How to Apply – PhD

Admission Requirements

Before enrolling, applicants must have received an MPA or other relevant master's degree. (Degree relevance is evaluated by the PhD Program Director.)

Application Deadline

Consideration of applications begins on January 10 for admission to the fall semester. Admissions decisions are not made for the spring semester.

Application Requirements

  • Online application
  • $70 nonrefundable application fee (automatically waived for all Rutgers alumni and current students)
  • One official transcript from each post-secondary institution attended
  • Three (3) letters of recommendation
  • A personal statement
  • Writing Sample
  • GRE
  • If applying as an international student, TOEFL scores (The minimum IBT-internet based TOEFL is Writing 22, Speaking 23, Reading 21, Listening 17), IELTS scores (7), or Duolingo scores (130). For more information, visit https://gradstudy.rutgers.edu/information/international-students

During the online application, you will:

  • Create a Community ID and Password
  • Fill in biographical data and residency information
  • Provide information on each institution you obtained a degree from
  • Enter the email address for each of your recommenders
  • Type your personal statement (if required)
  • Submit the application
  • Pay the application fee

While applying, you can always save what you have entered and come back later to finish your application.

Submitting Your Application

Once completed, read over your application carefully. Then hit Submit Application to submit your online application. If you have left any information out that is required or is incorrectly entered, you will get a message at the top of page telling you what is missing.

Changing Your Application

Once submitted, online applications may not be altered.  If you need to make a change or correction to your application, send it in writing to newark@admissions.rutgers.edu. 

Pay the Application Fee

After you submit your application, you will be requested to pay the nonrefundable application fee. We recommend you pay online by credit card or e-Check using our secure, encrypted website.

Making a Payment Later

You can pay the application fee at a later date by logging back into your application portal. Your application will not be reviewed until we have processed your fee payment.

Scholars

If you are a Rutgers student, alumnus, or McNair, Project 1000, GEM, or other scholar, you may be eligible for an application fee waiver. Select your scholar program name from the list under the field labeled Scholarship Program or Consortium in the Financial Information section of the application to confirm your scholar status.

Veterans

Applicants who are currently serving in the U.S. Military or are Military Veterans who plan to apply for educational benefits under the GI Bill, receive a waiver of the application fee.

Fee Waivers

We normally do not waive fees, but we may defer a fee under extraordinary circumstances. Please contact Associate Dean Aaron Gibbs, algibbs@rutgers.edu, to request a fee waiver.

Readmission Requirements

To reapply to the PhD program, applicants must complete or submit the following:

  • Online application
  • Resume
  • Three Letters of Recommendation (at least two letters from current or past faculty members of SPAA; at least one of the faculty members must commit to working with the student)
  • Personal Statement (why you are seeking readmission)

Questions?

If you have questions about a program or the application process, contact Aaron Gibbs, associate dean of student and academic services, at algibbs@rutgers.edu.