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Boston College’s Ph.D. in English offers the opportunity to study with nationally recognized faculty in many periods, authors, and critical and theoretical streams. Candidates design their course of study from a wide range of courses, proceeding through a series of exams that culminate in a prospectus exam and the writing of the dissertation.

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Program Guidelines

Digital Humanities Certificate

The small size of our doctoral program allows for an unusual level of access to faculty and flexibility in designing programs. Only four doctoral seminars, a course in Composition Theory, and an Advanced Research Colloquium are required; the rest of the Ph.D. candidate's work is built around graduate courses, tutorials, and directed research. Each candidate shapes his or her own program to prepare for three sequential oral examinations and a doctoral dissertation.

Learning Outcomes

The Ph.D. in English offers candidates the opportunity to study with nationally recognized faculty specializing in various periods, authors, and critical and theoretical traditions. Candidates choose from a wide range of courses and proceed through a streamlined series of exams, culminating in a dissertation prospectus exam and the writing of the dissertation. We prepare our students to teach, do research, and engage in service in a college or university setting. Given the challenging nature of the academic job market, we now also give our students opportunities to learn about and prepare for other kinds of careers, such as publishing, public humanities, and arts administration.

Upon completing the degree, students should be able to:

• Write academic articles and reviews at the scholarly level in informed, intelligible prose.
• Research, design and be examined on two long readings lists in major and minor fields of literary study of their choosing.
• Demonstrate mastery of an individual chronological and/or national literary field of their choosing.
• Choose or define a question in their chosen field of literary study, and write an effective dissertation on it.
• Teach courses in English effectively, at introductory and advanced levels, in the community college, 4-year college or university setting.
• Publish their research in peer-reviewed journals and present papers at conferences.
• Secure an academic or teaching position.

Graduate Courses

Program Highlights

Full funding.

All Ph.D. candidates are guaranteed to receive full-tuition scholarships and competitive stipends for five years. The stipend for 2023-24 is $30,000.

Individual Attention

We intentionally keep each entering class to four to five candidates to encourage extensive faculty/student interaction and mentoring.

Personalized Study

Candidates design their own field exams in consultation with their faculty advisors, and choose from a full range of graduate electives each year.

Our Faculty

Professor Eric Weiskott

Ph.d. program director, dedicated to teaching, mentoring, and research.

The scholars who make up our graduate faculty have published prize-winning novels, short stories, creative nonfiction, and poetry; contributed articles to leading journals such as  PMLA ,  American Literature ,  Studies in English Literature ,  Victorian Studies , Composition Studies ,  ELH , and  GLQ ; and been anthologized in  Best American Essays  and  Best American Short Stories. They have won national awards from the NEH, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the National Humanities Center; edited anthologies, collections, editions, and series in feminist theory, religion and literature, post-colonial studies, and psychoanalysis; and served as officers for professional organizations such as the MLA and the American Studies Association. 

The faculty provide close mentoring at all stages including advising candidates on selecting courses, helping them publish their work, collaboratively designing exams, serving as teaching mentors, and acting as dissertation supervisors and readers.

Advanced Research Colloquium

Every two years we offer an Advanced Research Colloquium, which trains candidates in conference submissions, article publication, job market preparation, and dissertation writing.

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Program Details

Language requirements.

• Examinations & Dissertation

Academic Standing and Evaluation of Progress

While the students' programs are planned to meet their own needs and interests, the following descriptions suggest what students' programs have looked liked in recent years. In the first and second years of the program every student takes a Ph.D. seminar each semester ("World Literature" in the Age of Globalization, Queer Theory and the Novel, Issues and Methods in American Studies, and Victorian Inequality to name some recent examples). In addition, students take other graduate electives, or enroll in a tutorial "readings and research" course directed by a faculty member while preparing for an examination. Students may also take graduate courses at Boston University, Tufts University, and Brandeis University. As the dissertation prospectus exam goes forward many students begin their dissertation work during their fifth year.

Candidates must demonstrate an ability to read two foreign languages or a working knowledge and application of one foreign language and its literature. They may demonstrate reading ability through successful performance on two translation examinations in which a short text must be translated adequately (with use of a dictionary) in two hours. They may show more extensive knowledge of one language and its literature by writing a graduate-level critical paper using original texts, or by producing a formal translation of a literary text or essay previously unavailable in English. Language tests from earlier graduate work are commonly accepted for one language.

In the second year candidates serve as teaching assistants in a course in British or American literature. In the third year, students usually teach First-Year Writing Seminar and Literature Core. In the fourth year candidates teach one English Core course and one elective in their own chosen field that they design.

Examinations and the Dissertation

Candidates proceed through a sequence of three examinations: a minor field examination completed before the end of the second year; a major field examination completed before the end of the third year; a dissertation prospectus examination. In collaboration with faculty members, candidates design examinations that will prepare them to work in a variety of periods, genres and literary approaches. Examinations can take a variety of forms: they may focus on teaching, literary theory, a single author or group of authors, a literary genre, or a literary period. Recent exam topics include Medieval Women Writers, Ecocritical Theory, The American Renaissance, Romanticism and Colonialism in the Caribbean Atlantic, The Gothic, a theory exam on the body, and a teaching exam on English Romanticism. The dissertation prospectus exam serves as the official approval process for the dissertation prospectus.

An informal and celebratory defense follows submission and acceptance of the dissertation.

Doctoral candidates are subject to annual review of academic progress toward their degrees. Each candidate is assigned an academic advisor with whom they will meet regularly and at the end of each academic year, the candidate is reviewed by both the advisor and the Ph.D. Director to assess and evaluate their performance in coursework, oral exams, and dissertation, as appropriate. All candidates are required to take their minor field exam by the spring of their second year, and will normally take their major field exam by the spring of their third year.

All graduate students are also governed by the  Graduate School of the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences Policies and Procedures .

Resources in the Boston Area

Ph.D. candidates have access to the rich offerings for graduate students in the Boston area. Aside from the wealth of local archival resources, candidates participate in seminars at The Humanities Center at Harvard University and in BC’s own Lowell Humanities Series, which brings internationally renowned writers and thinkers to campus. They can also take part in a wealth of courses, lectures, workshops, conferences, and symposia offered at area colleges and universities.

Consortiums

Boston College is also part of a Boston-area consortium that allows students to take graduate courses at Boston University, Brandeis University, and Tufts University. Our students can also take courses at the Graduate Consortium in Women’s Studies at MIT, an interdisciplinary effort to advance research in women's studies. Faculty and students of GCWS are drawn from nine Boston-area colleges and universities.

Graduate Consortium in Women's Studies

BC Irish Studies

The BC English department is (with History) the most active contributor to our thriving Irish Studies Program which publishes the Irish Literary Supplement and offers institutional support to the refereed journal‚ Éire-Ireland .

Irish Studies

Religion and the Arts

Many members of the English department contribute to the BC-based journal  Religion and the Arts , edited by our own colleague, Professor James Najarian.

How to Apply

The application deadline for the Ph.D. program is January 2. The GRE is not required. Application forms should be accompanied by a personal statement, a critical writing sample of not more than 20 pages, transcripts, and three letters of recommendation, ideally from teachers who have recently evaluated the applicant's current work in the proposed field or area of focus.

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Doctor of Philosophy English

The Doctor of Philosophy in English program trains students to be successful scholars and teachers of literature and of writing and rhetoric. The program begins with an immersion in coursework, designed to introduce the discipline at a broad level and to lay the ground for avenues of individual research. The Comprehensive Exam solidifies the student’s grounding in three fields of study linked to that which the student intends to specialize. The dissertation, completed under the close supervision of both the dissertation director and the dissertation committee, is an original research project that stands as the student’s entry into the field of professional scholarship.

Graduates of Ph.D. in English program are able to:

• Employ primary and secondary materials to analyze critical debates and positionality within subfields of English.
• Demonstrate expertise in theories; methods; and social, cultural, and political histories of three subfields of English studies pertinent to the student’s plan of research and teaching.
• Formulate and defend original and critically significant arguments, communicating them effectively in genres relevant to English studies (e.g., research papers, conference presentations, digital projects).
• Design and conduct sustained, sophisticated, independent research to make a critical contribution to subfields within English studies by engaging in analytical thinking, investigating relationships between language and power, or critiquing inherited social structures and hierarchies within and beyond the field(s).
• Develop a foundational knowledge of current pedagogical and curricular frameworks for teaching college-level courses and apply these frameworks in their own classrooms or other teaching contexts.

In addition to the formal curriculum, the department offers a range of opportunities to introduce students to new scholarship in English, including the Barrs lecture series. We hold frequent workshops on various aspects of graduate study and professionalization, and students are involved in a plethora of hands-on research opportunities, including the  NULab for Texts, Maps, and Networks , the  Early Caribbean Digital Archive , and  The Women Writers Project . Many students are also involved with  826 Boston , where they have gained experience in teaching and community engagement.

Prospective students can consult our FAQs or contact the department’s Graduate Office for more information about applying to the Doctor of Philosophy in English program.

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• PhD in English

The PhD in English at Boston University provides comprehensive training in all areas of literary studies in English. Coursework is offered in historical periods, individual authors, important literary movements, literary theory, and the history of criticism. Students develop a broad competence in all literary periods while moving to a more specialized knowledge of a single area or topic. World-class scholars lead small seminars, direct individual tutorials, advise independent student research, and provide professional mentorship, preparing students for careers as researchers and teachers in academia and beyond. To enter, at least a bachelor’s degree in English or a closely related field is required.

Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with a PhD in English are expected to:

• Conduct original, publishable research in the field.
• Demonstrate a broad knowledge of theory and research across several subdisciplines in the field and speak effectively to professional and lay audiences about issues in these areas.
• Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of one area of expertise.
• Follow ethical guidelines for work in the field.
• Effectively teach undergraduate students.

Course Requirements

To be awarded the PhD, the candidate must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 in both semesters. No grade below a B– will count toward the PhD.

Sixteen 4-credit courses (64 credits) are required for the degree, of which not more than four may be taken in one semester. Course requirements are as follows:

• At least thirteen courses must be elected from courses numbered 700 or higher. With the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies, one directed study course may be elected as one of the required courses.
• At least one course that focuses primarily on critical theory, critical method, or the history of criticism
• Medieval Literature–1660 or History of the Language/Linguistics
• Literature in English 1660–1860
• Literature in English 1860–Present

Doctoral students may, with the approval of their advisor, elect two 4-credit courses at the graduate level in related areas. A course elected to fulfill the foreign language requirement may be counted as a related course.

A limited number of courses are offered in Metropolitan College (MET) under the auspices of the Department of English and are approved for graduate credit for students enrolled in the MA and PhD programs. For further information, see the Metropolitan College Bulletin .

Foreign Language Requirement

All students pursuing a PhD degree in English are required to demonstrate either advanced-level proficiency in one language or intermediate-level reading proficiency in two languages. Languages chosen must have relevance to literary studies in English; the Director of Graduate Studies determines which languages are appropriate to fulfill the requirement. The language requirement must be fulfilled before the PhD qualifying oral examination is scheduled.

Advanced proficiency is demonstrated by a placement test administered by a foreign language program at BU. Intermediate proficiency in a foreign language can be demonstrated by scoring in the “intermediate” range on a BU-administered placement test, passing a noncredit graduate reading course in an appropriate foreign language, or receiving a B or better in a graduate-level literature course taught in a foreign language. Note that courses taken for credit cannot be taken as a fifth course in any semester. The foreign language requirement may also be satisfied by receiving at least a B in a graduate-level course in Old English, if and when it is offered (Old English courses also count toward the courses required for the degree).

A student wishing to fulfill advanced proficiency in a language for which there is no available examination should consult the Director of Graduate Studies.

A student who successfully completes a literature course at the graduate level in a foreign language can count the course toward the 16-course requirement for the PhD.

Qualifying Examination

To be admitted to doctoral candidacy, the student must pass a comprehensive oral examination in a major area of literary study defined by the student in consultation with the advisor. The area chosen for examination is normally related to the student’s anticipated dissertation topic.

Dissertation and Final Oral Examination

Candidates shall demonstrate their abilities for independent study in a dissertation representing original research or scholarship. A prospectus for the dissertation must be completed and approved by the readers, the Director of Graduate Studies, and the Department Chair/Program Director. Candidates must undergo a final oral examination in which they defend their dissertation as a valuable contribution to knowledge in their field(s) and demonstrate a mastery of their field(s) of specialization in relation to their dissertation. All portions of the dissertation and final oral examination must be completed as outlined in the GRS General Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree.

Any PhD student who has fulfilled the requirements of the master’s degree program, as stated here , can be awarded a master’s degree.

For further information about the graduate program in English, interested students should consult the department’s website or contact the department’s Director of Graduate Studies.

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The graduate program in English provides you with a broad knowledge in the discipline, including critical and cultural theory and literary history. This solid foundation enables you to choose your own path based on the wide variety of areas of concentration. Our flexible program allows you to take courses outside the department to further explore your chosen field(s). Our program emphasizes excellence in writing, innovative scholarship, and eloquent presentations—important skills you will need in your future profession. The program and its faculty are committed both to diversity in its student body and in the diversity of thought and scholarship.

Examples of student theses and dissertations include “The Write to Stay Home: Southern Black Literature from the Great Depression to Early Twenty-first Century,” “Profaning Theater: The Drama of Religion on the Modernists Stage,” and “Sentimental Borders: Genre and Geography in the Literature of Civil War and Reconstruction.”

Graduates have secured faculty positions at institutions such as Brown University, Columbia University, and University of California, Los Angeles. Others have begun their careers with leading organizations such as Google and McKinsey & Company.

Additional information on the graduate program is available from the Department of English and requirements for the degree are detailed in Policies .

Areas of Study

Unspecified | Medieval | Renaissance/Early Modern | 18th Century/Enlightenment | 19th Century British/Romantics/Victorian | Early American (to 1900) | 20th Century British | 20th Century American | Criticism and Theory | The English Language | Transnational Anglophone/Postcolonial | African American Literature | Drama | Poetry

Admissions Requirements

Please review admissions requirements and other information before applying. You can find degree program-specific admissions requirements below and access additional guidance on applying from the Department of English .

Writing Sample

The writing samples (one primary and one secondary) are highly significant parts of the application. Applicants should submit 2 double-spaced, 15-page papers of no more than 5,000 words each, in 12-point type with 1-inch margins. The writing samples must be examples of critical writing (rather than creative writing) on subjects directly related to English. Applicants should not send longer papers with instructions to read an excerpt or excerpts but should edit the samples themselves so that they submit only 15 pages for each paper. Applicants who know the field in which they expect to specialize should, when possible, submit a primary writing sample related to that field.

Statement of Purpose

The statement of purpose is not a personal statement and should not be heavily weighted down with autobiographical anecdotes. It should be no longer than 1,000 words. It should give the admissions committee a clear sense of applicants’ individual interests and strengths. Applicants need not indicate a precise field of specialization if they do not know, but it is helpful to know something about a candidate’s professional aspirations and sense of their own skills, as well as how the Harvard Department of English might help in attaining their goals. Those who already have a research topic in mind should outline it in detail, giving a sense of how they plan their progress through the program. Those who do not should at least attempt to define the questions and interests they foresee driving their work over the next few years.

Standardized Tests

GRE: Not Accepted

While there are no specific prerequisites for admission, a strong language background helps to strengthen the application, and students who lack it should be aware that they will need to address these gaps during their first two years of graduate study.

While a candidate's overall GPA is important, it is more important to have an average of no lower than A- in literature (and related) courses. In addition, while we encourage applications from candidates in programs other than English, they must have both the requisite critical skills and a foundation in English literature for graduate work in English. Most of our successful candidates have some knowledge of all the major fields of English literary study and advanced knowledge of the field in which they intend to study.

Theses & Dissertations

Theses & Dissertations for English

See list of English faculty

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Questions about the program.

PhD in English

The English Department offers small graduate seminars in a variety of fields and topics each term. Students may also take approved courses in other Tufts departments, as well as enroll in classes in a consortium of schools that includes Boston College, Boston University, and Brandeis University, and in the interdisciplinary Consortium for Graduate Studies in Gender, Culture, Women, and Sexuality (GCWS) located at MIT. After undergoing supervised training to help them master the necessary skills, our PhD students gain valuable teaching experience, designing and offering their own courses as Graduate Instructors in Tufts' First-Year Writing Program. The Experimental College and the OSHER Program for Lifelong Learning provide additional opportunities for students to design and teach courses at Tufts. The strong training in pedagogy that the department provides and the experience our students gain as classroom instructors prepares our PhD candidates well for a competitive job market. Our recent PhD recipients have secured faculty positions, including on the tenure-track, as well as other academic positions, such as directing a writing center and in college and independent school administration. Our students have also been successful in winning prestigious post-doctoral fellowships, including multi-year teaching fellowships.

Program Requirements and Policies

Students entering with a BA will normally be evaluated and receive their MA after two years of classes.

Foreign Language Requirements

Students must demonstrate reading knowledge in  one approved foreign language  to receive a PhD in English at Tufts. Satisfaction of the Foreign Language Requirement should occur by the end of the third year, and may be completed by examination, by course, or any combination of the two. Graduate students may satisfy the language requirement by passing a two-hour examination in a foreign language. Exams are coordinated through the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and are offered in September, January and April each year. Contact the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences  to make arrangements for taking an exam.  Native speakers of a language other than English may petition to waive the requirement by affirming that the language in question is relevant to their proposed area of doctoral study and by submitting relevant transcripts. Passing a course in "Reading Knowledge" will also be accepted as fulfillment of the foreign language requirement. Tufts offers two such courses, "French for Reading Knowledge" and "German for Reading Knowledge," which are only available during Summer Session. Boston University makes similar courses available to Tufts students during the academic year. Students may also present appropriate evidence of competence achieved in a foreign language in another graduate program.

Oral Examinations

During the semester after coursework is complete, students study for and take a two-hour oral comprehensive examination. No standardized list of texts is issued for this examination. Each student selects six fields from those below for which they will generate a set of works in consultation with faculty for the examination. One of the six fields may be a "special topic," which students design in collaboration with a member of the faculty.

• Old English Literature
• Medieval Literature
• Sixteenth-Century English Literature
• Seventeenth-Century British Literature
• Eighteenth-Century British Literature
• American Literature Before 1820
• Nineteenth-Century British Literature
• Nineteenth-Century American Literature
• Twentieth-Century British Literature or Twentieth-Century British and Irish Literature
• Twentieth-Century American Literature
• Twentieth and Twenty-First Century Global Anglophone Literature (other than British or North American)
• Twenty-First Century Transatlantic (British, Irish, and American) Literatures
• Literary-Critical Theory
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• Program Description

Higher Degrees in English

The Graduate Program in English leads to the degrees of Master of Arts (AM) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). The AM is an integral part of the doctoral program, and therefore only students who intend to pursue the PhD are eligible for admission to the Graduate Program in English.

The Program

The program takes from four to seven years to complete, with the majority finishing in five or six years. The first two years are devoted to coursework and, in the first year, to preparation for the PhD Qualifying Exam (the “General” exam) at the beginning of the second year. The second and third years are devoted to preparing for the Dissertation Qualifying Exam (the “Field” exam) and writing the Dissertation Prospectus. The fourth, fifth, and sixth years are spent completing the doctoral dissertation. From the third year until the final year (when they are generally supported by Dissertation Completion Fellowships), students also devote time to teaching and to developing teaching skills. Students with prior graduate training or those with a demonstrated ability may complete their dissertations in the fourth or fifth years. Students are strongly discouraged from taking more than seven years to complete the program except under the most exceptional circumstances.

The program aims to provide the PhD candidate with a broad knowledge of the field of English, including critical and cultural theory. Additional important skills include facility with the tools of scholarship—ancient and modern foreign languages, bibliographic procedures, and textual and editorial methods. The program also emphasizes the ability to write well, to do solid and innovative scholarly and critical work in a specialized field or fields, to teach effectively, and to make articulate presentations at conferences, seminars, and symposia.

The minimum residence requirement is two years of enrollment in full-time study, with a total of at least fourteen courses completed with honor grades (no grade lower than B-).

The minimum standard for satisfactory work in the Graduate School is a B average in each academic year.

• A minimum of 14 courses must be completed no later than the end of the second year.
• At least ten courses must be at the 200- (graduate) level, and at least six of these ten must be taken within the department. Graduate students in the English department will have priority for admission into 200-level courses.
• Beginning with the incoming class of 2020-21, two proseminars are now required as part of the ten required seminars.
• The remaining courses may be either at the 100- or the 200-level.
• Students typically devote part of their course work in the first year to preparing for the “General” exam, focusing increasingly on their field in the second year.
• Students are strongly encouraged to take at least two courses that engage extensively with texts in Literary Theory. Such courses should introduce works by writers such as Freud, Barthes, Derrida, Foucault, de Beauvoir, Fanon, Gates, Bhabha, and Jameson, and texts such as  The Poetics  by Aristotle,  The Birth of Tragedy  by Friedrich Nietzsche,  Mimesis  by Eric Auerbach, and  The Theory of the Novel  by Georg Lukacs. We recommend students consult with mentors and the graduate office if they need help finding courses that introduce these and similar works of theory.

Proseminars

• Beginning with the incoming class of 2020-21, two proseminars will now be required as part of the ten required seminars.

• The first-year proseminar (taken in the spring semester of the first year) introduces students to the theories, methods, and history of English as a discipline, and contemporary debates in English studies. The readings feature classic texts in all fields, drawn from the General Exam list. This first-year proseminar helps students prepare for the General Exam (taken at the beginning of their second year); it gives them a broad knowledge for teaching and writing outside their specialty; and it builds an intellectual and cultural community among first-year students.

• The second-year proseminar has a two-part focus: it introduces students to the craft of scholarly publishing by helping them revise a research paper for publication in a peer-reviewed journal by the end of the course. It thus gives students the tools to begin publishing early in their career. It also introduces students to the growing array of alternative careers in the humanities by exposing them to scholars who are leaders in fields such as editing, curating, and digital humanities.

Independent Study and Creative Writing

• Students may petition to take one of the 100-level courses as independent study (English 399) with a professor, but not before the second term of residence.
• Other independent study courses will be permitted only in exceptional circumstances and with the consent of the professor and director of graduate studies (DGS).
• Only one creative writing course, which counts as a 100-level course, may count toward the PhD degree course requirements.

Credit for Work Done Elsewhere (Advanced Standing)

Once the student has completed at least three 200-level courses with a grade of A or A-, a maximum of four graduate-level courses may be transferred from other graduate programs, at the discretion of the Director of Graduate Studies.

Transferred courses will not count toward the minimum of ten required 200-level courses, but will be counted as 100-level courses.

Incompletes

No more than one Incomplete may be carried forward at any one time by a graduate student in the English Department. It must be made up no later than six weeks after the start of the next term.

In applying for an Incomplete, students must have signed permission from the instructor and the DGS, or the course in question may not count toward the program requirements. If students do not complete work by the deadline, the course will not count toward the program requirements, unless there are documented extenuating circumstances.

Language Requirements

A reading knowledge of two languages is required. Normally, Latin, Ancient Greek, Old English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian are the accepted languages. Other languages, including ASL and computer languages, may be acceptable if the DGS deems them relevant and appropriate to a student’s program of study. Students may fulfill the language requirements:

(1) by passing a two-hour translation exam with a dictionary; (2) by taking a one-term literature course in the chosen language, when conducted in the language and/or the readings are in the language (DGS approval may be necessary in some cases) (3) or by taking two terms of Old English*, elementary Latin or Ancient Greek.

Any course taken to fulfill the language requirement must be passed with a grade of B- or better. Literature-level language courses count for course credit ; elementary language courses do not. *Please note that only the spring semester of Old English will count towards the graduate course requirement (as a 100-level course, or as a 200-level course in the case of ENG 200d) when taken to fulfill a language requirement.

Examples of past language exams can be found  here .

The (Non-Terminal) Master of Arts Degree

In order to apply for the AM degree, students must complete, with a grade of B+ or better, no fewer than a total of seven courses, including a minimum of four English courses, at least three of which must be at the graduate (200-) level, and one additional course that must be taken at the graduate level, but may be taken in another department. Students must also fulfill at least one of their departmental language requirements.

General Exam

At the beginning of the second year, students will take a 75-90 minute oral exam, based on a list of authors and/or titles which the Department will make available for each entering class in the summer prior to its arrival. The examiners will be three regular members of the department (assistant, associate, or full professors), whose names will not be disclosed in advance.

Candidates whose performance on the exam is judged inadequate will be marked as “not yet passed” and must retake the exam at a time to be determined. If candidates do not pass on the second attempt, they will not be able to continue in the program.

Note: Students must fulfill at least one language requirement by the end of the first year in order to be eligible to take the General Exam.

Field Oral Exam

The purpose of the Field Oral exam is twofold: to discuss an emerging dissertation topic, and to examine students' preparation in primary teaching and the scholarly field(s) they mean to claim, particularly field(s) related to the dissertation. Students should be prepared to display knowledge of the field(s) in general based on the books and articles listed in their field bibliography.

The order of events in the exam is up to the committee and student to establish beforehand, but typically the exam has two parts: a discussion of the field(s) in which the proposed dissertation situates itself and in which the student intends to teach; and a discussion of the dissertation topic. The exam should assess both the viability of the thesis topic and the preparedness of the student to pursue it at this time. The level of preparedness should be clarified between the student and committee in their meetings before the exam. The discussion of the dissertation topic should substantially aid the student in writing the prospectus, due six weeks after the exam.

In some field exams, there is already a clear idea of the dissertation, one that the student has already discussed with the committee. The discussion in the exam can thus dive more deeply into the details of the project. In other field exams, the student's dissertation project is not yet fully formed, and the exam actively contributes to fleshing out the formation of the project's scope and direction. The committee and student should agree beforehand on the specific format and scope of the exam.

The two-hour examination is typically taken before the end of the Fall Reading Period of the third year of graduate study, although it is possible to take it as late as the end of February, should the need arise. The exam is conducted by a three-person examination committee, chosen by the individual student, normally from among the tenured and ladder faculty of the English department, (the chair is chosen by May 15 of the second year, and the remaining examiners by no later than September 1 of the third year). One faculty member acts as chair of the committee and often assists the student in selecting other members. The committee, or some part of it, will likely continue to serve as individual students’ dissertation advisors.

During the exam, students are asked to describe and discuss their dissertation project, and to demonstrate an adequate knowledge both of the major primary works and of selected scholarly works in the field(s) as they relate to their dissertation.

The twin purposes of the exam--representing the chosen field, and giving a first account of a dissertation project--are represented by two separate bibliographies, each consisting of primary and scholarly works, drawn up by the student in consultation with the examination committee. There may be considerable overlap between these two bibliographies.

At least four weeks before the exam, the student should meet with the committee, present the two bibliographies (of the chosen field(s) and of the dissertation project), and discuss the format of the exam.

The exam is graded Pass/Fail.

Dissertation Prospectus

The dissertation prospectus, signed and approved by three advisors (or two co-advisors, with a third committee member to be added at a later date), is due to the Graduate Office six “business weeks” after passing the Field Oral Examination. The “business weeks” do not include the Winter Recess, so a student passing the exam four weeks before Winter Recess begins, for example, would have another two weeks after the start of classes in the Spring Term to complete the prospectus.

The prospectus is neither a draft chapter nor a detailed road-map of the next two years work but a sketch, no longer than seven to ten pages, of the topic upon which the student plans to write. It gives a preliminary account of the argument, structure, and scope of the intended treatment of the topic. The overview will be followed by a bibliography.

The prospectus is written in consultation with the dissertation advisors, who will meet with students at least once in the spring of the third year to discuss the prospectus and to draw up a timetable for the writing of the dissertation.

In planning a timetable, students need to bear in mind (1) that two draft chapters of the dissertation must be completed by the middle of their fifth year, if they are to be eligible to apply for completion fellowships in their sixth year, and (2) that students generally enter the job market in the fall of their sixth year, with at least two final chapters and a third draft chapter completed. They should also remember that term-time fellowships and traveling fellowships may be available to them in the fifth year, but that these require applications which are due as early as December or January of the fourth year.  Note: The timetable described above can be accelerated if a student so wishes and is in the position to do so.

Article Submission and Professional Writing Workshop

Students are required to submit an article to a scholarly journal by the end of their 5th year (acceptance is not required). Failure to do so would result in the loss of good standing. This is encouraged for all students, but is a requirement beginning with the incoming class of 2015-16. In conjunction with this new requirement, the department has established a professional writing workshop open to English department students only. Attendance will not be required but expected of students in residence. Students will be expected to take the course at some time before the beginning of the 6th year, and ordinarily in the spring of their 5th year. The course will be graded Sat/Unsat.

Dissertation Advising

Students should assemble a group of faculty members to supervise the dissertation. Several supervisory arrangements are possible: students may work with a committee of three faculty members who share nearly equal responsibility for advising, or with a committee consisting of a principal faculty advisor and a second and third reader. In the first scenario, one of the three faculty members will be asked to serve as a nominal chair of the committee; in the second scenario, the principal advisor serves as chair. If the scope of the project requires it, students should consult the DGS about including a faculty advisor from a department other than English or from another university.

The advising mode chosen will be indicated to the department when the prospectus is submitted. Regardless of the structure of advising, three faculty readers are required to certify the completed dissertation. If it is deemed useful, chapter meetings between the student and the entire committee may be arranged in consultation with the chair.

The Dissertation

After the dissertation prospectus has been approved, candidates work with their dissertation directors or their dissertation committee. All of the designated advisors must approve the final work.

The doctoral dissertation is expected to be an original and substantial work of scholarship or criticism, excellent in form and content. The department accepts dissertations on a great variety of topics involving a broad range of approaches to literature. It sets no specific page limits, preferring to give students and directors as much freedom as possible.

Dissertation Defense

The Dissertation Defense will be a necessary part of receiving the PhD, though it will not be a pass/fail examination. The defense is required for all students who entered the program in 2007 or after.

The form of the defense is as follows:

• Each student’s defense will be a separate event
• In addition to the student and the advisors, the participants typically include any interested faculty and any interested graduate students
• The Graduate Office will announce the upcoming defense to all members of the department, unless otherwise specified by the student
• The event will start with a 15–20 minute presentation by the student and last at most 90 minutes
• If a student has left Cambridge and cannot return easily for this purpose, the defense may be held remotely

Arrangements will be overseen by the Graduate Office but conducted by the student (as with the Fields examination); students will be required to send an email to the Director of Graduate Studies and to the Graduate Program Administrator, with a copy to their advisors, indicating the day, time, and location of the defense.

The meeting for a November, March, or May degree must take place any time after advisors have signed off on the dissertation (by signing the Dissertation Acceptance Certificate) and, in the case of the May degree, at least a week before Commencement. In practice, however, the student will need to defend after advisors have signed off and before advisors disperse. That period will normally be between 1–14 May, and most probably in the early days of May. It is up to the student to coordinate the arrangements.

Students begin teaching in their third year*. Ordinarily they teach discussion sections in courses and in the department’s program of tutorials for undergraduate honors majors.

Preparation for a teaching career is a required part of students’ training, and Teaching Fellows benefit from the supervision and guidance of department members.

Teaching fellows are required to take English 350, the Teaching Colloquium, in their first year of teaching. In addition, they are encouraged to avail themselves of the facilities at the Bok Center for Teaching and Learning.

*English graduate students wishing to teach in their 2nd year must have 1) passed Generals, 2) completed all required course work by the end of their first year OR must have previous comparable teaching experience, and 3) received written authorization from the Director of Graduate Studies and the GSAS Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid.

Doctoral Conferences "Colloquia"

The Department of English’s  Doctoral Conferences (commonly referred to as “Colloquia”) bring together students and faculty from Harvard and other institutions to discuss current research in literature. Colloquia meet regularly throughout the academic year, and all Harvard graduate students and faculty should feel free to attend any of them, regardless of primary field(s) of interest.

Careers and Placement Seminar

As students near the end of their dissertation writing, they may take a seminar preparing them to seek academic and other employment. Students learn about the job application process, develop cover letters and CVs, and practice presenting their work in interviews and job talks, all in a rigorous and supportive environment. Students should leave the seminar with strong materials for the job market, confident identities as the expert scholars and teachers they have become, and clear articulations of how they will contribute to literary studies in the years ahead. The seminar supplements and formalizes the extensive informal placement advising offered in the department.

Graduate Student Progress Timeline

This document  provides a year-by-year breakdown of requirements for satisfactory progress in our program.

• Guidelines for Admission
• Teaching Fellows
• Fellowships
• Graduate Prizes
• Resources for Grad Students
• English PhD Alumni Network & Placement Information

The PhD program in English prepares students for a range of scholarly careers in English through a combination of literary studies with writing and rhetoric. In literary studies, we emphasize American literature, Transatlantic and Caribbean literature, Early Modern literature, and the study of gender and sexuality.

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In writing and rhetoric, we emphasize teaching and assessing writing, community engagement, diversity and identity, and empirical research methodologies. We also have exceptional offerings in the digital humanities, including digital archiving, network analysis, digital editing and encoding, geospatial analysis, and text mining.

Students in the PhD program in English undertake a program of study designed to train them to be productive scholars, teachers, and leaders in their chosen fields. In coursework, students read and analyze the important texts, current issues, and critical methodologies of the discipline. Drawing on the breadth of this preparation, students demonstrate their ability to recognize and produce scholarly arguments in designing the three comprehensive field papers in areas of scholarly interest and competence corresponding to recognized and emerging fields of study. Finally, the dissertation provides an opportunity for designing a focused research project in consultation with a dissertation advisor.

Throughout the program, faculty work closely with doctoral students to develop their scholarly and professional identities in preparation for careers in academia. As students complete their studies, the department offers strong support for the academic job search, including workshops on stages from dissertation writing to the job market itself, individual advising, mock interviews, and a departmental dossier service.

Learn more about this PhD program in English from the College of Social Sciences and Humanities .

• All doctoral students receive full five- or six-year teaching fellowship funding
• Opportunities for involvement in research and teaching in centers including the NULab for Texts, Maps, and Networks; the Writing Center; the Digital Scholarship Group; and the Humanities Center as well as with individual faculty
• The department focuses particularly on the fields of American Literature; Transatlantic and Caribbean Studies; Digital Humanities; and Writing and Rhetoric

We have a high rate of placement for students conducting both local and national job searches. Our graduates have obtained tenure-track positions at four-year colleges and universities across the country and abroad, including: Columbia College (Chicago); the Florida Institute of Technology; Frankiln Pierce University; McKendree University; Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts; Middle Tennessee State University; the National Technical University, Norway; Oberlin College; Park University (Missouri); Providence College; Sterling College; Rhode Island College; Wesleyan College (Georgia); and the University of Puerto Rico. Other full-time placements include positions in departments of English and in writing programs at the American University of Dubai; the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; the University of Southern California; and Wheelock College (Boston). Tenure-track placements at two-year colleges include Bristol CC, Queensborough CC, and Quincy College.

Application Materials

Application.

• Application fee – US $100
• Personal statement
• Unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended
• English proficiency for international applicants
• Three letters of recommendation
• Scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) – Optional
• Writing sample

Admissions deadline for Fall term: December 1

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PhD and MA Graduate Admissions

Our application deadline is December 15th at 11:59 pm. Due to our application portal's technical specifications, the system may allow submission of applications after that deadline. No applications submitted after the December 15th deadline will be reviewed.

Application Procedures

Applicants to all graduate degree programs should apply online through  ApplyWeb . We do not accept paper applications.

For both the terminal M.A. and Ph.D. programs,  the application portal opens on  October 2nd  and closes on  December 15th  of each year. There is a short grace period after December 15th in which we will still accept letters of recommendation and official test scores. The Graduate Coordinator will follow up with you after December 15th if you are missing any of these elements and will provide a need-by date. Please note that the grace period is meant to allow recommenders to be a little late without negatively affecting your application, and should not be considered an alternate due date. Applicants should provide the December 15th due date to their recommenders. Applicants are ultimately responsible for ensuring that we receive their letters of recommendation.

Applications for submatriculation  are accepted until February 10th  of each year.   Students interested in submatriculating should be in touch with the Undergraduate Chair, the Graduate Chair, and their College contact (assigned and listed in Path@Penn ) before or during the application process. Each of these contacts provide important information about the submatriculation process.

We only accept full-time students for the M.A. and Ph.D. program , and do not offer part-time options for either program. All applicants are applying to begin in the fall semester of the following year. We do not accept applications for spring admission.

The application fee is $90 , payable via credit or debit card at the time of submission. 

NOTE: Application fee waivers are managed entirely by the Graduate Division of the School of Arts and Sciences, and individual departments do not have the power to grant them. To apply for a fee waiver, applicants should send a brief letter to Patricia Rea, Associate Director for Admissions, at  [email protected] , stating the reason for the request. This letter should be sent no later than  December 1st . Please be advised that the applicant must demonstrate a clear and compelling case of financial hardship.

Technical isues with ApplyWeb should be addressed to Technical Support ( [email protected] ).

Elements of the Application

In addition to your application form, which you will complete via ApplyWeb, we ask that you attach the following supporting documents to your application.

A personal statement.*  In the personal statement, all M.A. and Ph.D. applications within the Graduate Division of Arts & Sciences should address the following: Please describe how your background and academic experiences have influenced your decision to pursue a graduate degree and led you to apply to Penn. Your essay should detail your specific research interests and intellectual goals within your chosen field. Please provide information about your educational trajectory, intellectual curiosity and academic ambitions. If you have overcome adversity and/or experienced limited access to resources or opportunities in your field of study, please feel free to share how that has affected the course of your education. We are interested in your lived experiences and how your particular perspective might contribute to the inclusive and dynamic learning community that Penn values and strives to create. In the English Graduate Group, we ask that you discuss in this same personal statement your particular interest in our program, including why it is a good fit for your goals in graduate school. Your personal statement should not exceed 1200 words.

A critical writing sample.*  This should be approximately 20 double-spaced pages long and should reflect your writing abilities and most up-to-date critical thinking.  The writing sample must match one of your field interests or concentrations.  We strongly prefer a single, 20-page paper over two shorter papers that add up to 20 pages.

Three letters of recommendation.  These should be written by professors who know your work and can attest to your academic ability. Personal and other non-academic recommendation letters are strongly discouraged. Applicants should use the ApplyWeb system to submit letters. Applicants will submit the names, titles, and contact information of their recommenders, who will receive an emailed invitation to submit a letter on the applicant's behalf. If you or your recommenders have issues with this system, please email Meghan Hall ( [email protected] ) for troubleshooting.  Please do not submit more than four recommendation letters. 

Electronic versions of your academic transcripts.  These do not have to be official transcripts, but can either be a pdf downloaded from your student portal or a scanned copy of a paper transcript.  If accepted, you will need to provide a final, official paper copy of your transcript before you matriculate.

• Proof of English Proficiency.  Applicants with citizenship or permanent resident status in the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, or New Zealand are not required to provide this, and their applications will automatically waive the requirement. Citizens of other countries may satisfy this requirement by either  1 ) submitting proof of having graduated from an institution where English was the primary language of instruction to Meghan Hall, Graduate Coordinator (in most cases, your transcripts will suffice), or  2 ) submitting TOEFL or IELTS scores . Our TOEFL code is 2986.  IELTS scores must be sent via mail to University of Pennsylvania, Department of English, 3340 Walnut Street, Rm 127, Philadelphia, PA 19104, Attn: Meghan Hall, Graduate Coordinator. The University of Pennsylvania only accepts hard copies of IELTS scores. Questions about individual cases should be directed to Meghan Hall ( [email protected] ).

*  For both your  personal statement  and  critical writing sample , please include  1 primary field of interest  and up to  2 additional fields of interest  at the top of the first page, or in the page's header. Your primary field of interest should match your selection of concentration on the ApplyWeb application form. Please choose from the following list:

• Medieval Literature
• Early Modern/Renaissance Literature
• Restoration and Eighteenth-Century British Literature  (includes Restoration, Eighteenth Century, Early Romanticism, British Empire Studies)
• Nineteenth-Century British Literature  (includes Later Romanticism, Victorianism, British Empire Studies)
• Twentieth- and Twenty-First-Century British Literature  (includes British Modernism, Postwar, Contemporary, British Empire Studies)
• American Literature through the Nineteenth Century
• Twentieth- and Twenty-First-Century American Literature  (includes American Modernism, Postwar, Contemporary)
• American Studies/Ethnic Studies  (Asian American, Latino/a, Native American, Critical Race Studies, Transnational Americas)
• African American and Afro-diaspora Literature
• Contemporary Poetry & Poetics
• Postcolonial Studies  (Global South: South Asia, Africa, Caribbean, Latin America, East Asia)
• Film, Television, and New Media
• Gender & Sexuality Studies
• Material Texts and Digital Humanities

Example: a student interested in the 18th-century British Novel, colonial discourse, and feminism would include at the top of their personal statement, “Primary: 18th-Century British Literature, Additional: British Empire Studies, Gender & Sexuality Studies”

Example: a student interested in studying Latino/a literature, Latin American Literature, and Film would include at the top of their personal statement, "Primary: American/Ethnic Studies; Additional: Postcolonial-Latin America and Film, Television, and New Media." 

For International Applicants & Admittees

NOTE TO APPLICANTS FROM THE UK: we encourage UK applicants to apply for a Thouron Fellowship. The Thouron is a 1-2 year fellowship that pays for a Masters degree. Fellows who are admitted to our Ph.D. program may then continue with fellowship support from Penn. Note that the Thouron deadline is in November. Information and application materials are available on the Thouron.org website .

International Students admitted into the program should apply for their Social Security number as soon as possible so that they don't experience a delay in receiving their stipend.

Questions about the admission process? See our  Frequently Asked Questions  or contact Meghan Hall, Graduate Coordinator ( [email protected] ).

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College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Department of English

Graduate education.

UConn English is a vibrant, supportive, and diverse intellectual community where graduate students develop as writers, thinkers, scholars, and teachers.

Our department offers MA and PhD programs in English . Students in these programs engage with traditional and cutting-edge fields to study the full range of English literature written across the globe. Click on the buttons below to learn more.

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Our Community

UConn English graduate students are part of a welcoming, collaborative community with a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion . They are active participants in UConn’s graduate employee union and work together through the English Graduate Student Association to enhance the graduate student experience in the Department of English.

Our graduate professors are passionate educators, engaged mentors, and highly-respected scholars in their fields. Students have direct access to faculty through courses, seminars, and research. They also gain hands-on experience in teaching and public engagement. As a result, UConn English alumni flourish in positions in academia, administration, and the nonprofit and private sectors.

Areas of Interest

​​UConn English graduate students specialize in historical periods and fields from Medieval to twenty-first century literature, from multiethnic literature to poetics to children’s literature. Their work engages in a range of methodologies, including those drawn from postcolonial theory, adaptation studies, disability studies, anti-racism, and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies.

Our students also engage in specialty communities, such as the Creative Writing Program ; connect their research to their pedagogy through upper-level teaching; and complete graduate certificates in areas like Digital Humanities and Media Studies, American Studies, Human Rights, College Instruction, and Literary Translation.

More Graduate Education Resources

Campus and facilities.

The UConn English graduate program is housed in the Austin Building on the dynamic main campus in Storrs, nestled among the lovely hills of northeastern Connecticut. We are half an hour from Hartford, just over an hour from New Haven, Boston, and Providence, and about two hours from New York City.

Members of our community therefore benefit from the high quality of life that comes with living in an affordable suburban area located among several of America’s greatest cities. Graduate students also enjoy the proximity of archives such as the American Antiquarian Society, the Beinecke Library, the New York Public Library, the Pierpont Morgan Library, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. On the Storrs campus, the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center at the Homer Babbidge Library has strengths in human rights, children’s literature (including the Maurice Sendak papers), alternative press publications, and fine press and artist’s books.

Faculty and Research

The Department of English is home to more than 50 full-time graduate faculty members , whose books, articles, scholarly reputations, and engaged teaching help make UConn one of the top public research institutions in the nation.

English faculty approach their work as archivists and cultural studies scholars, as literary theorists and creative writers, using methodologies from areas as diverse as disability studies, gender and sexuality studies, postcolonial theory, and childhood studies. We pride ourselves on our coverage of nearly all major specialty areas .

Funding and Teaching

Full-time students in all three UConn English graduate programs receive tuition waivers, a living stipend, and access to university health insurance. This funding is supported by guaranteed teaching assistantships, through which our graduate students gain valuable classroom experience in our innovative First-Year Writing Program, which is dedicated to writing across technology, collaborative learning, and small class sizes.

MA/Ph.D. and Ph.D. students are also guaranteed one semester in which they teach two courses that speak to their professional interests, such as genre courses, literature surveys, major author courses, advanced writing courses, or courses focused on a literary period or theoretical approach. Our department values and strives to support our graduate students as teachers as well as scholars.

Learn more about graduate student funding.

Awards and Contests

The Department of English supports a range of annual awards and writing contests that recognize students for outstanding achievements in creative writing and teaching.

Learn more about English awards, contests, and scholarships.

Career Development

Our program is distinctive in its support of graduate students as they meet the demands of an increasingly competitive job market.

In their first semester, all MA and MA/Ph.D. students enroll in a three-credit course on pedagogical theory, a one-credit teaching practicum, and a one-credit exploration of graduate study. MA/Ph.D. and Ph.D. students also take a three-credit seminar on professional development, in which they explore research activities such as academic publishing, conferencing, and grant writing while learning about classroom strategies and careers open to Ph.D. alumni.

Students also receive one-on-one support from a member of our Job Market Committee as they develop materials from cover letters and CVs to diversity statements and teaching philosophies. This support has helped our students earn positions in academic settings and beyond across the country.

View recent placements of our graduate alumni.

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MA/PhD in English Language and Literature

Program Overview

Our MA/PhD in English Language and Literature is an integrated program that allows students to earn an MA on the way to the PhD. We do not admit students for a terminal MA degree. The program receives over 250 applications of admission each year and typically enrolls an entering class of 10-14 students, all of whom receive funding.   

The MA/PhD program offers two tracks: one in Literature and Culture, the other in Language and Rhetoric. Within each track, students will develop individualized programs of study in close consultation with faculty mentors. Intellectually, there is substantial connection between work in these areas of the department: faculty teaching in the Language and Rhetoric track are certainly thinking about matters of culture, just as faculty teaching in Literature and Culture clearly attend to the nature and politics of language. Students in either track can and do take courses in the other.

However, these two tracks offer distinct forms of professional training and accreditation: students in the Literature and Culture track are trained to conduct research and to teach in literary and cultural studies (e.g., in fields such as Victorian literature, ecocritism, or contemporary speculative fiction). Students in the Language and Rhetoric track are trained to conduct research and to teach in areas broadly related to language-in-use (e.g., in fields such as composition studies, rhetoric, history of English, applied linguistics, literacy, and writing pedagogy). Their research might study practices in the composition classroom or might address topics in discourse analysis, language policy, and translingualism. On completion of the PhD, Literature and Culture students are qualified to apply for jobs teaching in their area of literary or cultural study; students in Language and Rhetoric are qualified to apply for jobs in rhetoric and composition studies, applied linguistics, or writing program administration. When applying to the program, applicants must choose between these two tracks and may not apply to both simultaneously.

Department faculty work across a range of historical periods (Medieval, Early Modern, 19 th , 20 th , and 21 st centuries) and methodological frameworks with a focus on the study of discourse, literacy, textuality, genre (including speculative fiction and SF), gender and sexuality, race and ethnicity, postcoloniality, indigeneity, disability, environment, media, and public culture. For a fuller snapshot of the work we do, please consult our faculty profiles . 

Application Information

Application materials are due December 1. (If December 1 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, then the deadline is the following Monday.)  Offers of admission are usually made by mid-March.  

• How to Apply
• Application Checklist

For frequently asked questions, please see our  MA/PhD FAQ  page. 

Funding Opportunities

We offer a funding package to all admitted MA/PhD students. The funding package includes a tuition waiver, health insurance, and a monthly stipend during the academic year through an Academic Student Employee position. In general, duties include teaching one English class, assisting in a large lecture and leading quiz sections, or assisting in program administration.

PhD students also have opportunities to compete for fellowships and scholarships offered through the Department of English.

• Check out our other Funding Opportunities

MA/PhD Degree Requirements

MA/PhD degree requirements can be found here: PhD Degree Requirements .

Students who enter our PhD program without a related master’s degree will be required to complete an MA in the first two years. More information can be found here:  MA/PhD Degree Requirements: Master's Degree .

Placement & Alumni

A recent survey of our graduates from 2008-2018 showed the following employment rates:

• 43% in tenure-track positions
• 43% in other academic positions (not tenure-track)
• 8% in professional careers

Dissertation abstracts from recent graduates can be found here: Graduate Research .

Check out our  PhD Alumni Spotlight page where recent alumni have shared their current job placements, highlights from their time at UW, and advice for current and prospective students. 

Contact an advisor

• We welcome questions and correspondence from prospective graduate students at  [email protected]
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• Section 3. The MA/PhD Program

3.1. Course Requirements

3.2. distribution requirement, 3.3. normal progress for the ma/phd program, 3.4. incomplete courses, 3.5 time to degree, 3.6 phd classification.

The MA/PhD program requires 48 units of graduate coursework (12 courses at 4 units per course), all of which must be taken for a letter grade. 36 units, including 20 chosen to fulfill the distribution requirement, must be completed in the student’s first two years before taking the first qualifying exam, which also serves as the Master’s examination for students in this program. The remaining 12 units must be completed before submission of the dissertation prospectus. It is university policy that graduate students enroll for at least 8 units per quarter, although the department encourages graduate students to take 12. Since students in the MA/PhD program normally take only two courses per quarter to fulfill program requirements, additional units of Engl. 597, or 599, which require no formal work, may be added. Students may enroll in Engl. 597 until they have passed the second qualifying exam. Once advanced to candidacy, students may enroll in Engl. 599.

Students in the MA/PhD program are required to take one course in each of Areas I through V in their first two years (courses must be taken for a letter grade and may be chosen from either of the fields in each Area).

The MA/PhD normally takes five years. Students in this program must take the first qualifying examination no later than their sixth quarter of residence and the second qualifying examination no later than their tenth quarter. University policy mandates that all graduate students advance to candidacy by the close of their fourth year (see Section 3.5 for more information). However, normal progress in the English program requires advancement at the beginning of the fourth year. In addition, students must satisfy the foreign language requirement as set forth in Section 7. It is the responsibility of students to ensure that they continue making normal progress in the program – i.e., to complete courses, satisfy language requirements, and pass the first and second qualifying exams in timely fashion. Students should realize that satisfactory progress toward the degree is usually a precondition of assignment to teaching assistantships. The following scheme shows how the requirements of the MA/PhD Program might be arranged in the five-year schedule:

Filing for an incomplete requires the signature of the course instructor on an Incomplete Petition, the return of the petition to the Registrar, and the deposit of a copy of the form with the Staff Graduate Advisor. Students can carry no more than eight units of “Incomplete” courses at a time. In keeping with the policy of Graduate Division to block further TA assignments when this number is exceeded, students carrying more than eight units of incompletes will lose their TAship until the quarter after they catch up. For reasons of fairness, students with more than eight units of incompletes who are on fellowship rather than TAship should expect to lose a commensurate amount of TAship in the future. In addition, Incompletes taken prior to the first qualifying exam must be completed by the end of the quarter following passing the first qualifying examination. Failure to meet this condition will incur the same loss of TA assignment noted above. Beyond these absolute rules governing incompletes, it should be pointed out that students who technically stay within the bounds of the eight-unit-incomplete rule but let their incompletes lag on more than a year or who regularly carry the maximum number of incompletes will in times of funding exigency – as an unavoidable circumstance of practice rather than of policy – have a lower priority for uninterrupted TAship support than students making normal progress (see statement on “normal progress in the program” in Section 3.3 above). Students in such straits may thus want to avail themselves of the strategy of asking their instructor to change the grade-status of an incomplete course from letter-grade to “S/U” (assuming that work performed in the course prior to the final paper was “satisfactory”). The advantage of such a strategy is that courses could be “completed” based on work already done; the disadvantage is that such courses would not count for credit toward the degree (see Section 3.1). In addition, of course, students with legitimate academic, personal, or medical reasons may petition the Graduate Committee for an exception to the rules.

Note: in general, the program has two reasons for linking incompletes to funding – neither of which is punitive. First, the program’s primary responsibility is to students as students rather than as teaching assistants; where it is evident that a student is unable to complete a significant number of courses, the program is compelled to relieve the student of extra teaching work until coursework is back on track. Second, while the program tries to make its funding go as far as possible to as many students as possible, in a scarce-resources universe there must be some criteria for prioritizing funding; and the most ethical and rational criterion – as well as the one that gives students the most self-determination – is “normal progress.” The timely completion of coursework is a crucial factor in making normal progress in the program.

Time to degree is the number of quarters considered to be reasonable by the faculty of an individual department for completion of a doctorate by a full-time student in that program. Time to degree (set by Graduate Division) should not be confused with Normal Progress (set by the English Department). The Graduate Division has set our time to degree as 21 quarters to degree completion. Furthermore, students are required to advance to candidacy within 12 quarters of entering the program. Only Fall, Winter & Spring count toward your quarter total; Summer does not. Students beyond normative time lose priority for central and departmental funding, and can be denied funding and/or student employment (TAships) at the university.

When students must deal with emergencies that prevent them from pursuing their graduate studies for an extended period of time, they may usually extend their time to degree by petitioning for a leave of absence. When students take an approved leave of absence for medical, family emergency, military service, or pregnancy/parenting reasons, Graduate Division will extend the student’s time to degree by one quarter at a time up to a maximum of three quarters of leave. More leaves or periods of withdrawal from classes will not stop the time to degree clock; the deadline stands. Quarters of In Absentia Registration and the Filing Fee Quarter of Leave count toward expiration of a student’s time to degree clock.

Graduate students are classified by the registrar’s office in three categories based on their level of advancement and/or time in the program. This classification is independent of departmental or university time to degree. Most students are either P1-graduate student (not ABD) or P2-graduate student advanced to candidacy. Once you advance to candidacy, you have three years (9 quarters) to complete your degree. If you do not file your dissertation at the end of the 9th quarter, you are converted to P3 status.

Classification:

• Eligible to apply for central funding
• Eligible to apply for extramural funding
• Eligible to apply for employment (e.g. TAship)
• Begins the quarter after advancement to candidacy
• Eligible to apply for employment (e.g., TAship)
• Begins 10 registered quarters after advancement to candidacy
• Not eligible to apply for central funding
• Graduate Overview
• Fellowships and Awards
• PhD Emphases and Certificates
• Requirements
• Qualifying Exams
• Section 1. English Faculty
• Section 2. Graduate Study in English at UCSB
• Section 4. The Ph.D. Program
• Section 5. Independent Studies, Colloquia, Special Courses
• Section 6. Coursework in Other Departments
• Section 7. Foreign Language Requirement
• Section 8. The First Qualifying Exam
• Section 9. The Second Qualifying Exam
• Section 10. Advancement to Candidacy
• Section 11. The Dissertation
• Section 12. Registration
• Section 13. Leaves of Absence
• Section 14. Deadlines
• Section 15. The Job Search and Job Placement Committee
• Section 16. Financial Support
• Section 17. Administration of the Graduate Program
• Section 18. Departmental Staff
• Section 19. Reading Lists for the First Qualifying Exam
• Funding & Support
• Job Placement

Beyond Education. Experience.

Graduate programs.

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Experiential Learning

Should I Go To Grad School: 4 Questions to Consider

Global Reach

Experience our network..

Campus Locations

Career outcome.

Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences

77 Massachusetts Avenue Building 54-912 Cambridge MA, 02139

617-253-3381 [email protected]

Website: Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences

Application Opens: September 1

Deadline: December 1 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Fee: $75.00

Terms of Enrollment

Interdisciplinary programs, areas of research.

• Atmospheric Science
• Climate Science
• Geochemistry
• Planetary Sciences

Financial Support

All students admitted to our doctoral programs are provided with full funding that includes a stipend, tuition, and health insurance. This may be in the form of a fellowship or research assistantship. At some time in your graduate career, you will be asked to serve as a teaching assistant so that you gain that experience. Research assistantships are the primary support for students beyond the first year.

Funding may vary by program, and newly admitted students are encouraged to apply to outside government and private agencies for fellowship support. Please see the  EAPS website  for more information.

Standardized Tests

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

• General test not required for Fall 2024 admissions cycle
• Subject test in Chemistry or Physics not required for Fall 2024 admissions cycle*

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

• Minimum score required: 7
• Electronic scores send to: MIT Graduate Admissions

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

• 600 (paper-based)
• 100 (internet-based)

IELTS is preferred, though both IELTS and TOEFL will be accepted. A waiver of the TOEFL/IELTS requirement may be available for those who have completed a four-year bachelor’s program taught exclusively in English.

Application Requirements

• Online application
• Statement of objectives
• Three letters of recommendation
• Transcripts
• English proficiency exam scores

Special Instructions

Deadline for September admission is December 1st.

Do not try to convert your university grading scale or GPA to MIT’s scale. Enter the grades/GPA as granted by your school.

An original copy of your transcript from each college or university, translated into English, should be uploaded as an attachment in PDF format to your application. No other attachments will be accepted. Hard copies sent via post by an applicant will not be accepted. Only those applicants who are accepted for admission will be required to submit a hard copy of their transcripts. Any discrepancy between the scanned transcripts and official transcripts may result in a rejection or withdrawal of our admission offer.

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Tuition & Financial Aid

Strategic Marketing Communication

Emerson’s Graduate Program tuition rates are by credit. You can enroll on a full-time or part-time basis depending on your program of choice, fluctuating each semester’s credit costs to fit your unique needs. To learn more about our tuition costs, please visit our Tuition & Expenses page.

Financial Aid

Emerson College is proud to offer students and families financial aid options and resources. For a full list of our financial aid offerings, visit our Financial Aid page. 

Scholarships

When you apply to an Emerson Graduate Program, the Graduate Admission team automatically reviews every accepted student’s scholarship eligibility. 80% of all applicants are awarded scholarships. For more information about scholarships, please visit our Scholarships & Grants page.

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How to Apply: Inclusive Education Master's Degree, Special Education, PreK-8

This inclusive education track leads to a master's degree and Massachusetts initial licensure in special education, PreK-8.

Upcoming Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester: August 1, 2024
• Spring Semester: January 1, 2025
• Summer Semester: May 1, 2025
• Stonehill Teacher Residency: May 1, 2025
• Stonehill in Boston: May 15, 2024
• Stonehill on Cape Cod: March 1, 2024

Program Prerequisite(s)

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Licensure subject matter knowledge verification
• Completed course in child development with a grade of B or better, or Massachusetts initial licensure in another area

Please note that, in some cases, students may be accepted into the program without having completed the prerequisites stated above. These students will be required to develop an advisor-approved plan for completion of equivalent courses.

Application Components

Use our online application to apply for admission. Once you have completed and submitted your application, you will be provided access to an online Application Status Portal where you will be able to monitor your application checklist, provide required supplemental documentation, and ultimately receive your admission decision.

Written Teaching Statement

The purpose of the teaching statement is to provide the admission committee with a reflective account of your personal beliefs, skills and experiences in relation to teaching. You will be required to submit a written statement that addresses the prompts below in a narrative statement. For more information, please see the Written Teaching Statement tab of your application. 

• your beliefs/values about learning and education
• skills and attributes you possess that would make you a successful educator
• the role of social justice, equity, diversity and inclusivity in educational environments
• your goals and how graduate study at Stonehill will help you to achieve them

Recommendations (2)

We require two (2) recommendations from academic and/or professional references, such as former or current college/university faculty members with deep familiarity with your academic work or your current or former employers/supervisors. These references will be provided access to an online recommendation form. A letter of recommendation will be optional. For more information, please see the Recommendations tab of your application.

Resume/Curriculum Vitae

We require that you include an updated resume and/or Curriculum Vitae (C.V.) as part of your application for admission. For more information and to upload your document, please see the Resume/Curriculum Vitae tab of your application.

Academic History and Official Transcripts

In order to complete our review of your application for admission, we must have access to official transcripts for any and all degrees you have earned, both undergraduate and graduate. For more information, please see the Academic History tab of your application.

Foreign Credential Evaluations 

If you earned a degree from an institution located outside of the United States, we will require a foreign credential evaluation. Please request an official, course-by-course transcript evaluation report from a NACES-accredited education evaluation service , and have that evaluation sent to Stonehill College. Unofficial transcripts cannot be accepted .

Other Application Components

Standardized tests.

We do not require standardized test scores for admission into our graduate programs but strongly encourage applicants to licensure programs to upload completed MTEL score reports.  Applicants may also submit official scores for GRE, GMAT or other standardized tests via the testing agency in support of your application for admission if you feel the scores would provide positive context for your candidacy.

Proof of English Proficiency

If English is not your native language, we may require proof of English proficiency via the  Test of English as a Foreign Language  (TOEFL) or  International English Language Testing System  (IELTS). In order to ensure sufficient preparation for the academic challenge of our graduate programs, Stonehill will seek to admit candidates with a TOEFL score of 90 or greater or an IELTS of 6.5. Additionally, the College will consider candidates sub-scores to assure sufficient preparation among all measures of English proficiency.

• Applicants who have received or will receive a degree from an accredited university in the United States will not be required to provide proof of English proficiency.
• Applicants who have received or will receive a degree from an accredited university abroad where English is the sole language of instruction will not be required to provide proof of English proficiency. Applicants in this category must provide an official letter of verification from the university that English is the sole language of instruction, along with the applicant's date of graduation (or anticipated date of graduation for those who are still working on their bachelor's degree). Failure to provide an official letter of verification will mean that proof of English proficiency will be required for admission. 
• Applicants from countries where English is the sole official language of instruction (Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Canada-except Quebec, Ghana, Ireland, India, Jamaica, Kenya, New Zealand, Nigeria, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad, Tobago, Uganda, and United Kingdom - England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales) will not be required to provide proof of English proficiency.

Contact Information

Graduate & professional studies admission.

Graduate & Professional Studies Admission assists students as they explore graduate and professional opportunities offered at Stonehill College. 

Rebekah C. Louis

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Master of Arts

Communication Specialization

Transform ideas into lasting impact.

Nothing is accomplished without clear, effective communication. Hone your existing skills as you explore how communication affects all aspects of human life, including relationships, conflict and leadership. This advanced communication degree offers opportunities for self-reflection, critical and creative thinking, community outreach and service learning. You will complete core studies covering graduate transformation and ethics, along with specialization courses that run the gamut from high-level theory to practical workplace skills.

Know what you're looking for? This is for you:

• Jump to Application Requirements
• Jump to Tuition and Financial Aid

Explore Other Master of Arts Specializations

Interested in something other than Communication? Choose from one of our other distinct specializations that best matches your personal and career ambitions.

• Applied Psychology
• Creative Writing
• Environmental Studies
• Religious Studies

Request More Information About This Degree

Program snapshot.

Program Format Online 7- or 8-week terms

Time Commitment 12-24 months

Key Dates Starts are offered in January, March, May, July, August and October

View Full Degree Curriculum and Requirements

Join Regis Alumni Working As:

Corporate communications manager.

Craft and convey your company's messages, ensuring consistent and positive communication to stakeholders and the public.

Public Relations Specialist

Build and maintain a positive image for organizations by managing communication with the media and the public.

Content Strategist

Plan and execute the creation, distribution and management of content, aligning it with business goals and audience needs.

By the Numbers

* Regis First Destination Survey, 2023 ** U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , 2022

Imagine Yourself In ...

MALC 672: Conflict Management

Learn how to identify, avoid and manage common types of conflict within organizations, while developing communication styles and strategies for working through conflict.

MALC 623: Persuasive Communication

Explore the practice of persuasion and rhetoric in interpersonal relationships, professional settings, sales and marketing, and the mass media. In this class, you’ll discover both theoretical explanations and practical applications of persuasive communication.

MALC 668: Communication Through Social Media

Explore different forms of social media and its influence on interpersonal and professional relationships, while examining the impact of social media on personal and group identity.

How to Apply

To apply to the Master of Arts program, you will need:

• Online application
• Official degree-bearing transcript(s) from an accredited college or university
• Admissions essay
• Faculty interview may be required

This program is eligible for our FastForward dual degree. To learn more about eligible programs and GPA requirements, visit regis.edu/fastforward

Real people. Really invested in you. Contact your admissions counselor today and learn how we help you every step of the way.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition for the 2023-2024 academic year: $599 per credit hour Total program credits: 33 A 10% tuition discount is offered for licensed educators.

Tuition is one part of the overall cost of attendance, which includes all expenses students may have, including basic living costs. For more information about tuition, fees and your estimated cost of attendance, visit our Cost of Attendance for Adult Undergraduates and Graduate Students page . Tuition and fees are subject to change.

Earning your Master of Arts with Communication specialization from Regis sets you apart and expands your professional network — think of it as an investment in your future. Between scholarship opportunities and financial aid packages, advancing your education is within reach.

Learn More About Financial Aid Options

A Culture of Excellence

Want to learn more? Here's something for you: The Master of Arts with Communication specialization is offered by Regis College at Regis University.

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• Explore Our Key Jesuit Values

Your Future Starts Here

• Contact Admissions
• Request More Info
• Start Your Application

Admissions Essay

As you complete this essay, we encourage you to share with us some personal insights about those experiences and influences that have shaped you.

Write a personal statement indicating how you think your desired degree or certificate will enhance your career plans. What impact would you like to have on your colleagues, organizations, and the world? What experiences have you had that form the foundation for these goals? Try to be as specific as possible in answering these questions.

Your statement should be between 400-500 words, double-spaced, and typewritten in Microsoft Word format. Save your document once complete. The online application includes a section to upload your statement. If you have already submitted your application, email it to [email protected] ensuring your first name, last name and academic program are included on the document.

English at UMass

With 2 undergraduate concentrations, 1 certificate, and 8 specializations, you'll find so many ways to pursue your passions in English Studies. Our majors benefit from all the resources of a large research university, while still enjoying the community and close relationships with peers and faculty typically found at a smaller, liberal arts college.

The English Major

As an English major at UMass Amherst, you'll develop powerful skills for reading, writing, speaking, and critical thinking. You can personalize your major by choosing from among specializations in literature, writing, technology, social justice, and the environment.

MA/PhD in English

Our Graduate Program offers both MA and PhD degrees in English. Students can choose from a broad range of graduate-level courses in English studies and pursue interdisciplinary approaches informed by cultural studies and contemporary critical theory.

MFA for Poets and Writers

The MFA for Poets and Writers champions the creation of new and important writing, and for over 50 years has been a place for writers to concentrate on their work and to write their books.

Upcoming Events

Spotlight on a student: lauren saloio at nasa.

My English courses at UMass taught me how to think critically and tailor my writing to a particular audience, which was a key skill to have at NASA. In the Professional Writing and Technical Communication program, there was a huge emphasis on recognizing what technical knowledge our audience might or might not have and how to tailor our writing accordingly.

E445 South College 150 Hicks Way Amherst, MA 01003 (413) 545-5456

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• Opportunities for Non-U.S. Citizens
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Florida State University

FSU | The Graduate School

Main navigation Pulldown

The graduate school.

• Prospective Students

International Admissions

We are now accepting Graduate applications for Fall 2024, and Spring 2025.* *Please contact your department for application open terms and deadlines.

Our community welcomes you

Each year, the university enrolls approximately 1,700 international students. We are proud to offer extensive support and services to our international population. International applicants should plan to apply early so they have ample time to obtain their immigration documents and make living arrangements in the U.S. Any F-1/J-1 students planning to obtain their I-20/DS-2019 should contact the Center for Global Engagement at [email protected] . Please check with your department regarding deadlines. 

International Admissions Requirements

In addition to meeting graduate university admissions requirements, international applicants must also meet the following University requirements to be considered for admission. 

English Language Proficiency Requirement

Official English Language Proficiency results are required of all international applicants whose native language is not English. The following are the minimum scores required for admission to the University, although some departments require higher scores at the graduate level: 

Internet based TOEFL ( IBTOEFL ): 80 

Paper based TOEFL ( TOEFL ): 550 

International English Language Testing System ( Academic IELTS ): 6.5 

Pearson Test of English ( PTE ): 55 

Duolingo : 120 (Summer 2022 and Forward)

Cambridge C1 Advanced Level : 180  (Fall 2022 and Forward)

Michigan Language Assessment : 55  (Fall 2022 and Forward)

Although official scores are required, most departments will begin to review your application with self-reported scores, while they are waiting for the official scores to arrive. You can self-report your scores on your Online Status Page, after you submit your application. 

The English Language Proficiency requirement can be waived, at the University-level, for applicants who have earned a minimum of a BA or higher in the US or in an English-Speaking Country. Please note, your department may still require proof of English-Language proficiency. *A variety of countries are exempt from the English language proficiency requirement.

Transcript and Credential Evaluation Requirements

All transcripts/academic records that are not in English must be accompanied by certified English translations. 

To be considered "certified," documents should be true copies that are signed and dated by an educational official familiar with academic records. Any translated record should be literal and not an interpretive translation. Documents signed by a notary or other public official with no educational affiliation will not be accepted. 

If the transcript/academic record does not indicate the degree earned and date the degree was awarded, separate proof of degree is required. 

International applicants or degrees earned from international institutions must submit their official transcripts through the SpanTran pathway portal, or from another NACES approved evaluator. SpanTran has created a custom application for Florida State University that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. Florida State University recommends SpanTran as our preferred credential evaluation because it offers an easy way to streamline the application process.

Please read more about our general transcript requirements on our  Graduate Admissions page. 

International Transfer Credit

International transfer credit is awarded for coursework completed at an accredited (recognized) institution of higher learning. No credit is awarded for technical, vocational, or below-college-level coursework, or courses completed with grades below "D-." An official course-by-course evaluation is required for all academic records from non-U.S. institutions. We recommend the evaluation be done by a member of the  National Association of Credential Evaluation Services . 

SUPPORT TO HELP YOU THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.

The Center for Global Engagement (CGE) and its staff are here to serve international students and their families. They may advise you about:

• F and J visa requirements
• Cultural adjustment
• Employment matters
• Housing assistance
• Assistance with personal concerns
• Maintaining your visa status

Many academic programs only accept applications for a specific admit term. Contact your academic department to determine which admit term to apply. It is recommended that you submit your application as soon as the admit term opens. CGE also assists students throughout the New International Student Checklist and Process . You may learn more about what CGE has to offer by emailing [email protected] . 

Center for Intensive English Studies

Need to improve your English skills? FSU’s Center for Intensive English Studies can help! At CIES, you will be given personalized instruction by highly qualified teachers in a safe, friendly environment.

Please note that admission to and completion of the CIES program does not necessarily guarantee admission to the University as a degree-seeking student.

CIES also offers:

• TEFL certification  opportunities
• Credit-bearing courses and workshops  to enhance your English speaking ability

Learn more about how the Center for Intensive English Studies can help you.  

Florida State University is required by U.S. federal regulations to verify the financial resources of each applicant prior to issuing the Form I-20. If granted admission to the University, an email with instructions on how to complete the I-20 will be sent from the Center for Global Engagement (CGE). You will provide information verifying your financial support (bank statements, award letters, scholarships, etc.) through the I-20 application. FSU requires proof of financial support for the first year of study and demonstrated availability of funds for the length of your academic program

Estimated International Student Costs:

For more information on estimated costs of living and the I-20 process, please visit  CGE’s website .  

I-20 Application

Shortly after admission, students will receive an email with instructions for completing the online I-20 application to demonstrate proof of adequate funding. Florida State University is required by U.S. federal regulations to verify the financial resources of each applicant prior to issuing the Form I-20. Applicants must show proof of financial support for the first year of study and confirm availability of funds for the length of the academic program.

For more information, contact the Center for Global Engagement at [email protected] .

US Federal Grants and Loans are not Awarded to International Students

Graduate students may apply to their respective departments for assistantships or fellowships, although funds are very limited. For further information, please contact your academic department directly. 

SPEAK (Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit) is a test for evaluating the English speaking ability of non-native speakers of English. At FSU, the SPEAK test is administered by the Center for Intensive English Studies to international students who have been appointed or will be appointed as teaching assistants in an academic department at Florida State University.

For more information, click here .

  Explore Funding Opportunities 

May the TOEFL be waived?

The TOEFL may only be waived as a test requirement if the student has received a bachelor's or master's degree from a U.S. institution.

Can you review my documents prior to applying?

Students must submit the application, application fee, and any required departmental materials for application materials to be reviewed.

Can the application fee be waived?

Unfortunately, the Office of Admissions is unable to waive the application fee payment for graduate applicants.  In order to complete your application for review, you must submit the application fee payment by logging in to your Application Status Check ,  along with any other documents required by the department. 

When will I receive a decision?

Applications are reviewed holistically by each graduate department. Please contact your department for information about decision timelines. Please note that the application must first be completed before it can be reviewed. Contact your department for more information.

Can the GRE be waived?

FSU is currently waiving the GRE requirement for most master’s and specialist programs through Fall 2026*. For more information on whether the requirement can be waived, please contact your graduate department. 

* Excludes the College of Business

What if I don’t meet the English Language Proficiency score requirements?

​​​​​​ The FSU Center of Intensive English Studies (CIES) offers comprehensive courses to help students improve their English skills. Students who complete the top-level of the CIES program will not have to take an English Language Proficiency test.

What is the F-1 visa/I-20 process?

• Students can learn more about the I-20 process here .
• Students can learn about the visa here .

Do you have funding available for International students?

• The Graduate School offers fellowship and grant opportunities for graduate students. For current FSU students, the  Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards  assists in identifying and applying for external funding opportunities. In addition,  here is some more information  about additional funding opportunities for international students. 
• There may also be additional funding opportunities through your department. Please contact your graduate representative for assistance. If you do not know who to contact, please email us at [email protected] for assistance.

Are there on-campus housing opportunities?

University housing costs are not included in the tuition and fees at Florida State University. If you want the option of living on campus, you can apply for housing online as soon as you are officially admitted to FSU. Housing at university-owned residence halls and apartments fill quickly. You can also find off-campus housing options by clicking here .