AAAD Graduate Program in Africana Studies (MA/PhD)

The application deadline for the Sep 2026 intake is Nov 10, 2026, while the tuition fee is 28,844 USD per year.

This is a combined MA/PhD program in Africana Studies that bridges African Studies and African American/Diaspora Studies. It focuses on the historical, cultural, and comparative experiences of people of African descent globally, particularly concerning globalization. Students engage with diverse disciplines and geographies including Africa, North America, South America, and the Caribbean.

Focus areas include Africa, African America (US), Latin America & Caribbean, Literary Studies and Cultural Production, Gender, Sexuality, and Feminism, Public Policy, Politics, and Social Change.

The program requires 30 credit hours for the MA, including core seminars and additional coursework, followed by 12 additional credit hours for the PhD, totaling 42 coursework credits. It involves an MA research project, a comprehensive examination, a dissertation prospectus defense, and a final dissertation defense.

GRE scores are not required. International applicants must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores if English was not the sole language of instruction. Requirements include a Statement of Purpose (max 3 pages) detailing academic interests and research goals, identifying two faculty members; a 15-20 page writing sample; selection of an Area of Interest; three letters of recommendation; and a CV or resume. Fee waivers are available for international applicants.

The programme totals about 42 credit hours. The program is delivered on-campus, full-time, with a typical PhD duration of five years. For international students, tuition is above the median for US programmes. The institution admits about 19% of applicants.

UNC-Chapel Hill’s professional identity is closely tied to public service, research and opportunity across North Carolina. Research supports programs that help local businesses create jobs and wealth, and the University’s work has affected all 100 North Carolina counties. University-affiliated startups and alumni contributions extend this impact into the state’s economy and innovation activity. Students are prepared to become creators, explorers, entrepreneurs and leaders, with an emphasis on critical thought and the courage to guide change.

The University was chartered in 1789 and opened to students four years later. It was the first and only public university in the United States to award degrees in the 18th century. Teaching, research and public service remain central to academic life at the Chapel Hill campus. Student life includes residence halls, campus traditions, athletic events and a steady programme of talks, training and social activities.

International students join a university that works across borders as well as throughout North Carolina. Recent academic collaborations, service projects and cultural events have connected Carolina with Ireland, while Fulbright students and faculty teach, conduct research, study and deepen partnerships across six continents. Students from different perspectives and life experiences are part of the University’s stated educational purpose, making cross-cultural exchange an important part of the Carolina experience.