School of Information Sciences - Library and Information Science Program

PhD Admissions

Online Application Is Available. We offer a Web-based application to make our application process as easy and convenient as possible for you. You can get started right now.

The following are requirements for admission to the doctoral program in Library and Information Science.

Requirements

As evidence of the ability to undertake doctoral work, the student's application must be accompanied by:

Credentials of prospective students are reviewed by the Admissions and Review Committee and voted upon by the LIS Committee on Doctoral Studies throughout the year. However, students who are applying for financial aid should be aware that they must be admitted and meet financial aid deadlines to ensure consideration for funding. PhD students may begin their studies only in the fall term in order to ensure a coherent program of study.

Standardized Test Scores

Submission of scores from a standardized predictor test is required.

To send us your test scores, please use the following designations:

Graduate Record Examination (GRE): The GRE institution number for the University of Pittsburgh is 2927.

Applicants proposing to submit scores from tests other than those listed above should contact the admissions team for advice on how to proceed.

International Applicants

There are different documentation and admission requirements for international students. These are explained here.

Application Fee

The application fee is $50 for all applicants and must be paid when you submit your application. The fee will not be waived, deferred, or refunded. Applications will not be considered until the fee has been received. Receipt of payment will be acknowledged by email from Apply Yourself.

A maximum of 6 credits earned with a grade of B or better may be transferred toward either the Master’s or PhD degree from institutions fully accredited for graduate study, provided that these credits have not been applied to any other degree or certificate, that they are applicable to the students’ program of study, and that they are not older than the statute of limitations for the degree.

Deadlines

All application materials for PhD applicants should be received at the school by January 15 for admission the following Fall Term.

Students whose complete credentials are not available for full admission may register as special students until the completed credentials are received, provided all other requirements have been satisfied.

Application Processing and Notifications

The School of Information Sciences makes every effort to issue a determination about applications within 6-8 weeks of the application deadline. This is, of course, dependent upon the timely receipt of all required application materials. You will be notified via e-mail when an admissions decision has been posted to your Apply Yourself account.

Please note that, during the December–January timeframe, numerous applications are received. Due to the volume of submissions, there may be a delay in notification of receipt of materials.

You may always check your Apply Yourself account to ascertain if documentation has been received or if an admissions decision has been made. The status of your application, related documents and admission decision cannot be verified until you have submitted the application fee (which is the final step in submitting your application).

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Learn More!

The iSchool hosts a number of opportunities for you to explore the LIS program. Attend Information Sessions at the iSchool or online, whichever suits your schedule. More >

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Strong Foundation

The blend of theory and application at the iSchool distinguishes its graduates in the job market, giving them a strong foundation of theoretical knowledge and practical experience.