Admissions and Aid
Thank you for your interest in the Ph.D. Program in Psychology at The Graduate Center, CUNY.
We have ten different training areas, and prospective students may only apply to one area of study at a time within a current admissions cycle. All admitted students must attend full-time.
Each of the training areas offered by the Ph.D. Program in Psychology handle their own admissions processes. Please contact the relevant Training Area Head or Admissions Chair for additional training area-specific application requirements. A list of contact information is available here.
Admissions Overview
Application Deadline
December 1
Application Requirements
- GRE subject test (Note: Due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on GRE testing, the Ph.D. Program in Psychology is suspending all GRE requirements for Fall 2022 applications.)
- An applicant must submit scores from either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), unless they have a post-secondary degree from an institution in which the language of instruction is English only, and which is located in a country that recognizes English as an Official Language.
Application Fee
The application fee is $75. After you have completed the online application form, you will be asked to submit the form for review. A payment page will then appear asking you to select your payment method. You may pay online with a credit card, or by sending in a check by mail.
The application fee is only waived for United States Armed Services Veterans and McNair Scholars. Please contact admissions@gc.cuny.edu for more information on receiving the waiver.
How to Apply
Visit The Graduate Center's Office of Admissions for step-by-step directions to apply, including a link to the Online Application Form.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition rates for doctoral programs at The Graduate Center are based on a student's “level,” which is determined by a combination of the number of graduate credits completed (including, in the case of transfer students, credits accepted by the student's degree program and the Registrar) and specific academic accomplishments.
The fee structure is also affected by a student’s resident status.
See current doctoral tuition rates »
Student Activities Fee
Each student will be billed for a Graduate School student activities fee, a University student senate fee, a University consolidated services fee and a technology fee. These fees are not refundable.
Fellowships and Financial Aid
Institutional Aid
Every applicant to The Graduate Center’s doctoral programs will automatically be considered for five-year institutional funding packages. The aid we offer — including fellowships, tuition awards, and assistantships — is based on merit.
Learn more about institutional aid for doctoral students »
Federal Aid
Federal aid for doctoral students includes Federal Work-Study, Federal Direct Loans, and Federal Perkins Loans. New York State provides the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) for eligible graduate students who are New York State residents. In all cases, federal and state aid is based solely on financial need.
Learn more about applying for federal aid »
Diversity
In honoring the long-standing mission and the rich legacy of CUNY as a public university that serves the communities of New York, diversity is a core value of the Psychology Program. Our commitment is to promote diversity and support students from historically excluded populations who are currently underrepresented, in ways that reflect the varieties of social histories and experiences of the communities we serve. This commitment is an inherent part of our work intertwined with all aspects of academic pursuits, research, and teaching. In embracing ideals of social justice, equality and access, we are striving to build a community that values diversity across race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, dis/ability, gender, sexual orientation, immigration status, geographic location, and religion.
See more information: Office of Educational Opportunity and Diversity, and Office of Compliance and Diversity.
Support for Underrepresented Students
Additional funding may be available to incoming students from underrepresented populations through offerings from the Office of Educational Opportunity and Diversity, including several fellowships and the CUNY Pipeline Program for undergraduate CUNY students.
Learn more about funding opportunities from OEOD »