Division of the Social Sciences

About the school

The University of Chicago is a private research university that has been around since 1890 and is located in the heart of the city of Chicago. In the 2022–2023 U.S. News & World Report Best College ranking, the University was ranked number 11. The Division of the Social Sciences was established in 1930. There are 193,885 people in the University of Chicago’s alumni network, all with expertise in different sectors. A number of CEOs and other high-achieving individuals attended the University of Chicago, including Satya Nadella (CEO of Microsoft), Kurt Vonnegut (an American writer), and Larry Ellison (founder of Oracle).

Where is the school located?

The University of Chicago campus is considered to be one of the best in the world surrounded by Chicago’s beautiful botanical parks. The University is located in the Hyde Park neighbourhood, which is where most of the students live. It features a variety of places to eat and shop, so students can get everything they need.

Life at Division of the Social Sciences

Housing options at the University of Chicago include both on-campus and off-campus choices. On-campus housing offers numerous advantages, including fully furnished apartments and easy access to extracurricular activities and amenities. Off-campus housing is situated in close proximity to the neighbourhood market, parks, and retail centres. There are various dining facilities on campus, including a cafeteria, where students can select their meal plan accordingly. Other options for on-campus dining are Bartlett, Cathey, and Baker Dining Commons. All students living in on-campus housing are required to purchase a meal plan. Extracurricular events such as Scav Hunt, Kuviasungnerk/Kangeiko, Summer Breeze, Doc Films, and the Halloween Concert performed by the university’s Symphony Orchestra are organised each year for the benefit of students.

Additional benefits of studying at Division of the Social Sciences

• Diverse Departments and Programme: The Division of the Social Sciences in College offers four social science graduate programmes that immerse students in the full range of social scientific inquiry. Students explore the conceptual frameworks, theories, and methods to understand economic, political, cultural, and psychological factors that impact how people organise themselves into groups.

• Financial Aid: The Division of the Social Sciences offers partial tuition scholarships to over 90% of all master’s applicants. MA applicants can indicate on their application form that they wish to receive financial aid to be considered. Graduate students are also encouraged to apply for external fellowships.

Admissions criteria

The admissions requirements for international graduate students in the University of Chicago are listed below.
- Resume/ CV - Essay - Personal Statement - 3 recommendation letters - Official scores of GRE and GMAT, if required - Proof of proficiency in English: TOEFL iBT (minimum 25 in every section)/IELTS (minimum overall 7.0) is required. - Unofficial transcripts

For more information, visit the College website.

Job placements

• Career-Focused Education: Graduate and postdoctoral students at the University of Chicago have access to a wide range of academic and professional development resources through UChicagoGRAD, including writing and fellowship assistance, internship opportunities, and workshops on public speaking and professional networking.

• Valuable Internship Opportunities: The UChicagoGRAD’s Graduate Global Impact (GGI) internship programme helps graduate students search and apply for internship opportunities on campus and across the globe. The Division of Social Sciences established GradCOMPASS (Co-curricular Opportunities to Maximise Professional Advancement in the Social Sciences) initiative to help graduate students navigate through their career options.

• Extensive Career Readiness Training: Every October, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics holds an informational session for all students seeking jobs. Alongside a placement brochure sent to more than 500 organisations in the U.S. and abroad, the session addresses student questions, posts job openings, and gives interview tips, in preparation for the American Economic Association meetings in January.

• Enriching Career Events: The University of Chicago regularly holds one of the largest job fairs for college students and recent graduates in the Chicago area. Employers can contact students, go through a resume database, and book in-person interviews . Organisations can publicise available positions, organise campus visits for interviewing, and pre-screen candidates.