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UT Graduate School Requirements 

Applicants must meet the minimum requirements established by the Graduate School. These include a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or a comparable degree from a foreign academic institution, as well as a grade point average of at least 3.0 in all upper-division (and, if relevant, all graduate) coursework. Additional information regarding eligibility requirements, including a list of comparable foreign degrees, can be found on the Graduate School website. Please read the UT Graduate School admissions page in full before applying. Important information about transcripts, test scores, and the application fee is detailed here.  

Comparative Literature Program Requirements

Applicants will need to demonstrate competence in two languages in addition to their first (dominant/preferred/native) language.  

The Program in Comparative Literature does not offer a terminal M.A. Admitted students are expected to complete their Ph.D.

How To Apply

Step 1: Complete the UT Online Application.

 

Application Update for Summer/Fall 2027: Beginning with the Summer/Fall 2027 admissions cycle, applicants may upload most departmental application materials (such as statements of purpose, resumes/CVs, portfolios, departmental forms, and letters of recommendation) directly within the online application before submission. Applicants who choose not to upload these materials during the application process may submit them later through the MyStatus portal after their application has been submitted. The application fee can only be paid via MyStatus. Please note that the non-refundable application fee is still required before an application can be processed and considered complete.

Step 2:  Pay the application fee.

Transcript verification and application processing will not begin until the fee has been paid. The application fee can only be paid once an applicant receives access to the MyStatus portal.

Step 3. Upload the following required application materials to UT MyStatus. Your application will not be considered complete until you have uploaded all 6 items (7 for International Students).

1. The Comparative Literature Departmental Application Cover Sheet 
    
2. Writing Sample in the form of a critical essay of 10-15 pages demonstrating the ability to perform literary analysis and textual scholarship. The essay should reveal the applicant's skill at explicating a text in a manner that shows a sophisticated appreciation of its formal attributes, figurative language, and historical context. If your writing sample is in a language other than English, please submit an English version as well.
    
3. Statement of Purpose that outlines your education history, specific areas of interest, and professional goals.
    
4. Statement of Teaching Experience indicating any prior teaching experience and abilities, and qualifications for specific teaching positions that you might have. If appropriate, please include the location and dates of residency abroad.
    
5. Three Letters of Recommendation that address your academic achievement and potential for graduate study. You will not upload the letters yourself; instead, you will input the emails of your recommenders into the Online Application so that the university may contact them with instructions for submitting their letters.
    
6. Transcripts from ALL institutions of higher education, regardless of whether you received a degree. Information on transcript submission guidelines can be found here. Please note that transcripts must have been issued within the last calendar year.
    
7. International Applicants must also submit official, current (within 2 years)  TOEFL or IELTS scores unless you are from a country where English is the official language, or your bachelor's degree is from a U.S. institution or an institution where English is the official language. Read more about international applicant requirements here.>>

GRE scores are not required for application to the Comparative Literature Ph.D. program. Applicants may submit scores, but the Admissions Committee will not review them.