Graduate

Prospective Students

How to Apply for the PhD in English Language and Literature

We will start accepting applications for the 2010-2011 academic year in September 2009. Applications and supplemental materials must be received by midnight, PST, January 1, 2010 to meet our deadline.

Applicants with Master's degrees are given equal consideration for admission, but are not guaranteed advanced standing in the program.

SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION:

MAIL TO THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT:

• One set of official transcripts from each college or university attended.
  
  
• Writing sample of no more than 25 pages of critical or scholarly writing. No fax, email or attachment will be considered.
  
  Graduate English Department, 435 S. State Street, 3187 Angell Hall, Ann Arbor, MI 48109

SUBMIT ELECTRONICALLY:

• Scores from the Graduate Record Examination, and the Subject Test in English Literature, no older than five years. Please be sure to take the general GRE no later than October and the Subject Test in English Literature by November to meet the January 1 deadline. GRE department code: 2501 Institution code: 1839

• 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.

MAIL TO THE RACKHAM GRADUATE SCHOOL:

• One set of official transcripts from each college or university attended.
  
  Rackham Graduate School, 0120 Rackham Bldg., 915 E. Washington Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109

SUBMIT ELECTRONICALLY THROUGH THE ONLINE APPLICATION:

• 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 either mailed or 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 if your letters of recommendation will be submitted electronically. Please do not send hard copy if letters are being submitted online. Please make it clear to all recommenders that your application processing will be held up if we do not received your letters by the January 1st deadline.
  
  Ways to submit letters of recommendation:

• Electronically (via the online application)
  
  
• By Mail (via paper) -- The letters of recommendation must be sent directly to the program of study. Do NOT send them to Rackham Graduate School Admissions. You will need to provide the recommender with an envelope addressed to your program of study. If the letters of recommendation will be submitted by mail click here to access the Letter of Recommendation form.

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.

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 2010-2011, 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 25th through January 1st, although the deadline is 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 734.936.2710

All materials must be received in our office by January 1st. 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 received by the Graduate English Office. Applications that remain incomplete after this date will not be considered.