Fall 2026 PhD Religion

[St.franicssss]

Starting a new thread to try to gain more traction with this title based on feedback! Where is everyone applying? How are applications going? 

[shishockie]

I'm spreading the net quite wide with around 10 applications for doctoral programs in New Testament.

The list: Yale, Duke, Duke Divinity, Princeton Seminary, Emory, Baylor, Loyola Chicago, Boston College, Fordham, and Drew.

[KaiOnTheRun]

I applied to 4: Yale, Brown, Indiana University, and the University of Texas at Dallas. Wish I could have applied to more, but the professors I wanted to work with in other programs were retiring and my interests are quite niche. The worst was Rice University not accepting this cycle, as I was such a good fit for it.

[Westworld]

I’m surprised more people aren’t posting on here but last year I found information like this helpful. PTS just had interviews for religion and society. I’m not sure for any other field.  

[AspiringBard]

Emory PhD interview invitation emails ought to be going out this week. 

[absumkern]

I interviewed with faculty at Emory in my subject area last week, and this week I was invited to the recruitment weekend in February. 

[Academic Alvin]

I am applying to Baylor and SMU for religion this cycle. 

[Theologia Thinker]

First time applying for PhD programs. I applied at Baylor, Wheaton, SMU, Notre Dame, Calvin Seminary, and Duke for both the PhD and ThD.

[ChristineB]

First year applying, just sent in applications to Wheaton and Asbury for New Testament.

[Ekow]

I got invited for the admission recruitment week in February by Emory on December 15 without an initial interview.

[shishockie]

I interviewed with Princeton Seminary on December 10th for New Testament.

[goduck]

First time applicant here, and I applied to Duke, Emory, and PTS for HB/OT, but haven't heard anything back from anywhere.

[St.franicssss]

On 1/2/2026 at 10:48 AM, Ekow said:

I got invited for the admission recruitment week in February by Emory on December 15 without an initial interview.

What area did you apply to?

[Ekow]

16 minutes ago, St.franicssss said:

What area did you apply to?

Interdisciplinary fields in the Africana Religion path and Religion, Ethics and Society path.

What about you?

Edited January 5 by Ekow

[St.franicssss]

27 minutes ago, Ekow said:

Interdisciplinary fields in the Africana Religion path and Religion, Ethics and Society path.

What about you?

I didn't apply to emory, but I know some people who did! I applied to PTS and SMU in the area of religion and culture 

[Ekow]

4 minutes ago, St.franicssss said:

I didn't apply to emory, but I know some people who did! I applied to PTS and SMU in the area of religion and culture 

Oh okay. Heard back from any? And have your friends heard back from Emory?

[St.franicssss]

4 minutes ago, Ekow said:

Oh okay. Heard back from any? And have your friends heard back from Emory?

My friend has not heard anything, and I heard back from PTS but not SMU. I got an interview at PTS the week before Christmas. 

[shishockie]

Just got an email about a Zoom interview with Baylor.

[Theologia Thinker]

5 hours ago, shishockie said:

Just got an email about a Zoom interview with Baylor.

Which area did you apply for, and which professor? I also applied to Baylor and haven't seen anything on my end yet.

[shishockie]

11 hours ago, Theologia Thinker said:

Which area did you apply for, and which professor? I also applied to Baylor and haven't seen anything on my end yet.

I applied for NT.

[Westworld]

Baylor just sent out interviews for Historical studies 

[AspiringBard]

Interview invitations for Notre Dame PhD should be out, likely Boston College too (but I'm not sure about every area there).

[Westworld]

Does anyone know if Harvard or Columbia do/had interviews? I tried looking to see if anyone in the past years mentioned it but the information is inconsistent. If anyone has heard anything, I’d love to know! 

[742.momo]

Has anyone received any interviews from Stanford/Brown/Princeton?

[Ekow]

23 hours ago, Westworld said:

Does anyone know if Harvard or Columbia do/had interviews? I tried looking to see if anyone in the past years mentioned it but the information is inconsistent. If anyone has heard anything, I’d love to know! 

I am in Columbia, yes, they do have interviews mostly (I spoke with a current phd student). I am not sure; they have not sent out the invitation yet. I haven't heard from them either.