Graduate

Prospective Students

How to Apply for the PhD in English Language and Literature

We will start accepting applications for the 2013-2014 academic year in September 2012. Applications and supplemental materials must be received by midnight, PST, December 15, 2012 to meet our deadline. The fee for United States citizens and those with permanent resident visa status is $65. The fee for non-U.S. citizens is $75. The application fee for current Rackham students, regardless of citizenship, is $10. This fee is non-refundable and subject to change.

Make sure you have every document uploaded before you submit your application, once you click on the submit button, you will not be able to go back into your application to make any changes. To reiterate, we will not be able to accept hard copies of any documents.

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

SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION:

1. MAIL TO THE RACKHAM GRADUATE SCHOOL:

• One set of official transcripts from your bachelor (and masters if appropriate) granting institution to: Rackham Graduate School, 0120 Rackham Bldg., 915 E. Washington Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109

2. SUBMIT ELECTRONICALLY:

• Scores from the Graduate Record Examination no older than five years. Please be sure to take the general GRE no later than October to meet the December 15 deadline. Be sure you include our Institution code of 1839, when sending us your GRE scores. The Department code is not required in order for your scores to reach our office. We do not require the GRE Subject test score.

• Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).The minimum TOEFL score accepted is 620 on paper, 260 on the computer or 106 internet. The test date must be within 2 years of the application deadline. Photocopies and/or faxed scores will not be accepted. We do not accept any test scores other than the TOEFL. Be sure to include our Institution code of 1839 when sending us your TOEFL scores. The Department code is not required in order for your scores to reach our office.

SUBMIT ELECTRONICALLY AS PDF's THROUGH THE ONLINE APPLICATION:

• One set of transcripts from each college or university attended. If you are admitted to the program, accept, and you complete your current education after admission, you will need to submit an official hard copy of your final transcript to the English Department (see address at the bottom of this web page) and Rackham Graduate School at: Rackham Graduate School, 0120 Rackham Bldg., 915 E. Washington Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109

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

• Clearly labeled biographical Personal Statement: up to two pages, double spaced, statement about how your personal background and life experiences, including social, cultural, familial, educational, or other opportunities or challenges, motivated your decision to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Michigan. This is not an Academic Statement of  Purpose, but a discussion of the personal journey that has led to your decision to seek a graduate degree. Disregard the 500 word limit as stated on the application.
  
  
• A curriculum vitae/resume, no page limit. Your CV/resume must be submitted online. No fax, email or attachment will be considered.

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

• Three letters of recommendation: register your recommenders when filling out the online application. Recommenders are notified via email once you click "submit" on the application page where you listed the recommender information. We do not accept hard copies. Please make it clear to all recommenders that your application processing will not be complete if we do not receive your letters by the December 15 deadline. Your recommenders will not be able to submit electronic letters after this date.
  
  
• Writing Sample: of no more than 25 pages double spaced, of critical or scholarly writing.
  

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

TO RECAP THE TRANSCRIPT PROCESS:

1. Mail to the Rackham Graduate School one set of official transcripts from your bachelor (and masters if appropriate) granting institution.

2. Submit electronically one set of transcripts from each college or university attended. If you are admitted to the program, accept, and you complete your current education after admission, you will need to submit an official hard copy of your final transcript to the English Department (see address at the bottom of this web page) and Rackahm Graduate School at: Rackham Graduate School, 0120 Rackham Bldg., 915 E. Washington street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109

The University of Michigan requires certain entering international students to be screened for tuberculosis (TB). This requirement is in response to recommendations from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Michigan Advisory Committee for Elimination of Tuberculosis to screen individuals from countries where TB is common. Screening will be offered free on campus and a TB infection would not jeopardize a student's visa status. Health care is completely confidential. For further information, see http://www.uhs.umich.edu/tbscreen.

For the academic year 2013-2014, students from the following countries (identified by the World Health Organization as together accounting for 80% of the world's TB cases) with an F-1 or J-1 visa type and a Form I-20 or DS-2019 issued by UM will be screened for TB: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, China (includes Hong Kong SAR), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Russian Federation, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe.

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

The English Department will be closed December 24th through January 1st.

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

Click here to proceed to the online application.

Email us with questions (graduate.english@umich.edu) or call 734.763-4139

All materials must be received in our office by December 15. We adhere to a strict deadline. This is not a postmark date. It is the applicant's responsibility to make sure that all materials are uploaded successfully and on-time. Applications that remain incomplete after this date will not be considered.