Overview

About the program

Our program at the University of Pennsylvania is situated within one of the largest and finest research universities in the country, easily accessible to other research centers along the eastern seaboard.

At the same time, the Department of Religious Studies provides students with a great deal of individual attention from faculty members, and the opportunity to interact with students from diverse subfields.

Programme Structure

Research areas include:

Ancient Mediterranean Religions
Asian Religions
Buddhism
Childhood, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Christianity
Intellectual History
Islam
Judaism
Material and Visual Culture
Modernity, Science, and Secularism
Politics and Publics

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 60 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-08-31 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-12-15 00:00:00

Language

English

TOEFL^® IBT

100

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IELTS

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Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Philadelphia, United States

Disciplines

Theology and Religious Studies View 97 other PhDs in Theology and Religious Studies in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

100

Schedule TOEFL®

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

An academic curriculum vitae summarizing your academic background.
A personal statement of up to 750 words outlining your relevant training for the degree, your field of interest and research plans, and why you are interested in studying at Penn.
A writing sample of academic prose (such as a term paper or standalone excerpt of a larger text) of 15-30 double-spaced pages.
Academic transcript(s) from all previous academic work undertaken. (Screenshots or PDFs of unofficial transcripts may be submitted at the application stage. Official transcripts will be requested if you are offered and accept admission to the program.)
Applicants will also be prompted to provide contact details for 3-5 letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to your academic background and aptitudes.
Applicants must indicate which of our graduate research areas they intend to pursue.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

44792 USD / year

≈ 44792 USD / year
Out-of-State

44792 USD / year

≈ 44792 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

44792 USD / year

≈ 44792 USD / year

Additional Details

Most of our PhD programs are fully funded, meaning the program will pay for your tuition and fees, as well as provide you with a minimum stipend of $39,425.

Living costs

Philadelphia

United States

1313 - 2284 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

Scholarships Information

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Religious Studies.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

About the program

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Additional Details

Living costs

Philadelphia

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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