PhD Admission Information
Application to the HESL program begins with completing an application through the Baylor Graduate School. On the Graduate School application portal, you will upload the following:
- A letter of application stating the applicant’s vocational interests, professional background, goals leading to such vocational aspirations, and rationale for pursuing a Ph.D. in Higher Education Studies & Leadership at Baylor University. In particular, the applicant should have some idea of a research agenda they wish to pursue within higher education.
- GRE scores.
- Transcript showing prior undergraduate and graduate work.
- Three letters of professional reference with at least one of whom is familiar with the applicant's vocational goals and at least one of whom is familiar with the applicant's academic potential (e.g., a former university professor).
- Submission of a writing sample from previous academic work.
- Any other evidentiary documents that the applicant believes might support his/her application.
- After receiving your information, you will be asked to participate in a structured interview with the appropriate Educational Leadership faculty. In addition to other factors, the purpose of the interview is to assess the ability of the candidate to communicate effectively and to match the applicant’s area of interest with faculty expertise and possible apprenticeship placement.
Applications for fall admission are due Feb. 1. However, applicants are strongly encouraged to fill out the initial application (statement of purpose, etc.) immediately and then work toward filling in the rest of the application (test scores, letters of recommendation, etc.). Because GRE scores and letters of recommendation can be “plugged into” the application at any time, applicants do not need to have all parts complete before applying.
International students interested in applying to the Baylor University HESL Ph.D. program, should note two things. First, we do not waive the GRE requirement or the admissions fee for international students. Second, it is crucial to demonstrate a basic familiarity with American higher education since that is the major context of study for this program. Your statement of interest is a valuable opportunity to share any experiences you have had with American higher education.
Please note: a master’s degree is required for admission to the HESL program. If you do not have a master’s degree, we recommend considering the MSEd in Higher Education and Student Affairs.
Ready to apply? You can get started here: