Admissions

Join a Community of Scholars Dedicated to the Overlooked

At Sagacity, we seek students who have spent their lives noticing what others dismiss. If you've ever wondered why people say "I'm good" when offered more coffee, or what compels someone to wave back at a stranger who wasn't waving at them, you may have found your academic home.

Programs of Study

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

4-7 years

Our doctoral program prepares scholars for careers in research, academia, and any field that values asking questions others haven't thought to ask. Students work closely with faculty advisors to develop original research on overlooked phenomena.

Requirements

Master's degree or equivalent (exceptions made for exceptional curiosity)
Writing sample demonstrating interest in non-traditional inquiry
Three letters of recommendation (at least one from someone bewildered by your interests)
Statement of purpose explaining a question you've always wanted to study but assumed no one would let you

Master of Arts (M.A.)

2 years

The M.A. program provides foundational training in overlooked phenomena methodology while allowing students to explore multiple areas before committing to a specialty. Many graduates continue to the Ph.D.; others find the degree opens unexpected doors.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in any field
Personal statement describing an everyday phenomenon you find inexplicably fascinating
Two letters of recommendation
Brief response to our annual prompt (2025: 'Why do people knock on watermelons at the grocery store?')

Postdoctoral Fellowships

1-3 years

We offer competitive fellowships for scholars who have completed doctoral work elsewhere but wish to pursue research that their home institutions consider 'unconventional.' Fellows receive full funding, office space, and freedom from judgment.

Requirements

Doctoral degree from an accredited institution
Research proposal for overlooked phenomena investigation
Evidence of prior work that was 'too strange' for conventional venues
Letter explaining why your current institution won't support your proposed research

Admission Requirements

Beyond the program-specific requirements listed above, all applicants should demonstrate:

Demonstrated Curiosity

Evidence that you have noticed phenomena others dismiss. This may include informal research, obsessive observation notes, or simply a compelling explanation of why certain questions won't leave you alone.

Tolerance for Ambiguity

Our research rarely yields clean answers. Applicants should be comfortable with complexity, nuance, and the possibility that their most interesting findings will be met with "why does this matter?"

Academic Rigor

We study unconventional questions with conventional methods. Strong writing, critical thinking, and familiarity with research methodology are essential regardless of your field of origin.

Collaborative Spirit

Many overlooked phenomena exist at disciplinary boundaries. The ability to work with scholars from radically different backgrounds is not optional—it's how we operate.

Application Deadlines

Program Application Deadline Decision Notification

Ph.D. Program January 15 April 1

M.A. Program February 1 April 15

Postdoctoral Fellowships Rolling 6-8 weeks after submission

Summer Research Intensive March 15 May 1

* All deadlines are for Fall enrollment. We do not offer Spring admission, as our research indicates that academic years beginning in January feel "off" to most participants.

Financial Aid & Funding

The University of Sagacity is committed to making overlooked phenomena research accessible to scholars regardless of financial background.

Ph.D. Funding

All admitted doctoral students receive full tuition remission plus a stipend sufficient for what we call "modest existence with occasional restaurant meals." Funding is guaranteed for five years, with extensions available for students whose dissertations prove more complex than anticipated (as they often do).

M.A. Scholarships

Merit-based scholarships covering 25-75% of tuition are available for M.A. students. Additional funding is available through research assistantships, which provide valuable experience observing phenomena in controlled and uncontrolled settings.

The Marchetti Fellowship

Named for our founder, this competitive fellowship provides full funding plus research expenses for one incoming student each year whose application demonstrates "exceptional capacity for noticing what others do not notice."

Emergency Funding

We maintain a discretionary fund for students facing unexpected financial hardship. We do not ask why you need it. We understand that life, like most overlooked phenomena, resists prediction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Request Information

Interested in learning more? Complete the form below and a member of our admissions team will respond within 3-7 business days (we are studying the optimal response time and appreciate your patience as part of this ongoing research).

Note: This form is for demonstration purposes. In a production environment, your response would become part of our longitudinal study on inquiry patterns among prospective students.