The doctoral program is designed to develop the broad knowledge, analytical powers, technical skills, and creative thinking demanded of leaders in environmental and natural resources disciplines. Applicants should hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a field related to their intended program of study as expressed in the application.

Application Procedures

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree is administered jointly by the Yale School of the Environment and the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

Applications for the Ph.D. program can be obtained from the website of the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at https://gsas.yale.edu/admission. The application deadline for the Ph.D. program is January 2, 2024. Doctoral education involves a close pairing between the student and a faculty adviser. Before applying to the doctoral program, applicants must identify and contact one or two faculty members who would serve as their major adviser if accepted to the program.

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test is optional. Applicants should ask their prospective advisers whether or not they wish to see the scores. For more information on the GRE, visit www.ets.org/gre. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of all applicants whose native language is not English. This requirement is waived only for applicants who, prior to matriculation at Yale, will have received a baccalaureate degree or its international equivalent from a college or university where English is the primary language of instruction. The applicant must have studied in residence at the baccalaureate institution for at least three years to receive a waiver. If you do not qualify for a waiver but have taken the TOEFL within the past two years, you will need to have your TOEFL scores released to the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (code 3987). The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) may be substituted for the TOEFL. For more information and the latest updates on the TOEFL and IELTS, visit www.ets.org/toefl and www.ielts.org.