You need to be familiar with the eligibility criteria for PhD in USA before understanding how to apply for admission. Take a look at the general requirements that must be fulfilled by all students seeking admission to PhD in USA:
- Master’s degree
- 16 years of formal education
- English language proficiency test scores
- Entrance test scores
Each university may have specific requirements related to GPAs and test scores. You will also have to provide a number of documents supporting your application that have been discussed in the upcoming sections. Let us closely understand each admission requirement for PhD in USA:
1. Master’s degree
To apply for a PhD in USA, the standard requirement is completion of a relevant master’s degree equivalent to the U.S. education system. Usually, applicants have a degree in a field related to the specialization they wish to apply for. You are expected to have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and subject-specific GPA of 3.5 or above for admission to your choice of specialization.
2. 16 years of formal education
Not all universities in the US require PhD candidates to complete a master’s degree. 16 years of formal education before applying for a PhD i.e. completion of 10+2 and a 4 years of bachelor’s degree is sufficient.
3. English language proficiency test scores
International students whose native language is not English are required to submit accepted language proficiency test scores such as IELTS or TOEFL for proof of English language proficiency. An IELTS score of 7.0 or TOEFL-iBT score of 100 is expected for admission to top universities.
4. Entrance test scores
The entrance test score requirement for PhD in USA is similar to most other master’s degree programs in the US, especially MS. Universities look for competitive GRE scores while for seeking admission to management related PhD programs, GMAT scores will also be accepted. A GRE score of 310-330 or equivalent GMAT scores are required for admission.