PhD History at University of Massachusetts Amherst

Programme overview

The PhD in History at UMass Amherst trains doctoral students in historical methodologies and analytical writing through comprehensive research. Strengths include transatlantic and global history, gender and labor studies, public history and American history, and students can draw on the Five College Graduate Program in History.

Faculty: College of Humanities & Fine Arts | Department: Department of History | Study mode: full-time | Location: Amherst, MA, United States

What you will study

Doctoral study in fields such as women's history and Latin American history, with comprehensive research and Five College opportunities.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Department of History (MA and PhD): application form and fee; personal statement (about two pages); transcripts; at least two letters of recommendation; writing sample of up to 30 pages; short essay; January 2 deadline for fall admission (fall only); no minimum GPA, though above 3.0 is competitive and 3.5+ most competitive; TOEFL or IELTS for some international applicants. Graduate School (all UMass Amherst graduate programmes): bachelor's degree from an accredited US institution or an equivalent international degree; minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale (some programmes expect more); most programmes require at least two letters of recommendation; personal statement and resume; 600-word short essay on community; $90 application fee. Applicants whose native language is not English: TOEFL iBT 80 (tests taken before January 2026; combined score of 4 on the new scale for tests from January 2026), IELTS Academic 6.5, Duolingo English Test 115 or PTE Academic 53. A master's degree is not required for the PhD; applicants with a BA/BS may apply directly.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

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