The New School is pausing The New School for Social Research (NSSR) PhD student admissions for next year, except for clinical psychology, according to anonymous sources and department emails reviewed by the New School Free Press.

The decision comes amid cuts and a radical restructuring of the university as it faces long-term financial difficulties. Administration said a steady drop in enrollment and retention has contributed to the deficit; the school’s operating budget relies on tuition.  

Among 364 PhD students, 300 were enrolled at NSSR in 2024 across its eight programs. They make up 82% of all doctorate students at The New School, though enrollment has declined in the last 10 years. 

NSSR was already accepting PhD applications for the 2026 cycle. The deadline posted online is  Dec. 15. 

The group creating a plan to stabilize the university’s finances suggested combining Eugene ​​Lang College of Liberal Arts with NSSR and the College of Performing Arts (CoPA) with Parsons School of Design.

A Zoom meeting will be held by the executive dean of NSSR on Friday, Nov. 7, at 10 a.m to “discuss changes in NSSR’s PhD admissions for next academic year,” according to an email from NSSR Academic Affairs sent to masters’ students on Nov. 5.

NSSR was created in 1919 and is the founding college of The New School. It has long been a home for persecuted and censored scholars and refugees. Alumni include a Nobel Peace Prize winner, as well as prominent economists, sociologists, psychologists, philosophers, and political scientists. 

This is a developing story.