Application
November 16, 2020 Update
At a moment of ongoing uncertainty about long-term institutional impacts of COVID-19, the HASTS program has decided to suspend Fall 2021 admissions. This one-year hiatus will allow us to prioritize helping current students navigate the ongoing crisis and successfully complete the program.
I’m sure this will come as a bitter disappointment to many. Please know that our faculty, staff and students all share in that disappointment. We believe deeply in the value of a HASTS education and want to offer as many people as possible the opportunity to join our intellectual community.
In making this painful decision, we have been guided by one core value: commitment. HASTS is so vibrant and successful because of our students’ commitment to the program and the program’s commitment to them. We look forward to being able to accept applications again in 2021. The next cohort of entering students should have every confidence that HASTS will steadfastly support them throughout their time in the program.
I thank you for your understanding, and urge you to connect with HASTS online to stay informed of our ongoing events and future plans.
Dr. Graham M. Jones, Director of Graduate Studies
Application Pieces
In order for prospective applicants to plan for the 2022 admissions cycle, here are the materials we normally require in our admissions applications. We anticipate that the application for Septemeber 2022 admission will open in September 2021 and applications will be due December 15, 2021.
- Application form including $75.00 application fee to be paid by credit card. Click here to find out if you are eligible for a fee waiver, which should be applied for by December 1. (You can request a waiver before we make the decision about opening the admissions application.)
- For non-native English speakers, either the IELTS or TOEFL score is required. Have your official scores sent from either IELTS or ETS directly to MIT. Please also be sure to enter your scores and upload a PDF of your score report in section 8 (Test Scores / Experience) of the application. The exam MUST be taken before the application deadline, and you must meet the minimum score requirement, in order for your application to be reviewed. Note that we MUST receive official exam scores from IELTS or ETS (self-reported scores will not suffice), and IELTS and ETS will not send them to us if they are more than 2 years old, so please plan accordingly.
See our FAQ Page for more information about the score requirement, how to submit, and requests for waivers.
- Three letters of recommendation (section 2). Enter the evaluators’ contact information in this section. You then must go to the “Letter Status” link, copy the relevant information, and SEND EMAILS to each evaluator with the information provided on that page. It is in your best interest to send the emails out as soon as possible; do not wait to submit the application before sending the emails. You can later return to this page to see which letters have been submitted.
An ideal recommender is someone who knows you well and can speak to your ability to succeed in a PhD program. It is recommended that at least two letters come from people who are familiar with your academic work and/or future research interests.
If a recommender has difficulties using our admissions system, please ask him/her to send an email to hasts@mit.edu.
- Statement of objectives (section 10) entered either as text in the field provided OR uploaded as a PDF, but not both. Please tell us about the scholarly question(s) you are interested in studying. Why do you wish to pursue these questions? Why is the HASTS program the right place to do so? The statement should be no more than 1350 words long.
- A writing sample (section 11) such as a research paper or a chapter from a thesis. There are no specific parameters in terms of content, but the length should not exceed that of a chapter or article. When selecting a sample, keep in mind that admissions committee members will look at writing samples in order to evaluate applicants’ readiness to embark on graduate study. It must be uploaded in the online application as a PDF. Please do not use the text box.
- Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended (section 7). Upload a PDF of your transcript from each school you attended under the listing for that school. Only applicants who are advanced to round two of our admissions process will be required to provide official, sealed transcripts from each school attended.
- Current resume or curriculum vitae. To submit, upload a PDF in section 8 (Test Scores/Experience) at the end of the page.
- In response to restrictions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, the GRE exam has been removed as part of the HASTS application for the 2022 admissions cycle. (That is, removed from the applications due on Dec. 15, 2021 to start the program in September 2022.) We will announce by July 2022 if we will use GRE scores in the 2023 admissions cycle.
More Information
Click on the following links for an admissions overview, funding and frequently asked questions.
