A Note from the Admissions Director:
WELCOME TO GRADUATE ADMISSIONS AT RUTGERS!
This page gives a brief overview of our Ph.D. program and the admissions process.
The Rutgers Ph.D. in Philosophy is currently ranked as one of the top two programs in the United States and top three in the world by the Philosophical Gourmet Report. It is also ranked there in the highest Group 1 in the areas of metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of language, philosophy of the psychological, cognitive and brain sciences, and philosophy of religion. It is ranked in the second highest Group 2 in the areas of philosophy of mind, philosophical logic, normative ethics, and political philosophy.
We have designed our Ph.D. program with flexibility in mind so that each student may follow a course of study ideally suited to his or her needs. We have very few requirements – there is no ‘general examination’ or language requirement – but there is a rigorous series of courses in the first four to five semesters by which every student obtains a comprehensive and first-rate education in the core areas of the discipline. After coursework is complete, students choose a sub-field in which to specialize and are closely mentored by their chosen advisor and dissertation committee members who meet with students individually to discuss dissertation progress.
List of requirements for the Ph.D.
List of faculty and their research interests
One of the best things about the graduate program is our graduate students. We have a very active, philosophically intense, friendly, and supportive graduate community. Our Ph.D. student and their areas of philosophical interests are listed here. As many of our incoming students have remarked over the years, our graduate students would be intimidating were it not for the fact that they are a warm and welcoming bunch. Besides informal and formal discussion of philosophy (through reading groups and graduate talks), our graduate students play soccer, form chamber music groups and rock bands, climb mountains, give talks abroad, cook gourmet meals for one another, found chapters of charitable organizations, and visit local schools to explain what philosophy is all about.
Our faculty enjoy interacting with our graduate students, many graduate seminars spill over into the streets of New Brunswick or at its local eateries. Vigorous discussions between faculty and students over lunch, tea, or a pint is part of the typical Rutgers graduate experience.
Finally, a word about the worry probably lurking at the back of your mind: Will you get a job when it’s all over? Rutgers prides itself on its very strong record of success in placing its graduates in tenure-track jobs. We take placement seriously and continue to work with our graduates even after they have landed their first job. We attempt not only to educate and mentor our students to be the best philosophers they can be but to prepare them for what can only be described as a brutal job market.
Below is a guide for applying to the program and answers some further questions that you might find helpful. Questions about the program or application procedure which are not addressed on this webpage may be directed to Mercedes Diaz, our Graduate Program Coordinator, at
Good luck, and maybe see you in New Brunswick!
Professor, Michael Otsuka
Director of Graduate Admissions
Application Procedure
To apply for the Ph.D. program, you must have a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in hand, or expected by the time you begin the program. Submission of GRE scores is now required.
All applications must be submitted electronically. You should submit your application here. Also see the Rutgers Graduate Admissions website here. You will be asked to upload your application form, GRE scores, unofficial transcripts, a personal statement of roughly 300-500 words, a CV, and a writing sample, which should ideally be between 4,500 and 7, 500 words. You will also be asked for three confidential letters of reference which must be submitted electronically by the due date. Applicants who choose to use Interfolio to submit their letters of recommendation, please use this email:
The application deadline date for September 2027 entry is January 4, 2027.
Fee waiver and financial information: Applicants for the Rutgers Philosophy Ph.D. program are automatically reviewed for approval of fee waivers for candidates who meet the following criteria:
- Rutgers Alumni: Graduates of any Rutgers University campus.
- U.S. Military & Veterans: Active duty service members or veterans using the GI Bill.
- Scholar Programs: Participants in approved programs such as McNair, GEM, or Project 1000. Simply select your scholar program in the Financial Information section of the application.
Applicants can review the fee waiver criteria in the How to Apply section here.
If you do not meet the automatic criteria but are able to demonstrate financial hardship, you may request contact the office of Graduate Admissions here:
Please note that international students do not need to send us financial guarantee information (unless they are accompanied by a spouse or children), since all students admitted to the Philosophy Ph.D. program receive enough financial support from Rutgers to satisfy this requirement.
English Language Requirement: If you are neither a US Citizen or a permanent resident, nor a resident of another country where English is the primary language, but you will have completed a minimum of three years of undergraduate studies or a master's degree where the mode of instruction was in English by the time you enroll in the Ph.D., you will need to alert us to this fact by completing the Google form linked here with your application:
Philosophy Ph.D. English Proficiency Test Waiver
Once the form has been completed, please email Ms. Mercedes Diaz (
Requirements for International Students
If you have any questions about the online application form, please call 848-932-9862 or email
Questions not addressed above
1. May I use AI in the writing of my personal statement or writing sample?
Answer: Apart from copy editing for spelling and grammar, applicants must refrain from using AI (artificial intelligence) in the writing of their personal statement or writing sample. We may screen for use of AI as part of our review of applications.
2. Do you offer a terminal M.A. program in Philosophy?
Answer: We do not offer a terminal M.A. The only graduate program into which we admit is the Ph.D.
3. What are my chances of being admitted?
Answer: We admit roughly 2-3% of approximately 400 applications submitted each year.
4. I've read the webpage listing the requirements for the Ph.D. What is the typical course of study over the 5-year period?
Answer: You must begin your studies at Rutgers by fulfilling the coursework requirements, usually completed by your fourth or fifth semester. You must then pass a Proposal Defense in order to proceed to candidacy for the Ph.D. The Proposal Defense usually occur anywhere between your sixth and eighth semester.
5. What is this I hear about a ‘cognitive science certificate’, and does taking the certificate extend the time it takes for me to get my Ph.D.?
Answer: One can obtain a cognitive science certificate while doing a Philosophy Ph.D. at Rutgers. The decision to take the cog sci track can be made after coming to Rutgers. Students may gain the cognitive science certificate while simultaneously working towards the Ph.D. as some courses count towards both. You can find out more about the cognitive science certification by clicking below.
Cognitive Science Certification.
6. What kind of fellowship/teaching package can one typically expect to receive from Rutgers?
Answer: Our graduate students normally receive five years of financial support: three years of fellowship (during which no teaching is required), and two years of support as teaching assistants. Fellows and T.A.s qualify for health insurance and full tuition remission. (Applicants should note that there is a place on the application form to indicate that you are interested in receiving such financial aid.) Financial support beyond the fifth year is often available, but is not guaranteed.
7. What if it takes me longer than five years to complete my degree?
Answer: We aim to have students complete their Ph.D. in five years. But there has often been funding for one or even two years beyond that for students who are making good progress. We expect that most students who need it will be able to receive such funding in the future, but such funding is not guaranteed.
8. Is summer teaching available?
Answer: Summer teaching is usually available for those who want to gain additional teaching experience. The stipend for such courses varies depending on teaching experience.
9. May I take classes in other Rutgers departments for credit toward the Ph.D. in Philosophy?
Answer: We encourage cross-disciplinary study where appropriate. Which courses from other departments will qualify towards satisfaction of the Ph.D. requirements is determined on a case-by-case basis.
10. May I take philosophy classes in neighboring philosophy departments for credit toward the Ph.D. at Rutgers?
Answer: There is a very large, vibrant, and flourishing philosophical community in the NJ-NY metropolitan area, and New Brunswick is geographically at its center. Some students audit classes at neighboring institutions such as NYU and Princeton. Credit for coursework in such classes is determined on a case-by-case basis.
11. I am applying with a masters in philosophy from another program. Will I get transfer credit for my master's work?
Answer: This is determined on a case-by-case basis by the Graduate Director.
12. I am an international student. Will I get financial support?
Answer: Yes. All admitted students are eligible for the same fellowship package whether or not they are U.S. citizens.
13. What are your faculty members’ research interests?
Answer: Many faculty members work in areas beyond those listed as their primary research areas.
14. What are your graduate students’ research interests?
Answer: We have a very active, friendly, and supportive graduate community. A list of our graduate students and their research interests can be found here.
15. What are the arrangements for graduate student housing?
Answer: There is graduate student housing available through the University, within walking distance of the Philosophy department. Open market housing is also available and generally quite affordable on a graduate student stipend.
16. I am trying to decide between law school and a philosophy Ph.D program. Is it possible to obtain a law degree and do a Ph.D. at Rutgers at the same time?
Answer: Yes. It is possible to arrange your course of study in the Ph.D. program so that you can obtain a law degree while working towards your Rutgers Ph.D, whether the law degree is taken at Rutgers or at a different institution. The requirements for completing the Ph.D. are the same. Details can be worked out with the Graduate Director.