General Application Information
The University of Pittsburgh requires online applications for graduate programs. We recommend that you explore the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Graduate Studies, Graduate section of our site, and the online Graduate Handbook (PDF) when preparing your materials. Online applications will be available mid-October.
Admission applications for the Fall 2026 PhD program will be accepted starting September 2025.
Admission applications for the Fall 2026 MFA will be accepted starting September 2025.
Before applying, please review the list of required materials for the PhD program and MFA program.
Please note: The department is not able to review applications and give feedback in advance of submission and applicants do not need to confirm an advisor before applying. Due to the number of applications received, we are not able to give individual feedback after admission decisions are finalized.
NOTICE: Application Fee Waiver Request form unavailable from 11/25/25-12/1/25 and 12/22/25-1/5/2026
The Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Graduate Application Fee Waiver Request Form will be temporarily unavailable for two periods before the application deadline, during the University’s Thanksgiving Break, and the University’s Winter Recess.
The Fee Waiver Request form will be unavailable starting the morning of Tuesday, November 25, for the Thanksgiving Break. The form will reopen on Monday, December 1. Requests will be processed in the order they are received.
The form will be unavailable starting the morning of Monday, December 22 until Monday, January 5, 2026, for the University’s Winter Recess.
When the form reopens after each of these periods, requests will be processed in the order they are received. If you intend to request an application fee waiver, please plan your submission accordingly. It is an applicant’s responsibility to ensure they plan ahead sufficiently to ensure they receive a fee waiver code by the January 15 application deadline.
Financial Aid
In an effort to reduce financial barriers to attending graduate school, the Kenneth P. Dietrich Graduate School of Arts and Sciences offers application fee waivers. Please note that fee waivers are approved on a case-by-case basis and not all fee waiver requests will be granted. All requests received will be reviewed and responded to within 48 hours during normal business hours: Monday - Friday 8:30a.m. to 5:00p.m. EST. To be considered for a fee waiver, please complete the following fee waiver survey for review.
For application information and deadlines, please contact the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.
The department offers a number of assistantships and fellowships involving teaching, administrative and technical work, assistance to faculty members, and combined duties. The requirements established by the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid must be met in order for students to be eligible for department teaching assistantships (TAs) and teaching fellowships (TFs). All students receiving TAs and TFs, receive a full aid package that includes tuition, health benefits, and a stipend. Doctoral students also are eligible for university fellowships, including the Provost’s Humanities Fellowship and K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship. See the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Graduate Studies for more details.
Note that the university assistantships and fellowships normally provide support for the eight months of the academic year only.
Current stipend rates for Graduate Student Assistants (GSA), Teaching Assistants (TA), and Teaching Fellows (TF)
Contact
For information on the application process, please contact
LJ Woolcock
Graduate Student Administrator
liw151@pitt.edu
For questions or information regarding the Theatre Arts Graduate Programs, please contact:
MIchelle Granshaw
Director of Graduate Studies
mkg31@pitt.edu