International students are vital contributors to the research conducted within our programs in the Humanities. From 2017 to 2021 an average of 36% of incoming Ph.D. students in the Humanities have come from outside of the United States. There are many resources that will help you feel at home as you join us here in Chicago, including:

The Office of International Affairs is dedicated to enhancing a vibrant international community and to fostering cross-cultural experience. They welcome, support and strengthen diversity through advocacy and holistic service. They can assist you and your family with the visa process and offer many more resources, including information about tax responsibilities for international students. For more information, Humanities students can contact Associate Director, Student Services Amima Diagne at diagnea@uchicago.edu.

The English Language Institute is a great resource for incoming international students who wish to strengthen their conversational ability and academic writing skills in English. Students experience Chicago as a classroom in structured activities as they learn with—and from—new international peers in welcoming, engaging settings.

International House hosts over 200 public programs each year and is a wonderful gathering place for both domestic and international students. Their programs include music and cultural performances, outreach programs with Chicago-area international organizations, collaborations with foreign consulates, language exchanges and discussions, and forums led by distinguished guest speakers through the Global Voices Performing Arts and Lecture Program. International House also offers summer housing to students who register for courses in the Summer Quarter.

Housing resources: UChicago Grad hosts housing webinars each year and their website also includes tips for searching for a great place to live.

A word about funding: International applicants are eligible for the same University funding as domestic applicants, and aid decisions are made at the same time as admissions decisions. You would be notified around the time that you are admitted to your program if you received a funding offer, and if so, what it entailed. Aside from potential funding through your program, we recommend that you also consider applying for external fellowships. Additional funding resources include the National Endowment for the Humanities, this list of scholarships collected by the Center for Humanities and the Public Sphere at University of Florida, and this extensive list of first-year graduate student scholarships collected by Fastweb. 

Need assistance with next steps? Feel free to reach out to the Office of the Dean of Students at humdos@uchicago.edu.