FAQs
Students are typically awarded the Research Fellowship, which includes full tuition and registration and services fee waivers for required coursework, graduate student health and dental insurance, and a competitive stipend.
Upon completing coursework, students are responsible for maintaining their matriculation in the program by paying for one credit per semester until their dissertation is successfully defended.
For more information, visit the PhD Program Scholarship & Financial Aid page.
NYU Silver PhD students are competitively selected from a pool of highly qualified applicants whose portfolios contain documented evidence of progress or potential for progress in key areas of social work research. The admissions committee favors candidates who have a strong academic background, clearly defined statement of research interest, experience in participating in a research study, and post-MSW practice experience.
Students are strongly discouraged from maintaining full-time employment. The Silver School’s coursework and mentored research practicum require a full-time commitment, and the stipend should assist with many living expenses.
Silver School PhD students are eligible to teach in the School’s BS and MSW programs upon achieving candidacy status in the program, which requires that coursework be completed, the qualifying exam passed, and a proposal successfully defended. It is preferable that students have performed strongly in the course Teaching in Social Work (PHDSW-GS.3033). Students wishing to teach must also obtain certification from their faculty mentor/dissertation chair that potential teaching assignments will not interfere with academic progress.
No, the Silver School does not offer a joint degree program. Applicants to the PhD program must have obtained a master’s degree in social work (MSW) or a related field prior to enrollment.
A Master’s degree (MSW is preferred) with a graduate grade point average of 3.0 or higher, based on a 4-point scale.
No, students may not transfer from other doctoral programs. The Silver School PhD program is unique and may therefore differ greatly from other PhD programs in social work, making a transition unfeasible.
All PhD courses are held in-person at NYU’s main Washington Square Park campus. Class meeting times vary each semester but are typically offered during the day and in the evenings throughout the week.
No, PhD courses are not currently open to non-matriculated students.
No, the PhD program does not provide on-campus housing. Students can learn about securing off-campus housing in NYC and what is needed, as well as searchable listings of current apartments and a roommate finder function at the NYU Off Campus Housing website.
Yes. You can contact the PhD Program Student Ambassadors, who are enthusiastic, well-informed, student representatives working together with the PhD Program Office to promote opportunities available to prospective students within the program and across the University.