IPhD Application Procedures

Eligibility

Students may consider the IPhD Program if they have:

Completed or are nearing completion of a master’s degree.
Have identified a research topic of sufficient scope that they cannot investigate it in a single UW established doctoral program.

Prospective applicants can find information on this page about application deadlines, how to begin the process, application requirements, and the application review process.

Application Deadline — March 1

Applications are due by March 1 each year for admission to the IPhD Program for autumn quarter start in the same year. Applications submitted after this date will not be considered.

Application Process

Prospective applicants should review established UW PhD Programs to ensure that their course of study could not be completed in a single program, but rather spans at least two PhD-offering units. Applicants may then contact UW Graduate Faculty members from each program or department potentially involved in the applicant’s proposal and course of study, as well as a Graduate Faculty member who is willing to chair the student’s Supervisory Committee. In meeting with these graduate faculty, the student and faculty should further determine whether the proposed research idea and course of study is appropriate for the IPhD Program as opposed to an established UW doctoral program.

If the faculty members agree that the IPhD Program is viable and one faculty member agrees to chair the student’s Supervisory Committee, the applicant may propose a Supervisory Committee with a faculty member as Chair, and ask the other faculty members to join the Supervisory Committee. The proposed committee must include the following faculty members:

At least three, but usually not more than five, Graduate Faculty members who represent the applicant’s fields of interest. Two graduate faculty members must be from two different departments/units that offer a PhD
A Supervisory Chair or Co-Chair who is a Graduate Faculty member and is from a University unit that offers a PhD
An additional faculty member who is a member of the Graduate Faculty who will serve as a Graduate School Representative (GSR), selected together by the student and the Chair. (This step may be completed after the student is admitted to the IPhD program).

For additional information regarding Supervisory Committees, refer to Graduate School Memorandum 13.

Application Requirements

Following are the materials to be submitted via the online application portal.

1. Individual PhD Program Application Form IPhD-Application-Form

2. Program Proposal 8–10 page (single-spaced) document that includes the following:

1. Statement of Purpose brief overview of your academic and professional background and a description of your motivation for pursuing doctoral studies.
2. Dissertation Plan that includes:

Your research question.
The scope and objectives of your proposed program of study and research.
The relevant theoretical/conceptual frameworks.
The methodologies to be used in answering your research question.
The theoretical significance and/or practical importance of your proposed research.
A justification of the research program’s interdisciplinary nature.
Identification of potential funding sources to support your studies.

3. Proposed Program of Study that lists, by field, courses completed and proposed future courses. Include comments on the nature and relevance of preparatory work completed and work in progress. The Program of Study must also include a tentative schedule for completing coursework at the UW and the related milestone requirements of the General Exam, research/writing and the Final Exam/Graduation.

3. Transcripts from all colleges or universities attended.

4. GRE Optional for Fall 2025 applicants: Educational Testing Service record of Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (scores submitted should not be older than 10 years).
Those who do wish to submit results of GRE taken within the past 5 years may have the results mailed by ETS to institution code 4854. For further information about GRE examinations see http://www.gre.org/

5. Biographical information on the Chair of your proposed Supervisory Committee, including previous experience in supervising Ph.D. students. Faculty CV accepted (usually published on UW faculty profile page).

6. Recommendation Letters from the Chair and each member of your proposed Supervisory Committee (the online application portal will give you the opportunity to enter their names and email addresses, and the Graduate School will generate a request for their recommendations).

7. Optional Additional Letters of personal recommendation (two maximum) may be requested. Submit two additional names and email addresses in the online portal.

8. CV

Review Process

The IPhD Group (the faculty Group charged with oversight of the IPhD) reviews applications once a year. The Graduate School requests evaluations of applications from graduate program directors in related units. The IPhD Group evaluates the application, conducts interviews with the applicant, and recommends whether the applicant should be admitted to the IPhD Program. Decisions on admission are made by May 31 and communicated to the applicant soon thereafter.

Application decisions are final with no appeal procedures available; however, a rejected application can be revised and resubmitted in a subsequent year.

FAQs – Applying to the IPhD

Q: What are the factors likely to result in a successful application to and completion of the IPhD program? Is there a minimum GRE Score?

A: Each IPh.D. program is student-designed and individually administered. Therefore, unusual student ability and motivation, as well as a highly committed level of attention from the entire Supervisory Committee are key.

IPh.D. Admissions reviews are holistic, with no minimum GRE score.

NOTE: In observance of the challenges caused by COVID-19, GRE scores will be optional in the 2024 admissions cycle.

Q: How do I identify prospective advisors?

A: After ensuring that their proposed program would be eligible, prospective applicants contact UW Graduate Faculty from at least two Ph.D.-offering programs to identify potential Supervisory Committee members. From the group of faculty identified, the applicant selects one person to inquire if they would be available and interested in serving as an advisor. Please note that many faculty are already fully committed with existing work obligations and may not respond to inquiries; continue contacting other suitable advisors if this happens.

If a prospective advisor (also referred to as Chair) expresses interest in serving on your committee, you would meet and determine whether the proposed research idea and course of study is appropriate for a self-designed IPhD Program as opposed to an established Ph.D. program. (Before applicants are admitted, the program confirms with participating departments that the proposed course of study could not be pursued solely within those existing Ph.D. Programs.)

The proposed Supervisory Committee must include the following faculty members (each must write a letter of recommendation that indicates their commitment to serving on your advisory committee and their role):

At least three, but usually not more than five, UW Graduate Faculty who represent the applicant’s fields of interest. Two graduate faculty members must be from two different departments/units that offer a Ph.D.
A Supervisory Chair or Co-Chair who is a UW Graduate Faculty member endorsed to chair and is from a University unit that offers a Ph.D.
An additional faculty member who is a member of the Graduate Faculty who will serve as a Graduate School Representative (GSR), selected together by the student and the Chair. (The GSR may be designated after the student is admitted to the IPhD program).

Q: Do I apply to the participating PhD programs?

A: No. Applying to the IPhD does not involve applying for admission to other programs. Instead, the prospective advisory committee members in participating PhD-offering Units should express support for the application. Please see “How do I identify prospective advisors?”

Q: What are tuition costs?

A: For the latest tuition rates, please see UW’s Tuition Dashboard. Please be sure to select program level, program name, and residency status. The tool also shows the portion of tuition that is waived for students with TA or RA appointments. (Please note that the IPhD program does not offer such assistantships.)

Q: What funding resources are available to admitted students?

A: The program does not offer funding to students. Students identify their own funding sources. Some admitted students secure TA- and RA-ships (generally by consulting with their advisors and checking Handshake and GFIS for advertised opportunities). Others may apply for fellowship opportunities (see GFIS for these as well). GO-MAP also provides opportunities to eligible students (please note that matching funds are not available).