Doctor of Philosophy
The Institute's PhD program is designed for students who are eager to investigate the role of the visual arts today and in the past. Through detailed, object-based study and historical and theoretical interpretation, our degree program provides a rigorous experience supported by interaction with the leading scholars of the Institute, New York University and exceptional access to museums, curators, conservators, and archaeologists in New York and world-wide.
To speak to someone about the PhD program or to learn more about the admissions process, contact: [email protected] .
Curatorial Studies
Students enrolled in the PhD program at the Institute can apply to receive the Certificate in Curatorial Studies offered jointly by the Institute and The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The curatorial studies program prepares students for curatorial careers in specialized fields in leading art institutions. The program requires two courses, led by Met curators in the museum, Exhibitions and Collection and Curating , and culminates in a nine-month residency in a curatorial department in the Met or at another local museum. Curatorial Studies Alumni have held leadership positions at some of the world’s foremost art institutions. Complete program information is available here .
Requirements for Admission
Each year the Institute receives over 200 applications to our PhD program, for an entering class of a maximum of twelve funded students.
• Candidates for a degree from the Institute of Fine Arts should have an excellent background in the liberal arts, normally including at least four courses of undergraduate art history. A major in art history is not required.
• Starting with the Fall 2022 admissions cycle, the Institute of Fine Arts will no longer accept GRE scores as part of the application. Candidates should not send their GREs scores as they cannot be recorded or included as part of the application.
• Applicants will submit a focused, 2-4 page, double-spaced Statement of Academic Purpose. Applicants must also submit a CV.
• The Institute requires at least three letters of recommendation that speak to the applicant's research and writing skills.
• One art history writing sample is required. Those PhD applicants who already hold an MA in art history must provide a copy of their thesis or another substantial research paper to be read by an appropriate member of the IFA faculty.
• The Graduate School requires applicants who are not native English speakers to submit official TOEFL or IELTS score results. The TOEFL/IELTS requirement is waived if your baccalaureate or master’s degree was (or will be) completed at an institution where the language of instruction is English.
Candidates wishing to be considered for admission to the Institute for Fall 2024 should submit their applications by December 1st, 2023 .
Applications are processed electronically by NYU's Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) Office of Admissions, [email protected] , 212-998-8050.
Applications to the Institute are submitted electronically here .
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Required Application Materials
Where to apply, before you apply: how do i know if nyu is right for me.
Click here to explore the Department of History at NYU and learn about all our academic community has to offer. Find out answers to Frequently Asked Questions , as well as more information about our faculty, students, academic programs, MA Alumni Placement and PhD Alumni Placement . For more information regarding the online application, please visit the GSAS Application Resource Center .
Application deadlines for Fall 2024 Graduate Admissions are as follows:
Ph.D. Applications
- December 15th, Fall only admission
Joint Ph.D. Applications
For the application deadline date, please meet the deadline of the other department.
M.A. Applications
- March 1st, Fall only admission
All application materials must be received by 5 p.m. eastern time on the deadline date. If an application deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal U.S. holiday, then the next business day will be the deadline date.
Program-Specific Application Requirements for History
GRE: For all History standalone PhD and MA programs, GRE test Scores are not required and will not be considered as part of your application to any of our standalone history graduate programs. Below is a list of our joint programs and the GRE requirements.
- Joint PhD program with Middle Eastern & Islamic Studies : The GRE general test is optional. MEIS will consider GRE test scores if they are submitted. Scoring well on the GRE may strengthen your application, especially if you perceive that you have weaknesses in your prior academic record. Not taking the GRE will not adversely affect your application and MEIS will make no assumptions about why you did not take the test.
- Joint PhD program with Hebrew and Judaic Studies: HJS will still accept scores if sent, but do not require them.
- Joint PhD program with the Institute for French Studies: The IFS doesn't require (and won't consider even if they're submitted) GRE scores for any of their programs.
TOEFL: TOEFL required of all applicants who are not native English speakers (see Test Score Requirements on page 1).
- Writing Sample (all programs except Archives and Public History): An academic writing sample is required and should not exceed 35 pages double-spaced.
Writing Sample (Archives and Public History): An academic writing sample is required. It may consist of a published article, an academic paper, an archival finding aid, or some other appropriate item and should not exceed 35 double-spaced pages.
Joint Ph.D. Applicants to Hebrew and Judaic Studies/History Only: Applicants to any doctoral program in Hebrew and Judaic Studies are required to append to their statement of purpose a one-page, double-spaced description of their proficiency in Hebrew and the sources from which it was acquired. Non-native speakers of Hebrew should indicate (1) the institutions at which they studied Hebrew; (2) the textbooks from which they studied; (3) the extent to which their program of study incorporated Biblical, classical, and modern Hebrew; and (4) the highest level achieved. Native speakers should indicate the years completed in Israeli schools and universities. (2) Applicants may also, at their option, include an autobiographical statement in Hebrew, one page maximum. This statement should be hand-written personally by the applicant and should be saved as a pdf file and uploaded in the online application on one of the pages labeled "Additional Information." If it is not possible to save the autobiographical statement as a pdf, then please mail it to the Hebrew and Judaic Department at the address shown in their section of this document. Be sure to include your name, date of birth and Embark ID.
Important Note for Applicants to the Advanced Certificate Programs : To enroll in the advanced certificate program, students must have completed a master’s or doctoral degree or be enrolled concurrently in a master’s or doctoral program in the humanities, social sciences or sciences.
*Please Note: All deadlines that fall on a weekend are rolled to 5 pm on the Monday directly following the official deadline.
- Online Application
- $110 Application Fee
- Statement of Purpose (1-2 pages double-spaced)
- Resume or CV
- 3 Letters of Recommendation
- Academic Transcripts (please note, GSAS prefers that you scan a copy of your official transcript and upload it into your online application. But before matriculating all students must submit official transcripts in hard copy form)
- Official test scores for the TOEFL if the applicant is not a native English speaker (NYU GSAS code: 2596. Department code closest to your field of study or 99.)
- Writing Sample (Archives and Public History): An academic writing sample is required. It may consist of a published article, an academic paper, and archival finding aid, or some other appropriate item and should not exceed 35 double-spaced pages.
Apply to the Graduate School of Arts and Science online .
For information about the application process such as using the online application; submitting supporting materials such as the TOEFL, transcripts, and letters of recommendation; applying as an international student; or preparing your application, please first visit the Graduate School's helpful Application Resource Center . If your question is not answered through the Application Resource Center, contact Graduate Enrollment Services at [email protected] or [email protected]
Please do not send supporting materials to the Department of History, as this delays our application processing time. Submit all application materials online.
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