Department of English

Deadline: January 15, 2025

Application Status for Fall 2025:

Applications for Fall admits are processed by Graduate Admissions staff and English program staff.  Applications go to PhD graduate admissions committee members in two batches; we meet in mid February and early March to discuss applications.  Admissions announcements are expected after the second week of March 2025.  Those with offers have until April 15 to accept or decline the offer.  Those placed on a waitlist may be offered space, if a funded space becomes available, anytime from late March until late April.

You must apply to the University online through the main University Portal.  The portal will guide you through the process. You must upload all documents prior to submitting the application. You will not be able to add documents after submission is complete. All applicants should choose Fall as their application term. We do not admit for spring or summer.

The application fee is non-refundable. It is valid for one calendar year: an application may be updated within one year from the original anticipated term of admission without payment of a new application fee. UF currently does not offer application fee waivers.

The materials you will need for your application are:

• Test scores: As of Fall 2021, the department of English no longer requires the GRE
• Updated resume or CV: Upload as a pdf file. Pursuant to Florida Statute, your application requires inclusion of all post-high school education and employment, as well as information about ongoing international affiliations and research funding. Please ensure this information is included on your curriculum vitae (CV) or résumé.
• Statement of purpose: In an essay of up to 800 words, please describe how your previous studies and, if applicable, work and life experiences, have prepared you for graduate study. You should also outline your research, teaching, and other interests and explain how UF English’s PhD program might support them. Please also briefly explain why you are interested in pursuing the PhD, including how the PhD degree is related to your goals for the future, including career plans, and explain how this program can help you achieve your goals. Upload as a pdf file. The online application specifies a 400-500 word limit. Please disregard those instructions and send an essay of up to 800 words.
• Writing Sample: The writing sample should demonstrate your best work in criticism or theory and be about 15 pages. Upload your writing sample to the online application on the “Additional Questions” page under “Resume/Other”. Please upload it as the “Other Upload” file. If you have trouble uploading the file, please contact phd-admissions@english.ufl.edu before you submit your application.
• Transcripts: You may upload unofficial transcripts for consideration by the admissions committee. If you are admitted, UF requires official transcripts from all institutions you have attended.
  • If you have not yet completed a program, you may upload incomplete unofficial transcripts to the online application.
  • You may also upload official transcripts to the online application.
  •   If you would like to send official electronic transcripts, UF accepts electronic transcripts only from e-SCRIP-SAFE, Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, and F.A.S.T.E.R. Please have electronic transcripts sent to graduate@admissions.ufl.edu. (Please also submit an unofficial transcript through the online application).
  • You may also send an official paper copy of your transcript to UF at Office of Admissions, 201 Criser Hall – PO Box 114000, Gainesville, FL 32611-4000 – Please do not send your transcripts directly to the English Department.
  • International students must send transcripts in the native language and an English translation, along with a copy of the degree certificate in English and the native language.
• Letters of Recommendation: We require three recommendations, but will accept more. These should be completed by someone in a position to assess your ability to succeed in the program. Please use the submission instructions in the online application to send a recommendation request to your recommenders. If they have trouble submitting their letters through the online application, please email or have them email phd-admissions@english.ufl.edu. UF does not accept letters of recommendation through any other online process, including Interfolio.

Notes for international applicants

International students should consult the University Admissions requirements for TOEFL IELTS and SPEAK.  The minimum  scores for students holding a teaching assistantship in the English department: TOEFL – 550 on the written Speaking Portion or  28 on the internet-based test. The department may accept students with scores of 23-27 on a conditional basis pending the satisfactory completion of a course in Academic Spoken English. IELTS – score of 6. MELAB – score of 77.

International applicants are exempt from the English proficiency requirement if enrolled for one academic year in a degree-seeking program at a recognized/regionally accredited university or college in a country where English is the official language prior to your anticipated term of enrollment at UF, or if you are from one of the following countries.

Florida law requires all non-U.S. students who are going to be graduate teaching assistants– even if exempted from the IELTS, MELAB and TOEFL requirement — to prove adequate command of the English language. One way to demonstrate oral proficiency in order to teach is to take the SPEAK test.

Transcripts: International students may use unofficial transcripts for the admissions process. However, once admitted they must provide official transcripts and certificates of degree. UF requires transcripts in the native language and an English translation, as well as copies of the degree certificate in the native language and an English translation.

Further useful information may be obtained through the University of Florida International Center.

Additional fellowship materials

• All applicants are automatically considered for graduate school and department fellowships with two important exceptions:
  • The Kirkland Fellowship in English literature of the Victorian Era and studies in oral narrative, requires a letter and a FAFSA.
  • The McKnight Doctoral Fellowship for African-American and Hispanic students requires additional materials and another separate, additional application.

Before you submit your completed application to our PhD program, we recommend that you read advice on crafting a strong application.