Application Fee (Required)
$65 for U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
$80 for international students.
English Proficiency Test (Required)
This program uses the Graduate School's English Language Proficiency Score Requirements and Minimum Scores for Regular Admission.
Minimum Scores for Regular Admission
TOEFL iBT: 4.5 (no sub score less than 4) (or 79 for students who took the test prior to January 2026)
IELTS: 6.5 (no sub score less than 6)
Duolingo English Test: 120 (no sub score less than 110)
PTE: 59
More information is available at https://graduate.ua.edu/applicants/international-students/.
Letter of Recommendation (3 Required)
Reference Letters – The application must include three letters of professional and academic reference, including one from a current supervisor.
Resume (Required)
Statement of Purpose (Required)
Purpose, Rationale, and Career Statement – Students who apply to the Ph.D. degree must provide a convincing written rationale as to why they wish to pursue this degree, how its focus/purposes are consistent with their career goals, and how they plan to meet the on-campus residency requirement (for on campus Ph.D. students only). Applicants whose interests are deemed inconsistent with this focus/purposes of Ph.D. degree—yet who are otherwise qualified for doctoral study—will be encouraged to apply to the Department’s Ed.D. program.
This purpose statement must address the following: (1) the student’s rationale for applying for the Ph.D.; (2) a statement regarding career and professional goals; and (3) a statement of how the student’s rationale and career goals are consistent with the purpose of the Ph.D. degree as articulated by the Department and Program.
Transcript (Required)
Please upload an unofficial transcript for any institution of higher education at which you have completed 15 or more credit hours. Official transcripts must be received prior to registering for classes. International applicants: please make sure that your transcript includes a grading scheme. All others: please include a grading scheme if your university does not use a letter-based (e.g. A, A-, B) grading scheme. The minimum GPA to be considered for regular admission is a 3.0 on a 4-point scale. Students who do not meet these requirements, but who excel in other areas, may be considered for Admission with Permission to Continue.
Writing Sample (Required)
Applicants are required to include a recent sample (within the last year) of their academic or professional writing.
Additional Requirements (not listed) (Recommended)
A master’s degree, earned prior to initial enrollment, from an accredited institution
Professional Experience – While for the Ed.D. degree, experience in teaching and or leadership are key factors considered in the admission process, these factors are desirable yet less important for the Ph.D. degree.