Welcome!
Application procedures and forms
Thank you for your inquiry about graduate work in the Department of Political Science at the University of Minnesota. Our webpage contains information on how to apply to our program and the forms you will need for admission. We automatically provide financial assistance to all people we admit to our Ph.D. program, so there is no separate form for financial aid.
Most students admitted to the Ph.D. graduate program expect to pursue scholarly careers in college teaching and research. The Ph.D. curriculum begins in the Fall semester of the academic year. We do not permit new students to begin the Ph.D. program at other times.
Every new student admitted to the Ph.D. program receives five years of financial support. In 2006 each student admitted to the program received a $12,667 assistantship, a full tuition waiver, health insurance, and a $3,333 summer fellowship. Under this policy, the gross take-home payment to each student is $16,000 per year. All commitments to financial aid assume normal financial conditions at the university. Some changes in the funding package may occur for the class that enters in Fall 2007.
Several different fellowships are available to new students in political science. In recent years we have offered six or seven prospective students Graduate School Fellowships and DOVE Fellowships. Graduate School Fellowship and DOVE Fellowship winners receive an additional $5000 in their first year, and sometimes in their seond year as well. An additional two or three students in comparative politics or international relations have been offered MacArthur Program Fellowships.
David and Janis Larson have created a fellowship for political economy. N. Marbury Efrimenco has created a fellowship for international relations. The Department's two Arleen Carlson chairs each provide two fellowships to our graduate program. Human rights is the focus of one pair (these fellowships can be awarded to students in U.S. politics, comparative politics, international relations, or political theory, who are interested in human rights); U.S. politics is the focus of the other pair. Typically these are one year fellowships. The admissions committee allots these fellowships on the basis of the merit of applicants to the program. There is no separate application process for these fellowships. (All applicants admitted to the Ph.D. program receive either fellowships or assistantships and a minimum of four years of financial support.)
In order for you to be considered for admission and financial aid for the Ph.D. program, the application material requested by the Department of Political Science must reach us by January 1.
Admission to the Ph.D. program is competitive. The admissions committee looks closely at the following material in an applicant's file: official transcripts and grade point average; Graduate Record Examination scores; letters of recommendation (3 required); statement of purpose; and sample(s) of written work. Typically applicants provide a copy of a paper written for a class or some chapters of a larger project. We prefer papers written for political science classes or classes in related areas. This written work must be in English. Candidates for admission are then evaluated according to the strength and quality of all the application materials. In recent years to secure a class of twelve to fourteen students we have admitted about thirty-five applicants. Usually there are over 200 applicants to our Ph.D. program.
In early March prospective students are notified of initial decisions on fellowships, assistantships and admission. Students must make final decisions on accepting financial aid by April 15.
Please feel free to contact the department to discuss your application and matters concerning admission to the Ph.D. Program in political science at (612) 624-4144 or papply@umn.edu.