About PhD Program,
The Ph.D. in modern French studies at the University of Maryland offers comprehensive training in French and Francophone studies, including teaching, research and professionalization. The program offers seminars in French and Francophone literature, culture and film, in addition to French language and linguistics. With the guidance of internationally recognized faculty specializing in a range of genres and issues and reflective of the diversity and complexity of the French-speaking world, students develop competencies in innovative research methods and approaches such as critical theory, gender and sexuality studies, colonial and post-colonial studies, cultural and media criticism, ecocriticism and digital humanities, among others. The French Ph.D. program fosters collaborative work across disciplines, languages, media, centuries and fields. Students may pursue graduate certificates in affiliated programs such as women, gender and sexuality studies, comparative literature and digital humanities, as well as participate in Graduate School field committees in film studies and in medieval and early modern studies. Students are encouraged to pursue independent and innovative thinking through individualized curricula and research projects with the support of the French program’s intellectual community.
Students are normally granted full funding for four years, with the possibility of an additional year, contingent upon availability of funds. Annual renewal of financial support is based on satisfactory performance and progress in the program. The program also provides thorough pedagogical training and teaching experience in French language, literature and culture courses.
Students who have graduated from our program have pursued careers in higher education and beyond. For a complete list of Ph.D. graduate placements.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
Entry into the Ph.D. program is open to students who have already completed an M.A. in a field related to French studies. Students with a B.A. in French or a related field should begin with the M.A.
All foreign applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the TOEFL examination (Test of English as a Foreign Language).
PhD Funding Coverage,
All admitted Ph.D. students are offered four years of support while M.A. students are supported for the entirety of their two-year program. In each case, annual renewal of financial support is based on satisfactory performance and progress in the program. Stipends include tuition remission and health benefits are available as part of the funding packages. All applicants accepted into the M.A. or Ph.D. program are automatically offered for funding. We also sponsors a year-long exchange program with Université de Nice. During this time, students get to be “lecteurs d’anglais” while experiencing a rich and often life-changing cultural, linguistic, and intellectual immersion in the South of France and one of France’s most multicultural cities. The teaching exchange program also represents an outstanding research opportunity, especially for students specializing in literature and culture from France thanks to close access to archives, libraries, and cultural institutions.The program also offers a multitude of smaller funding opportunities in order to support our graduate students through their success and professionalization at the M.A. and Ph.D levels.
Application Requirement,
- Non-refundable application fee for each program
- Statement of Purpose. The statement should address relevant aspects of your educational experience, the focus of your academic interests and reasons for applying to our program.
- Unofficial transcripts of your entire college/university record (undergraduate and graduate), including records of any advanced work done at another institution. Electronic copies of these unofficial transcripts must be uploaded along with your online application.
- Three letters of recommendation. In your online application, please fully complete the information requested for your recommenders and ask them to submit their letters electronically.
- Two samples of critical writing in French. While we encourage you to submit your best writing sample, we prefer a writing sample in your declared field of interest. If you are submitting an excerpted selection, please include a brief description or introduction to the selection. The MLA citation format is preferred.
- Description of Research/Work Experience (optional)
- Publications/Presentations (optional)
- Academic CV/Resume
Application Deadline,
Jan 15, 2025
Application Fee,
a non-refundable $75 application processing fee for each program to which you apply.
