Graduate Application Instructions
Application Deadlines:
December 15 for admission in the Fall semester, October 15 for admission in the Spring semester. Applicants for spring admission will not be considered for departmental funding until the December 15 applications are under review.
Application Materials:
Applicants to the History Department will submit materials to two separate units at UNM: (1) Either the Office of Admissions or the Office of International Admissions and (2) The History Department. All application materials must be received by each office on or before the dates indicated above.
(1) Office of Admissions or the Office of International Admissions:
U.S. citizens and permanent residents should submit the following materials to the Office of Admissions:
- Application for domestic and permanent resident applicants
- Application fee
- One official transcript from each degree granting institution attended by the applicant
Mail to:
Office of Admissions
Attn: Graduate Admissions
PO Box 4849
Albuquerque, NM 87196-4849
International students should submit the following materials to the Office of International Admissions:
- Application fee
- Acceptable evidence of English language proficiency
- Academic records (with English translation)
- Financial guarantee
Mail to:
Office of Admissions
International Admissions
Student Services Center 140
Albuquerque, NM 87131-2046
(2) The Department of History:
All applicants should submit to the History Department via regular mail:
-
Completed Graduate Application Cover Sheet
-
Unofficial copies of transcripts from each institution attended by the applicant.
- A copy of the application submitted to either the Office of Admissions or the Office of International Admissions (if submitting an online application to one of these units, please print a copy before submitting it).
- Statement of Purpose (1,000 words or less): Describe your aptitude and motivation for graduate study in your area of specialization, including your preparation for this field of study, your academic plans or research interests in your chosen area of study, and your future career goals. Be specific about why the University of New Mexico's graduate program in history would be a good intellectual fit for you. Please indicate the MA or PhD concentrations you plan to pursue if admitted to the program. Applicants with professional, volunteer, travel, or other relevant experience may wish to include discussion of how such experience relates directly to their plans to undertake graduate study in history. If there are weaknesses in the application file, such as poor grades, lack of previous history coursework, or limited foreign language study, applicants may wish to address these factors in their statement of purpose.
- Three letters of recommendation from academic references that address the applicant's past academic performance including analytical abilities, language proficiency, and potential for success in graduate studies. If an applicant requests a letter from a professional reference, the letter should address analytical abilities and professional qualifications relevant to the study of history. Please ensure references include the completed cover form.
- PhD applicants must provide a writing sample that demonstrates their capacity for original historical research and writing. The sample may be a research paper, thesis chapter or other original work.
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required and should be sent to the Testing and Data Management Division of the University of New Mexico (Institutional code 4845). Applicants should use the History code (2799) listed under departmental codes for UNM. Applicants should also send a photocopy of the scores to the History Department.
- Completed, signed Application for Financial Aid. Graduate Assistantships are available to qualified students. Stipends are currently $11,000 to $14,000 plus tuition waiver and medical insurance. For more information on departmental and other funding, please see the Funding page.
All materials submitted to the History Department should be addressed to:
Chair, Department of History
MSC06 3760
1104 Mesa Vista Hall
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131-1181
Additional Information:
Please contact the department with questions about the application process at the above address or by phone at (505) 277-2451, fax: (505) 277-6023, or email history@unm.edu.

