Department of English

Unfortunately, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences will only allow application to one graduate program per year. Please target your application to your desired program.

Any applicant holding a Bachelor's degree is eligible to apply for the English PhD program. You would earn your MA degree in passing as you complete the requirements for the PhD.

If you initially enter our graduate program through the standalone MA or joint MA program, you will need to reapply in order to be considered for the PhD program.

Though there is no formal word minimum or maximum for the Statement of Purpose, it should be about 1-3 pages.

Please submit critical writing only so that we may best assess your analytical strengths. Your writing sample should not exceed 35 pages; you may submit one longer essay or two shorter essays.

Please contact ETS for more information on accessing, sharing, and checking the status of your test score.

Please contact the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences to be considered for a fee waiver.

We will not have a formal Open House until admissions decisions have been made, but you are welcome to visit campus on your own. You may stop by the front office in Rabb 144, visit faculty office hours, and/or coordinate meetings with faculty members of interest. Visit the Faculty List for faculty office hours and contact information.

Initial decisions are generally sent out in late February or early March. If you do not receive your admissions decision at that time, your application may still be under consideration. You may inquire about the status of your application by emailing the English Department.

Due to issues of fairness, we cannot pre-assess applicants, nor can we provide feedback on application materials prior to the consideration period.

You may get in touch with the English Department by email.

We look forward to reading your application!