Applying

Application Information

While most applicants to the PhD program have a BA or MA in English, we also welcome qualified students who studied in other related disciplines and show clear promise for success in English. Applicants to the MA program should also have strong undergraduate records in English or a related field.

Our PhD program, our two-year MA Selznick Film Preservation Program, and our one-year MA in English program are full-time (with part-time options available only for those receiving 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ employee tuition benefits).

Application Materials

All students must submit the following materials in our to be considered:

  • Statement of purpose (two to three pages, double spaced)
  • Writing sample*
  • Two to three letters of recommendation, preferably from English faculty
  • GRE scores are optional
  • English Proficiency Requirement**

*The writing sample should demonstrate the candidate's analytical skills and writing ability. Essays should be from a substantial piece of work (10-20 pages, or a comparable excerpt from a longer effort, such as an Honors Thesis) that reflects the candidate's potential for successful graduate study.

**All international students whose native language is not English are required to provide proof of English language proficiency through the submission of official test scores from one of the following exams. Scores more than two years old from the application deadline are not valid. IELTS, TOEFL or TOEFL iBT Home Edition, and Duolingo are the accepted exams. 

  • TOEFL scores can be submitted using the code 2928 (A department code is not necessary).
  • To send in IELTS scores please use the following address:
    91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳
    Graduate Studies-AS&E
    500 Joseph C. Wilson Blvd
    P.O. Box 270401
    91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ NY 14627
  • Duolingo scores can be sent directly to the 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ at no cost.
  • The English proficiency test requirement is waived for citizens of the following countries whose native language is English: Australia, Canada, Commonwealth Caribbean Nations, Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, Liberia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, Uganda, United Kingdom, and the Virgin Islands
  • The requirement may also be waived if a student has completed at least three years of full time and in-person postsecondary study in one of the countries listed above of the United States. We reserve the right to require further demonstration of English proficiency, even if you have received your degree from one of the above-mentioned countries.
  • If you would like to be granted a waiver for these exams, please email graduate.admissions@rochester.edu

We will review only your required application materials. Please do not send any confidential financial documents (including copies of tax returns, bank statements, etc.).

Fees and Deadlines

Our application fee is $70. The deadline for applications to the PhD program and the two-year MA Selznick Film Preservation Program is January 15, annually. The deadline for applications to the one-year English MA program is rolling. Students who are admitted to a graduate program in English will enter the program in the fall semester. We do not accept applications for spring matriculation.

Contact Information

We are happy to answer any questions you may have, either by email or phone.

For questions regarding the online application system, financial details, and other administrative matters, please contact Carrie Morriss, graduate coordinator, at carrie.morriss@rochester.edu or (585)275-9256.

For broader questions regarding the program's curriculum, intellectual emphases, academic requirements, and opportunities for research and professionalization, please contact the Director of Graduate Studies, William Miller, at william.miller@rochester.edu