The writing sample might be a term paper, a senior essay, a thesis, or a publication. Its role is to give the departmental admissions committee a first-hand impression of the applicant's academic preparation and potential to do creative research in linguistics as conducted in this particular department. If your academic background is not in linguistics, please send a writing sample that you believe best illustrates your potential to successfully pursue a graduate degree in this department. Your writing sample should be no longer than 50 double-spaced pages (or equivalent). The writing sample should be submitted online as part of the application.
Applicants register recommenders in the online application. Recommendations should be submitted through the online system.
All application materials be received by December 18th. All application materials must be received by 5 p.m. eastern time on the deadline date. If an application deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal U.S. holiday, then the next business day will be the deadline date.
All students in the Ph.D. program receive five years of guaranteed financial aid through the Henry M. MacCracken Fellowship or the Dean's Doctoral Fellowship. Fellowship packages include a stipend, a tuition scholarship, remission of registration and service fees, and an award for the mandatory NYU health insurance costs. The number of fellowships is limited; thus these awards are very competitive. Separate from fellowships, graduate students normally have teaching opportunities designed to enhance their professional training and that come with additional compensation.
The applications of prospective students who come with fellowships awarded by external (governmental or private) granting agencies are judged by the same standards as others.
International applicants may obtain further information on TOEFL score requirements, international transcripts and other issues related to applying from outside the US, from the following GSAS webpage.
Frequently asked questions are addressed here.