Free PhD

Did You Know You Can Get A PhD…
For FREE?!

Regardless of your field of study – be it operations research, engineering, computer science, mathematics, or management science – earning a PhD can be a valuable tool as you prepare to take the next important step in your career.

As with any investment in your future, particularly in the early stages of your career, managing the demands of pursuing an advanced degree – both the time constraints as well as financial ones – can be a significant undertaking. What many don’t know, however, is there are many ways to obtain a PhD at significant savings, if not for free!

Mapping The Pathway To A Career In The Decision And Data Sciences

Below is a chart that includes a list of undergraduate degrees that provide a strong foundation for an advanced degree in the decision and data sciences, as well as a list of those degrees and the potential careers, employers and job titles where they could lead.

How Do I Get Started? 

To find a funded PhD program in one of these fields, start by using search engines with specific keywords such as “funded PhD programs in [your field]” or “PhD scholarships in [your field].” Look for university websites, academic forums, and scholarship databases. Many websites and university-specific pages often list available programs and funding opportunities. Additionally, check professional organizations and academic journals in your field for announcements about funded positions. Networking with professors and current PhD students can also provide valuable insights and leads.

Regardless of what PhD program you are interested in pursuing, remember that all of these programs are competitive, and you must apply to be selected to a program. In addition, the type and level of support or benefits may vary by program and university. For example, a teaching assistant opportunity is typically funded by the academic department, while a research assistant opportunity is funded by a research grant or fellowship. You can also benefit from institutional commitments or donations. In addition, funding may be provided for a specific time range. You could receive full funding for a full five years or just for the first year. 

How Do I Know if An Academic Program Is Right For Me?

Many academic departments will host on-site visits to campus for prospective graduate students. These usually occur in the early fall or late summer as applications are often due in December and January. These provide an excellent opportunity  to speak with graduate students currently in the program, learn from their experiences and see if is a good fit for you and your long term goals. There is no commitment to apply to that program if you participate in a site visit.

Helpful Tip: Search in INFORMS Connect for posts featuring on-site visit opportunities!

I Have So Many Questions! Who Can I Talk To? 

If you aren’t quite ready to commit to an on-site visit, but still have a lot of questions, you can reach out directly to that program. Some individuals to look for could best answer your questions include:

• Director of Graduate Programs
• Graduate Program Coordinator
• Program Director
• Associate Chair of Graduate Studies 

I Am Ready To Apply! What Should I Expect? 

You should start to prepare your application early, in either the summer or fall the year before you are hoping to begin your degree. While every academic program is unique, most typically require:  

• Transcripts 
• Personal Statements 
• 3 Letters of Recommendation from faculty members
• Some schools require GRE 
• TOEFL or other English proficiency test for international students

Some schools do require an earned Master’s degree but others allow you to apply directly as an undergraduate. As was mentioned earlier, these programs are competitive so remember to engage in/include any additional efforts you have undertaken that will enhance your application, such as an undergraduate research project.

When you start to apply, it’s ok to have favorites but remember, don’t put all your eggs into one basket! Send your application to a wide range of universities with PhD programs. Contact faculty at each of these universities whose research you are interested in. This can help you make valuable connections that you can reference in your application as faculty you are interested in working with.

Helpful Tip: Do not be afraid to ask for an application fee waiver!       

Help INFORMS Spread the Word About Free PhD Opportunities!

INFORMS has created a poster to serve as a tool to help spread the word to undergraduate students about not only the value associated with earning a PhD, as well as opportunities to partial and even full funding. You can download the poster below to print out and hang in your department, or join us for the 2024 INFORMS Annual Meeting in Seattle this October and stop by the INFORMS Center for a pre-printed copy to take home with you!

I'm proud to have earned my Ph.D. in Operations Research at North Carolina State University. Having a Ph.D. has been key to unlocking doors to achieve my professional aspirations. In fact, every role I've had utilized to some degree my doctoral focus in Optimization and Simulation modeling, often being the strong factor in my hiring. Beyond the degree and focus areas, the pursuit of Ph.D. taught me the skill of breaking up complex analytical questions into component pieces that can be solved with various methods. While I've observed others without Ph.D. do similar after many years of experience, my Ph.D. institution was an outstanding cross-disciplinary environment in which to get exposure to different domains and develop skills in a way that I have observed is hard to replicate in industry. Deciding to pursue a Ph.D. is not a decision to be taken lightly, but if you are driven by curiosity and expanding the boundaries of what we can use analysis to accomplish then go for it!

I enrolled in a PhD program to push myself to the limit academically, and I also wanted to be a professor. As a first gen college student, I needed a lot of help to make it happen: I was admitted to a summer research program, and from there, I got great mentorship and was able to secure some major fellowships to get in the door. Once I was admitted, I leaned heavily on my advisors, my peer networks and advocates on campus to help me pass qualifiers, write a compelling proposal, design my research, and defend my dissertation. My PhD journey is one of my proudest achievements. It was humbling, and it required me to develop a sustained focus, be flexible, and a sense of discipline that has helped me throughout my life. As a management consultant, it has given me a competitive advantage in my ability to attract clients, and be provocative and effective in the support that I provide.

I was a college freshman when I first heard of Operations Research. I realized right away that I wanted to pursue that as a career, and decided then to pursue a graduate degree to specialize in the field. Once in graduate school, my advisers taught me how to apply mathematical techniques to solve real life problems. Earning a PhD allowed me to join a research group at General Motors (GM) that focuses on technically challenging and high impact problems for the business. Since joining GM, I have successfully invented and implemented several algorithms that resulted in significant savings. GM awarded many of these algorithms trade secret status, which cannot be disclosed, but indicates publishable innovation. I know that I would not be where I am today without my advanced degree.

I pursued a PhD in Industrial and Systems Engineering to acquire the technical skills necessary for improving complex, critical systems, like healthcare. Unexpectedly, my PhD experience also refined a set of skills which have been key to my professional success: proposing and defending innovative ideas, planning and executing multi-year complex projects, mastering clear and concise written and oral communication, balancing multiple objectives, pivoting when things don't go as planned while still meeting deadlines, and translating findings for various audiences. Under the guidance of my advisors, Drs. Maria Mayorga and Julie Ivy, I not only achieved technical expertise but also essential professional skills that propelled me from academia directly into an exciting and fulfilling career.

Additional Career Resources

INFORMS Annual Meeting Career Fair

INFORMS Mentor Match