A complete application consists of the application form, three letters of recommendation, the application fee, official transcripts of previous academic work, personal statement or essay, writing sample, and, for most international students, TOEFL scores. As of Fall 2019 we no longer consider GRE scores for the application. These materials are sent to the Graduate Admissions Office, which forwards them to the Anthropology Department. Detailed procedures and instructions accompany the application forms.

Before you begin the admissions process, you should read the information below and also check the ADMISSIONS -- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page .

Find information here on how to apply NOW!

For general questions concerning graduate admissions at Rutgers, or for other information, contact the office of Graduate Admissions:

Deadlines

The deadline to be considered for fall term admission is December 15th for the Ph.D. program and January 1st for the M.A. program. These deadlines may change, so we encourage you to review them in the online application procedure.

Tests

As of Fall 2019, the Graduate Program in Anthropology no longer requires or will consider the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) as part of the application. 

International Applicants

International applicants are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if English is not their native language. For further information about the test, write to TOEFL/TSE Services, P.O. Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541-6151, U.S.A. Satisfactory English proficiency is a prerequisite for graduate study at the university. Admitted students may be required to take a test of English proficiency soon after arrival at the university and may be obligated to take course work in English as a Second Language (ESL). New international students appointed as teaching assistants are required to take an oral proficiency test regardless of their TOEFL scores. Nonimmigrant students must also present evidence of adequate financial resources to meet educational and living expenses, including fellowships and teaching assistantships. The university may deny admission to international applicants for lack of English proficiency, insufficient financial resources, or because of improper visa status.

Notification of Decisions

Applicants will receive written notification of admissions decisions from the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions. Admission will be confirmed on a Certificate of Admission, which may list certain conditions. Such conditions should be satisfied prior to registration unless otherwise indicated. Admission to the Graduate School-New Brunswick does not constitute admission to candidacy for an advanced degree. Candidacy is explained elsewhere in this catalog. Students who fail to register for the term to which they were admitted should contact the graduate admissions office for further instructions.