Applying for Admission
Application Fees
International Applicants
Non-Degree Applicants
Master's Program
MFA Program
Doctoral Program
Time to Degree
Graduate Teaching Assistantships
Applying for Admission
Application Deadlines: December 31 and March 1. All materials must be received by the deadline.
To obtain an application packet, please contact the English department graduate secretary by email at lash@ku.edu or phone (785) 864-2518. The
packet will contain an application,
recommendation letter waiver, and English department brochure. All forms
may also be downloaded for printing.
PLEASE NOTE: It is cheaper to apply online. Online processing takes 24 hours. Paper applications may take up to a week to process and arrive in the department.
Printed versions of the on-line application will not be accepted. If you wish to submit a
printed application, you must fill out a printable application form.
In addition to the application itself, please submit the following supplemental materials:
- A resumé or curriculum vitae.
- A statement of approximately 500 words describing your interests, training,
experience (including teaching experience), academic ability, and goals.
- Letters of recommendation from three professors. Letters should be submitted on the
institution's letterhead, in a sealed envelope, addressed directly
to the Graduate Director (address below). Please include a signed copy of the waiver form (see above for a link). Letters should, if
possible, speak to potential as a teacher, although they should
primarily be focused on academic and scholarly ability.
- Copies of G.R.E. scores
in the General Aptitude Test. These tests should be taken well in
advance of the application deadline of December 31. The English
department does not require applicants to take the GRE Subject Exam. To submit scores to us, use university code 6871, department code 2501.
- One official transcript
from each university previously attended (applicants must send one
additional transcript to the Graduate School--see instructions on
the application form).
- M.A. and PhD literature track applicants must submit two examples of academic writing. M.F.A. and
PhD creative track applicants must submit two creative writing samples. Creative writing applicants who plan to focus on poetry writing should include a portfolio of poetry.
Application Fees
- Domestic, applying online: $45
- Domestic, applying with paper application: $55
- International, applying online: $55
- International, applying with paper application: $60
All application materials must be received by March 1 for the fall semester. Early submission of
applications for fellowships and graduate teaching assistantship is
highly desirable. We urge candidates to submit all their materials early for fellowship and/or GTAship consideration.
Please send application form and check to:
Graduate Applications
Graduate School
1450 Jayhawk Blvd., Room 300
Lawrence, KS 66045
Send all supporting materials (writing samples, letters, etc.) to:
Department of English
Graduate Applications
1445 Jayhawk Blvd., Room 3001
Lawrence, KS 66045
International Applicants
Before you submit your application, there are several matters you should consider carefully.
Entering graduate students are expected to have a thorough familiarity
with English and/or American literature and also with accepted modes of
literary criticism and analysis. Students without adequate background,
whose previous work in English has dealt chiefly with learning and
translating the language, will find themselves seriously handicapped as
they attempt the demanding coursework required for completion of the
M.A. or the Ph.D. Further, graduate students must have an effective
command of English. This means not only an ability to understand
lectures and participate in discussions, but also the necessary skill to
write frequent essays and examinations at a sophisticated level.
Most importantly, foreign students must be prepared to finance their education at the University
through their own means. Very few foreign students are able to compete
successfully for graduate fellowships or teaching assistantships. For
this reason, the University requires of all foreign applicants a
financial statement affirming that you have adequate resources to
underwrite tuition and living expenses while you are here. That amount
is currently $15,331.60 per year. A well-prepared student with a
Bachelor’s degree in English or American literature can expect to study
at least a year and a half for the M.A. and considerably longer, of
course, for the Ph.D.
In addition to the three forms listed above, your application must include:
- A properly completed application form, or online application.
- A resumé or curriculum vitae.
- A statement of approximately 500 words describing your interests, training,
experience (including teaching experience), academic ability, and goals.
- Application fee (please see above), either a personal check, drawn on a U.S. bank, and made
out to the "University of Kansas," or an international money order. If applying online, you will pay via credit card.
- Copies of two papers written in English from undergraduate work (for M.A. applicants) or
graduate work (for Ph.D. applicants).
- Letters of recommendation from three professors. Letters should be submitted on the
institution's letterhead, in a sealed envelope, addressed directly to the university (address below).
- Evidence of adequate skill in English, normally TOEFL examination scores of 600 or
higher. Additional evidence will be required for those who apply for
graduate teaching assistantships. If you do not have sufficient
training and skill in English to be admitted as a regular
degree-seeking student in the Department of English, you might
consider applying as a “special” student in the Applied English
Center at this University, a separate program designed to increase
foreign student proficiency in the English language through
full-time study and practice sessions. Please address inquiries to
the Director, Applied English Center, University of Kansas,
Lawrence, Kansas 66045, U.S.A.
- Evidence of adequate background in English studies, preferably Graduate Record
Examination scores. These tests should be taken well in advance of
the admission deadline.
- Two copies in English of official records (transcripts) of all previous university work.
A certified bank statement or fellowship award letter, as outlined on the reverse of the application form.
All application materials
must be received by March 1 for the fall semester. Early submission of
applications for fellowships and graduate teaching assistantship is
highly desirable. We urge candidates to submit all their materials early to arrive in time for fellowship consideration (deadline of December 31). International students are not eligible for English GTAships their first year of study at KU.
Please send applications and fees to:
Graduate Applications
Graduate School
1450 Jayhawk Blvd., Room 300
Lawrence, KS 66045
Send supporting materials (letters, writing samples, etc.) to:
Department of English
Graduate Applications
1445 Jayhawk Blvd., Room 3001
Lawrence, KS 66045
Non-Degree Applicants
We ask that non-degree applicants please contact the graduate coordinator before applying.
Master's Program
The English department offers three options for M.A. candidates. M.A. students enrolling for the first
time must choose one of the four options listed below.
Option 1a - Literature
- One graduate
course from Field A, English Language and Literature in Old and Middle
English, and one from Field B, English Literature 1500-1800.
- One graduate
course in each of two of the following fields: C, English Literature
post 1800; D, American Literature; E, Composition/Rhetoric and Literary
Theory.
- English 800,
Introduction to Graduate Study in English (to be taken at the first
opportunity).
- A total of 30
hours in English courses carrying graduate credit. At least 15 of
these, in addition to English 800, must be at the 700 level or above and
must include at least one seminar passed with a grade of A or B.
- Thesis or Exam
Option: students electing the MA exam will take the final oral
examination described below (page 12). For students electing the MA
thesis, the thesis defense will constitute the final oral examination.
Students may enroll in ENG 899 (Thesis/Exam hours) as necessary, but 899
will not count toward the 30-hour course requirement.
Option 1b - Literature & Literary Theory
- One graduate
course from Field A, English Language and Literature in Old and Middle
English, or one from Field B, English Literature 1500-1800.
- One
graduate course from Field C, English Literature post 1800, or from
Field D, American Literature.
- Two graduate
courses in literary theory from Field E, Composition/Rhetoric and
Literary Theory;.
- English 800,
Introduction to Graduate Study in English (to be taken at the first
opportunity).
- A total of 30
hours in English courses carrying graduate credit. At least 15 of
these, in addition to English 800, must be at the 700 level or above and
must include at least one seminar passed with a grade of A or B.
- Thesis
or Exam Option: students electing the MA exam will take the final oral
examination described below (page 12). For students electing the MA
thesis, the thesis defense will constitute the final oral examination.
Students may enroll in ENG 899 (Thesis/Exam hours) as necessary, but 899
will not count toward the 30-hour course requirement.
Option 2 - Language, Literature, & Composition
- Courses in
literature: At least 6 hours, including at least 3 hours from Field B,
English Literature 1500-1800, and 3 hours from either Field C, English
literature post 1800, or Field D, American literature.
- Courses
in language and composition: At least 6 hours in English Language
courses (from Field A) and/or in Composition/Rhetoric courses (from Field E).
- English 800, Introduction to Graduate Study in English.
- A total of 30 hours in English courses carrying graduate credit. At least
15 of these, in addition to English 800, must be at the 700 level or
above and must include at least one seminar passed with a grade of A or B.
- Thesis or Exam Option: students electing the MA exam will take the final oral
examination described below (page 12). For students electing the MA
thesis, the thesis defense will constitute the final oral examination.
Students may enroll in ENG 899 (Thesis/Exam hours) as necessary, but 899
will not count toward the 30-hour course requirement.
Note on Fields: Please see Appendix A for M.A. Fields.
A student may count an appropriate graduate course in a department or
program other than English as meeting the requirement for Field E,
subject to the approval of the Graduate Director.
Note: A student wishing to enroll in
English 998 (Investigation and Conference) must secure the prior
approval of the member of the graduate faculty with whom he or she
intends to work and the approval of the Graduate Director, who will
indicate that approval by countersigning the graduate adviser's
signature on the enrollment card. Further, a candidate for the Master
of Arts may apply no more than 6 hours of English 998 toward the 30-hour course
requirement, and no more than 3 hours of English 998 may be used to
fulfill the Field distribution requirement for the M.A. degree.
Additional requirements for M.A. degree
- A reading knowledge of one approved foreign language.
- Thesis (optional).
- Final Comprehensive Exam or thesis defense.
Please consult with your advisor to confirm requirements for degree.
MFA Program
- Total of forty-eight (48) hours of credit
- Twelve (12) hours of writing workshop credit
- Twelve (12) hours of literature course credit
- Nine (9) other hours
- Fifteen (15) hours of ENGL 899, Thesis
- FLORS requirement
- Thesis defense
For a full description of the M.F.A. program, please see
the M.F.A. in English website.
Doctoral program
- At least 24 hours of credit in appropriate formal graduate
courses beyond the M.A. At least 15 hours (in addition to 800 if not
taken for the M.A.) of this course work must be taken from among courses
offered by the Department of English at the 700-level and above.
English 997 and 999 credits cannot be included among the 24 hours.
Students may petition to take up to 6 hours outside the Department.
- English 800.
- Two seminars offered by the Department of English at the University of Kansas beyond the M.A.
- English 999, Dissertation (normally at least 24 hours).
Students with M.A.s earned at
an institution other than K.U. may be required by the Coordinator of
Graduate Studies, acting on behalf of the Graduate Committee, to take
additional course work.
Note on English 998: A
student wishing to enroll in English 998 (Investigation and Conference)
must secure the prior approval of the graduate faculty member with whom
he or she intends to work and the approval of the Coordinator of
Graduate Studies, who will indicate that approval by countersigning the
graduate adviser's signature on the enrollment card.
Additional requirements for Ph.D. degree
- A reading knowledge of two approved foreign languages or fluency in one.
- At least one year of supervised quarter-time teaching.
- At least two semesters spent in resident study.
- Comprehensive examination.
- Dissertation Proposal Review.
- Doctoral dissertation and defense.
- Please consult with your advisor to confirm requirements for degree.
Time to Degree
The median time to degree for PhD students is 6.7 years. The median time to degree for MA and MFA students is 2.5 to three years.
Graduate Teaching Assistantships
If you are submitting an application for a GTAship at the same time that you are applying to the
graduate program in English, you need not submit further materials.
If you are a current graduate student at KU who wishes to apply for a GTAship in English, please see
the guidelines provided by the Freshman Sophomore English Program.
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