College of Liberal Arts
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Apply With an MA

The deadline to apply for Fall 2026 admission is December 5th, 2025 at 11:59 pm CST.

How to Apply 
 

1. Complete the UT Online Application.

2.  Pay the application fee. After completing your application and paying the application fee, you will receive an email with an EID (electronic ID) and temporary password. This EID and temporary password will allow you to log into  UT MyStatus where you can monitor the status of your application and upload the additional required application materials listed below.

3. Upload the following required application materials. Please note that your application will not be considered for admission until you upload these materials.

  • The Comparative Literature Departmental Application Cover Sheet 
     
  • Writing Sample in the form of a critical essay of 10-15 pages demonstrating the ability to perform literary analysis. 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.
     
  • Statement of Purpose that outlines your education history, specific areas of interest, and professional goals.
     
  • 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.
     
  • 3 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.
     
  • 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.
     
  • 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.>>

    NOTE: 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.

Additional Information

Please visit the FAQ page, the Graduate School website, or email the Graduate Coordinator for more information about application and admissions requirements.