Anthropology Ph.D.

Important update on admissions for Fall 2024

Anthropology is “the study of humankind” in all its richness and complexity. The Department of Anthropology at Indiana University believes that the discipline is most effective in this endeavor by including within its ranks scholars from a range of backgrounds and experiences. We therefore especially welcome applications to our graduate program from candidates belonging to minority groups that have been historically underrepresented on such bases as race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, economic class, age and physical ability. This year we anticipate admitting students in all sub-disciplines, and especially in archaeology and bioanthropology. We encourage you to contact potential advisors before submitting your application. A strong application, however, will reflect not only a good student-advisor match, but also how well your research interests might align with those of a community of mentors throughout the Department. We further encourage you to contact the Anthropology Graduate Student Association (AGSA) for information on the graduate student experience at IU Anthropology. The Department offers competitive stipends and multi-year funding packages to admits to the graduate program.

Online graduate admissions application

The deadline for submitting graduate school applications is December 01, 2023.

Complete the online application

Application requirements

The deadline for receiving all application materials from domestic and international applicants is December 01, 2023.

The graduate application process requires the following:

Complete the IU Graduate School Application form.
Bachelor's degree from a recognized institution and evidence of academic potential to complete an advanced degree.
Three letters of recommendation.
A personal statement of goals in the field of anthropology.
A writing sample (10,000 words or less).
A curriculum vitae.
A completed application form.
One copy of the official transcripts of all previous college and university work, documenting each course taken and all degrees awarded.

Graduate applicants who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents should have any relevant paper application materials (transcripts) mailed to the department. Certified digital copies of transcripts can be emailed to Anthropology Graduate Program. If admitted using a transcript that does not show your completed bachelor's degree, you are required to submit another official transcript showing that you completed your B.A. degree prior to your arrival and start of your Anthropology graduate studies.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test results are not required. If applicants choose to submit GRE results from the past five years, they should ask ETS to forward their scores to Indiana University using the institution code 1324.
For applicants whose native language is not English, proof of English proficiency is required by the Indiana University Graduate School. TOEFL scores are most commonly used (see FAQs for more specifics on English language requirements).

Recommended undergraduate training in anthropology and related fields:

for students interested primarily in the field of bioanthropology, courses in chemistry and the biological sciences;
for students specializing in the field of archaeology, courses in history, earth sciences, and the humanities.
for students specializing in the field of social/cultural anthropology, courses in the social sciences and the humanities;
for students specializing in the field of linguistic anthropology, courses in general linguistics and psycholinguistics.

Graduate Admissions
Department of Anthropology
701 E. Kirkwood Ave, SB 130
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN 47405

International applications

In addition to the above requirements, international students must complete forms as instructed by the Office of International Services.

After you apply, you will be required to submit additional documentation.

The Office of International Services will email you your iStart log in information within five days of receiving your completed electronic application. International graduate applicants should submit their online applications and mail any requested paper materials to the Office of International Services.

Office of International Services – International Admissions

Indiana University
Poplars 221
400 E. Seventh Street
Bloomington, IN 47405
Phone: 812-855-9086
Fax: 812-855-4418

Visit the International Admissions website

Answers to your questions

The decision to apply to graduate school is a big one, and you are likely to have many questions. Find answers to common questions in our FAQs, or reach out to the following people:

Questions about the graduate program: Dr. Sara Friedman, Director of Graduate Studies
Questions about the admissions process: Anthropology Graduate Program

View FAQs

Ready to apply?