Fall 2026 Application Cycle

[Theologia Thinker]

We are deep into the application prep window for the 2026 PhD in History cycle. Who is applying and where?

[hm25]

First application season for PhD, I'm firstgen and didn't know things like this existed when I did my Master's! I'm applying at History, WGSS, and Literature programs because I have a pretty interdisciplinary niche and have nooooooooooo idea what my chances are in any options! 

[madamepopidour]

Hi, new to Grad Cafe. This is my first cycle as well. Applying to a few programs for Early Modern religious history. Mainly applying to schools in southeast USA (Duke, William and Mary, etc).

[pibblepalace]

Hi all, also new to gradcafe and this is my first cycle! Applying to programs with modern American history and focuses on disability/HSTM. Manifesting for everyone :)

[Academic Alvin]

New to gradcafe! Applying to Baylor, TCU, and UTDallas on Mexican Religious History. I wonder if the lack of comments in this thread is indicative of applicant size for programs this year. 

[hm25]

4 hours ago, Patchorrick said:

New to gradcafe! Applying to Baylor, TCU, and UTDallas on Mexican Religious History. I wonder if the lack of comments in this thread is indicative of applicant size for programs this year. 

It's definitely not. GradCafe has been MUCH quieter this year but I know from friends and colleagues that adcoms are seeing record numbers across disciplines. I attribute the quiet here to the steady decline of forum use unfortunately, I'm sure people are gathering on social media more now.

Edited December 27, 2025 by hm25

[Theologia Thinker]

First time applying to PhD programs. I learned so much along the way. I have applied to early modern history programs at Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, and Yale. 

[BotanyBoo]

Has anyone heard from Northwestern Universities PhD Degree PROGRAM IN PLANT BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION?

[Theologia Thinker]

Looks Ike some Vanderbilt acceptances have been sent out today. Nothing on my end.

[Poetistorian]

I am an international applicant. I applied to Princeton, Brown, Tufts, and Northwestern in the History department. I also applied to UT Austin in the Asian Studies Department. Got an admission offer from UT Austin and an interview from Brown. Have not heard from anywhere else. Also, does anyone know the usual decision timeline of Tufts?

[athanasius-kircher]

On 1/24/2026 at 10:29 AM, Poetistorian said:

I am an international applicant. I applied to Princeton, Brown, Tufts, and Northwestern in the History department. I also applied to UT Austin in the Asian Studies Department. Got an admission offer from UT Austin and an interview from Brown. Have not heard from anywhere else. Also, does anyone know the usual decision timeline of Tufts?

Congrats! Did you get a formal acceptance or email? 

[Poetistorian]

First the email and then a day later a formal acceptance letter.

[Theologia Thinker]

Some Yale rejections are out.

[athanasius-kircher]

Anyone have a sense on when Harvard tends to come out? Should be soon, right? 

[CLJ]

I applied to Hopkins, Georgetown, Carnegie Mellon, and Duke History programs, and Duke's decisions are out! Any visibility on the timelines for the others? 

[Theologia Thinker]

Northwestern rejections are out.

[Academic Alvin]

Any news gang? I got a waitlist from Baylor History and I haven't heard anything from UTDallas and TCU yet. Are history programs moving slow this round? Or is this pretty normal?