PhD Africana Studies at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Programme overview

The department offers MA and PhD degrees in Africana studies, covering Africa, North America, South America and the Caribbean. Faculty specialisations span history, anthropology, political science, literature, ethnomusicology, and performance and dance.

Faculty: College of Arts and Sciences | Department: Department of African, African American, and Diaspora Studies | Study mode: full-time | Location: Chapel Hill, NC, United States

What you will study

Students enter one of three major geographic fields (Africa, African America, or African Diaspora outside North America). By the end of the third semester they choose two thematic concentrations from Literary Studies and Cultural Production; Gender, Sexuality, and Feminism; Development, Public Policy, and Social Change; or Histories and Africana Critical Theory, plus a minor geographic field. Language courses include Swahili, Wolof, Yoruba, Chichewa and Lingala.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Graduate School minimum (applies to all graduate programmes): a four-year bachelor's degree (or international equivalent) from an accredited institution completed before graduate study begins and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B) or better; application via the Graduate School online application with transcripts, three recommendation letters, statement of purpose and CV, plus any programme-specific tests/materials; international applicants add a TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test score; admission decisions are made by each programme.

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.

Graduate applicants apply for a start term; fall is the main start term. Very few programmes admit new students for spring or summer terms.

Graduate applications and payment must be received by the deadline of the academic programme applied to, which varies by programme; the application closes at 11:59pm Eastern Time on the deadline date. The Graduate School recommends complete applications by December 15, 2026 for full fellowship consideration.

Apply through the official page: https://gradschool.unc.edu/admissions/instructions/

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