Studying at Princeton

I came to Princeton because I wanted a liberal arts education that would enable me to pursue multiple interests rigorously and deeply. I concentrated in physics, but the courses that most shaped my intellectual life were in constitutional law, political theory and comparative literature.

Christopher L. Eisgruber

Princeton University President, Class of 1983

Undergraduate Experience

Princeton’s commitment to undergraduate education is profound. As a student, you benefit from the extraordinary resources of a world-class teaching and research university, and our low student-to-faculty ratio means you are able to develop close working relationships with professors who are leaders in their fields.

Our curriculum emphasizes learning, creativity, innovation and collaboration with a program of liberal arts in the humanities, arts, social sciences, natural sciences and engineering. You will explore many disciplines and also develop a deep understanding in one area of concentration.

From admission to commencement, the undergraduate academic experience is overseen by the Office of the Dean of the College, fostering your intellectual engagement and growth every step along the way.

Graduate Student Experience

As a graduate student at Princeton, you will become part of a community of scholars at one of the world’s leading research universities. You will work closely with our distinguished faculty, who routinely push the frontiers of human knowledge with their research and scholarship.

Our focus is on doctoral education, with a select number of master’s degree programs. Ph.D. degrees across the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and engineering emphasize original and independent scholarship. 

Our financial support will allow you to focus on your studies. And when you complete your degree, be assured that Princeton has demonstrated success in launching graduates into careers in academia, government, and the nonprofit and corporate sectors.

Learning to Research and Write

Developing Your Skills

Independent research is a defining feature of a Princeton education. Most students finish their Princeton career doing original research as part of a major capstone project: an undergraduate senior thesis or a graduate dissertation. Here are some of the resources that help students get there.

• Freshman seminars(Link is external)
•  for undergraduates provide the opportunity to work closely with a professor and a small group of students on a topic of special interest.
• Writing seminars(Link is external)
•  prepare undergraduates for the rigors of academic research and writing.
• The Office of Undergraduate Research(Link is external)
•  supports the undergraduate research experience as an integral part of a Princeton education, whether it be taking a research-based class, conducting research in the lab, pursuing independent research beyond campus, or completing your senior thesis.
• The Writing Center(Link is external)
•  offers free one-on-one sessions with experienced writers trained to consult on projects in any discipline. Writing Center fellows can assist undergraduate and graduate students at any stage of the writing process, and the center also holds events like boot camps for senior thesis and dissertation writing.
• The McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning(Link is external)
•  helps undergraduates learn advanced strategies to succeed in their academic work and improve their study skills. Programs for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars help them develop as scholars and teachers. 

Liberal Arts

Princeton is unique in being a great research university with a profound commitment to the liberal arts. We provide a liberal arts education to all undergraduates, broadening their outlooks, and helping form their characters and values. We encourage students to explore ideas and methods across the humanities, arts, natural sciences, engineering and social sciences. When you graduate from Princeton, you will be prepared for whatever path and passions you choose in life.

Engineering Studies

Our programs challenge students to both solve problems and understand which problems are important by emphasizing fundamental principles of engineering with their connections to society.