Ph.D. Application Checklist
Find everything you need to know about applying to our doctoral program, advice for prospective students, and more.

Ph.D. Program Director and Associate Professor Bei Yu and the 2021 Ph.D. cohort
About Our Admissions Process
Applications for the Ph.D. program are only accepted for the Fall Term which begins in August. The deadline to apply for the Ph.D. in Information Science and Technology is December 15.
Current Syracuse University students should apply to the program using the Graduate Program Application. As of Fall 2021, there is no longer a separate internal application process.
Our program is currently not available in online or part-time formats. If you apply to the iSchool’s Ph.D., you should be prepared to dedicate to 4-5 years of full-time and on-campus study to concentrate on your program.
We do not accept or reject applicants based on test scores. We review applications holistically. We look at all application materials, not just test scores, in order to make admissions decisions.
Admissions decisions are made by a committee. Individual faculty do not make admissions decisions and cannot guarantee admission decisions for any applicant. All applicants for the Ph.D. are carefully evaluated on all of their application materials by the Doctoral Committee for their:
- Research interests as they relate to faculty interests
- Academic preparation for research
- Communication skills, both oral and written
- Intellectual ability as reflected in standardized tests and performance in coursework
- Readiness for the Ph.D. reflected through research and personal statements
You must find at least two research faculty members whose research interests align with your own to be seriously considered for the iSchool’s Ph.D. program. Applicants who apply without a secured research fit will find it difficult to gain acceptance into the program. We have several online resources that can help you find a research fit at the iSchool:
- Review research faculty to who are actively looking for Ph.D. students.
- Explore the list of research areas and corresponding faculty on the research areas webpage.
We fund all admitted students. This puts a premium on providing us evidence of your interests and experiences with research and is also why the entrance to the iSchool Ph.D. program is selective.
After the application deadline, the doctoral committee, composed of several faculty members and several current students, will go through all applications, conduct interviews (either in person or by phone), and make final decisions.
Once a student is admitted, a faculty advisor will be assigned to the student to guide his or her first year of study in the program.