There are no absolute criteria for admission, and each case is handled on an individual basis. Although we prefer that applicants have a background in anthropology, this is not mandatory (a number of our best current and former students came to the Department without formal training in anthropology). What we look for in applicants is a combination of demonstrated academic excellence, evidence of a deep commitment to and engagement in issues of a cultural or historical nature, research experience at home or abroad, and a distinctive approach to social inquiry.

We encourage prospective applicants to learn about the research and teaching interests of the faculty and graduate students by going to the People section of the Department's webpages. Feel free to contact faculty you identify as having interests that overlap with your own. In order to reduce spam, we do not list email addresses on our website. To find the email address of a U.Va. faculty member, student, or staff member, go to http://www.virginia.edu/dir.html and type their name in the "Keyword/Name" box, then click on the blue arrow to the right of the box.

If you decide you would like to submit an application to the graduate program in Anthropology, it is easiest to do so on-line by going to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Admissions web page: Applications and Admissions. There you will find all the relevant admissions information and application materials. However, please note that the Department of Anthropology requires three, not two, letters of recommendation and a short writing sample (such as a course paper) in addition to the other materials required of all applications. All application materials must be submitted to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences; the only exception is the writing sample which must be mailed directly to the following address: Dept. of Anthropology, Brooks Hall, University of Virginia, P.O. Box 400120, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4120. Please be sure to include a cover letter stating that the writing sample is a part of your application for admission.

In order to help us make our admissions decisions, it is important that we know as much as possible about what brings you to graduate study in anthropology. In your application statement, please detail what your academic and research goals are, and how you see our graduate program helping you to fulfill those goals. We also ask you to send us a short writing sample. It is equally important that you know as much as possible about us. Please read carefully through all the materials on the web page and feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

All applications will be processed first by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and then forwarded on to the Department of Anthropology, where the admission decisions will be made. The Department requests that all application materials (including GRE scores, three letters of recommendation, short writing sample, transcript, and TOEFL test scores, if necessary) be submitted by December 15 of the year prior to that in which you intend to enter graduate school. Students are admitted for entrance in the Fall semester only.

A graduate admissions committee, with input from the general faculty, makes final decisions regarding admissions and offers of financial aid. Admission decisions are initiated in early March, but may continue into late April. Official notification of the decision regarding your application will come from the Dean of Admissions in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

We look forward to receiving your application!