Admissions
The PhD program in Theater and Performance Studies is a joint degree program. Students cannot receive a stand-alone PhD in TAPS. Students wishing to begin graduate studies in Autumn 2026 or after should apply to a partnering department and indicate their interest in the TAPS joint program. Students presently enrolled in a PhD program at the University of Chicago who are interested in petitioning to apply to the joint PhD in TAPS should visit Affiliating with TAPS.
Our application is now entirely online, and all materials should be submitted through the online application.
Find key deadlines, required materials, and department-specific details to help plan your application.
All admitted PhD students are guaranteed to have full funding support from the University and external sources, or a combination of the two for the duration of their program.
Applicants submit a single application to the partnering department, and apply to the joint degree in TAPS by checking the box on the Application Information page that says: “Please check here if you are interested in being considered for the Joint Ph.D. Program in Theater and Performance Studies.” After this selection has been made, the application will generate two new tabs, TAPS Supplement and Portfolio, allowing applicants to submit the required additional materials.
- A 400-600 word statement that specifically addresses the student’s interest in the joint PhD program. The committee wants to learn, among other things, why the questions or projects you hope to pursue require the joint degree. This statement should be submitted on the TAPS Supplement page of the online application, and is separate from the Candidate Statement for the partner department. The TAPS admissions committee will have access to both statements.
- At least one (and ideally two) letters of recommendation that speak directly to the student’s experience with theater and/or performance studies. These letters may be among the required letters submitted to the partner department, if those letters are relevant, or you may submit up to two additional letters to satisfy this goal. In either case, the TAPS Supplement page of the online application will ask for the names of two of your recommenders whose letters are most relevant to the TAPS committee. (The TAPS admissions committee will have access to your entire dossier of letters.) Use the Recommendations page of the online application to submit all letters.
- A TAPS-related critical or scholarly writing sample (up to 15 pages) and, optionally, a sample of creative work. If the writing sample submitted to the partnering department meets this requirement, the applicant can choose to submit the same sample in both the Writing Sample page and the TAPS Supplement page. Use the Portfolio tab to upload media files, if any.
The Office of the Dean of Students administers the applications and admissions process for TAPS as well as all other departments in the Arts & Humanities Division. All application materials are to be submitted electronically through the online application system. Please note that we will not accept additional materials sent separately. [For general information about the application, including test requirements and answers to common questions, please visit the Division's resources for prospective students and application instructions. If have additional questions related to admissions, please contact Arts & Humanities Admissions Staff (773-702-5809), or Vicki Walden, Academic Administrator for TAPS.]
Note: You do not need to contact faculty before you apply.
All admitted PhD students are guaranteed to have full funding support from the University and external sources, or a combination of the two for the duration of their program. Applicants do not need to apply separately for funding. See Financial Aid for Prospective Students.