Near Eastern Studies > Graduate > Admissions

Applicants to the PhD program in Near Eastern studies should upload and submit the following application materials and supporting documents through the online application:

  • Online application
  • Application fee
  • Statement of purpose
  • Sample of work (a recent example of written scholarship, preferably in the area of the applicant’s special interest – maximum 25 pages)
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Official transcripts (applications will be ready for review with unofficial transcripts, but official transcripts will be required if an offer of admission is made)
  • Official TOEFL or IELTS test scores within the last two years for international applicants whose native language is not English. Test may be waived for those who have received a degree from a country with English as the official language of instruction. Use the following codes when requesting scores to be sent to Hopkins: JHU Code: 5332; Department Code: 57.

Application deadline is December 15.

Once you submit your application online, you will receive an email from Graduate Admissions with a user ID and password, which you can use to log in and monitor the status of your application.

All application documents must be provided in English (either the original or translation of the original documents). If you are unable to secure translation to English we recommend that you contact World Education Services.

For more information about application requirements, or for questions or inquiries about the online application and supporting documents, please see the Graduate Admissions website.

Any other questions regarding Near Eastern studies admissions may be directed to [email protected], or to Glenda Hogan, academic program coordinator, at [email protected] or 410-516-7394. For more specific inquiries, please write to the specific faculty member with whom you wish to study.

Financial Aid

The department awards all students admitted to the PhD program that are in need of financial aid a basic annual fellowship covering full tuition and a full stipend for living expenses for up to five years. For some of this period, the department’s support may take the form of a teaching assistantship. In addition, the period of support may be extended by the various competitive awards available to advanced students within the university, such as the prestigious Dean’s Teaching Fellowship and the Stulman Jewish Studies Award.

We strongly encourage candidates to seek outside fellowships, such as Javitz scholarships, Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowships, and the Pew Younger Scholars Program. An incoming student who has been awarded an outside scholarship will still be eligible for a departmental fellowship. The outside scholarship will be counted toward extending the overall period of support beyond five years.

When appropriate, the department will award travel stipends for students to participate in archaeological excavations in the Near East or visit collections in this country and abroad.

Diversity and URM Fellowships

There are a number of fellowships and programs specifically for URM graduate students, students who attended historically black colleges and universities, and more. These include the Nathaniel M. Boggs Memorial Fellowship, Kelly Miller Fellowship, and more.

Special Programs

As the program is intended to lead to the PhD, students are admitted as candidates for the MA only in unusual cases. Exceptionally, the department may accept students who register for one or more courses individually (visiting graduate students). Departmental financial aid is not available for MA or visiting students.