Q. How long does it take to complete a Ph.D. in peace studies?
A. It typically takes 5 years.
Q. Are there specific course requirements for admission?
A. There are no specific course requirements for admission. Applicants must have demonstrated academic achievement in one of the program's partner fields (history, political science, psychology, sociology) as an undergraduate. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree and GRE scores. If English is not your first language, you must submit TOEFL scores. A master's degree is not required, but it can strengthen your application.
Q. What is the maximum time for field work?
A. There is no official limit, but a year is considered a reasonable maximum. Field work is most likely to occur when a student gathers data for dissertation research.
Q. Are funds available to support field work toward research or dissertation topics?
A. Students normally receive a fellowship to cover five years of study and research, if needed, and assuming satisfactory progress each semester, but they are also required to apply for external funding for dissertation research.
Q. I can't pay the application fee. The amount is more than I make in a month. Can I be granted a fee waiver?
A. You may be eligible for a fee waiver if you are not a U.S. citizen and live in a country in which access to foreign currency is restricted and/or paying the fee would cause extreme financial hardship. Only a limited number of fee waivers are available in these circumstances, and they will only be granted to applicants who are academically strong with proven English proficiency as shown by a good TOEFL score.
To request a fee waiver, you must send an e-mail explaining the circumstances that necessitate your request. You must also e-mail your TOEFL score (if you are not a native English speaker) and your transcripts listing all university-level classes you have taken and the grades you received. Your transcripts should include an English translation and also an explanation of the grading system for each university. You must do this before you submit your online application. We will send you an e-mail reply to your fee waiver request.
Q. Do I need to select a faculty advisor before applying to the Ph.D. program?
A. Accepted students select a faculty adviser after they have begun taking courses. In writing the personal statement in your application, you may indicate the faculty member with whom you would like to work, but you do not need a professor's advance approval to do so.
Q. I am an international applicant and taking the GRE is difficult for me. Will my application be affected if I do not have a GRE score?
A. The GRE is required by the University of Notre Dame. Applications received without a GRE score cannot be considered.
Q. Do I need to have a master's degree before I can apply to your Ph.D. program?
A. Applicants to our Ph.D. program are required to have at least a bachelor's degree. Additional degrees are not required but will strengthen your application. Preferred applicants show high academic ability, professional promise, and demonstrated long-term commitment to building peace and global justice. Men and women of all nationalities and diverse religious and philosophical traditions are welcome.
Q. I have sent recommendation letters to the department I've chosen for my subfield. Am I required to submit separate recommendation letters for the peace studies Ph.D.?
A. If you are submitting a separate application to your department at Notre Dame, and you have already sent recommendations letters to that department, you are not required to submit a second set of letters for your peace studies Ph.D. application. If you want to submit an additional recommendation or two to strengthen the case for studying peace research, that is fine, but it is not required. A separate personal statement, however, is required, and should explain your interest in and commitment to peace studies.
Q. Am I required to submit a research proposal along with my Ph.D. application?
A. No.
