GRADUATE PROGRAM

 

DEGREES OFFERED

The Department of Cognitive Sciences offers the following Ph.D. degrees:

  • Ph.D. in Psychology
  • Ph.D. in Psychology with a concentration in Cognitive Neuroscience

The Ph.D. degree programs prepare students for research and teaching careers in academia, industry, and government. The emphasis is on modern techniques of experimentation and theory construction. Special attention is given to providing hands-on research experience and equipping students with sophisticated mathematical and computing skills. 

 

DEADLINE AND HOW TO APPLY

All applicants for the PhD programs must apply online using the UCI Online Application for Graduate Admissions. Paper applications are no longer used.

Applications will be accepted beginning September 15. The deadline for submission is December 15. While applications filed and completed before January 15 will be reviewed for admissions and financial support, we strongly encourage you to submit your application by December 15. Admissions decisions are made in March.

Materials that cannot be uploaded to the online application should be sent to the School of Social Sciences, via U.S. Postal Mail, and addressed as follows:

 

Attention: Graduate Admissions (Cognitive Sciences)
Graduate Affairs Office
School of Social Sciences
University of California, Irvine
3151 Social Science Plaza A
Irvine, CA 92697-5100

 

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ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

The following items are required as part of the graduate application:

Application Fee - $80 USD for US Citizens and Permanent Residents; $100 USD for international applicants.
NOTE: Application fee waivers are available to qualifying US citizens and permanent residents: www.grad.uci.edu/prospective/app_fee.htm. Fee waivers are not available to international applicants.

GRE scores

TOEFL or IELTS

Three (3) Letters of Recommendation

Transcripts

Writing samples and CVs are not required.

For further information about these requirements, please click here.

 

In addition to meeting the above requirements, we strongly encourage applicants to have the following:

A background in mathematics equivalent to at least one year of calculu

Advanced coursework in some of the following fields: psychology, computer science, mathematics, physical sciences, biology, logic, and/or linguistics

If you have further questions, please visit our FAQ page or contact the Graduate Admissions Office at socsci.gradinfo@uci.edu or (949) 824-7352.

 

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GRE AND TOEFL/IELTS

Graduate Record Exam (GRE)

The GRE General Test is required of all applicants for PhD admission. We cannot waive this requirement even when the applicant has completed an advanced degree at another college or university in the United States.

We cannot accept GMAT, LSAT, or MCAT scores in place of the GREs. We do not require that applicants file scores from any of the various GRE (subject) tests available.

Test scores for Fall 2012 admission must be dated no earlier than February 2007.

 

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

The internet-based TOEFL(-ibT) is required of all international applicants except citizens of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. The test is also required of US permanent residents who did not attend four full years and graduate high school in the United States.

A minimum overall score of 80/120 is required for admission, while a minimum sub-score of 26/30 on the Speaking component of the test is needed to qualify for financial support consideration. We cannot waive either of these minimum score requirements under any circumstances. Neither can we waive the requirement for current TOEFL or IELTS scores.

We can accept current IELTS (International English Language Testing System) scores as an alternative to the TOEFL-ibT, in which case a minimum 7/10 (overall) is required for admission, and 8/10 (Speaking component) for financial support consideration.

TOEFL-ibt or IELTS test scores for Fall 2012 admission must be dated no earlier than February 2010.

 

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COSTS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Tuition and Fees

The University of California's current fee and tuition rates are
published here: www.reg.uci.edu/fees/

United States citizens and permanent residents who relocate to
California from other states may apply for legal residency here,
following one year of continuous residence. The required
"procedures of intent" are outlined here: www.reg.uci.edu/residency/classification.html

 

Financial Support

All applications for PhD admission are considered also for financial
support, and all admission offers to Cognitive Sciences currently
include five years of funding. Applicants are not required to apply
separately for admission and financial support.

Our competitive, merit-based funding packages include annual
registration fees and comprehensive student health insurance; a
combination of TA or Graduate Student Researcher (GSR)
appointment with individual members of faculty, and fellowship
quarters in lieu of employment. Summer support and, in limited
amounts, graduate student research and travel funding are also
available.

All offers to non-residents of California, including non-US citizen
international students, include nonresident tuition in the first year
or two of study.

Financial assistance based on need (loans, primarily) is available
to qualifying student applicants, through UCI Financial Aid &
Scholarships: www.ofas.uci.edu/content/

All students applying for need-based financial aid are required to
file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): www.fafsa.ed.gov/

International students who are not US citizens or permanent residents
are not eligible to apply for federal need-based financial aid aid.

Further information on assistantships and funding resources can be found here.

 

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