Prospective Graduate Students

Applications for all English Department degree programs are due by January 1. We encourage applicants to submit all required materials before the deadline to ensure their applications receive full consideration.

Applicants may contact faculty members, but doing so is not required for admission to any of our degree programs. If you have questions about the application process, program requirements, or which program may be the best fit for your goals, we encourage you to reach out to the Graduate Director.

The English department does not require GRE scores. They are optional and not required. If you are applying for any university fellowships, the GRE may be required.

Applicants are notified of admissions decisions via email. Our official response date is April 15, but we do our best to notify applicants sooner if possible. Please ensure that the email address provided in your application remains current and check your inbox regularly for updates.

The application deadline for all English Department degree programs is January 1. Applications received after the deadline or submitted with incomplete materials may not receive full consideration in the admissions process.

Unfortunately, the University of South Florida does not issue application fee waivers. It may help to know that the fee is only $30 and you can apply to multiple majors within a year of paying the fee.

No. The Admissions Committee will begin reading applications after the January 1st deadline.

The strongest letters of recommendation often come from faculty who have taught you in upper-level undergraduate or graduate courses, as they are well positioned to speak to your ability to conduct scholarship or creative projects. 

Other recommenders who have supervised or worked closely with you in roles relevant to your academic or professional goals may also provide valuable perspectives for the graduate admissions committee. 

We welcome all inquiries by email and kindly request no phone calls. Graduate Program contacts are:

• Dr. Kristin Allukian, Associate Professor and Graduate Director of English
• Thomas Chaplin, Graduate Academic Program Specialist

The Literature Ph.D. program typically admits 3 students each year. The Writing & Rhetoric Ph.D. program typically admits 3 students each year.

Yes. Applicants to either the Literature or Writing & Rhetoric Ph.D. program must hold a master's degree. A completed master's degree in a relevant subject area provides the foundation necessary for success in doctoral study.

An PhD in English application requires:

A 500-word statement of your scholarly and professional goals that addresses how your previous educational and work experiences have prepared you for graduate work. Your statement should describe the central area of inquiry you will pursue during your course of study at USF, including identifying your potential subfield and faculty mentors, as well as your professional goals upon completion of the degree.

A scholarly writing sample of approximately 2,500 words (ten double-spaced pages), not counting the bibliography or works cited (which should be included); you may excerpt from a longer essay, and submissions should not exceed fifteen pages total. The committee prefers writing produced for a literature or closely related course. A scholarly writing sample advances an original thesis supported by evidence drawn from primary and secondary sources cited according to either the MLA Handbook or the Chicago Manual of Style.

The MFA program typically admits 9 students each year.

Workshop sizes are intentionally kept small, typically enrolling 12–15 students per course. This allows for meaningful discussion, individualized feedback, and close engagement with both faculty and peers, creating a collaborative and supportive environment for developing your writing.

Yes. We encourage applicants whose work spans multiple genres to reflect that range in their application. You are welcome to include writing samples that demonstrates those interests. Please also use the supplemental questionnaire to clearly indicate the genres in which you work and describe your creative focus in your Statement of Purpose so that the admissions committee can appropriately evaluate your application.

An MFA in Creative Writing Application requires:

• A writing sample consisting of 12-20 pages:
- Prose should be double spaced. Indicate genre (fiction, nonfiction, memoir)
- Poetry should be single spaced
- Hybrid, graphic, text/image works and comics are invited (format is left up to the author)

• A two-to-three page personal statement, describing the student’s background, purpose for attending graduate studies, and career goals

The M.A. programs admit 4-8 students across both Literature and Writing and Rhetoric.

An MA in English application requires:

A 500-word statement of your scholarly and professional goals that addresses how your previous educational and work experiences have prepared you for graduate work. Your statement should describe the central area of inquiry you will pursue during your course of study at USF, including identifying your potential subfield and faculty mentors, as well as your professional goals upon completion of the degree.

A scholarly writing sample of approximately 2,500 words (ten double-spaced pages), not counting the bibliography or works cited (which should be included); you may excerpt from a longer essay, and submissions should not exceed fifteen pages total. The committee prefers writing produced for a literature or closely related course. A scholarly writing sample advances an original thesis supported by evidence drawn from primary and secondary sources cited according to either the MLA Handbook or the Chicago Manual of Style.

Applicants whose first language is not English may be required to submit official English proficiency test scores, such as the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test, in accordance with the university's graduate admissions requirements.

There are also separate requirements for Graduate Assistantships that can be found in the International Teaching Assistant Handbook.

Yes, international students are eligible for graduate assistantships, however they must meet the University's eligibility requirements.