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Home > Graduate Studies > Admissions : How to Apply

Application: PhD, MFA, MA

Thank you for your interest in our graduate program. All materials are submitted electronically through the ApplyYourself application system. Admission decisions are communicated to applicants using this system.

A decision for admission notice will be emailed to you once your application is carefully reviewed by the department’s admission committee and your transcripts and any credentials (test reports, diploma copies, etc.) are authenticated by Graduate School officials. Applicants are typically noified by April.

Admission

• A four-year undergraduate degree. MA and PhD applicants need a minimum of four courses in English, American, or Anglophone literature or language, at least three at the upper division level.
• For the PhD and MA: Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required for admission. The General Exam is required; the Subject test is required only by applicants who had narrative undergraduate transcripts rather than grades.
• For the MFA: GRE General Exam scores are not required, but strongly recommended.
• The admission committee has the preferred performance level of at least one of the following: an undergraduate English GPA of 3.5; a graduate GPA of 3.8; or a verbal score in the 85th percentile of the GRE.
• Students whose native language is not English are required to submit scores from one of the following English proficiency examinations:

Examination	Minimum score
TOEFL	620 (paper based) or 105 (Internet based)
MELAB	88
IELTS	7.5

• Students whose native language is not English, who have taken a minimum of one year of recent coursework in an English language university in the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, Australia or New Zealand, may not have to submit English examination scores. In this case, they would need to take the GRE General exam.

Please note that we admit graduate students for fall semester only.

Application Process

Deadlines

December 1 is the application deadline for applicants who wish to be considered for admission and financial aid.

Materials

All application materials should be submitted directly to the ApplyYourself admissions system. We cannot review your application until all of the required materials listed below are submitted successfully.

Submission of the following indicate a complete application file:

REQUIRED
Materials:	Where to submit:	How to submit:
Application	Electronically via ApplyYourself	Required fields: Personal Information, Application Information, Educational Background,Test Information-Self Reported, Languages, Awards & Activities, Employment/Residence Information, Financial Support, Applicant Statements #1 & #2, Program Supplementary Information, and Recommendations. In the Program Supplementary Information, these are the required fields : Graduate Program Additional Application, Writing Sample, and GPA Calculation form ("Upload 1") .   All other fields or application materials are optional, but will be taken into consideration if submitted.   Click here to access the online application.
Application Fee	Electronically via ApplyYourself	Click here for more information about fees.
Transcripts	Electronically via ApplyYourself	Unofficial transcripts or academic records should be uploaded directly to the online application. Please do not mail in paper copies of your transcripts, there is no need for official transcripts or academic records for initial review. If you are admitted, the University will then request official copies of this material. Click here for more information about uploading transcripts and credentials.
Writing Sample	Electronically via ApplyYourself	For the PhD. or MA, your sample should be expository, typically a paper for a literature course that represents your interests and skills (20 pages maximum). For the MFA, the sample should be a substantial example of your creative work (25 pages maximum).
Three letters of Recommendation	Electronically via ApplyYourself	Acceptable recommendations will come from current or former professors who can assess your potential for graduate work. Other recommenders, such as employers, are also acceptable, You should request a total of no more than four letters. Paper copies are not accepted.
Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test scores	Electronically via ApplyYourself, supplied by ETS	General Exam scores are required for the PhD and MA, optional (but strongly recommended) for the MFA. Self-reported scores are not sufficent for the PhD and MA. The Subject test is optional except for those coming from an institution with narrative transcripts. The English department code is 2501. Click here for more information about the GRE.
English Language test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, etc.)	Electronically via ApplyYourself	Click here for more information about Engish language assessment tests.
Program application	Electronically via ApplyYourself	Complete the English Program Application and upload it under Graduate Program Additional Application in the Program Supplementary Information section in ApplyYourself.
English Courses GPA calculation sheet	Electronically via ApplyYourself	Complete the English courses GPA calculation sheet (Word or pdf versions) and submit it under Upload 1 in the Program Supplementary Information section in ApplyYourself. International Students not on a 4.0 grading system do not need to submit this form.

OPTIONAL
Materials:	Where to submit:	How to submit:
Resume or CV	Electronically via ApplyYourself	Upload your resume or CV into the Program Supplementary Information section of the ApplyYourself online application.

If you have any additional questions, please contact gradeng@umn.edu for the PhD and MA, and creawrit@umn.edu for the MFA.