Fall 2026 PhD Religion

[Westworld]

14 hours ago, solarsolace123 said:

Joining thread pretty late but has anyone heard from Harvard yet?

I  too am waiting on Harvard. I’ve heard nothing and heard sometimes they don’t interview? I’ve looked all over for information and am unsure their process 

[RosaPristinaNomine]

1 hour ago, Westworld said:

I  too am waiting on Harvard. I’ve heard nothing and heard sometimes they don’t interview? I’ve looked all over for information and am unsure their process 

Based on results from previous years, it seems like they normally release results the last week of February. Hopefully that stays consistent and some of us get good news!

[asp1986]

I hope so too - I am waiting on Harvard Princeton and Oxford - no interviews and it doesn't seem anyone on here got any Harvard interviews. Oxford's website says they don't typically hold interviews for Theology.

After rejections from Emory, Yale, Notre Dame and Chicago I'm starting to lose hope but this is my first cycle so let's see  

Good luck y'all!

[blackreligionist102]

4 hours ago, asp1986 said:

I hope so too - I am waiting on Harvard Princeton and Oxford - no interviews and it doesn't seem anyone on here got any Harvard interviews. Oxford's website says they don't typically hold interviews for Theology.

After rejections from Emory, Yale, Notre Dame and Chicago I'm starting to lose hope but this is my first cycle so let's see  

Good luck y'all!

When did you hear back from Chicago? Best of luck with Harvard, Princeton, and Oxford!

[asp1986]

Heard back from Chicago on the 12th

[RosaPristinaNomine]

13 hours ago, asp1986 said:

I hope so too - I am waiting on Harvard Princeton and Oxford - no interviews and it doesn't seem anyone on here got any Harvard interviews. Oxford's website says they don't typically hold interviews for Theology.

After rejections from Emory, Yale, Notre Dame and Chicago I'm starting to lose hope but this is my first cycle so let's see  

Good luck y'all!

I'm at Oxford now and their admissions are usually a bit later than US schools. So no need to panic yet!

[pennyp]

On 2/21/2026 at 9:18 AM, RosaPristinaNomine said:

Based on results from previous years, it seems like they normally release results the last week of February. Hopefully that stays consistent and some of us get good news!

can confirm that Harvard released results Feb 24th last year. acceptances went out the day before rejections. and also can confirm that Harvard 100% DOES NOT interview. 
there should be 8 spots available this year. 
good luck to you all! 

[Beluga13]

On 2/18/2026 at 10:47 PM, TheBeggarofGrace said:

They released some decisions today. 

Anyone have more updates from Toronto (from religious studies/study of religion, not Theology)

[MorganC]

Anyone heard anything on Princeton? 

[asp1986]

19 hours ago, MorganC said:

Anyone heard anything on Princeton? 

Yeah just got my rejection... that one stung

[MorganC]

Same. What are people doing as a backup plan if you don't get in this round? The humanities are tough and the skills we have aren't as transferable as STEM degrees. 

[PurpleMan]

Does anyone know when Chicago decisions are coming out?

[asp1986]

1 hour ago, PurpleMan said:

Does anyone know when Chicago decisions are coming out?

I got a rejection on the 12th but I think it was a special case thing as they referred me to another program.

[asp1986]

1 hour ago, MorganC said:

Same. What are people doing as a backup plan if you don't get in this round? The humanities are tough and the skills we have aren't as transferable as STEM degrees. 

Good question - I may do some research and thought leadership work and line up better references (mine are mostly professional because I've been out of academia for a decade). Though I have STEM training, I am supremely uninterested in utilizing that skillset. What are you thinking of? (need some inspiration)

[Cul13]

2 hours ago, PurpleMan said:

Does anyone know when Chicago decisions are coming out?

Interviewed on Feb. 12. According to them, decisions will be out starting the first week of March.

[Religious_Studies_Hopeful]

On 2/24/2026 at 12:25 AM, pennyp said:

can confirm that Harvard released results Feb 24th last year. acceptances went out the day before rejections. and also can confirm that Harvard 100% DOES NOT interview. 
there should be 8 spots available this year. 
good luck to you all! 

I am getting stir crazy at this point 😮‍💨

[HDS]

I'm a current student at Harvard Divinity School, applying this cycle, and the professors are shockingly gossipy. Here's what's going on from my conversations with professors on the committee and other students: 

1) There are 6 spots this year. This was confirmed by multiple sources.

2) Almost 200 people applied.

3) The 14 areas of study met individually and each put forward 1-2 applicants (ranked) for the full committee. There were 26 people on this shortlist.

4) They allegedly started reviewing shortlist people on Feb 13 and made final decisions on Feb 18.

5) A Jewish Studies professor yesterday told his class that someone from a previous HDS class had been admitted. It is not clear whether this means that acceptances were sent out and rejections have not yet been sent or whether nothing's been sent and this professor was just airing this student's business unofficially. As far as I know, no other current HDS students have heard anything positive or negative.

6) Two years ago, everyone admitted to the Religion PhD was an HDS student. Apparently, recommenders from other schools got mad and said they would stop recommending for Harvard if this didn't change. Since then, about half of the admits have been HDS. This doesn't mean much, since it was just one cycle, but we're expecting 2-3 of the admits to be current or former HDS students.

7) They don't interview, so nobody needs to freak out about not being interviewed.

Anyway, I know this isn't calming anyone's anxiety, but I thought I'd share what we know. I hope everyone gets in somewhere they like this cycle. It's been a brutal year.

[Religious_Studies_Hopeful]

🥲

Edited February 25 by Religious_Studies_Hopeful
my sad cat gif didnt load

[RosaPristinaNomine]

1 hour ago, HDS said:

I'm a current student at Harvard Divinity School, applying this cycle, and the professors are shockingly gossipy. Here's what's going on from my conversations with professors on the committee and other students: 

1) There are 6 spots this year. This was confirmed by multiple sources.

2) Almost 200 people applied.

3) The 14 areas of study met individually and each put forward 1-2 applicants (ranked) for the full committee. There were 26 people on this shortlist.

4) They allegedly started reviewing shortlist people on Feb 13 and made final decisions on Feb 18.

5) A Jewish Studies professor yesterday told his class that someone from a previous HDS class had been admitted. It is not clear whether this means that acceptances were sent out and rejections have not yet been sent or whether nothing's been sent and this professor was just airing this student's business unofficially. As far as I know, no other current HDS students have heard anything positive or negative.

6) Two years ago, everyone admitted to the Religion PhD was an HDS student. Apparently, recommenders from other schools got mad and said they would stop recommending for Harvard if this didn't change. Since then, about half of the admits have been HDS. This doesn't mean much, since it was just one cycle, but we're expecting 2-3 of the admits to be current or former HDS students.

7) They don't interview, so nobody needs to freak out about not being interviewed.

Anyway, I know this isn't calming anyone's anxiety, but I thought I'd share what we know. I hope everyone gets in somewhere they like this cycle. It's been a brutal year.

Thanks, that's helpful. If they decided a week ago, hopefully decisions are released to us this week...

[asp1986]

My Harvard rejection just came through - this one truly stung as it was such a great fit for my research. Hope y'all got better news. 

[Westworld]

Same with mine. Really hoping someone from our little forum got in! 

[RosaPristinaNomine]

17 minutes ago, Westworld said:

Same with mine. Really hoping someone from our little forum got in! 

No luck here either. I'm waiting on two more than I'm done

[asp1986]

On 2/24/2026 at 11:02 PM, asp1986 said:

I got a rejection on the 12th but I think it was a special case thing as they referred me to another program.

Just got my admission to the other program

[Ekow]

9 minutes ago, asp1986 said:

Just got my admission to the other program

Which program is that?

 

[A_Dahg_Named_Fish]

Is anyone still waiting on Notre Dame? This is my first cycle, so the whole process is pretty unfamiliar, but it seems so strange to see others receiving news while it's all crickets on my end.