How to Apply to a Ph.D. Program
- Deadline for Application
- Fall: March 15
- Spring: October 1
- Summer: February 15
- Deadline for Financial Aid: January 1
- Step 1: Fill out the university application for admission
- Application fee will be required
- You have the choice of:
- Apply Online - applying through the USC web-based application system (strongly recommended).
-
Apply by Mail - printing paper forms, filling them in by hand, and mailing them back.
Please do one OR the other, to prevent duplicate admissions files.
- 3 letters of recommendation
- self-reported TOEFL scores
- self-reported GRE scores including verbal, quantitative, analytical and writing
- statement of purpose
- copies of technical papers
- Step 2: If you apply for a PhD program or a financial aid, complete the supplemental application in USC web-based application system.
- Select your area of interest and your potential research advisor
- You are automatically considered for a financial aid from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Viterbi School of Engineering when you apply to a PhD program.
- If you have your own funding, please indicate its source as an additional comments in your supplemental form.
- Step 3: Arrange to have the following information sent to the USC Office of Admission
- Official Transcripts
- For National students, submit Official Transcripts from every college and university attended,
- For International students, documents required for Admissions differ by country.
Please refer to Admission requirements by country.
- GRE scores officially sent through ETS
- TOEFL scores officially sent through ETS, (for applicants from non-English speaking countries)
- Verified Statement of Financial Support (International students only).
International students will not receive I-20 form until they have provided this material.
- Mailing address of USC Office of Admission
University of Southern California
Office of Admission
Graduate
University Park
Los Angeles, California 90089-0915
Once you have received the notification of admission, you should do the following:
- Watch in the mail for the Admission/Welcome to USC package.
- Contact USC for orientation, registration and housing info. Be sure to arrive on time for:
- orientation programs
- training programs
- registration
- For international students: once you have received the I-20 form, you will need to apply for F-1 visa through the American Consulate in your city/country.
For questions, please contact
ceedept@usc.edu
