Admissions Page Fulltext Admission to the Ph.D. program in the Study of Religion at Harvard is very competitive: typically only 5-6% of all applicants are admitted. Basic requirements, as a minimum, include a bachelor's degree, or its equivalent, with an undergraduate record of outstanding quality - a previous master's degree is not required, but it is the rare, exceptional student who is admitted without one. Similarly, while a previous major in the field of religion is not required, the applicant's background in this and related subjects is a critical consideration. Application may only be made through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. For detailed requirements and to apply online, please go to: The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University, Religion. Applicants must submit: current GRE scores; TOEFL scores if a non-native English speaker unless the applicant holds a B.A. degree (or equivalent degree) from an English-speaking university; note that for the Ph.D. in Religion, the minimum TOEFL scores are 620 for the paper-based test, or 105 for the Internet-based test. In addition, applicants must submit an academic history of courses, three letters of recommendation, a Statement of Purpose outlining their proposed project, and a writing sample of no more than 20 pages (5000 words). Please note: we do not allow applicants to waive the GRE. Unexpired GRE scores are a required component of every application. The annual application deadline to the Study of Religion is in mid-December. Please see the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences for the exact deadline for your year of application. If you anticipate needing assistance with any portion of the application, please contact the Admissions Office well in advance of the deadline. We do not offer rolling admissions and we do not offer on-line study programs, also known as "distance learning" programs. Please note the research fields listed on our site are the current fields of study. The Committee on the Study of Religion admits students to the doctoral program who have clearly defined intellectual interests. Applicants will be asked to choose the following: ONE Area of Study (religious traditions or geographical complex), and ONE methodology OR approach. Applicants must clearly explain their interdisciplinary interests in their statement of purpose. All doctoral applicants are expected to have foundational language skills needed for primary research (textual or ethnographic) in the area of specialization (Greek, Hebrew, Latin, Sanskrit, Arabic, Chinese, etc.) at the time of application. In addition, admitted students must, in consultation with their advisers, select two languages other than English relevant to their studies. Students will be required to demonstrate competency in these languages prior to sitting for their comprehensive exams. The chosen languages should equip the students to engage the most important commentarial discourses (oral or written) in their areas of scholarship. These two languages represent a minimum requirement; specific subfields or research projects may require others.