General

 Do I need to earn an MS before I enroll in the PhD program?

No, generally each year’s incoming PhD class is a mix of students coming from previous master’s and bachelor’s degree programs.

How many applicants are accepted each year?

We currently average about 6-10 a year.

Will my credits get transferred if I have an MS already?

Our department handles this on an individual basis and must first be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies.  Please review the Dietrich School’s requirements for credit transfers.

Does the student choose their advisor or does the department assign the advisor?

It is best for prospective students to review our research areas and the faculty associated with the research.  From there, it is best to reach out to faculty you are interested in working with to see if they have openings in their group.  Applicants are assigned based on research interest and openings in faculty research groups.

International Applicants

What are the minimum TOEFL/IELTS Scores that I must have?

Our department must comply with the minimums set by the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences. 

I am non-native English speaker, but I went/currently go to an English-speaking university. Am I required to submit TOEFL or IELTS standardized scores?

You have met the University of Pittsburgh English requirements and are not required to submit English TOEFL/IELTS scores if:

• You have received a university degree from an accredited U.S. institution located in the United States (or will receive a degree before you first enroll at the University of Pittsburgh).
• You have received a university degree from an institution whose language of instruction is English if it is located in a country whose official language is English (or if will receive such a degree before you first enroll at the University of Pittsburgh).
• Please contact the graduate administrator if you have questions about whether you meet these criteria; however, know that the final decision as to whether you have met the English requirements lies with the Dietrich School of Arts and Science Graduate Dean’s office.

I’m from Puerto Rico. Do I need to submit TOEFL or IELTs scores?

As U.S. citizens, natives of Puerto Rico are not required to submit TOEFL or IELTs scores.

I applied to your department last year, and my previous test scores still fall within the five-year window of validity. Do I have to send my TOEFL scores again?

No, you should not need to re-send previous ETS scores if they are still valid from a previous year. The University of Pittsburgh stores your test scores in a separate system from your application.  The scores should automatically populate to your new application within a few business days of submitting your application. If you do not see them, contact the graduate administrator.

What are the ETS codes for submitting my TOEFL scores to your department?

The University of Pittsburgh school code is 2927 (applies to TOEFL).

Without subject codes, your scores can be matched to your application through your name and other personal information.

How does my GPA transfer to the American grading system?  

The graduate administrator will review your international GPA and use online tools to transfer it to the American scale.