Graduate Admissions

Applications for the PhD Program are due January 15 in order to begin the program in the following fall semster. For the MA Program, first-round applications are due on January 15, in order to begin the program in the following fall. A second round of applications may be accepted on March 15, also for fall admission. The department will consider late applications. 

For general questions regarding the application process or financial support and prior to applying to the Professional MA, please make sure to contact the Director of Graduate Studies. 

Application Materials to be directed to the UA Graduate College (What is that?)

  • Application Fee of $85 by check, money order, or credit card to be paid during registration
  • Complete the online application form

Apply

Application Materials to be directed to the Department of German Studies (added to the above application form)

  • Official transcripts showing an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher, and with a GPA in German courses of 3.5 or higher (international students should include documentation in the form of all available grade reports)
  • 3 academic letters of recommendation
  • Statement of purpose in German (approx. 1-2 double-spaced pages), outlining your interests and/or experiences in the areas research and teaching and what you hope to achieve during your graduate studies
  • 3-5 minute audio recording in German, including a short personal narrative and/or a reading of a favorite text (speakers of German as their first language are not required to submit an audio recording)
  • Curriculum vitae, comprehensive resume, or Lebenslauf
  • Graduate Assistantship application form (What is that?)
  • For PhD program applicants only: academic writing sample (15-25 double-spaced pages) either in German or English

Additional Materials for International Students

If you are neither a US citizen nor a permanent US resident at the time of application, you will be considered an international student. In addition to the application fee for the university, you will also need to pay the application and processing fee for your visa to the appropriate institutions.

The Director of Graduate Studies is available for questions throughout the process and might reach out with a request for a conversation via video or phone call after the application materials have been received.

Testimonials

Rachel Walker

MA 2011

As a student in the Master's program at the University of Arizona's Department of German Studies, I felt encouraged and inspired by the faculty, staff, and other graduate teaching assistants. Their commitment to excellence in education is contagious and extends beyond the classroom. I developed professionally as I engaged in the opportunities to research and present, volunteer on  campus and in the community, and hold leadership roles in learning-centered extracurricular activities. 

The Department of German Studies served our greatest needs as students through the presence of both focus and flexibility in the program and courses. I enjoyed the variety of course offerings as well as the opportunity to approach each subject in-depth with creative and critical thinking. It is the relevance and adaptability of multicultural and transcultural appreciation within the curriculum to which I attribute my preparedness to enter the field of International Education. I am currently an International Admissions Counselor and correspond each day with people from diverse backgrounds. Many of the skills essential to my career, from program evaluation to international market research to cross-cultural communication, I owe to the time I spent in the versatile, learner-centered graduate program in German Studies at the University of Arizona. 

That I am grateful for having been taught and influenced by some of the brightest professionals in the field I love is an understatement. I am inspired not only by their knowledge and passion for teaching, but by the global perspectives with which I learned to view the classroom, course content and ultimately, the world.