***This program is currently on hiatus and not accepting applications for the coming academic cycle***

Overview

Brandeis University's Master of Arts in Comparative Humanities (MACH) encourages the kind of creative inquiry between and beyond the disciplines of the humanities that takes the mind places it never knew existed. MACH provides a flexible, interdisciplinary curriculum across 30 program areas, ranging from (but not limited to) film to philosophy, history to the fine arts, and literature to women’s and gender studies, with the potential for connections to the natural sciences and other fields.  The versatility of the MACH program allows students to work with an advisor to customize a program that helps them meet their academic and professional goals. Our program offers rigorous humanistic studies in both cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural frameworks, and takes advantage of our dynamic faculty’s expertise across geographies, nationalities, historical periods, and/or languages.

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How to Apply

Application Deadlines

Please note that our program is not accepting applications for this cycle.

• MA: For fall semester: Rolling through May 1. Review of applications begins January 15th.

• Bachelor's/Master's (for current Brandeis students): Brandeis seniors: November 15; Brandeis juniors: May 1

Application Requirements

To apply for the program, you need to submit:

• An online application

• An application fee

• Transcripts from all universities and colleges attended must be uploaded to your application; do not mail official transcripts to our office. For more information, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.

• Two letters of recommendation, submitted electronically (note: only 1 letter of recommendation is required for the BA/MA and for alumni within the past 3 years)

• A curriculum vitae (CV) or resumé

• A statement of purpose indicating your reasons for undertaking graduate study. In addition, please describe your qualifications for the MACH and your objectives in undertaking this program.

• A writing sample, not to exceed 35 pages.

• Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required (the GRE is waived for Brandeis undergraduates applying to the Bachelor's/Master's, as well as for Brandeis students/alumni applying for the Master's). Our GRE institution code is 3092 (please note: this institution code only applies to GRE scores). MyBest™ scores from ETS will not be accepted.

• Additional Requirements for International Applicants: Score report from one of the following English language proficiency exams: TOEFL iBT, TOEFL Revised Paper-delivered Test, TOEFL ITP Plus for China Solution, IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, or Duolingo English Test. You can arrange for the delivery of your TOEFL iBT or Revised Paper-delivered Test score report by providing ETS with our institution code, 3261 (no department code is necessary); please note that we do not accept TOEFL Essentials score reports or MyBest™ scores from ETS. Delivery of your TOEFL ITP Plus scores can be arranged via your Vericant account, delivery of your Duolingo scores can be arranged via your Duolingo account, and delivery of your PTE Academic scores can be arranged via your Pearson account. Further information about this requirement can be found on the International Students page.

For a more comprehensive description of application requirements, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.