A Bold New Chapter for Our PhD Program
Fall 2026 marks the start of an exciting new era for our PhD program. Read more about how the program will change!
Fall 2026 applications are now open.
Wondering if the GTU is right for you? Join us for our virtual & in-person event GTU Visit Week, October 13-17!
Completion Time
Finish your PhD faster, and step into success sooner.
Fully Funded
Full tuition scholarships + a substantial stipend for the most qualified students.
Program Overview
With a significant emphasis on faculty-student research collaboration in an environment that is both specialized and interdisciplinary, students will be initiated into an intellectual community centered around the discovery and production of new knowledge.
As part of their academic journey, PhD students are required to affiliate with a faculty-led Research Collaborative—student-engaged research groups focused on cutting-edge topics in religious studies and theology—ensuring that their work is closely aligned with their research interests and professional goals.
Application Deadlines
Applications and supporting documents must be submitted by the deadline. All applicants are automatically considered for a full-tuition scholarship and generous living stipend during their four years in the doctoral program.
- Priority deadline: December 1, 2024
- Final deadline: December 15, 2024
Research Collaboratives are faculty-led, student-engaged research groups. Each Research Collaborative focuses on a cutting-edge topic within one or more fields of religious studies and theology. A PhD student will be required to affiliate with a Research Collaborative that aligns with the student’s research interests and professional goals. Learn more about the research collaboratives available to doctoral applicants for Fall 2026 at the GTU.
Each Collaborative:
- Is led by two or more faculty members
- Focuses on a specific research question or problem within one or more fields of study
- Supports PhD advising and professional development
Learn more about the Doctoral Program Application Requirements.
- Personal statement
- Research Proposal
- Writing sample, relevant to the research you would like to pursue
- 1 relevant language requirement completed by the time of enrollment
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Official transcripts
- TOEFL/IELTS Scores
PhD students can expect an increased focus on writing and publishing academic research, as well as teaching.
Requirements:
- GTU Seminar: a topical, interdisciplinary, GTU-wide seminar that encompasses every dimension of the study of religion and theology
- Research Collaborative Seminar: the regular seminar of a Research Collaborative
- Elective Seminars: relevant to one’s scholarly goals
- Article-Writing Workshop: practical initiation into the world of peer-reviewed research and publication
- Dissertation Proposal Workshop: practical design of one’s extended research
- Professional Pathway Workshops: guidelines on how research in religion and theology translates into careers
“No other [institution] has achieved the superb quality of genuinely ecumenical, interreligious, intercultural, and interdisciplinary endeavors that the GTU has successfully embodied at the highest academic level.”
- Dr. Eugene Park, Dana & Dave Dornsife Professor of New Testament
Mentorship from Expert Faculty
GTU faculty are internationally recognized for their groundbreaking research, interdisciplinary approach, and commitment to fostering emerging voices. As a student, you’ll benefit from personalized mentorship that supports your academic, professional, and spiritual growth. We encourage all prospective students to start researching our Core Doctoral Faculty members for those whose interests, publications, and expertise match your own and can potentially serve as a faculty advisor
- Lauren Ellison is a PhD student in Sacred Texts and their Interpretation at the Graduate Theological Union, with a concentration in New Testament. Her research investigates how ancient constructions of orthodoxy and heresy—particularly regarding women—shaped communities, with the goal of fostering more inclusive and humane ways of defining belonging today.
- Rabbi Margie Jacobs, a Reconstructionist rabbi, spiritual coach, and educator, is a PhD student in Theology and Ethics at the Graduate Theological Union. At the GTU, Margie is exploring the intersections of mystical literature, embodiment, and spiritual experience—with a passion for making these profound teachings accessible within and beyond the Jewish community.
- CJ Swenson is a PhD student in Historical and Cultural Studies of Religion at the Graduate Theological Union, with a concentration in New Religious Movements. A recipient of the GTU Presidential Scholarship, CJ brings a deep curiosity about mysticism, subjectivity, and space, shaped by a rich blend of spiritual traditions and academic inquiry.
- Jensen Martin is a PhD student in the History and Practice of Yoga at the GTU’s Center for Dharma Studies. His research into Yogananda Narasimha, a meditative form of the Hindu deity Vishnu, blends historical investigation with personal pilgrimage across South Asia—driven by a desire to deepen Western understanding of Yoga’s philosophical and devotional roots.
"GTU’s genius is in promoting scholarship which comfortably navigates the secular and the sacred, without undermining the latter."
- Dr. May T. Kosba (GTU PhD '22), Postdoctoral Resarch Associate for African Studies at the Princeton Institute for International & Regional Studies
Explore Resources
Applying for Financial Aid
To understand how to apply for financial aid, please visit our Financial Aid pages.
Application Requirements
To find out more about the online application and required documentation, please visit Application Requirements.
Request Information
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