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Application Instructions

Our application is now entirely online, and all materials should be submitted through the online application . Please do not send any materials in hard copy. If for any reason it is not possible to submit materials online, please contact us by  email .

We recommend submitting application documents as PDF files for the most reliable results. The application system will also accept Microsoft Word documents, OpenDocument files, and a few other formats with varying levels of fidelity. Regardless of the file format you use, we recommend reviewing your application proof carefully to make sure all documents were successfully added to your file by our system.

Applications will be evaluated on the basis of materials submitted by the deadline, and we cannot guarantee that materials received after the deadline will be given consideration. Late applications will not be considered.

All programs require the following materials:

• a  statement of purpose written in English ("Artist's Statement" for MFA in Visual Arts );
• 3 letters of recommendation ;
• transcripts  for all previous degrees and coursework;
• TOEFL or IELTS  test scores from within the preceding 2 years if needed to meet the  English Language Proficiency Requirement ; and
• A note on the application fee waiver process:  Fee waivers are available for University of Chicago alumni; current undergraduate students receiving need-based aid; applicants who are current or former members of the Peace Corps, Americorps/Vista, or Teach for America; active duty U.S. military and veterans; past recipients of Fulbright/IIE fellowships; and alumni of any of the following academic preparatory and service programs: McNair Scholars, the Institute for the Recruitment of Teachers (IRT), Leadership Alliance, the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship, and the National Name Exchange. Applicants to the PhD program in Romance Languages and Literatures are also eligible for a fee waiver if they are alumni of the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF). Fee waivers may also be requested by applicants for whom paying it would present financial hardship. Anyone wishing to have the fee waived for any of the above must submit a fee waiver request form, which is accessed on the application status portal after the application has been submitted . Applicants who submit a fee waiver request form should do so before the application deadline, and should not pay the fee when submitting their applications. Requesting a fee waiver will have no effect on the review of the application.

Most programs also require a sample of academic writing , and two require a current CV or Resume. The following table lists the requirements for Writing Samples and a CV. In all cases the writing samples should be double-spaced. Some programs also have special requirements, and you should follow the link to your program of interest to learn more.

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Special Questions

Applying to multiple programs Joint Programs Transfer Credits Reapplying Enrollment Quarter

Detailed Instructions by Department or Program

Instructions for Applicants to English Language and Literature

For the 2025-2026 graduate admissions cycle, the University of Chicago English Department is prioritizing applications focusing on literature and culture in relation to environment, ecology, and space. Possible areas of interest include (but are not limited to) the environmental humanities; built environments and literature; geography and urbanization; the atmosphere and setting of literary and artistic works and circles; ecopoetics; the poetics and politics of space. We encourage applications from students wishing to work in all historical periods, and on texts from and about any region of the world. We welcome hybrid scholars working in creative and critical modes or across media, or doing public humanities and public-facing work that foregrounds environmental and spatial concerns. For more information on faculty and current graduate students in this area, please visit the department website. Please note that while we are prioritizing applications that align with our thematic focus, we will also consider applications outside of this focus.

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Instructions for Applicants to Linguistics

Supplemental Material : In addition to a writing sample, applicants to Linguistics should prepare and upload a document that lists all courses the applicant has taken or will have taken by the time of enrollment which have relevance to graduate study in linguistics (in particular, language courses and courses in linguistics, mathematics/statistics, computer science, psychology, anthropology, and language of philosophy). This list should include the complete title of each course, the instructor's full name, the grade earned (if available), and a brief (at most a paragraph) description of the contents of the course (a list of topics covered, for example), along with the titles and authors of any texts used or papers read.

Instructions for Applicants to Music

Writing Sample : Applicants to Music are required to submit two writing samples, double-spaced, each approximately 20 pages in length . Click here for information about the desired content for a writing sample.

Composition Applicants:  Composers should upload digital copies of 2-5 scores and recordings of recent works below. Please submit scores in PDF format, and recordings in any of the formats listed below. For files exceeding 2GB, please contact [email protected] prior to the application deadline to arrange a webshare.

Instructions for Applicants to Romance Languages and Literatures

Writing Sample : Applicants to Romance Languages and Literatures should submit a writing sample that is 15-20 pages long, double-spaced . The writing sample should be in the language of specialization . Click here for information about the desired content for a writing sample.

Curriculum Vitae : Applicants to Romance Languages and Literatures are also required to admit a current CV or Resume .

Instructions for Applicants to Theater and Performance Studies

The Theater and Performance Studies (TAPS) PhD program is a joint-only PhD program, and does not admit students who are not also admitted to another program. Applicants must choose a TAPS partner department (the "home department") and submit an application to that department, indicating their interest in also being considered for admission to TAPS. The applicant must submit all materials required for the home department application along with supplemental materials for the TAPS application. TAPS Partner Departments are Art History , Cinema and Media Studies , Classics , Comparative Literature , East Asian Languages and Civilizations , English Language and Literature , Germanic Studies , Music , and Romance Languages and Literatures .

GRE Scores : Applicants to Theater and Performance Studies are not required to submit GRE scores . TAPS applicants should submit GRE scores only if the home program to which they are applying requires scores.

Statement of Interest : Applicants to Theater & Performance Studies should provide a statement of interest for the TAPS joint PhD program in addition to the Statement of Purpose for the home program.

References : Applicants to Theater and Performance Studies should supply two references specifically for the TAPS program. If one or more of the references to the home program can serve as TAPS references, they do not have to be additional references. However, applicants can add as many references as necessary in the online application.

Optional Items : Applicants to Theater and Performance Studies may submit any or all of the following optional materials:

• A TAPS-related Writing Sample (maximum 25 pages);
• An Artistic Resume;
• Media of past creative work, such as performance videos;
• Other supporting materials they feel are relevant to their application.

Instructions for Applicants to the MFA in Visual Arts

Artist's Statement : Applicants to Visual Arts will submit an artist's statement rather than a statement of purpose. The Artist's Statement should comprise one or two pages illuminating your artistic practice by discussion of such questions as sources of influence, character of the inquiry, and some suggestion of future directions you wish to explore.

Portfolio : In lieu of a writing sample, applicants to Visual Arts should submit a portfolio consisting of twenty digital images. Alternatively, students who work in time-based media may submit a selection of work as video files. A significant number of the images should represent work done within the last twelve months. Three-dimensional works should show the surrounding space and context. Portfolios are submitted online as part of the online application. The portfolio submission interface will allow you to label each image with a title, a date of completion, the materials used, and a brief description of the work. Digital files must adhere strictly to the specifications outlined below. Do not format images in any presentation program (e.g., PowerPoint, Keynote), or include composite images (more than one work per file). Still image files may be sent in jpeg, png, bmp, or tiff format. Videos will be accepted in QuickTime, AVI, FLV, MP4, or WMV format. Video files should be no longer than two minutes in length, and the size of your video uploads is limited to 250 MB. Please note that videos are considered as part of your selection of twenty files, not as additional material. Do not include titles or credits within the video files.

Instructions for Applicants to the Master of Arts Program in the Humanities (MAPH)

Writing Sample : Applicants to the Master of Arts Program in the Humanities should include a sample of their critical writing that is 10-15 pages in length, double-spaced . Click here for information about the desired content for a writing sample. Applicants to the MAPH Creative Writing Option must also submit a creative writing sample relevant to the proposed focus of study.

MAPH Two-Year Language Option (MAPH TLO) : Applicants interested in the MAPH TLO will indicate their interest in the application. They are expected to submit an additional statement of interest specifically addressing their reasons for applying to the TLO, and to provide information about their language(s) of interest on the supplement page in the online application.

Additional Instructions

Applying to programs in more than one division or school

If you are also applying to a program in another Division, you should follow the instructions available from the other division or school to submit an application to one of their programs. You can find links to the relevant information for all the Graduate Divisions and Professional Schools at  UChicagoGRAD .

Applying to multiple programs in the Division of the Humanities

If you would like to apply to more than one graduate program in the Humanities Division, please start and submit a separate application at  https://apply-humanities.uchicago.edu/apply/ . You will need to submit two separate complete applications. This includes uploading all materials for each application and paying two application fees.

Joint Programs

Applicants interested in the joint Ph.D. program in Theater and Performance Studies and the M.D.-Ph.D. Program in Medicine, the Social Sciences, and Humanities should indicate this in the online application. Theater and Performance Studies applicants are required to submit additional materials to their application. Applicants seeking a joint Ph.D. in other fields may petition to be admitted into a second department only after completing at least one year in a Ph.D. program.

Transfer Credits

Doctoral Programs

Students starting a doctoral program in the Division of the Humanities with graduate level course work completed outside of the department may petition the department to have previous course work counted toward the program requirements.  By divisional policy at least half of the course work must be accomplished within the department.  The departmental faculty will determine whether the student will receive credit towards the degree for each previous course completed outside of the department.  Each department may determine the maximum number of courses for which a student may receive course credit.

Master’s programs

Students starting a master’s program in the Division of the Humanities with graduate level course work completed at the Graduate Student-at-Large program in the Graham School of Continuing and Professional Studies may petition the program to have previous course work counted toward the program requirements.  The program will evaluate and determine whether the student will receive credit towards the degree for any of the previous course work completed at the Graham School of Continuing and Professional Studies for a maximum of two courses.  Other graduate level course work completed outside of the program is not eligible for course credit toward the program requirements.

Reapplying or Reactivating a past application

Our online application system does retain materials from one application cycle to the next. In order to reuse materials and information, you should log on to the application site using the same email address and password that you used last year. This should allow you to access any materials from your previous applications that have been retained. If you were admitted to one of our programs, declined your offer for that current academic year, and you are now reapplying for next year, please send an email to  [email protected]  for assistance.

Enrollment Quarter Policy

All divisional programs begin in Autumn Quarter each year. Enrolling students cannot begin their studies in any quarter other than Autumn.*

Enrolling PhD and MFA students cannot defer their offer and must begin their studies in the year they were admitted unless there are significant extenuating circumstances and with departmental approval.

Enrolling MA students can defer their enrollment one year to the following Autumn Quarter only. We do not permit two-year deferrals or non-Autumn quarter starts. The only exception is if an individual is active duty or reserve military and is unexpectedly deployed between the time they accepted their offer and their matriculation date.

*Students admitted to some MA and PhD programs may, with permission of their program/department, enroll in coursework in the Summer Quarter prior to the quarter for which they have been admitted. In those cases, PhD students will officially matriculate in Summer Quarter and have their stipend and time to degree begin. Students in Master’s programs who enroll in courses during the Summer prior to beginning the program may not have those courses be counted towards degree requirements, and the student matriculates into the program in the Autumn.

Thank you for your interest in graduate study in the Division of the Humanities.

The application for Autumn 2025 is now open. 

The application deadlines for Autumn 2025 are as follows:

December 2, 2024 | All PhD Departments

January 6, 2025 | Round 1 | Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts (MFA), Master of Arts Program in the Humanities (MAPH), Master of Arts in Digital Studies of Language, Culture, and History, and Master of Arts in Middle Eastern Studies

April 30, 2025 | Round 2 | Master of Arts Program in the Humanities (MAPH), Master of Arts in Digital Studies of Language, Culture, and History, and Master of Arts in Middle Eastern Studies

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Funding Packages

The University of Chicago offers most doctoral students competitive funding packages, which cover tuition and student health insurance, as well as a stipend for living expenses and research support. In most PhD programs, these awards are available for the duration of a student’s program. Programs which are exceptions articulate their policies clearly on their own web sites. Because the cost of living in Chicago is notably lower than in many other major cities, our stipends allow for a comfortable lifestyle. For more information about specific funding for your degree program, please refer to the websites of the programs (or the division or school) you intend to apply to.

In addition to the funding packages offered by the University, a wealth of additional opportunities are available, including prestigious fellowships which support language study, travel, or dissertation research; and on- and off-campus positions such as internships which allow students to explore other career paths.

Fellowships

UChicago students are among the leading recipients of competitive external funding – in fact, our graduate students have received more Fulbright–Hays dissertation awards than those from any other institution. Most divisions and schools, as well as many individual programs and departments, maintain lists of fellowships and other funding sources relevant to students in their fields. In addition to these tailored resources, UChicagoGRAD provides information on a wide range of fellowship opportunities and support throughout the fellowship process for currently enrolled UChicago graduate students.

Academic & Career Development

UChicagoGRAD supports graduate and professional students by providing information and advice on funding opportunities and student resources. Explore instructional videos, sample essays, and informational databases. We also offer one-on-one counseling and assistance with applying for various fellowships.

Fellowship Database

The University maintains a  Fellowships Database , a robust listing of fellowships. It’s important to explore fellowships and scholarships from all sources, and apply while you are applying to graduate programs, as the deadlines are usually during the academic year before you would receive the award. We also encourage you to explore scholarship or loan program opportunities in your local community, from your country’s government agencies, and other sources, especially as many fellowships do have citizenship requirements.

Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA)

The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs  (OMSA) supports the academic success of students of color at the University of Chicago and works to build an inclusive campus community. OMSA offers  grants and funding , as well as  career and professional resources . In addition, fellowships on the Fellowships Database can be filtered by “Diversity and Inclusion.”

Student Employment

During their time at UChicago, students can find a variety of employment opportunities that support and complement their education without interfering with their studies. On- and off-campus internships such as the Higher Education Interns program offer students an opportunity to explore options and gain skills, and several services help connect students to these positions or directly employ students.

Student Jobs Database

The  University of Chicago Student Employment site  requires a UChicago CNet ID to access fully, lists a wide range of jobs for current students, including teaching and assistantship opportunities.

Marketplace by the Chicago Maroon

The  Maroon , a university-specific site is similar to Craig’s List, has postings for jobs in addition to a wide array of other offerings.

Neighborhood Schools Program (NSP)

The  Neighborhood Schools Program  employs work-study and some non-work-study students in area schools and community organizations as teaching assistants and tutors, technology assistants, and more.

University Community Service Center (UCSC)

The  University Community Service Center  facilitates off-campus work-study jobs with Chicago area nonprofit organizations focusing on research, community outreach, communications, direct service with children, and more.

University of Chicago Medicine Employment

University of chicago medicine’s employment database  is full- and part-time administrative and clerical positions at the on-campus medical center., chicago center for teaching (cct).

The  Chicago Center for Teaching  offers workshops, seminars, and consultation to hone your teaching skills, as well as employing current graduate students, and may have information on local institutions seeking instructors.

Employment Information for International Students

The  Office of International Affairs  (OIA) maintains information on the forms and requirements for international students with F-1 or J-1 status who seek employment in the United States.

Loan Programs

Loan programs augment any other funding students have received from the University and from outside funding sources. Find details of all loan programs and application instructions on the Graduate Financial Aid website . . In order to apply for US Federal student loans through the University, you will need to complete and submit your FAFSA as soon as possible; to receive your US Federal aid award from Graduate Financial Aid, you must first create your University ID (“CNet ID”) and establish your UChicago email account.

Educational Benefits for Military Affiliates

The University of Chicago welcomes veterans and other military-affiliated students to our community. The University’s Office for Military-Affiliated Communities (OMAC)  helps military-affiliated individuals obtain educational benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense, and provides a range of other services as well.

Specialist advisers in the  Office of the Registrar  and the Office for Military-Affiliated Communities assist individuals who need enrollment certification or other documentation. We encourage military-affiliated prospective students to consult with OMAC by contacting them at [email protected] .

The Yellow Ribbon Program: This program provides funding for post-9/11 servicemen and women to attend the University, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Yellow Ribbon applicants must be admitted and have confirmed their intent to enroll into an academic program before submitting a Yellow Ribbon application to the University of Chicago, and acceptance in the program is on a first-come, first-serve basis, although most programs do not limit the number of participants.

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The PhD Program

The PhD requires a total of 60 semester hours of coursework, a qualifying written and oral examination, and a dissertation. According to Graduate School regulations, work on the Ph.D. must be completed eight years from the time you have begun coursework applicable to the degree; if you entered with an MA, you will have six years from the time of beginning course work for the PhD.

  Degree Requirements

A. program requirements:.

• English 400 : Introduction to Graduate Study.
• English 402 : Teaching College Composition
• English 502 : Independent Study for Doctoral Qualification
• Two courses in  critical theory or textual studies ;  at least one  of these two courses must be in critical theory

B. Field-Specific Requirements: 

Doctoral students in English who have completed the MA degree will enter one of the following three specialized fields and must meet the course requirements defined for that specialization. Students will be free to change their field at any time, provided that they are able to fulfill the course requirements for the new field.

Medieval and Renaissance Literature

• At least  six  courses in Medieval and Renaissance Literature (numbered 440–459).
• At least  one  course in Nineteenth-Century Studies (ENGL 460-478 and 490-493).
• At least  one  course in Modern Literature and Culture (480–489 and 494–499).
• Seven  electives to fulfill the 60-hour requirement.

Nineteenth-Century Studies

• At least  six  courses in Nineteenth-Century Literature (numbered 470–479, 490–493).
• At least  one  courses in Medieval or Renaissance Literature (440–459).
• Seven electives to fulfill the 60-hour requirement.

Modern Literature and Culture

• At least  six  courses in Modern Literature and Culture (numbered 480–489 and 494-499).
• At least  one  course in Medieval or Renaissance Literature (440–459).
• At least  one  course in Nineteenth-Century Literature (470–479, 490–493).

Note that several of these requirements will be partly or wholly fulfilled by all students as a part of their MA study.

If a student has been required to take certain undergraduate courses as a condition of admission, those courses have priority over all other program requirements. No more than two undergraduate courses may count toward the PhD. Undergraduate courses cannot satisfy the specific distribution requirements outlined above: they will be counted as electives.

C. Research Tool:

Ph.D.-level research in literary studies presupposes skills (or 'research tools') not taught in ordinary graduate-level coursework in a Department of English. In view of the multilingual character of humanist study, scholars of literature must often read text in a language other than their principal one. For these reasons, as fulfilment of the discipline's research tool, Ph.D. students in the Department of English are required to demonstrate reading proficiency in a language other than English. Under special circumstances priority may be given to another research tool: for instance, a computer language, statistical analysis, or protocols for research with human subjects.

D. Responsible Conduct in Research and Scholarship:

The Graduate School requires all Ph.D. students to attend one of its workshops on Responsible Conduct in Research and Scholarship (RCRS) prior to completing the dissertation or thesis. Ph.D. students are encouraged to wait until their third or fourth year to fulfill this requirement. Workshops are offered throughout the year. 

E. The PhD Qualifying Examination:

The PhD examination includes a written and an oral component. The written exam consists of three three-hour papers covering fields chosen by the student in consultation with his or her examining committee and the director of graduate programs. With the approval of their examiners, students must define three fields of the following kinds:

• An area of  critical theory
• An  author
• The  literature of an historical period and/or genre , which may be additionally be focused on a particular  subgroup

Students may include up to three fields of the last type, but only one field of any other type. Examples of fields of the fourth type might include:

• 17th-century British poetry
• Early modern women’s writing
• Postcolonial drama
• African-American literature, 1914–1959
• Contemporary working-class fiction of the US
• Modernist poetry
• Women's autobiography

Any or all of the exam fields may be related to the student's dissertation topic; however, some breadth across fields is expected. And although the selection of texts within each field will be influenced to some extent by the student's particular interests and approach, he or she will also be expected to demonstrate a general mastery of the field.

Field descriptions and reading lists are worked out by the student in consultation with his or her examining committee and must be approved by the examiners and by the Director of Graduate Programs well before the written examination is scheduled. (Exams are given in November, February, and April each year.) The Director of Graduate Programs will provide you with a packet of materials detailing all exam-related procedures.  Reading lists are due several months before the exam date, and field statements are due one month prior to the exam. Students cannot schedule their exam times until the field statements have been submitted . The written examination is followed by a two-hour oral examination that is based on, but not limited to, the written portion. 

F. Dissertation and Defense:

You become a Ph.D. candidate when you complete all course requirements (including English 502), fulfill the Foreign Language requirement, pass the Ph.D. Examination, establish a dissertation committee, and have your dissertation proposal approved (ideally within 6 months of completing the comprehensive exams).

The selection of dissertation topic, director, and committee (two additional faculty readers) is made in consultation with the Graduate Program Director. Once these decisions have been made, you must obtain a copy of the Graduate School’s forms regarding the dissertation (available on line), and then prepare a proposal for the approval of your committee. After your proposal and committee are approved, you are a PhD candidate (sometimes referred to as ABD short for All But Dissertation). Your progress now will be monitored by your dissertation director, who will report on your work to the GPD. (Note: You do not need to have the proposal approved by the entire committee to complete 502.)

When your dissertation is completed, you will give a Final Public Presentation and Defense of your project, followed by a question-and-answer session led by your dissertation committee. Reader’s copies are due to the committee one month prior to the defense, with a reader’s ballot for each member (available at this  link ). Once these ballots are submitted, the Graduate Programs secretary will announce the defense publicly. At the defense, students need to present the chair of the committee with the Graduate School ballot for approval of the dissertation (available at this  link ).

Students should check the Graduate School calendar for deadlines on format check and submission of the dissertation (now done electronically) for a December or May degree. See the  ETD/Proquest link  for electronic submission. Also see the Loyola's  formatting website .

Each student who is admitted to the Department of English PhD program currently receives funding for the duration of their time enrolled and others are on different funding structures based on year in program (Option A/Option B).

Incoming doctoral students receive a comprehensive funding package to support them in their scholarly and pedagogical training and are eligible to be registered for up to 8 years. The funding package includes:

• An academic year stipend (and teaching remuneration)
• Full tuition aid
• Health insurance premium aid

We ensure that graduate students have enough teaching experience to be strong candidates on the academic job market while also making sure that students do not have excessive teaching loads so that they can concentrate on their dissertation research. Students typically teach in their third, fourth, and fifth years of the PhD program.

Teaching Opportunities in the Curriculum

Course assistantships.

Course assistantships in faculty-taught departmental courses provide graduate students the opportunity to become an integral part of undergraduate instruction while acquiring pedagogical, collegial, and other professional experience. The course assistant gains experience in the planning and conducting of a course and receives guidance and ongoing faculty supervision as they lead classes and discussions sections, hold office hours, and grade papers. 

Freestanding Lecture Courses

At the University of Chicago, advanced PhD students have the opportunity to design their own undergraduate courses for the departmental curriculum. In addition to lectureship opportunities that are part of regular departmental curricula, the Humanities Collegiate Division sponsors five Stuart Tave Teaching Fellowships for freestanding courses designed by graduate students. The Department has successfully nominated students to the Humanities Collegiate Division for these awards in recent years.

BA Preceptors

BA preceptors guide approximately 12 students through the year-long process of undertaking a BA project that culminates in a lengthy piece of critical work. Preceptors for these writing projects meet with students on a regular basis both individually and in small groups throughout the year and also read and evaluate all written drafts. 

London Program

The University of Chicago, with the help of the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES), operates a one-quarter study-abroad program in London for junior and senior undergraduates in the College. The course and program assistant (CPA) for the London Program helps to ensure the smooth functioning of this program. The CPA acts as a liaison between the students, faculty, and administrators; organizes social events; and is available to undergraduates with problems or concerns. As a course assistant, the CPA works with the three University of Chicago faculty members, attending classes and holding office hours. The CPA also teaches a stand-alone course at the end of the quarter, usually of his or her own design.

Extradepartmental Teaching Opportunities

Maph preceptors.

Advanced graduate students from all disciplines in the Humanities Division can apply to work as preceptors in the Master of Arts Program in the Humanities  MAPH . Preceptors’ responsibilities include academic and professional advising; weekly discussion groups and grading in connection with the required MAPH Core Course in fall quarter; thesis writing workshops during the winter and spring quarters; and participating in a range of social and other program events.

Writing Program/Common Core

The Writing Program at the University of Chicago hires graduate students as writing interns for the University of Chicago's famous Common Core first-year college program, as undergraduate writing tutors and as lectors in the University Writing Program. Writing interns provide writing instruction in one of the yearlong humanities Common Core courses taken by all college freshman at Chicago. For these courses, interns attend the classes and do the readings, lead a sequence of writing seminars that teach advanced academic writing, and help the faculty member mark and grade papers. 

Teaching Resources

The  Chicago Center for Teaching  on campus offers a number of excellent programs throughout the year on particular topics (e.g., leading classroom discussions, preparing syllabi, grading, etc.) For those who are interested, the Center also offers a Teaching Certificate, which can be useful when students are applying for teaching jobs.