Frequently asked questions: PhD in Information

The PhD in Information at the University of Michigan School of Information is designed for intellectually curious people who want to generate new knowledge about information, technology and society.

The program is a strong fit for students who want to become independent researchers and scholars rather than primarily pursue professional or industry training. UMSI PhD students develop important research questions, build expertise in research methods and create new knowledge about the relationships among people, information and technology.

The program may be a good fit if you:

• Want a research-focused career, whether in academia, industry research, public policy, nonprofits or another setting where creating and sharing new knowledge is central. UMSI PhD graduates pursue tenure-track faculty positions, postdoctoral research fellowships and research-oriented roles in industry and other sectors. 
• Want individualized mentorship from faculty and opportunities to learn the research process through direct experience and collaboration.
• Value interdisciplinary work. UMSI's PhD program draws on methods and perspectives from fields including computing, information science, design, policy, education and the humanities. 
• Want to begin research as soon as possible. UMSI describes doctoral students as colleagues from the start, with students engaging in research projects from their first day in the program. 

See just some of the questions and topics that our PhD students work on.

No, you are not required to have a background in computer science, programming or engineering.

Information science is a broad, interdisciplinary field, and UMSI PhD students come from a wide range of academic backgrounds, including computer science and engineering, the social sciences, the humanities and other fields.

You are not expected to enter the program knowing everything you will need to conduct your research. You will have opportunities to develop new knowledge and skills through coursework, research, mentorship and learning opportunities across U-M.

UMSI’s PhD in Information typically takes five to six years to complete, although time to degree varies by student and research area.

The program requires a minimum of three years of full-time study. The maximum time to complete the degree is seven years from first enrollment unless a student petitions the Rackham Graduate School for an extension.

The UMSI PhD in Information is a full-time, residential program based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Students are expected to be on campus and actively participate in research, coursework, teaching and the intellectual life of the school. UMSI does not offer an online, distance-learning or part-time PhD program.

You can identify faculty who are eligible to serve as PhD advisors through the UMSI faculty directory.

Use the filters in the left sidebar and select “yes” under potential PhD faculty advisor. You can also select one or more research areas to identify faculty whose scholarship aligns with your interests.

A faculty member designated as a “potential PhD faculty advisor” meets the qualifications and requirements to admit and advise doctoral students in the UMSI PhD program. This designation means they are eligible to advise PhD students; it does not indicate whether they are currently accepting new doctoral students.

UMSI does not maintain a centralized list of faculty who are actively recruiting students during a particular admissions cycle. Information about a faculty member’s current research and recruiting interests may be available on their faculty profile or personal website. You may also contact faculty directly if you have questions about their work.

A good advisor fit generally involves meaningful alignment between your research interests and a faculty member’s current scholarship, expertise and research questions.

Start by exploring UMSI’s research areas. When you select a research area, you can view faculty whose work is associated with that area. Faculty profiles indicate whether a faculty member is eligible to serve as a potential PhD advisor and often link to personal websites.

Faculty websites may include information about current research projects, recent and forthcoming publications, conference presentations and research groups. Reviewing this work can help you understand how a faculty member’s scholarship relates to your interests and the questions you hope to explore.

You may also identify potential advisors by considering:

• Authors of research papers that have influenced or excited you
• Researchers whose presentations you have attended
• Scholars working on questions related to your interests
• Collaborators of your current professors, mentors or research supervisors

As you explore potential advisors, consider whose scholarship resonates with your interests and what research questions you would be excited to investigate with their mentorship.

(Please note that a “potential PhD faculty advisor” designation indicates that a faculty member is authorized to advise doctoral students. It does not necessarily mean that the faculty member is accepting new students during the current admissions cycle.)

It is not necessary to contact prospective PhD advisors before you apply.

As part of the application, you will identify faculty members whose research interests align with your own. During the admissions review process, UMSI may also identify and tag additional faculty whose research aligns with your application, even if you did not list them. This process helps ensure that relevant faculty members have access to and can review your application.

You are welcome to contact faculty before applying if you have questions about their research or would like to introduce yourself. However, faculty members have busy schedules and may be on leave, sabbatical or managing significant teaching and research responsibilities. If a faculty member does not respond, that does not mean you should not apply to the program.

Graduates of UMSI’s PhD program achieve success in both academic and industry positions. Our graduates go on to become professors, researchers, engineers, archivists and more. You can view our career outcomes here.

As a UMSI PhD student, you have access to extensive career and professional development support through UMSI and the broader U-M community. This includes guidance from your faculty advisor, the UMSI Career Development Office, Rackham Graduate School and the University Career Center.

You have access to individualized career coaching, workshops, networking opportunities, alumni connections and other resources that support a wide range of career paths in academia, industry, government and the nonprofit sector.

In addition, the UMSI Doctoral Student Success Series offers regular workshops and panel discussions featuring faculty, alumni and other professionals on topics including academic and industry job searches, internships, grant writing, professional networking and career planning.

Ann Arbor is a vibrant college town that consistently ranks high on lists of the best places to live in the U.S. You will find plenty of restaurants, coffee shops, theaters, music venues, bookstores, parks and museums. Our location on the Huron River allows for kayaking and tubing in the summer, and ice skating in the winter. While many students have cars, which allows for easy access to Detroit and day trips across the beautiful state of Michigan, much of Ann Arbor is walkable. Buses run throughout the city and to the Detroit Metro Airport, and we are located on the Amtrak line. Learn more about housing, resources, entertainment and life in Ann Arbor. 

Full funding for UMSI PhD students includes:

• 100% of tuition, registration and mandatory fees
• A stipend, currently $14,569 per term/every four months
• Health care coverage for yourself and eligible dependents

We provide a 12-month funding guarantee, ensuring that you receive support throughout the academic year and summer months. You may also choose to pursue alternative funding opportunities, such as internships or fellowships, if those opportunities align with your academic and professional goals. Additional funding opportunities are available during the fall, winter and summer terms, typically by application or nomination.

Ann Arbor’s cost of living is somewhat higher than the national average, but most PhD students are able to live comfortably on their funding, depending on their individual circumstances, lifestyle and financial needs. Some students choose to share housing with roommates, use Ann Arbor’s public transportation system or live without a car to reduce expenses. Other students find that their stipend meets their needs without significant budgeting.

PhD students are funded through a combination of fellowships, graduate student research assistantships (GSRAs) and graduate student instructor positions (GSIs). Research and instructional appointments typically involve an expected workload of 20 hours per week.

As part of the PhD program requirements, students must serve as a graduate student instructor for at least two academic terms. 

UMSI faculty review PhD applications holistically, considering a range of factors. Individual faculty members may have different priorities based on their research areas and the students they hope to mentor. However, research readiness is an important consideration in the admissions process.

Research readiness refers to your preparation and potential to begin developing as a researcher from the start of the PhD program. You are not expected to know everything about your field or research interests before you apply. You are applying to the program to learn and grow as a scholar.

Research readiness may be demonstrated through direct research experience, academic coursework, independent scholarship, professional experience, reading and engaging with academic research or other experiences that have helped you understand how research works.

When reviewing an application, faculty may consider questions such as: 

• Do you understand how researchers approach asking questions, designing studies, conducting research, analyzing data and writing up conclusions? 
• Do you have a sense of what makes a good research question, the importance of a literature review and how to work collaboratively with others? 
• Are you ready and excited to start creating new knowledge that will contribute positively to the field of Information?

A PhD is not primarily about taking classes or learning the history of a topic, although both are important parts of doctoral education. A PhD is about creating new knowledge in order to change how we understand a specific topic, an academic field and even the broader world.

Our favorite question! View the PhD application requirements and deadlines here.

The UMSI PhD program application closes on December 1, after which the application review begins. This process takes a little over two months. Applicants can expect to receive the outcome of the application by around mid-February. However, there is always a chance of a delay, so feel free to reach out to [email protected] if it’s past that mid-February mark and you still haven’t heard anything.

There is an application fee of $75 for U.S. citizens and permanent residents, or $90 for international applicants, which can be paid via credit card through your online application.

To request an application fee waiver, please submit the UMSI Doctoral Program Fee Waiver Request Form.

The PhD admissions team will review your request and notify you of the outcome within five to seven business days. Fee waiver requests must be submitted more than 72 hours before the application deadline. Requests submitted within 72 hours of the deadline cannot be considered. For questions about application fee waivers, contact the admissions team at [email protected].

Learn more about fee waivers.

Yes, many of our doctoral students enter the PhD program directly after completing their undergraduate degree. At minimum, applicants must hold a U.S. bachelor's degree or the international equivalent.

There is no general expectation or requirement that applicants complete a master's degree before applying. However, in some countries or educational systems, an undergraduate degree alone may not be considered equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree. In those cases, additional postsecondary study, such as a master's degree, may be necessary to establish degree equivalency and meet the minimum admission requirement.

No. Our program begins in the fall term for all doctoral students.

Students who are currently enrolled in another graduate program, including a UMSI master’s program, are welcome to apply to UMSI’s PhD in Information. All applicants must complete the standard PhD application process.

UMSI and the Rackham Graduate School do not formally accept transfer credits toward the PhD program. Courses and credits counted toward doctoral degree requirements must be completed while enrolled as a doctoral student in the UMSI PhD program.

No. UMSI does not have a minimum GPA requirement for PhD applicants.

Faculty review each application holistically. No single aspect of an application automatically prevents an applicant from receiving a full review.

No, we do not require the GRE and do not review GRE scores if they are submitted. 

You are required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores unless you meet one of the following criteria:

• You are a native English speaker.
• You completed your entire undergraduate or graduate degree at an institution where all classes are taught in English.
• You are a current U-M student.

U.S. citizenship or permanent residency does not automatically exempt you from this requirement. View application requirements.

For questions about the PhD program and the application process, please email [email protected]. We are happy to hear from you and help you decide whether the PhD program is a good fit for your goals and interests.