How to Apply to the Graduate Program
MA, MFA, and PhD Applicants
Students applying to the MA, MFA, or PhD degree programs must hold a BA or BS degree from an accredited college or university. Successful applicants generally have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.3 or higher. Applicants holding an MA or MFA in English (or, in some cases, another appropriate discipline) are eligible for admission into the PhD program.
The BA-to-PhD track is available to applicants to any program who do not hold a MA or MFA degree in the field. Applicants to the BA-to-PhD track must submit application materials at the same time as other candidates (December 15th). Applicants accepted into the BA-to-PhD track will receive a teaching assistantship for the first year. Applicants who are denied admission into the BA-to-PhD track might instead be offered admission into the MA or MFA program.
Instructions for Application Submission
Complete applications are due by December 15 for admission following fall semester.
Applications submitted after the December 15 deadline will not be considered .
Please include your name on all application materials. All applications will be considered for funding during the admissions process; no separate application for funding is required.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The English Department no longer requires the GRE test to apply.
All applications, writing samples, and recommendations must be submitted via the University of Utah Graduate online application system Slate. The English Department will not accept applications that are submitted by mail.
Please be sure to indicate in the appropriate places on the application your name, address, and the specific program to which you are applying. If you are applying for admission to our doctoral program but will not have a master's degree in the field of English upon entering our program, please choose “English-PHD,” and in the section labeled “Additional Information” indicate that you are applying to the BA-to-PHD track. Applicants to the BA-to-PhD track will automatically be considered for admission to the appropriate master's program if they are not admitted to the doctoral program.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The online application system permits applicants to apply to only ONE of the department’s MA, MFA, or PhD programs. Please apply to the program you are most interested in pursuing. (You can, however, apply to both the MA and MFA programs.)
All applications must include:
Applications for Creative Writing must include:
IMPORTANT NOTE: The application software allows applicants to submit two files. Creative writing applicants must upload one critical and one creative sample. If your creative sample consists of several short pieces, you must incorporate them into one file before uploading.
International applicants who are not native speakers of English must demonstrate proficiency in English before they are eligible for teaching fellowships. Proficiency is partly demonstrated by a TSE or SPEAK score (40 on the TSE, 180 on the SPEAK). International students who will hold teaching fellowships are normally also required to obtain certification through the University’s International Teaching Assistant Program. For more information on the ITA program, see: International Teaching Assistant (ITA) Program.
International applicants must upload the appropriate fee, one unofficial set of transcripts, and official TOEFL results to Slate .
Applicants will be notified of application decisions by March 15.
The forms for application to the University of Utah Graduate Admissions and the Department of English can now be accessed via the online application system Slate.
Further information is available by contacting
Karli Sam
(801) 581-7131
Complete applications are due by December 15 for admission following fall semester. In order to be considered for admission, your application must be complete by this date. Please include your name on all application materials. All applications will be considered for funding during the admissions process; no separate application for funding is required.
Applications submitted after the December 15 deadline will not be considered .*
All applications, writing samples, and recommendations must be submitted via the University of Utah Graduate online application system Slate. The English Department will not accept applications that are submitted by mail.
There is no longer an April 15th deadline for admission to the MA or MFA programs.
Applicants who apply for admission by the December 15th deadline will be notified of their admission status by March 15. Applicants cannot be advised of their admission status over the telephone, but they can check the status of their processed application through the online application system: Slate.
*If a deadline falls on a holiday or weekend, applications will be accepted through the following business day.
Application Materials Checklist
To be considered complete, all items listed below must be submitted via the online application system by December 15th : Slate .
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
ADMISSIONS OFFICE
201 S 1460 E RM 250S
SALT LAKE CITY UT 84112-9057
Note: The English Department no longer requires the GRE to apply.
Notice of Completed Application
You can check to see whether your application is complete by logging into the online application system using your user ID and the password you receive after completing your application and paying the application fee. You can also receive email verifications when your recommenders have uploaded their letters of recommendation to the electronic system.
Please note that due to the time required for processing updates on applications submitted after the first week of December might not be available on the Application deadline of December 15.
The University of Utah seeks to provide to people with disabilities equal access to its programs, services, and activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GRE Required?
What is the deadline for applying to the graduate program?
The application deadline is December 15 to enroll the following fall semester.
Do you accept spring semester admission?
Do you offer any of your graduate courses online?
Is it feasible to complete a graduate degree while also working full-time?
At this point, it would be difficult, as the vast majority of our classes are scheduled during the standard workday. Please contact the graduate advisor for further information.
What is the maximum length for critical and creative writing samples?
There is no absolute limit, but in order to assure that the committee will have the time to consider your writing sample or sample carefully, you should limit your samples to 10-12 pages for a critical sample and 15-20 pages for a creative sample.
How long does it take to complete a Master’s or Doctorate degree in your program?
Most Master’s and MFA students complete the program in 2-4 years, and most PhD students complete the program in 4-6 years. Do remember that these are only rough averages; there is no guarantee of completion in a specified length of time. If you are receiving department funding and a tuition waiver, there is a two-year funding limit for the MA and MFA and a four-year limit for PhD students. Beyond those limits, however, there are fellowship and teaching opportunities, especially for PhD students.
When and how will applicants be informed of acceptance status?
Applicants will receive official emails from the Department of English and the online application system. You should expect to be notified by March 15.
How many students do you accept into the program every year?
The number of applicants accepted depends on the application pool in a given year. In general, we accept roughly ten percent of applicants in all programs combined.
Can I apply to multiple programs at once?
You may apply to only ONE track within the MA and PhD programs. You can, however, apply to both the MA and MFA programs.
Don't see your question covered here?
Call the English office at (801) 581-6168 or contact the graduate advisor.
Languages & Communication Bldg
255 S Central Campus Dr., RM 3500
801-581-6168
