To accept an offer of admission, students must complete the online response form. Notification by phone, email, or in writing does not constitute official acceptance of an offer.

Acceptance of our offer of admission and/or financial support indicates acceptance of the following terms and conditions:

1. Offers of admission and funding are for matriculation in the 2022-2023 academic year only and may not be deferred, unless otherwise noted.
2. Offers of admission are contingent upon satisfactory completion of the applicant’s undergraduate program and receipt of the bachelor’s degree or equivalent, and if applicable, any master’s degree in progress at the time of application.
3. The deadline to accept or decline any funded offer for Autumn Quarter is midnight U.S. Central Time on April 15. In accordance with the Council of Graduate Schools’ (CGS) “April 15th Resolution,” we will honor this offer until the April 15 deadline, after which point it will be rescinded unless you are informed in writing that the deadline for a decision has been extended. Although you are under no obligation to accept this offer prior to April 15, please let us know as soon as you have made a decision so that we may extend offers to other prospective students if possible. You may consider other offers of financial support; if you choose to accept another offer of financial support, you must first resign from your acceptance of our offer, either before or after April 15.  
4. Depending on the source of funding that supports a student in any given year, there may be tax, employment, visa, or other implications. Students can consult with the Dean of Students to understand these implications.
5. A student who receives an award from a non-University of Chicago source is normally expected to accept it, and to notify the Social Sciences Division Dean of Students Office immediately. The Social Sciences Division reserves the right to make adjustments to your award, including a reduction of your funding offer, if appropriate, if you receive a substantial award from outside the University.
6.  Students with University funding awards are expected to maintain full-time registration in Autumn, Winter, and Spring Quarters. International students should note that full-time registration is necessary to remain in valid student visa status.
7. Unless otherwise noted in the offer letter, funding does not include the cost of the one-time Lifetime Transcript Fee (currently $75).
8. Fellowship packages include health insurance and provide the cost of the individual premiums only (not related costs such as deductibles and co-pays), and only for the University Student Health Insurance Policy (U-SHIP), not other insurance plans. All PhD students are required to enroll in U-SHIP. Coverage is only for the student; you will be responsible for the cost of any additional coverage elected, including dependent coverage.
9. A student receiving a divisional stipend who withdraws from the University after the start of a quarter is expected to return an appropriate portion of that term’s stipend as determined by the Dean of Students Office.
10. Enrollment and funding are contingent upon continued good academic standing. The university will administratively withdraw students who reach their program’s registration limit. Students should consult with their program’s written guidelines for the registration limit and expected timeline for other program milestones. Students who have been admitted to candidacy by the end of their registration limit may still be allowed to defend their dissertation and graduate with their program’s permission.
11. Pedagogical training in the form of mentored teaching experiences is a component of our doctoral programs. Along with coursework, exams, and other academic requirements, doctoral students are required to undertake mentored teaching experiences.
12. Students are expected to adhere to all policies outlined in the University’s student manual, including the student employment policy: https://studentmanual.uchicago.edu/.
13. As a result of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, any financial aid award or combination of awards—fellowships, assistantships, traineeships—in excess of the level of tuition, fees, books, supplies, equipment, and other research-related expenses is considered taxable income and must be reported to the Internal Revenue Service.
14. Students are responsible for fulfilling their personal tax obligations. If your award includes income that is not subject to federal or state income tax withholding at the time you receive it (for example, nonqualified scholarships, stipends, and fellowship payments), students may be required to make quarterly estimated income tax payments to the IRS and State of Illinois.

January 2022