Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

We encourage you to explore one of the department’s greatest assets through our faculty pages.

In conjunction with a primary advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), each student builds a cogent curriculum that bridges cultures in courses that span 30 program areas. Visit the department's curriculum page for required course descriptions and degree requirements.

Application Deadlines

• MA: For fall semester (starts in late August): Rolling through May 1. Review of applications begins January 15th.

• BA/MACH (for current Brandeis students): Brandeis seniors: November 15; Brandeis juniors: May 1

Admission Requirements

To apply for the program, you need to submit:

• An online application;

• An application fee (waived for the BA/MA and for alumni);

• 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).

• International applicants: Additional requirements for international applicants (non-U.S. citizens or non-permanent residents), minimum TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores, and important information regarding visas. If you are submitting TOEFL scores, please note that our TOEFL institution code is 3261.

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

Brandeis University offers a generous array of tuition scholarships, fellowships, and loan opportunities.; for more information please visit our Financial Aid page.

With its strong emphasis on research and communication skills, the Comparative Humanities graduate program provides opportunities for professional development, enhanced marketability in numerous career areas, and preparation for doctoral studies in a wide range of fields. Graduates may find themselves in various settings — from museums, libraries, and classrooms, to PhD programs and Brandeis’ Master’s program in Teaching. The master’s degree can be used as a stepping stone to a PhD program in a wide variety of humanities-related fields. Teachers in K-12 in all subjects who pursue a Masters in Comparative Humanities may gain better standing in their schools and greatly enhances their teaching of art, social studies and social sciences, languages, and much more.

The MACH program provides both guidance and flexibility for:

• Professional or pre-professional students seeking advanced training in language, literature, and culture studies;

• Prospective doctoral candidates seeking rigorous preparation in textual and cultural studies;

• Students who want to explore several fields before identifying a definitive career path;

• Current teachers aiming to return to the classroom and non-teachers looking to teach at the secondary or community college levels;

• Individuals with knowledge of one discipline wanting to enhance their understanding of another.

Students can work closely with our Career Services office for an array of resources, including CV/resumé help, job search, and networking.