Admissions - Degree Requirements - Placement Record - HPS - PGSA - PIE - Graduate Studies

Department of Philosophy

Graduate (MA/PhD) Admissions

International Applicants

Application Procedure

If you have questions after you read through the application procedure, please see our Frequently Asked Questions page.

The first step to apply for admission to our graduate program is to begin the AY FSU Online Application. A complete application must include all the following, which can be found within or uploaded to the AY FSU Online Application:

1. Graduate Admissions Application
This is the general application for graduate study at FSU, and you will be prompted to fill this out through the AY FSU Online Application.

2. Three Letters of Recommendation
You have the option of having your recommenders send these through the AY FSU Online Application or through regular mail. If you opt to have them send the letters online, you will be prompted to input the email addresses of your recommenders. An email will be generated and sent to your recommenders with instructions detailing how they can complete their letters online through your AY FSU Online Application. If you decide to have your recommenders send the letters through regular mail, please have them sent to the following address:

Graduate Admissions
Department of Philosophy
Room 151 DOD
641 University Way
P.O. Box 3061500
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL 32306-1500

3. A Statement of Philosophical Interests and Educational Goals (1-2 pages)
Please upload as Document 1 in the Supporting Documents page of your AY FSU Online Application

4. A Recent Philosophical Writing Sample (no longer than 20 double-spaced, typed pages)
Please upload as Document 2 in the Supporting Documents page of your AY FSU Online Application

5. A Current Curriculum Vitae
Please upload as Document 3 in the Supporting Documents page of your AY FSU Online Application

6. Answer the following questions:

What do you propose as your area(s) of study/interest?
With which faculty member(s) are you interested in working?
Do you wish to be considered for any assistantships/fellowships?

Please copy these questions in your document before answering them. Once answered, please upload the questions and your answers as Document 4 in the Supporting Documents page of your AY FSU Online Application

7. Photocopies of your Official Transcripts
Please scan and upload (if possible) as Document 5 in the Supporting Documents page of your AY FSU Online Application or mail to the address below

8. Photocopies of your official GRE scores and TOEFL scores
Please scan and upload (if possible) as Document 6 in the Supporting Documents page of your AY FSU Online Application or mail to the address below

9. Photocopy of your Certificate of Financial Responsibility (CFR) form
This is a form required of all international applicants. Once you fill it out, you need to send one copy to the International Center, and one copy to us. The form and instructions for filling it out are found here. Please scan and upload the form (if possible) as Document 7 in the Supporting Documents page of your AY FSU Online Application or mail to the address below

All documents must be uploaded -- with the exception of the letters of recommendation, transcripts, test scores, and the Certificate of Financial Responsibility (CFR form)
To allow the department to begin its evaluation process as soon as possible, please mail any documents that cannot be uploaded to the following address:

Graduate Admissions
Department of Philosophy
Room 151 DOD
641 University Way
P.O. Box 3061500
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL 32306-1500

DEADLINES: To receive priority for teaching assistantships and fellowships, applications should be completed by the following deadlines:

Fall Admission: January 3rd
Spring Admission: October 19th

Financial Support

Virtually all students receive some form of financial support. Most full-time Ph.D. students receive tuition waivers along with half-time teaching assistantships renewable for up to six years for those entering with a B.A. or four years for those entering with an M.A. in Philosophy, dependent upon the individual student's work as an assistant and progress towards the degree, and the availability of department resources. Students pursuing the M.A. degree are also eligible for half-time assistantships for up to two years. The current rate of these assistantships is $12,000. Quarter-time assistantships of $6,000 along with tuition waivers are also available for qualified M.A. and Ph.D. students. Additional support of $2,100-$2,500 is normally also available for qualified in-state students who wish to register for classes during one of the summer terms. A variety of college and university fellowships, as well as fellowships for minorities and women, are also available for qualified applicants with stipends ranging from $5,000 - $23,000 annually, including University Fellowships ($18,000 per year) and Presidential University Research Fellowships ($23,000 per year).

Frequently Asked Questions