Admissions
The Department of Logic and Philosophy of Science and the Department of Philosophy jointly administer a Ph.D. program in philosophy with two independent tracks: the Philosophy Track and the LPS Track.
The remarks on this page are only for applicants to the LPS Track.
Those interested in the Philosophy Track must apply to the Philosophy Department.
Applicants for the LPS Track must have a bachelor's degree, but there is no formal requirement as to the field of that degree. The most natural undergraduate majors for LPS graduate students would be philosophy, mathematics, or the sciences, but those with other degrees who are interested in the fields of LPS should feel free to apply.
Deadline and How to Apply
All applicants must apply online using the UCI Online Application for Graduate Admissions. (The degree code for the LPS Track of the Philosophy Ph.D. is 1448.) Paper applications are no longer used.
Applications will be accepted beginning September 15th. The deadline for submission is January 15th.
Materials that cannot be uploaded to the online application should be sent to the School of Social Sciences, via U.S. Postal Mail, and addressed as follows:
Attention: Graduate Admissions (LPS)
Graduate Affairs Office
School of Social Sciences
University of California, Irvine
3151 Social Science Plaza A
Irvine, CA 92697-5100
Application Requirements
The following items are required as part of the graduate application:
Application Fee - US$80 (US Citizens and Permanent Residents); US$100 (international applicants)
Application fee waivers are available to qualifying US citizens and permanent residents: www.grad.uci.edu/prospective/app_fee.htm Fee waivers are not available to international applicants.
- GRE scores
- Transcripts
- TOEFL or IELTS (for non native speakers of English)
- Three (3) Letters of Recommendation
- A writing sample
- A personal statement
The writing sample need not deal with a topic in logic and /or philosophy of science -- though that is desirable -- but should exhibit the applicant's ability to argue clearly and carefully. The personal statement should explain the applicant's interests and provide any additional information that he or she would like the Department to consider.
For further information about these requirements, click here.
If you have remaining questions, contact Patty Jones (lps@uci.edu), the LPS Department Manager or David Malament (dmalamen@uci.edu), the Director of Graduate Admissions.
GRE and TOEFL/IELTS
Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
The GRE General Test is required of all applicants for PhD admission. We cannot waive this requirement; even when the applicant has completed an advanced degree at another college or university in the United States.
We cannot accept GMAT, LSAT, or MCAT scores in place of the GREs. We do not require that applicants file scores from any of the various GRE (subject) tests available.
Test scores for Fall 2012 admission must be dated no earlier than February 2007.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
The internet-based TOEFL(-ibT) is required of all international applicants except citizens of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. The test is also required of US permanent residents who did not attend four full years and graduate high school in the United States.
A minimum overall score of 80/120 is required for admission, while a minimum sub-score of 26/30 on the Speaking component of the test is needed to qualify for financial support consideration. We cannot waive either of these minimum score requirements under any circumstances. Neither can we waive the requirement for current TOEFL or IELTS scores.
We can accept current IELTS (International English Language Testing System) scores as an alternative to the TOEFL-ibT, in which case a minimum 7/10 (overall) is required for admission, and 8/10 (Speaking component) for financial support consideration.
TOEFL-ibt or IELTS test scores for Fall 2012 admission must be dated no earlier than February 2010.
Costs and Financial Support
Tuition and Fees
The University of California's current fee and tuition rates are published here:
United States citizens and permanent residents who relocate to California from other states may apply for legal residency here, following one year of continuous residence. The required "procedures of intent" are outlined here:
www.reg.uci.edu/residency/classification.html
Financial Support
All applications for PhD admission are considered also for financial support, and all admission offers to LPS currently include five years of funding. Applicants are not required to apply separately for admission and financial support.
Our competitive, merit-based funding packages include annual registration fees and comprehensive student health insurance; a combination of TA or Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) appointment with individual members of faculty, and fellowship quarters in lieu of employment. Summer support and, in limited amounts, graduate student research and travel funding are also available.
All offers to non-residents of California, including non-US citizen international students, include nonresident tuition in the first year or two of study.
Financial assistance based on need (loans, primarily) is available to qualifying student applicants, through UCI Financial Aid & Scholarships:
All students applying for need-based financial aid are required to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):
International students who are not US citizens or permanent residents are not eligible to apply for federal need-based financial aid aid.
Further information on assistantships and funding resources can be found here: www.grad.uci.edu/finance/
