for scholarship.