Admissions

Admission to the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program is highly selective for applicants with demonstrated proficiency in independent study at the graduate level and whose research area is interdisciplinary and carefully matched to Tufts human, academic and physical resources. The applicant must demonstrate the ability to do independent research/scholarship. Normally this is demonstrated by having completed a master's degree with a thesis requirement at an accredited graduate school, or in some cases by published research. Creative works such as art, musical composition, performance, and performance direction are not acceptable as the sole qualifications for admission into a scholarly doctoral program of study. 

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Application Process and Deadlines

Application to the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program is a two-step process:

Step One

A Tufts Graduate School of Arts and Sciences application form should be submitted with all documents together with the application fee, transcripts, letters of recommendation, etc. The application deadline for fall admission is November 15.

For Step 1, the required materials are:

1. All Application Requirements
   1. Application Fee
   2. Transcripts: Please note a Master’s degree is highly recommended, but not required.
   3. Resume/ CV
   4. Official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test, if applicable
   5. Three letters of recommendation
2. Proposed Committee: The primary advisor must be a tenure stream research faculty member at Tufts, while other members of the committee can be Lecturers or Professors of the Practice. Advisors must be situated in Medford and actively engaged in the field of the proposed research. This is a preliminary list; the final committee will be based on faculty availability.
3. Personal Statement:
   1. Personal Statement (limit it to 2,500 words): Please give your reasons for deciding to do graduate work in the field you have chosen. We are particularly concerned that you cover these points:
   1. What previous experiences and commitments have brought you to consider applying for graduate training?
   2. What are your chief objectives in applying now?
   3. How do you think this Tufts program will help you in the pursuit of your objectives and vocation?
   4. Describe the nature and novelty of your proposed research project.
   Include answers to the following questions:
   1. How is the project interdisciplinary? Why does it not fit into an existing discipline? How do you intend to support yourself financially during the program?

After submission of the Step One application, the Interdisciplinary Doctorate (IDoc) Committee will review the application to determine how it meets the program requirements and notify the applicant if it is appropriate to proceed to Step Two. Recommendation to proceed to Step Two is NOT acceptance into the program.

Step Two

When recommended for Step 2, the applicant will need to complete the following:

IDoc Advisor Commitment Forms

The applicant must assemble an advisory committee consisting of at least three faculty members from Arts & Sciences, Engineering, or other schools at Tufts. The primary advisor must be a tenure stream faculty member (title of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor). Other advisors can be Lecturers. If an applicant is passed to Step 2, these faculty will be sent the applicant’s Step 1 application. The applicant should then reach out to schedule a meeting with the proposed advisors to seek their participation.

All members of the advisory committee must submit, as part of the Step Two application, the advising questionnaire, which includes their approval of the planned coursework and qualifying exams, commitment to the project, and expected role as advisor. Please note these documents will be uploaded through your application status portal after approval of Step 1.

Proposed Plan of Student and Qualifying Exams

The applicant must compile a list of graduate level courses to be taken for the degree and lay out the schedule in which they will be taken. The applicant, in consultation with the principal advisor, must also specify qualifying examination procedures, which should usually follow the principal advisor's department guidelines. The completed plan of study must include signatures from your committee members. The requirements for completion of the program should conform to the general requirements of the doctoral degree as stated in the GSAS PhD student handbook. Please note these documents will be uploaded through your application status portal after approval of Step 1.

Evaluation of the Step Two application

Once the Step Two application is submitted, an zoom-based interview with the candidate, proposed advisor, and the IDoc faculty committee will be scheduled. Students admitted to the program receive a full tuition scholarship. Admission into the program does not include a teaching or research assistantship, but applicants may explore the possibility of a teaching or research assistant position with their primary PhD advisor.