english phd writing sample

Ph.D. Program

Click  here for the Handbook for Graduate Study in English .  This document includes departmental policies and procedures concerned with graduate study.

The Berkeley English Department offers a wide-ranging Ph.D. program, engaging in all historical periods of British and American literature, Anglophone literature, and critical and cultural theory. The program aims to assure that students gain a broad knowledge of literature in English as well as the highly-developed skills in scholarship and criticism necessary to do solid and innovative work in their chosen specialized fields.

Please note that the department does not offer a Master’s Degree program or a degree program in Creative Writing. Students can, however, petition for an M.A. in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing upon completion of the Ph.D. course requirements (one of which must be a graduate writing workshop) and submission of a body of creative work.

Students interested in combining a Ph.D. in English with studies in another discipline may pursue Designated Emphases or Concurrent Degrees in a number of different fields

Normative time to complete the program is six years. The first two years are devoted to fulfilling the course and language requirements. The third year is spent preparing for and taking the Ph.D. oral qualifying examination. The fourth through sixth years are devoted to researching and writing the prospectus and dissertation.

The general goal of the first two years is to assure that the students have a broad and varied knowledge of the fields of British and American literature in their historical dimensions, and are also familiar with a wide range of literary forms, critical approaches, and scholarly methods. Students will complete twelve courses distributed as follows:

• 1) English 200, “Problems in the Study of Literature”
• 2) Medieval through 16 th -Century
• 3) 17 th - through 18 th -Century
• 4) 19 th -Century
• 5) 20 th -Century
• 6) a course organized in terms other than chronological coverage.
• 7-12) Elective courses.

(A thirteenth required course in pedagogy can be taken later.) Students who have done prior graduate course work may transfer up to three courses for credit toward the 12-course requirement. Up to five of the 12 courses may be taken in other departments.

Students must demonstrate either proficiency in two foreign languages or advanced knowledge in one foreign language before the qualifying examination. There are no "canonical languages" in the department. Rather, each specifies which languages are to count, how they relate to the student's intellectual interests, and on which level knowledge is to be demonstrated. "Proficiency" is understood as the ability to translate (with a dictionary) a passage of about 300 words into idiomatic English prose in ninety minutes. The proficiency requirement may also be satisfied by completing one upper-division or graduate literature course in a foreign language. The advanced knowledge requirement is satisfied by completing two or three literature courses in the language with a grade of "B" or better.

At the end of the second year each student’s record is reviewed in its entirety to determine whether or not he or she is able and ready to proceed to the qualifying exam and the more specialized phase of the program.

The Qualifying Examination

Students are expected to take the qualifying examination within one year after completing course and language requirements. The qualifying exam is oral and is conducted by a committee of five faculty members. The exam lasts approximately two hours and consists of three parts: two comprehensive historical fields and a third field which explores a topic in preparation for the dissertation. The exam is meant both as a culmination of course work and as a test of readiness for the dissertation.

The Prospectus and Dissertation

The prospectus consists of an essay and bibliography setting forth the nature of the research project, its relation to existing scholarship and criticism on the subject, and its anticipated value. Each candidate must have a prospectus conference with the members of their committee and the Graduate Chair to discuss the issues outlined in the proposal and to give final approval to the project. The prospectus should be approved within one or two semesters following the qualifying exam.

The dissertation is the culmination of the student's graduate career and is expected to be a substantial and original work of scholarship or criticism. Students within normative time complete the dissertation in their fourth through sixth years.

PhD Program in English Language and Literature

The department enrolls an average of ten PhD students each year. Our small size allows us to offer a generous financial support package. We also offer a large and diverse graduate faculty with competence in a wide range of literary, theoretical and cultural fields. Each student chooses a special committee that works closely along side the student to design a course of study within the very broad framework established by the department. The program is extremely flexible in regard to course selection, the design of examinations and the election of minor subjects of concentration outside the department. English PhD students pursuing interdisciplinary research may include on their special committees faculty members from related fields such as comparative literature, medieval studies, Romance studies, German studies, history, classics, women’s studies, linguistics, theatre and performing arts, government, philosophy, and film and video studies.

The PhD candidate is normally expected to complete six or seven one-semester courses for credit in the first year of residence and a total of six or seven more in the second and third years. The program of any doctoral candidate’s formal and informal study, whatever his or her particular interests, should be comprehensive enough to ensure familiarity with:

• The authors and works that have been the most influential in determining the course of English, American, and related literatures
• The theory and criticism of literature, and the relations between literature and other disciplines
• Concerns and tools of literary and cultural history such as textual criticism, study of genre, source, and influence as well as wider issues of cultural production and historical and social contexts that bear on literature

Areas in which students may have major or minor concentrations include African-American literature, American literature to 1865, American literature after 1865, American studies (a joint program with the field of history), colonial and postcolonial literatures, cultural studies, dramatic literature, English poetry, the English Renaissance to 1660, lesbian, bisexual and gay literary studies, literary criticism and theory, the nineteenth century, Old and Middle English, prose fiction, the Restoration and the eighteenth century, the twentieth century, and women's literature.

By the time a doctoral candidate enters the fourth semester of graduate study, the special committee must decide whether he or she is qualified to proceed toward the PhD. Students are required to pass their Advancement to Candidacy Examination before their fourth year of study, prior to the dissertation.

PhD Program specifics can be viewed here: PhD Timeline PhD Procedural Guide

Special Committee

Every graduate student selects a special committee of faculty advisors who work intensively with the student in selecting courses and preparing and revising the dissertation. The committee is comprised of at least three Cornell faculty members: a chair, and typically two minor members usually from the English department, but very often representing an interdisciplinary field. The university system of special committees allows students to design their own courses of study within a broad framework established by the department, and it encourages a close working relationship between professors and students, promoting freedom and flexibility in the pursuit of the graduate degree. The special committee for each student guides and supervises all academic work and assesses progress in a series of meetings with the students.

At Cornell, teaching is considered an integral part of training in academia. The field requires a carefully supervised teaching experience of at least one year for every doctoral candidate as part of the program requirements. The Department of English, in conjunction with the  John S. Knight Institute for Writing  in the Disciplines, offers excellent training for beginning teachers and varied and interesting teaching in the university-wide First-Year Writing Program. The courses are writing-intensive and may fall under such general rubrics as “Portraits of the Self,” “American Literature and Culture,” “Shakespeare,” and “Cultural Studies,” among others. A graduate student may also serve as a teaching assistant for an undergraduate lecture course taught by a member of the Department of English faculty.

Language Requirements

Each student and special committee will decide what work in foreign language is most appropriate for a student’s graduate program and scholarly interests. Some students’ doctoral programs require extensive knowledge of a single foreign language and literature; others require reading ability in two or more foreign languages. A student may be asked to demonstrate competence in foreign languages by presenting the undergraduate record, taking additional courses in foreign languages and literature, or translating and discussing documents related to the student’s work. Students are also normally expected to provide evidence of having studied the English language through courses in Old English, the history of the English language, grammatical analysis or the application of linguistic study to metrics or to literary criticism. Several departments at Cornell offer pertinent courses in such subjects as descriptive linguistics, psycholinguistics and the philosophy of language.

All PhD degree candidates are guaranteed five years of funding (including a stipend , a full tuition fellowship and student health insurance):

• A first-year non-teaching fellowship
• Two years of teaching assistantships
• A fourth-year non-teaching fellowship for the dissertation writing year
• A fifth-year teaching assistantship
• Summer support for four years, including a first-year summer teaching assistantship, linked to a teachers’ training program at the Knight Institute. Summer residency in Ithaca is required.

Students have also successfully competed for Buttrick-Crippen Fellowship, Society for the Humanities Fellowships, American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), Shin Yong-Jin Graduate Fellowships, Provost’s Diversity Fellowships, fellowships in recognition of excellence in teaching, and grants from the Graduate School to help with the cost of travel to scholarly conferences and research collections.

Admission & Application Procedures

The application for Fall 2024 admission will open on September 15, 2023 and close at 11:59pm EST on December 1, 2023.

Our application process reflects the field’s commitment to considering the whole person and their potential to contribute to our scholarly community.  Applicants will be evaluated on the basis of academic preparation (e.g., performance in relevant courses, completion of substantive, independent research project). An applicant’s critical and creative potential will be considered: applicants should demonstrate interest in extensive research and writing and include a writing sample that reveals a capacity to argue persuasively, demonstrate the ability to synthesize a broad range of materials, as well as offer fresh insights into a problem or text. The committee will also consider whether an applicant demonstrates a commitment to inclusion, equity, and diversity and offers a substantive explanation for why study at Cornell is especially compelling (e.g., a discussion of faculty research and foci). Admissions committees will consider the entire application carefully, including statements and critical writing, as well as transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a resume/cv (if provided). Please view the requirements and procedures listed below, if you are interested in being considered for our PhD in English Language and Literature program.

Eligibility: Applicants must currently have, or expect to have, at least a BA or BS (or the equivalent) in any field before matriculation. International students, please verify degree equivalency here . Applicants are not required to meet a specified GPA minimum.

To Apply: All applications and supplemental materials must be submitted online through the Graduate School application system . While completing your application, you may save and edit your data. Once you click submit, your application will be closed for changes. Please proofread your materials carefully. Once you pay and click submit, you will not be able to make any changes or revisions.

Deadline: December 1st, 11:59pm EST.  This deadline is firm. No applications, additional materials, or revisions will be accepted after the deadline.

PhD Program Application Requirements Checklist

• Academic Statement of Purpose Please describe (within 1000 words) in detail the substantive research questions you are interested in pursuing during your graduate studies and why they are significant. Additionally, make sure to include information about any training or research experience that you believe has prepared you for our program. You should also identify specific faculty members whose research interests align with your own specific questions.  Note that the identification of faculty is important; you would be well advised to read selected faculty’s recent scholarship so that you can explain why you wish to study with them. Do not rely on the courses they teach.  Please refrain from contacting individual faculty prior to receiving an offer of admission.
• Personal Statement Please describe (within 1000 words) how your personal background and experiences influenced your decision to pursue a graduate degree and the research you wish to conduct.  Explain, for example the meaning and purpose of the PhD in the context of your personal history and future aspirations.  Please note that we will pay additional attention to candidates who identify substantial reasons to obtain a PhD beyond the pursuit of an academic position. Additionally, provide insight into your potential to contribute to a community of inclusion, belonging, and respect where scholars representing diverse backgrounds, perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn (productively and positively) together.
• Critical Writing Sample Your academic writing sample must be between 3,000 and 7,500 words (12-30 pages), typed and double-spaced. We accept excerpts from longer works, or a combination of shorter works.
• Three Letters of Recommendation We require 3 letters of recommendation.  At the time of application, you will be allowed to enter up to 4 recommenders in the system.  Your application will be considered “Complete” when we have received at least 3 letters of recommendation.   Letters of recommendation are due December 1 . Please select three people who best know you and your work. Submitting additional letters will not enhance your application. In the recommendation section of the application, you must include the email address of each recommender. After you save the information (and before you pay/submit), the application system will automatically generate a recommendation request email to your recommender with instructions for submitting the letter electronically. If your letters are stored with a credential service such as Interfolio, please use their Online Application Delivery feature and input the email address assigned to your stored document, rather than that of your recommender’s. The electronic files will be attached to your application when they are received and will not require the letter of recommendation cover page.
• Transcripts Scan transcripts from each institution you have attended, or are currently attending, and upload into the academic information section of the application. Be sure to remove your social security number from all documents prior to scanning. Please do not send paper copies of your transcripts. If you are subsequently admitted and accept, the Graduate School will require an official paper transcript from your degree-awarding institution prior to matriculation.
• English Language Proficiency Requirement All applicants must provide proof of English language proficiency. For more information, please view the  Graduate School’s English Language Requirement .
• GRE General Test and GRE Subject Test are NO LONGER REQUIRED, effective starting with the 2019 application In March 2019, the faculty of English voted overwhelmingly to eliminate all GRE requirements (both general and subject test) for application to the PhD program in English. GRE scores are not good predictors of success or failure in a PhD program in English, and the uncertain predictive value of the GRE exam is far outweighed by the toll it takes on student diversity. For many applicants the cost of preparing for and taking the exam is prohibitively expensive, and the exam is not globally accessible. Requiring the exam narrows our applicant pool at precisely the moment we should be creating bigger pipelines into higher education. We need the strength of a diverse community in order to pursue the English Department’s larger mission: to direct the force of language toward large and small acts of learning, alliance, imagination, and justice.

General Information for All Applicants

Application Fee: Visit the Graduate School for information regarding application fees, payment options, and fee waivers .

Document Identification: Please do not put your social security number on any documents.

Status Inquiries:  Once you submit your application, you will receive a confirmation email. You will also be able to check the completion status of your application in your account. If vital sections of your application are missing, we will notify you via email after the Dec. 1 deadline and allow you ample time to provide the missing materials. Please do not inquire about the status of your application.

Credential/Application Assessments:  The Admission Review Committee members are unable to review application materials or applicant credentials prior to official application submission. Once the committee has reviewed applications and made admissions decisions, they will not discuss the results or make any recommendations for improving the strength of an applicant’s credentials. Applicants looking for feedback are advised to consult with their undergraduate advisor or someone else who knows them and their work.

Review Process:  Application review begins after the submission deadline. Notification of admissions decisions will be made by email by the end of February.

Connecting with Faculty and/or Students: Unfortunately, due to the volume of inquiries we receive, faculty and current students are not available to correspond with potential applicants prior to an offer of admission. Applicants who are offered admission will have the opportunity to meet faculty and students to have their questions answered prior to accepting. Staff and faculty are also not able to pre-assess potential applicant’s work outside of the formal application process. Please email [email protected] instead, if you have questions.

Visiting: The department does not offer pre-admission visits or interviews. Admitted applicants will be invited to visit the department, attend graduate seminars and meet with faculty and students before making the decision to enroll.

Transfer Credits:  Students matriculating with an MA degree may, at the discretion of the Director of Graduate Studies, receive credit for up to two courses once they begin our program.

For Further Information

Contact [email protected]

Ph.D. Admissions

Thank you for your interest in our Ph.D. program, which offers an unparalleled combination of intellectual rigor and graduate support.  We are dedicated to training the next generation of scholars, and to confronting the opportunities offered by a changing job market. We look for various qualities in our applicants, including a proven capacity for advanced critical thinking and independent research.

The Department of English recognizes that the Supreme Court issued a ruling in June 2023 about the consideration of certain types of demographic information as part of an admission review. All applications submitted during upcoming application cycles will be reviewed in conformance with that decision. 

Note: Stanford does not offer a terminal Master of Arts in English.  

Autumn 2024 Admission

The deadline for the submission of graduate application forms to the Department of English for matriculation in Autumn 2024 will be  December 1, 2023 at 11:59pm PST .

Read all instructions at the  University Graduate Admissions website  before starting the application process.

Application Requirements/Checklist:

• Application form: Completed online through the  University Graduate Admissions website
• Non-refundable fee of $125.  For information on eligibility for fee waivers, please refer to  Graduate Application Fee Waiver
• Statement of Purpose (ideally 500-600 words, maximum 1000, double spaced, submitted as part of the application): reasons for applying, preparation, specific study and research interests (e.g., 18th century, American lyric poetry, Middle English, etc.), future career plans, and any other information to elucidate background and potential as a scholar/teacher.
• Letters of Recommendation:  Three letters of recommendation are required from faculty members or others who are qualified to evaluate academic work and teaching potential.  Recommenders submit their letters through the online system by the application deadline.
• Transcripts: Unofficial transcripts from all universities and colleges you have attended for one year or more must be uploaded to the online application.  We only require admitted applicants who accept the offer of admission to submit official transcripts that show degree conferral. Please do not send any official transcripts to us at this time.
• Writing sample: a critical paper of approximately 12-25 pages, ideally in your stated field of interest. The writing sample is also submitted with the online application.
• Official TOEFL and/or TSE: required for all international applicants (whose primary language is not English) sent via ETS.  To see if you need to provide this information, please check the  Exam Requirements for International Applicants . Stanford does not accept IELTS scores.

Note to Stanford Undergraduates (both current and former):  

As a department we are gratified when some of our undergraduate majors decide to pursue advanced degrees in English.  To foster breadth in the students’ educational experience and also to expose our department to diverse ideas, our philosophy is that students who receive their undergraduate degrees from our department should generally look elsewhere to pursue their doctorates.

Inquiries about the Ph.D. in English should be directed to  englishadmissions [at] lists.stanford.edu (englishadmissions[at]lists[dot]stanford[dot]edu) .

Knight-Hennessy Scholars 

Join dozens of  Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences students  who gain valuable leadership skills in a multidisciplinary, multicultural community as  Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS). KHS admits up to 100 select applicants each year from across Stanford’s seven graduate schools, and delivers engaging experiences that prepare them to be visionary, courageous, and collaborative leaders ready to address complex global challenges. As a scholar, you join a distinguished cohort, participate in up to three years of leadership programming, and receive full funding for up to three years of your PhD studies at Stanford. Candidates of any country may apply. KHS applicants must have earned their first undergraduate degree within the last seven years, and must apply to both a Stanford graduate program and to KHS. Stanford PhD students may also apply to KHS during their first year of PhD enrollment. If you aspire to be a leader in your field, we invite you to apply. The KHS application deadline is October 11, 2023. Learn more about  KHS admission .

Start English PhD Application

Graduate College

English: creative writing (ph.d.),   application deadlines.

Deadline for Fall semester: January 15.

  Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV)

A resume or curriculum vitae (CV) is required; please submit within the online application system.

  Graduate test

The GRE is not required.

Note: International applicants may have to provide evidence of English language proficiency. 

  Recommendations

This program requires three recommendations. Please send email requests for such recommendations from within the online system.

  Written statement

Please prepare a statement which covers the following information, and attach it within the online application:

I am applying for admission into the ______________________________ program.

Programs/concentrations include:

• PhD in Literature
• PhD in English Education
• PhD in Creative Writing—Fiction
• PhD in Creative Writing—Poetry
• PhD in Creative Writing—Drama

Submit a 750-word essay about why you wish to undertake graduate study and which key experiences have shaped your decision. You may reflect upon ideas, texts, and modes of study that inspire you and discuss your plans for pursuing them. Please use the essay to highlight important aspects of your application.

  Previous written work

Submit a writing sample on a topic in your chosen program/concentration. Your writing sample(s) should be typed, double-spaced, and unmarked. For the Ph.D. in English: Creative Writing, you must submit two samples: (1) a 10-15 page scholarly paper that focuses on a literary topic, and (2) an original piece of creative writing, with applicants interested in Playwriting or Poetry submitting 15-30 pages of original work in their genre, and those focused on Fiction submitting up to 30 pages of their original fiction.

  Other program materials

If applying for graduate assistantship, complete the following narrative and submit within the online application:

If you have taught before, write a 700- to 1000-word essay explaining your teaching philosophy and experience. If you have not taught, write a 500-word essay in which you imagine your own approach to teaching.

  Transcript requirement

An official transcript from the institution from which you received your bachelor degree is required, as well as a transcript from the institution(s) where any additional graduate level courses or degrees have been taken/completed. Applicants are not required to submit an official transcript of courses taken/completed at WMU.

  Additional information

If you have any questions, please review the website below for program and contact information.

Department of English — College of Arts and Sciences

Start my application now

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Department of English

Are the GRE General or Subject scores required for admission?

No, the GRE is no longer required as admission materials for the English PhD program.

How long should the writing sample be?

There is no set length. Most submissions are between 10-20 pages in length.

What are my chances of getting into the program?

The number of applicants varies from year to year. Many factors are considered when putting together each year’s entering class. Currently, we aim for an entering class of about 6 students per year.

If I have received an MA from another university am I still eligible to apply for the PhD program at Tufts?

Yes. Applicants with MAs are considered alongside applicants with BAs.

May I speak with the Graduate Director?

You are welcome to contact the Director of Graduate Studies directly, but because of the large number of applicants, we encourage prospective students to make contact with the director or other faculty members after being admitted to the program.

When will I hear about the status of my application?

Most applicants will be informed of their admissions status sometime in February.

Other questions?

Please contact us at  [email protected] . 

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PhD in English Language and Literature

• Admissions FAQ

The online application portal for 2024 applications will be available tentatively in September 2024.

This is a strict deadline..

All applications and supplemental materials (including at least two letters of recommendation) are due by 11:59pm, EST, on December 10, 2024 to meet our deadline. 

The fee for United States citizens and those with permanent resident visa status is $75. The fee for non-U.S. citizens is $90. The application fee for current Rackham students, regardless of citizenship, is $10. This fee is non-refundable and subject to change.

Make sure you have every document uploaded before you submit your application (excluding letters of recommendation), once you click on the submit button, you will not be able to go back into your application to make any changes. 

Admission decisions for Fall 2024 will be made and applicants will be notified in early March 2024.

Applicants with Master's degrees are given equal consideration for admission, but are not guaranteed advanced standing in the program. We do not accept Non-Candidate for Degree status applicants to our program. We do not offer online courses, our program is a full-time residency program.

Submitting your application

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING FOR MORE DETAILS. 

In some sections what we require differs from what is stated on the generic application form. 

Transcripts

Transcripts:.

• All applicants must upload a scanned copy, front and back, of their official transcript/academic record issued by the Registrar or Records Office to the applicant, to ApplyWeb for each bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree earned or in progress. The scanned copy of the official transcript is used for initial review by the graduate program faculty.
• A downloaded transcript from your school portal or system is an unofficial transcript and not acceptable for review.
• If you are attending or have graduated from a Non-U.S. institution, review the Required Academic Credentials from Non-U.S. Institutions for requirements by country.
• If you have community or junior college, non-degree, or study abroad coursework, indicate this information on page ten of the application under the “Additional Information” section. Do not submit any transcripts from a community or junior college, non-degree, or study abroad coursework to Rackham unless you attended a Non-U.S. institution. 

Applicants that are attending/graduated from a NON-U.S. Institution

• Review  Required Academic Credentials from Non-U.S. Institutions  for transcript/academic record requirements by country or region. Submitting transcript/academic records is a two-step process:

1: Uploading transcripts through the ApplyWeb application account:

Upload an electronic version of your official transcript/academic record for each Bachelor's, Master's, Professional, or Doctoral degree earned, or in progress, through your application account.

2: Sending official transcripts to the Rackham Graduate School:

Submit an official transcript/academic record for each institution attended at the time of application. See our detailed instructions on how to submit transcripts/academic records to the Rackham Graduate School: https://rackham.umich.edu/admissions/applying/transcripts/

Test Scores

Submit the following electronically through the online application.

GRE Test Scores - NOT required

• The General GRE Test is NOT required. The application will still ask for this information, but it does not need to be sent in.

• The GRE Subject test is NOT required.

English Proficiency Tests Accepted:

Ecpe , ielts , met , toefl, for a complete description of english proficiency tests accepted please visit rackham english proficiency requirements website page., test of english as a foreign language (toefl).

• Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the TOEFL.

• The minumum TOEFL score accepted is 620 on paper, 260 on the computer, or 106 internet.

• The test date must be within 2 years of the application deadline.

• Photocopies and/or faxed scores will not be accepted.

• For a complete description of English proficiency tests accepted please visit Rackham English Proficiency Requirements website page.

• Be sure to include our Institution code of 1839 when sending your TOEFL scores.

• The department code is not required.

• Exceptions are made if your degree was earned from:

an institution where the language of instruction is English, exclusively. This exception does not apply if some classes completed were taught in a language other than English. Vertification from the school may be required.

a country where the official language is English (Australia, England, New Zealand).

Three Letters of Recommendation

Please register your recommenders on the "Letters of Recommendation" application page and submit recommendation request before you submit your final application. This will ensure that all materials are submitted by the Decemer 10 deadline. You do not need to wait to submit this request until you submit your final application.

All application materials, including the recommendation letters are due by the December 10 deadline. 

We do not accept hard copies, faxed, e-mailed, or recommendation letters submitted through Interfolio.

You can submit your application prior to the submission of all three letters of recommendation.

Additional Required Application Materials

Submit the following as PDFs through the online application.

Academic Statement of Purpose

A clearly labeled academic and intellectual Statement of Purpose: up to three pages, double spaced, statement about your academic and research background, your career goals, and how Michigan's graduate program will help you meet your career and educational objectives. Disregard the 500 word limit as stated on the application.

Personal Statement

A clearly labeled biographical Personal Statement: up to two pages, double spaced, statement about how your personal background and life experiences, including social, cultural, familial, educational, or other opportunities or challenges, motivated your decision to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Michigan. This is not an Academic Statement of Purpose, but a discussion of the personal journey that has led to your decision to seek a graduate degree. Disregard the 500 word limit as stated on the application.

Curriculum Vitae / Resume

No page limit.

Writing Sample

A writing sample of around 25 pages, double spaced, of critical or scholarly writing, excluding notes and bibliography. Notes and bibliography have no page limit.

Please select a sub-plan. You may refer to the list below for examples of sub-plans, though a sub-plan need not be listed here to be valid on the application.

Admissions Conduct Code

The Admissions Conduct Code questions are part of the online application process. You will be prompted to provide the necessary information and your response will be submitted electronically. There is no need to follow-up with paper copies.

International Students: Medical Screening

Immunizations for International StudentsThe University of Michigan does not require immunizations. However, it is recommended that students come to school fully immunized to protect their health. Immunizations are one of the most effective public health measures in preventing communicable diseases.  Immunization recommendations can be found on the University Health Services website .

• All credentials submitted for admission consideration become the property of the University of Michigan and will not be returned in original or copy form.

• Make sure you receive an electronic confirmation of your submitted application.

If you have additional questions please email [email protected]

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Loyola University Chicago

Department of english, advice to applicants.

The writing sample and the statement of purpose are the most important parts of the application. Your statement gives us a sense of your background and goals; your writing sample shows us how well prepared you are for advanced study in English.

The statement of purpose should specify why you want to be at Loyola and what your goals are in earning an advanced degree. PhD students should specify a field, or overlapping fields, of interest. For example, you might want to do Renaissance and textual studies, or American literature and gender studies, or contemporary literature and global studies, but not Renaissance and Modernism, or Victorian novel and hip hop poetry. You should familiarize yourself with our faculty in your fields of interest and give some sense of what you hope to study here and with whom. MA students may specify a field of interest but this is less important at the MA level since the course requirements cover a range of fields.

You also want to convey a sense of professionalism in your statement of purpose, especially PhD applicants. Let us know that you know what advanced studies in literature entails and that you are prepared for the kinds of scholarship and professional activities, such as conferences, you'll engage in. For some insight into this part of the application, you might consult the MLA Introduction to Scholarship in Modern Languages and Literature , ed. by D. Nicholls, and Graduate Study for the 21st Century , by G. Semenza.

For the writing sample, MA applicants should submit their best undergraduate paper in any field, one that demonstrates their ability to handle secondary sources and to generalize from their textual readings. For PhD applicants, the writing sample, ideally, should match your area of interest, showcasing your best work in your chosen field. You would be well advised to revise your sample, with the help of your professor if possible, before submitting it, and to proofread both the sample and the statement carefully. Applicants submitting portions of an honors or MA thesis should provide a note contextualizing the excerpt you submit with your application. Samples should be approximately 10–15 pages and should have a Works Cited page.

While GPAs and GRE scores are used in the initial screening of applicants, the writing makes or breaks the application. We do not have a cutoff for GRE scores; strong writing, along with strong recommendations, can trump a mediocre score. On average, students admitted to our program have verbal and subject scores that range from 160 to 170, but we also have successful students with scores in the 150s. High scores are more important for applicants to the PhD program, which is more competitive than the MA program. If you take the GRE tests after October, your scores may not be available by the application deadline and thus you will not be among the first applicants reviewed.

In selecting faculty to write letters of recommendation, you want to ask those who know your work well because they have worked with you closely on a project or taught you, perhaps even in several classes. Letters from those who have supervised you on a job are less helpful than letters from those who are familiar with your academic work.

If your goal is to receive a PhD but you are unsure whether to apply directly to the PhD program or to the MA program first, consider the advice above and review our requirements for each program. We admit 4–6 PhD students per year, depending on the number of available assistantships, and 8–12 MA students, depending on the number and quality of the applications. You may do the MA degree part-time but not the PhD. We do accept students with a BA degree into the PhD program, and you can always indicate, in your statement of purpose, that if you are not accepted into the PhD program, you would like to be considered for the MA program.

• Undergraduate
• Graduate/ Professional
• Adult Education

MA & PhD Application

We admit students to the MA and PhD programs in rhetoric and scientific & technical communication (RSTC) only for the fall semester of each year. You must have completed a bachelor's degree before you can begin our MA program. A master's in a related discipline such as rhetoric, technical and professional communication, English, or communication studies is required to enter the PhD program. MA students making satisfactory progress have the opportunity to continue on to the PhD and transfer in most of their master's credits.

In reflection of our commitment to an equitable and inclusive admissions process, we neither require nor consider GRE scores. Nor is there a minimum required GPA. Instead, your grades are considered holistically along with your portfolio materials, experiences, and research interests to determine if you are a good match for our programs.

We welcome inquiries from prospective students who desire additional information about our admission process (email [email protected]  with questions). Admissions and applications consultations are also available to prospective students through the Graduate School Diversity Office (email [email protected] to schedule).

Application Information

All application materials should be submitted electronically via the online admissions system  by 11:59 pm CT on  January 5. 

To help you prepare to apply, we invite you to:

• read our admissions FAQ ; and
• register for one of our upcoming information sessions

The University of Minnesota Graduate School must receive all of the following materials by the deadline before your application will be considered for fall semester admission. Please work closely with your recommenders and advise them on deadlines to ensure their letters are submitted before the application deadline.

 To ensure that the application review process is consistent and fair, we only review the materials listed below. Any unsolicited or extra materials will be redacted from the application packet reviewed by faculty.

Our admissions committee performs an equity-based holistic review of all completed applications. Reviewers look for strengths in the following areas:

• Academic preparation
• Scholarly and professional potential
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion statements and commitments
• Alignment with the program
• Potential for growth  

Questions or Access Requests

Please contact Allie Cooperman, Graduate Programs Coordinator, at [email protected] if you have any questions or access requests.

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Applying to yale.

Students are admitted to graduate study (only in the fall) by the Graduate School on the recommendation of the Department. Entering classes average five to ten students. Students must apply either to the six-year PhD program or the one-year Master of Arts program, although applicants who are accepted to the PhD may elect to complete a three- or three-and-a-half-year MPhil degree instead. (For further details on this alternative, please consult the Yale University Graduate School Programs and Policies . )

Special Admissions Requirements for English

Application should be accompanied by a statement of academic purpose, and a writing sample of up to twenty double-spaced pages. Selection is based on the applicant’s undergraduate record; evidence of motivation supplied in the personal statement; evidence of ability to do advanced work as expressed in the writing sample and supported by three letters of recommendation; and preparation in languages sufficient to satisfy the language requirement. We do not require or accept GRE scores. The committee would like to see a sample of your best writing in a literary critical mode. If that sample is more than a few pages longer than the suggested 20-page limit (excluding works cited), you can submit an excerpt, with a brief explanation of how it fits into the larger paper at the top.

The application deadline is December 1. Note: The deadline for those applying for a combined program (e.g., African American Studies) is always the  earlier deadline of the two individual programs. The application is available online through the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Admissions page . All application materials, supporting credentials and recommendations, and application fee must be received by the deadline to be considered by Yale for admission. Admissions decisions are announced by early March.

Combined Programs

The Department of English offers combined PhD with  African American Studies , Early Modern Studies ,  Film and Media Studies ,  History of Art , and   Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies .

General New Student Information, Questions, and Referrals

The Office for Graduate Student Development and Diversity  is committed to building and maintaining a nurturing and caring community of scholars where students from diverse backgrounds and experiences are supported in their professional and intellectual goals and pursuits.

The McDougal Center serves as “information central” for incoming students. The Center can address new student questions about families, childcare, parking, travel, schedules, or other areas of life at Yale and in New Haven.

Living in New Haven  is a Yale-wide web page for all prospective & current students, faculty & staff. Pictures, video testimonials, neighborhood profiles and information links on community, housing culture, shopping, transit and services in New Haven are posted on the site.

The  Yale Visitor Center  offers tours, exhibits, attractions, lodging, directions, and more.

Gateway for New Students  provides information on Orientation and the New Student Checklist.

Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Programs and Policies . “The Blue Book,” listing policies, programs and courses, is available online in August each academic year.

Our Graduate Housing office begins to accept applications for on-campus dormitories and apartments on April 22, and Off-Campus and  Yale University properties begin leasing apartments now for summer. Apply promptly, as space is limited.

Department of English

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Admissions - ph.d. in literature.

The 2023-2024 Graduate Admissions Application is OPEN! https://grad.ucdavis.edu/apply The deadline to apply to our program is January 5, 2024

Graduate Studies  Application Components page covers many admissions questions, but feel free to contact our program's staff if you would like more details. For information regarding your application status, please check online or contact us.

Application Requirements In preparing your materials, please note the department implements holistic review of applications, which considers every element of the application in an effort to reach a contextualized assessment of students' accomplishments an potential.

•  Writing sample (see below for details) •  Statement of Purpose •  Personal History & Diversity Statement •  Three letters of recommendation •  TOEFL or IELTS scores, if applicable •  Copies of transcripts •  Application Fee 2023-2024 cycle: $135 for U.S. and $155 for international applicants •  Admissions Requirements and Eligibility as set by UC Davis Graduate Studies  

Writing Sample

One-two research or term papers written for English courses; the total should not exceed 30 pages excluding images and bibliography.

If your research or term paper(s) are not recent (e.g., written in the past 2-3 years or so), it is advisable that you revise the papers to include more current research/sources on your topic.

Be sure that you closely proofread any research or term paper(s) you submit in order to present your best work possible.

We are actively recruiting graduate students with a variety of personal experiences, values, and worldviews that arise from differences of culture and circumstance.

There is no independent application for admission to the M.A. program , emphasis in Literature; this degree can only be earned by those admitted to the Ph.D. program, en route to their Ph.D.

International applicants , please review the  following application information .

Graduate Studies only offers application fee waivers to applicants who have participated in specific graduate preparation programs .   Applicants who are affiliated with these programs must indicate their participation AND must provide the name and contact information for their program coordinator in the relevant section of the online application system to receive a fee waiver.  

Please highlight your academic preparation and motivation; interests, specializations, and career goals; and fit for pursuing graduate study at UC Davis.

Preparation and Motivation:  may include your academic and research experiences that prepare you for this graduate program (for example coursework, employment, exhibitions, fieldwork, foreign language proficiency, independent study, internships, laboratory activities, presentations, publications, studio projects, teaching, and travel or study abroad) and motivation or passion for graduate study.

Interests, Specializations, and Career Goals:  may include your research interests, disciplinary subfields, areas of specialization, and professional objectives.

Fit:  may include how your preparation, experiences, and interests match the specific resources and characteristics of your graduate program at UC Davis. Please identify specific faculty within your desired graduate program with whom you would like to work, how their interests match your own, and how you would benefit from engaging with their research.

Personal History and Diversity Statement

The University of California Davis, a public institution, is committed to supporting the diversity of the graduate student body and promoting equal opportunity in higher education. This commitment furthers the educational mission to serve the increasingly diverse population and educational needs of California and the nation. Both the Vice Provost of Graduate Education/Dean of Graduate Studies and the University of California affirm that diversity is critical to promoting lively intellectual exchange and the variety of ideas and perspectives essential to advancing higher education and research. Our graduate students contribute to the global pool of future scholars and academic leaders, thus high value is placed on achieving a diverse graduate student body to support the University of California’s academic excellence. We invite you to include in this statement how you may contribute to the diversification of graduate education and the UC Davis community.

The purpose of this essay is to get to know you as an individual and a potential graduate student. Please describe how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. You may include any educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, community service, outreach activities, residency and citizenship, first-generation college status, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how your life experiences contribute to the social, intellectual, or cultural diversity within a campus community and your chosen field; or how you might serve educationally underrepresented and underserved segments of society with your graduate education.

Three Letters of Recommendation

From professors or other persons situated to speak about your potential for graduate study.  In general, letters from professors or instructors involved in post-secondary academic studies who can speak to your research and/or the potential for your research profile, as well as any other aspect of your academic profile (e.g., any experience teaching, tutoring, or mentoring others) are preferred. These persons may also address your extra-curricular and personal histories as applicable.

Transcripts

Copies are allowed. Once admitted, Graduate Studies requires official transcripts.

UC Davis requires academic records from each college-level institution you have attended - instructions can be found here .  

Prospective students may also submit a Fellowship Application after applying to the program.

For the Fall 2023 cohort, we received 137 applications, admitted 19, and 6 matriculated.  

All students admitted to the Ph.D. program are provided guaranteed funding for 5 years in the form of Teaching Assistant and Associate Instructor positions. These appointments provide a  tuition waiver  which covers the Resident Regular Tuition cost & Health Insurance in and provides a  monthly salary . A limited amount of Graduate Student Researcher positions are available each year where students assist faculty with various projects.

Departmental funds are also available, such as the Miller Travel Fund, for students to attend conferences, interviews and conduct research.  Additional progress-based and summer language and travel fellowship stipends are awarded with funding allocated to us by Graduate Studies.

The  UC Davis Humanities Institute  offers fellowships students can apply for to fund their projects. Admitted students are also considered for University-wide fellowships.

Ph.D. Program Requirements Designated Emphases We Offer

Questions? Contact Us

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College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Department of English

Graduate admissions.

The Department of English welcomes applications from all individuals to our Master of Arts (MA), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), and joint MA/Ph.D. programs.

Fall Application Deadline

Learn more about admission requirements to the Graduate School. For questions about UConn English graduate admissions, email [email protected] .

Apply to the Uconn Graduate School

Applications and Criteria

Students must apply to the UConn English graduate program through the Graduate School’s online system.

• Please submit your CV, unofficial transcripts, personal statement, contact information for three people writing letters of recommendation, and writing sample through the online application system. If a recommendation letter must be dispatched separately, it can be sent by mail to the Department of English or by email to the Graduate English Office, but this may delay your application review.
• Applications to the English graduate program must be for either the MA or the Ph.D. program - not both. Applications for the MA/Ph.D. should be marked Ph.D.
• Please indicate whether you are interested in a Teaching Assistantship (TA) in your application. If you wish to be considered for an award from the Graduate School , please indicate it on your application. The Graduate Executive Committee can only consider those applicants who have communicated their interest in the application.
• Neither the general GRE nor the GRE subject test are required.

UConn’s English Department evaluates graduate program admissions holistically, taking into account an applicant’s academic preparation, experiences inside and outside the classroom, and potential contributions to the culture of our program and university. See the information below about some of the documents we require.

Personal Statement

This statement should be approximately 750 words and include a header indicating your name, the degree program to which you are applying, and your proposed field of concentration (e.g. Victorian literature, children’s literature, rhetoric and composition, digital humanities). The statement should give the English Department’s Admissions Committee a sense of your background in English studies, the questions and ideas that interest you in your proposed field of concentration, and your purpose for pursuing graduate work. Feel free to include information about any experience you have in teaching and research.

Writing Sample

A writing sample is required for both the MA and the Ph.D. application. The Graduate Admissions Committee would like to see a researched critical paper about 12-20 double-spaced pages.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are required. While those letters can be written by anyone who knows the applicant and their work, we suggest that applicants ask for letters from professors who know them well, preferably from their last two years of coursework. We suggest contacting your professors several months before our application deadline. Please have recommendation letters submitted directly through the Graduate School’s application website. Do not send recommendations through Interfolio. If a recommendation letter must be dispatched separately, it may be sent by mail to the English Department or by email to the Graduate English Office ( [email protected] ). Be sure that all letters indicate the applicant’s name and desired degree program.

TOEFL or IELTS Scores

The University requires TOEFL or IELTS scores for all students whose native language is not English. For more information or to review circumstances under which this requirement can be waived, reference the Graduate School’s Application FAQs .