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Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences
PhD Admissions

Ph.D. Program Application Instructions

Application Deadline – January 15

Admission Term – Fall Semester

 

Steps to Complete and Submit Application

  1. Click on the Auburn University Graduate School Application and click on Apply Online to create an account.
  2. Complete biographical data and educational background.
  3. Upload Unofficial Transcripts
    • Please upload an unofficial transcript (or digital copies/images of an official transcript) from each post-secondary institution attended or currently attending. If the transcript is not in English, upload a certified English translation. Uploaded transcripts are sufficient for submission and initial review of the application.
    • Applicants selected for admission will be required to have official transcripts sent directly from each post-secondary institution attended to the AU Graduate School.
  4. Three letters of recommendation
    • You will enter information about the letter writers on the online application. They will be sent e-mail prompts with directions for uploading their letters to the system. It is preferred that at least two letters be written by tenure-track faculty involved in research.
  5. Upload your Statement of Intent (max 3 single-spaced pages)
    • Describe the following:
      • Your academic and scientific goals in applying to the SLHS PhD program. In doing so, you may also highlight:
        • Experiences (e.g., research, work in the discipline) that stimulated your desire to obtain a doctoral degree in speech, language, and hearing sciences.
        • Any aspects of your personal background that are relevant to your goals to achieving a PhD.
        • Your preferred area of specialization (e.g., voice and upper airway, stuttering, neuroscience, aural habilitation) and faculty who best match your research interest.
  6. Upload your CV/Resume
    • Highlight your accomplishments, including relevant research experience, work experience, publications, presentations, awards, leadership roles, special skills and training, and volunteer work.
  7. OPTIONAL UPLOAD
    • You may upload a single example of your prior work which highlights your abilities, such as a thesis, published research article, conference poster presentation, etc. If you choose not to upload additional material, it will not impact your application scoring in a negative manner.
  8. Identify and Rank Faculty with Whom You Would Like to Work:
    • As part of the admissions process, a faculty member commits to serving as your faculty advisor. This advisor plays a key role in guiding and overseeing your doctoral journey. The selection is based on the faculty member’s expertise aligning with your research interests and typically stems from discussions between you and faculty prior to the application process.
    • You will be required to enter the last names of three professors in our department with whom you would like to work, ranked as first, second, and third choice. If you have fewer than three, put xxx in the remaining choice(s).
  9. TOEFL Test Scores
    • (For International Applicants/Non-Native English Speakers Only)
    • To be considered for admission to the PhD program, applicants must submit the following documentation of English language proficiency:
      • Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) with minimum total score of 79 and at least a 16 on each section other than speaking and a minimum of 23 on the speaking section; OR IELTS (Academic) with a minimum Overall Band score of 6.5 AND a minimum Speaking section score of 7. Scores are required by the university for the assistantship employment by which we support our doctoral students. They are higher than the scores required by the Graduate School for general admission. Duolingo scores are not accepted for this purpose.
      • Scores meeting or exceeding these requirements must be officially reported directly by ETS or IELTS to the Auburn University Graduate School (ETS Inst. Code 1005) and must be received by the Graduate School and posted to your online application file no later than the application deadline for the program to which you are applying.
      • In order to achieve delivery by the deadline, you typically must have completed the test and ordered a score report for the Auburn University Graduate School a minimum of 6 weeks prior to the deadline.
      • Please note that if you have earned a degree from a U.S. or other English-speaking institution, it may be possible for this requirement to be waived. Exemptions are made on a case-by-case basis depending on the official governmental language and medium of instruction. If you are pursuing this waiver, you must - prior to the application deadline for the program for which you are applying - request and be granted an exemption from this requirement by the Graduate School's Director of Admissions (contact gradadm@auburn.edu). All official transcripts must be received by the Graduate School and posted by them to your online application file in order for them to consider this waiver request.
  10. Pay $60 Graduate School application fee ($70 for international students)
    • IMPORTANT: We typically cannot see your application information until two business days after you have paid the application fee and submitted the online application.