Apply to the program | Department of Linguistics

Apply to the Ph.D. Program

Deadline: December 1st
Submission: All applications must be submitted electronically through our online application system.
Contacts:
- Graduate Program Coordinator (for questions about the application process): michelle.carbone.1@stonybrook.edu
- PhD Program Director (for questions about the PhD program): jiwon.yun@stonybrook.edu

Official School Transcripts: Submit all official transcripts from the college/institutions where your degree was conferred.
- Cumulative GPA ≥ 3.0 (or its foreign equivalent) on a four-point scale: If you already have a master’s degree with GPA ≥ 3.0, undergraduate GPA may be below 3.0.
- Bachelor's degree: You must present evidence that a bachelor's degree will be awarded by the time you begin graduate work.

Letters of recommendation: Three (3) letters are required preferably from your former instructors, or qualified employers if you have relevant work experience.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE): We do not require a GRE score.

Writing Sample
- A short paper written for a previous course, ideally related to language.
Personal Statement
- A brief personal statement regarding your experience and interest in the program.
- We strongly recommend that you include the names of (at least three) faculty members you are interested working with. This helps us guage your current research interests; you are not committed to these faculty, and you will select your advisor after meeting and interacting with faculty during your first year in the program.
Curriculum Vitae
- An entire history of your academic experiences and scholarly achievements.

Non-native speakers of English must present either the TOEFL or IELTS test scores:
- TOEFL iBT: Minimum overall score of 90
- IELTS: Minimum overall score of 6.5, with no subsection recommended below 6
Waiver Conditions: No test needed if any of the following applies:
- You hold a degree such as a high school diploma, bachelors, masters, or PhD from an institution where the primary instruction was in English.
- You are a US citizen (or US National) or Permanent Resident
- You have served as a Teaching Assistant at an institution where the primary instruction was in English

Important: For English Speaking Proficiency Requirements to Serve as a Teaching Assistant, see the relevant page on the Graduate Bulletin.

For more details, please review the Application Checklist in the link below: https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/grad/admissions/apply/graduate-programs.php?accordion=content-d19e237
Submit all parts of the application via the online application system.
If any material is missing from your application, you will be notified by email. Be sure we have the correct email address for you.

A candidate must be accepted by both the Department of Linguistics and the Graduate School.
For general information on the admissions process, see the Graduate bulletin.

Most of our Ph.D. students are funded through teaching assistantships, while some eligible students receive research assistantships or fellowships. Regardless of the source, funding generally covers tuition, stipend, and health insurance.
Applicants are also encouraged to pursue external funding opportunities beyond departmental resources.

All Ph.D. applicants are required to pay the application fee, with exceptions outlined here: https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/grad/admissions/apply/graduate-programs.php?accordion=content-d19e181
For applicants who do not meet the above criteria but require financial support, a limited opportunity for additional fee waivers is available. To be considered, please submit the fee waiver request form (link) by November 1. (You do not need to complete your Ph.D. application to be eligible for this waiver review.)