Applying

The program enrolls 5–7 graduate students each year, and all successful applicants receive full tuition remission, and a stipend for five years. About twenty faculty members participate in the program each year, including the Visual and Cultural Studies Steering Committee, which guides the program.

NOTE: The graduate program in Visual and Cultural Studies is designed for full-time study only. Part-time study will be permitted only in exceptional circumstances.

The deadline for applications is January 5 for the following September. Offers of admission are sent to applicants by mid-March. There is a $60 application fee.

Along with the online application, students must submit:

  • A statement of purpose (1–3 pages, single-spaced)
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts
  • A 15–20-page writing sample (for example: seminar paper, thesis chapter, published article)
  • GRE scores (optional)

International students must also supply TOEFL, TOEFL iBT at Home, IELTS, or Duoligo scores. However, some students may qualify to waive this requirement. Please see the faq page on the AS&E graduate studies website for more information.

Please note that prospective students apply to the program as a whole, rather than to work directly with specific faculty members. Students usually choose their primary adviser during their second year of the program, as they are finishing up course work. We do, however, encourage prospective students to indicate which faculty you are particularly interested in working with as part of your personal statement.