PhD Philosophy at University of California, Davis

Programme overview

The PhD (Plan A) in Philosophy is offered by the Department of Philosophy in the College of Letters and Science. Students gain advanced knowledge of the history of philosophy, metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of language, philosophy of science, ethics, and social and political philosophy. Applicants may apply directly to the PhD track without an MA in philosophy.

Faculty: College of Letters and Science | Department: Department of Philosophy | Duration: Typical timeline runs through year five (dissertation in years four and five) | Study mode: full-time | Location: Davis, CA, United States

What you will study

Year one includes the 200A and 200B proseminars plus 200-level seminars at 12 units per quarter; year two includes a second-year paper and workshop. Year three covers the PHI 299 prospectus tutorial and the qualifying examination, followed by dissertation research and writing.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Philosophy graduate admissions (applies to the department's graduate programs): online application with admissions essays, three letters of recommendation uploaded online, a writing sample of 12 to 30 double-spaced pages that is an original work of philosophy, application fee, and current TOEFL or IELTS scores (taken within the past two years) for applicants without a degree from an institution where English is the language of instruction.

Requirements published at program group level.

Domestic applicants: USD 13,722 a year (2026-27). Systemwide UC graduate (academic) Tuition for California residents, 2026-27 annual. Excludes Student Services Fee, campus-based fees, and Nonresident Supplemental Tuition; self-supporting and professional programmes are charged differently and are not cov Source

Graduate applications are submitted through the UC Davis online graduate application with an application fee; deadlines vary by programme and are listed on the Graduate Studies deadlines page.

Apply through the official page: https://grad.ucdavis.edu/apply

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