new york university political science phd

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Admissions FAQ

• Spring 2024
• Visiting Scholar for Professors

Below are our frequently asked questions. Should you have any additional questions not answered in our FAQ, please contact us at  [email protected] .

How many students receive funding?

All students admitted receive full funding. Currently our funding includes a waiver of all tuition, and a stipend.

Where can I get information on the mechanics of admissions?

To find out about how to apply, please visit the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) Application Resource Center  & the  Politics Program GSAS Requirements Page . Feel free to also review their  Admissions FAQ . You may also contact  [email protected]  with any additional application related questions.

What is the timing of the admissions process?

The application period runs through approximately mid-September to mid-December of each year, for fall admissions for the following year. Admissions offers are typically made by mid-February, and your decision to accept or not is expected by mid-April. Please visit the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS)  Politics Program Requirements Page  for more specific deadlines.

How do I visit before applying?

Because we have so many requests to visit, the DGS is NOT available to meet with applicants or potential applicants.

Each year, a small committee of faculty in the Department reviews all applications and makes selections. Individual faculty members do not select the students with whom they will work, so it is not necessary to contact individual faculty members in the Department prior to applying.

Then how can I learn more about the program?

A great way to learn about the program is through the  description  on the main PhD page. You can also look online at our   course schedule s  and read associated syllabi. 

What are the admissions criteria?

We look for students who have demonstrated academic excellence, and who we think are a good fit for the program. We measure academic excellence based on your grades as an undergraduate, as well as your GRE scores, your letters of recommendation, your statement of academic purpose, and your writing sample.

• Grades: If your GPA is less than 3.5, we would be looking for other measures to indicate likely success in the program.
• GRE Scores: If your GRE scores are not in the 90th percentile we would be looking for other indicators of likely success in the program. We make allowances for lower verbal GRE scores for non-native speakers of English.
• The Writing Sample: A writing sample demonstrating academic work in social science is required.  This would most likely be a paper or chapters of a thesis from your undergraduate career. It should be between 25 and 50 pages, double-spaced in the English Language, exclusive of references or appendix tables. It should demonstrate your ability to think analytically about some social science question and communicate it clearly. The best writing sample is a completed paper that lays out a  hypothesis and presents evidence.
• Letters of Recommendation: We are looking for three letters from people who can evaluate your ability to do social science, or can comment on your academic performance. Letters from people you have worked for outside an academic or research setting generally have little value to us. The letters are very important, so getting letters from people familiar with your academic work is extremely valuable.

What sort of academic background is required? 

It is helpful if you have majored in political science, or some related social science discipline (such as economics or sociology). But there is no specific set of requirements. Applications will be evaluated for evidence that the applicant has strong interests and potential in the field of political science.

How much math should I know?

We have no set minimum math background. But we have a very analytical program, the more math you know, the better off you are. Having taken courses in calculus or statistics will generally strengthen your application.

Do I need a degree beyond a BA or BS?

No, you do not need any degree beyond a BA or BS. 

Do I need to take the GRE?

Yes. The GRE is required of all applicants and will not be waived under any circumstances.

Do I need to take the IELTS or TOEFL?

If you are not a native English speaker, you must submit an official IELTS or TOEFL score. This is waived if you have a BA or MA (or will upon admission) from an institution where instruction was in English and/or if you are a US citizen or permanent resident.

Can I move from the MA program to the PhD program?

The MA in Politics is a terminal master’s degree program and does not lead into the PhD program. The two programs are separate and students cannot transfer from the master’s program to the PhD program. However, students can apply to the PhD program while enrolled in the MA program. Our MA program lays the groundwork for students wishing to pursue a PhD, as it provides methodological training, the opportunity to work with faculty and develop research interests, and advisement on the application process. A number of our alumni have been successful in gaining admission to competitive PhD programs.

Can I transfer credit from my previous MA degree?

Students entering with an M.A. degree from an equivalent institution may petition for a waiver of up to one year of course requirements (equivalent of 24 points). For this purpose, a copy of the M.A. thesis must be submitted to the director of graduate studies (DGS) when the student enters the program. The DGS appoints two faculty members as readers to decide whether the thesis is equivalent in standards and quality to the department’s requirements. If the M.A. thesis is approved, the student submits the waiver petition to the DGS at the end of the first year of residence. In consultation with the readers, the DGS decides whether or not to waive residence requirements on the basis of the M.A. thesis and the grade record of the student during the first year at New York University. Please note that if a student is granted a waiver of 24 points, he or she is required to waive one year of academic funding. 

Can I transfer from another PhD program?

We do (rarely) take transfers from other PhD programs. In such cases we expect a very clear statement from the student, confirmed in the letters, that there is a particular academic reason for the transfer. 

Public Policy - PhD

The doctoral field in public policy offers students mastery of the interdisciplinary concepts that form the basis of public policy analysis. With a focus on the preparation of students for careers in academic institutions, non-university research settings, government, and other institutional settings where public policy is made and influenced, the policy field promotes an understanding of the empirical, methodological, and theoretical issues that have framed and continue to frame policy analysis and research. Although students may choose to focus on a core area, such as urban poverty or housing, the overall objective is comprehensive exposure to the analytical methods and social science theory and research that frames public policy discourse.

Students in the public policy field must complete the modules in microeconomic analysis and in applied statistics and econometrics. While economics and political science have traditionally anchored the conceptual foundations of the policy process and rational models of policy activity, the field of public policy has witnessed an intellectual revolution among the social sciences that form the basis of research and policy analysis. Sociological, historical and anthropological methods and theories, for example, have begun to expand our conceptual approaches to public policy in different ways, particularly as questions about the role of decision-making, politics, and identity have become important considerations in the evaluation of policy action. Students will become familiar with how analytical methods and theories from these various disciplines and intellectual communities offer competing and/or complementary approaches to the rational model.