Applying to the Graduate Program
Application Materials
Admission to our program is based on a holistic review of the applicant's stated research interests, personal statement, undergraduate record, research experience, and letters of recommendation. A background in psychology, including some training in research methods and statistics, is highly desirable. As part of your application, you have the option to submit a writing sample and/or additional materials for consideration. The GRE General and Subject tests are also optional; neither is required for admission.
Application materials should be submitted online by December 1st of each year to receive full consideration by the Department of Psychology.
Inquiries about our graduate program in Psychology should be directed to the Director of Graduate Studies, Heather Urry, PhD.
Planning My Application
We recommend that prospective students review the pages linked below when preparing their application for graduate study at Tufts.
Finding a Faculty Advisor
Graduate students in our program are essentially accepted into the lab of a specific faculty member. Prospective faculty advisors are looking for students who have the knowledge, skills, and interests to succeed in their labs. This page will help you figure out how to find and contact prospective faculty advisors.
Writing a Research Statement
The research statement, otherwise known as a personal statement, is an important part of your application. This page will help you figure out what a research statement is and how to write yours.
Learn about writing a Research Statement
Psychology PhD Student Handbook
This handbook provides a detailed description of the requirements for advancement in the PhD program in the Department of Psychology.
Download the Psychology PhD Student Handbook
Graduate Admissions
To learn more about the online admissions application and financial aid, please see the University's Graduate Admissions site. The Office of Graduate Admissions serves the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS), which administers our PhD program.
The Graduate Admissions site provides information about applying to graduate programs, expenses and financial aid, application requirements and deadlines, and much more. Links to some of the information on the site and other resources to explore are provided below:
- How to Apply
- Application Deadlines
- Requirements and Policies
- Financial Aid
- Request Information
- AS&E Graduate Student Handbooks. Published annually, the Graduate Student Handbooks contain important dates, policies and procedures, requirements, and graduation information concerning current Arts, Sciences, and Engineering graduate students.
- Take A Class. You don't need to be a graduate student to take Tufts graduate courses. The Courses at Tufts program gives individuals not enrolled in a Tufts degree program the opportunity to take the same classes as our graduate students. Students may enroll, for either credit or audit, in up to four undergraduate or graduate courses per semester.
- Graduate Student Council. The Tufts Graduate Student Council (GSC) is the official representative body for students in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering.
- Psychology Degree 411. This "is a comprehensive resource for prospective students interested in pursuing a degree in psychology or becoming a psychologist. Explore popular psychology degree options, find schools with psychology programs, and learn about some of the top careers in psychology."