The personal statement should be approximately 800–1,200 words and should clearly indicate whether you are applying to the Ethnomusicology Institute or the Folklore Institute. Briefly describe your background and reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in the Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology at Indiana University. For example, you might describe what you hope to learn and do while here, and discuss your proposed research area and/or project. Briefly explain how your proposed plan of study fits with your future professional and/or academic goals.

If you will not hold an M.A. degree when entering our Ph.D. program you will be required to complete one along the way. This will include completing either an M.A. project, thesis, or exam which it normally done in the fourth semester of coursework.

Once complete, upload your personal statement as a PDF.

Submit a sample of your writing, such as a term paper, thesis chapter, published article, or other piece of written work that demonstrates your ability to communicate well in non-fiction prose.

Upload your writing sample as a PDF.

Upload your CV or resume as a PDF.

When possible, request letters from faculty members or other professionals who are familiar with your academic abilities and your ability to do scholarly work.

Please allow plenty of time for your letters to arrive by the December 1 deadline. We recommend notifying them ahead of time that you will be submitting an admissions application.

Indiana University students, from any campus, do not need to submit Indiana University transcripts.

Students should have all transcripts from colleges attended sent directly by the schools to the department at 800 E 3rd St., Bloomington, IN 47405. If you are sending official electronic transcripts please use easuarez@iu.edu as the recipient email.

International students should mail officially sealed, unopened transcripts, including English translations in a packet to the Office of International Services.

All applicants to the Ph.D. program must have a Bachelor’s degree (international students must have the U.S. equivalent of a 4-year Bachelor’s degree) preferably in a field related to Folklore (such as American Studies, Anthropology, English, History, etc.), or Ethnomusicology (such as Anthropology, Global or International Studies, Music, etc.). An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better is required, and the degree must be completed by the time of matriculation into the graduate program.

If you will not hold an M.A. degree when entering our Ph.D. program you will be required to complete one along the way. This will include completing either an M.A. project, thesis, or exam which it normally done in the fourth semester of coursework.

GRE scores are not required.

These scores are required only for international applicants whose native language is not English.

Send TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores electronically. Only official scores directly from the testing facility will be accepted.

Due to the time it may take for scores to be transmitted, you should plan on taking the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo at least 2 months prior to the application deadline of December 1st.

TOEFL: A minimum score of 79 is required for admission.
IELTS: A minimum score of 6.5 is required for admission.
Duolingo: A minimum score of 100 is required for admission.

Please note: Only TOEFL scores can be used if you are planning on using English as your foreign language requirement for your degree.