Graduate Admissions FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions for All Applicants 

Do you require GRE scores?

GRE scores are optional.

I want to submit GRE scores. How do I send them?

All official test scores should be reported directly to the University of Rochester through a request to Educational Testing Service. Please be sure to use the exact same spelling of your name on both your application and test score report. The GRE institutional code for the University of Rochester is 2928.

What is the application fee?

The application fee for the 2024-25 cycle is $60.

Can you waive the application fee?

A: If you would like to request an application fee waiver, please send an email to history.department@rochester.edu with the reason for your request.

What should I include in my statement of purpose?

Your statement of purpose should address three questions. First, tell us why you want a graduate degree in history (but be specific and avoid sweeping philosophical ruminations about the nature of historical knowledge and its essential role in bettering the human condition). Second, explain why you are qualified to study history at the University of Rochester. This should include a discussion of previously completed coursework, theses, research projects, and anything else that explains how you have the necessary background to do advanced work in history. If you plan to study the history of a non-English speaking area of the world, you should also describe your language preparation. And, third, please describe the area of history you want to study and why Rochester is the right place for you to study it. Here, you should explain how and why the University of Rochester fits your needs and goals. You should discuss which faculty members you hope to work with, and who might become your dissertation adviser. You do not necessarily need to describe your intended dissertation project, but you must be able to identify a field of study (e.g. twentieth-century America, early modern Europe, etc.) and your particular interests within that field.

How should I choose a writing sample? How long should it be?

Your writing sample should be roughly 20-35 pages long. In most cases, the writing sample is a paper originally written for one’s coursework that has been revised and improved. It can be part of a larger work, such as a BA or MA thesis. In such cases, however, we recommend that you revise in order to ensure that the section you send us is coherent on its own. The most successful writing samples are on topics broadly related to those the applicant hopes to pursue at Rochester and that engage deeply with primary sources.

 

Frequently Asked Questions for International Applicants

I’m from a country in which English is not the official or primary language. Do I have to submit test scores to demonstrate my English proficiency?

Yes. Please note that the English proficiency test requirement is waived for citizens of the following countries:

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Commonwealth Caribbean Nations
  • Ghana 
  • Ireland
  • Kenya
  • Liberia
  • New Zealand
  • Nigeria
  • Singapore
  • South Africa
  • Uganda
  • United Kingdom
  • Virgin Islands
Which test scores can I submit to demonstrate my English proficiency?

You can submit scores from one of the three below tests. Scores more than two years old at the application deadline are not valid.

  • IELTS
  • TOEFL or TOEFL iBT Home Edition
  • Duolingo

To send in IELTS scores please use the following address:
University of Rochester
Graduate Studies
500 Joseph C. Wilson Blvd
P.O. Box 270401
Rochester, NY 14627

TOEFL scores can be submitted using the code 2928.

Students completing the Duolingo exam can select the University of Rochester as the recipient of the scores.

Is there a minimum required TOEFL/IELTS score?

We do not have a specific minimum score for any English test. We use submitted test scores to gauge an applicant’s English ability.

I’m from a non-English-speaking country, but I used English while earning my postsecondary degree. Do I still have to submit test scores to demonstrate my English proficiency?

We can waive the English language test requirement and review your application without TOEFL/IELTS scores if you meet either of the following criteria:

  1. You earned a postsecondary degree at an institution where English is the language of instruction
  2. You completed at least three years of postsecondary study in the United States or one of the countries listed above

To request a waiver, please send an email to history.department@rochester.edu with a brief justification. Unless you meet criterion 2 above, you should also include with your application some documentation from your post-secondary institution (e.g. a formal letter on letterhead) attesting that its language of instruction is English. Please note that if English is not your first language, taking an English proficiency test and submitting your scores may make your application more competitive, as it would clearly demonstrate your English skills to those reviewing the application.


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If you have additional questions about the graduate program or the application process, please send an email to history.department@rochester.edu.