Our application portal will open on Monday, September 16. All application materials are due by 11:59pm ET on January 10, 2025.
For inquiries related to admissions, please write only to [email protected]. This will help ensure the quickest response possible.
Please note: Our student body varies widely in age, experience, background, nationality, and citizenship status. We accept applications regardless of citizenship status, and welcome applicants from outside the field of the history of art.
Please note: GRE scores are not required nor will they be considered. If English is not your first language or the official language of your undergraduate studies, TOEFL/IELTS scores are required.
Please note: Notification of admission is normally made in March and April, on a rolling basis.
About the Online Application
The application to the Williams Graduate Program consists of the main online application form, a statement of intellectual and professional purpose, unofficial digital transcripts, a writing sample, and letters of recommendation.
About the writing sample: The recommended length is 10 to 20 pages. To facilitate uploading and processing of your materials, please limit any illustrations or appendices to those essential for comprehending your writing sample.
About letters of recommendation: In the "Recommendations" section of the online application, you will be invited to supply the names and contact information of at least three referees who will be asked to send their letters of support through our secure online system.
Please DO NOT send or upload unrequested supplementary materials (e.g., resumes/CVs, exhibition catalogues, books, etc.) as these kinds of materials will not become part of the applicant file and will not be returned.
Please DO NOT send any application materials or documents to the Williams College Admissions office, which handles undergraduate applications only.
Please feel free to email us with any questions about the application process; inquiries about the application should be sent only to [email protected].
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition for 2024-2025 is set at $68,240. A substantial number of scholarships with full tuition waiver are available to successful applicants. Awards are made on the basis of both need and merit and may include a living stipend. Paid internship opportunities are available to each student over the four semester span of the program.
Instructions for Financial Aid applications will be provided upon admission. For details on health insurance and other resources, see the Williams College website.
Class Size and Profile
In recent years matriculated classes have averaged a dozen students. The student body varies widely in age, experience, background, nationality, and citizenship status. Some entering students have just completed the bachelor’s degree, while others may have spent several years in the workplace, including many in museum jobs. The program welcomes applicants from outside the field of the history of art and offers financial aid on a need and merit basis. International students are equally eligible for these grants. A substantial number of students in the program receive a full tuition waiver plus a stipend for living expenses. All students have the opportunity of a paid internship at the Clark Art Institute, Williams College Museum of Art, or other partner institutions. Additional support for research travel and conferences is available to all students.
Statement of Non-Discrimination
Williams College is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive community in which members of all backgrounds can live, learn, and thrive. In compliance with state and federal law, Williams does not discriminate in admission, employment, or administration of its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ancestry, or military service.