About Master’s Program,
The two-year MA program provides broad training in literature, language, and theory. The flexible two-year program is designed to meet the academic and professional needs of a range of students, including scholars who plan to move on to the PhD degree and teachers and professionals in the region who wish to pursue the terminal MA. The program prepares students for a variety of careers in education, publishing, editing, and beyond, or for further academic pursuits.
The Department offers MA degrees in Literature and Film and students choose between a Thesis and Non-Thesis Option. The Department of English offers generous funding for MA students in the form of a tuition scholarship, health insurance, and stipend of at least $19,000/year. First-year MA students work 20 hours per week as tutors in the Writing Center. Second-year MA students teach introductory writing courses.
Master’s Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
Students seeking admission to the Graduate School must have obtained a bachelors degree, prior to the start of the term for which s/he is admitted, from a fully accredited U.S. institution of higher learning or from a recognized foreign institution. An accredited U.S. institution is one that is accredited by one of the seven regional academic accrediting associations. A recognized foreign institution is an institution that is recognized by that nation’s Ministry of Education or similar authority as a post-secondary, academic degree-granting institution.
Minimum Undergraduate GPA: 2.75*
Minimum Graduate GPA: 3.0*
*on a 4.0 scale (individual programs may have higher requirements)
Students who wish to calculate their GPAs for self-reporting may wish to use https://www.scholaro.com/premium.
If you are offered admission and decide to enroll you will then be required to submit official transcripts to the Graduate School.
Master’s Funding Coverage,
The University of Kentucky’s English Department offers a wide array of scholarships and awards designed to support student success and recognize academic excellence. These financial aids are available to both undergraduate and graduate students and are intended to alleviate financial burdens, encourage scholarly achievements, and foster creative endeavors.
By providing these scholarships and awards, the department ensures that talented students can focus on their studies and fully engage with the academic opportunities available to them. Whether through scholarships that support tuition costs or awards that recognize outstanding academic and creative work, these resources are crucial in helping students achieve their full potential.
For more information on specific scholarships, eligibility requirements, and application deadlines, please visit our Scholarships and Awards page. The College of Arts and Sciences also provides a variety of scholarships to support student success and meet financial need. Please see here for more information.
Application Requirement,
- Statement of Purpose (1 – 2 pages). The statement of purpose should discuss your scholarly interest, any research directions you would like to pursue, and how your interests and goals fit into the English Department.
- Writing Sample (analytical prose, not creative work, 15 – 20 pages)
- Unofficial transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended. If an applicant is offered and accepts admission, the Graduate School will require official transcripts. Transcripts should show completion of the equivalent of a University of Kentucky undergraduate major in English. Applicants who do not have an English major but a substantial background in literature should contact the Director of Graduate Studies.
- University of Kentucky graduates should note their degrees on the application but are not required to submit transcripts.
- Applicants should have a minimum 3.25 on a 4.0 scale undergraduate grade point average and a 3.00 on all graduate work.
- Letters of Recommendation from three people who can evaluate the applicant’s scholarship and qualifications for graduate work in English. Please email your recommenders to let them know that the Graduate School will contact them for a letter of recommendation that can be uploaded into the on-line system. Also, please provide the contact information for your recommenders. • CV or Resume
- Application Fee. You can also pay the application fee on-line. The application fee is $65 for domestic and $75 for international applicants.
- Language testing for International Students: Test scores can be self-reported in the application; however official scores should be sent directly from the testing agency. TOEFL iBT: Institution Code: 1837, Program Code: 99, Minimum Score: 79. IELTS: Institution Code: University of Kentucky Graduate School, Lexington, Kentucky, Minimum Score: 6.5 Overall Mean Band Score. Applicants from Nigeria, who will submit a 4-year awarded Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in Nigeria, are exempt from the TOEFL requirement.
Application Deadline,
Jan 15, 2025
Application Fee,
Application Fee. You can also pay the application fee on-line. The application fee is $65 for domestic and $75 for international applicants.
