About PhD Program,
The Ph.D. in English is a highly selective doctoral program at a top-ranked private research university that trains students for the academic profession of literary studies while building knowledge and skills relevant to a wide range of careers. As a student in our program, you will enjoy access to outstanding scholars working in a variety of fields and practicing diverse theoretical and methodological approaches.
Through our classes, individual student mentoring, and professionalization practicums, you will gain advanced training in the many facets of scholarship and professional life, including research methods, pedagogy, writing for publication, applying for funding, and the job search. Our faculty are committed to helping you develop your interests, voice, and skills as a researcher, writer, and teacher.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
These requirements include a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent, as well as an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or greater on a 4.0 scale. The rest of the general requirements are listed below.
Please note that all required application materials must be attached to the online application, and that test scores should be ordered and sent by the testing service to the University of Notre Dame (institution code: 1841).
The graduate program in English is a highly selective program in which students specialize in historical areas but also pursue interdisciplinary perspectives, with particular interest in critical theory, literature and science, literature and politics, postcolonial and ethnic studies, and gender studies. A nearly 1:1 faculty to graduate student ratio ensures that students receive considerable individual attention as they progress in their course of studies.
PhD Funding Coverage,
Ph.D. funding
As a Ph.D. student in English you will receive a five-year funding package that includes a full tuition scholarship, a competitive stipend, and health benefits, as well as generous funding for research and conference travel. In addition, the South Bend area offers one of the lowest costs of living in the country.
Fellowships
On admission to the Ph.D. you will automatically be considered for additional support in the form of a premium fellowship, awarded competitively to top incoming students. These include the Notebaert Fellowship, the Presidential Fellowship, the Kinesis-Fernández Richards Fellowship (for students from Puerto Rico), the Deans’ Fellowship (for students from underrepresented groups), and the Gaia Fellowship (for students specializing in Latino studies).
While enrolled in the program you will also have the support of your committee and the Office of Grants and Fellowships in applying for dissertation fellowships from within and beyond the university. In recent years, Ph.D. students in English have won fellowships from organizations including the Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study, the Nanovic Institute for European Studies, the Medieval Institute, and the Ford Foundation.
Research and travel grants
All students entering the Ph.D. in English are eligible for $1,500 from the department toward research and conference travel. Students in years 1-3 are eligible for an additional $350 a year; students in years 4-5 are eligible for an additional $700 a year. Funds are disbursed on application to the director of graduate studies, and students are encouraged to apply for some of the many additional sources of research and travel support from the university.
Guaranteed Sixth-Year Postdoctoral Fellowship
On completing the Ph.D. in five years, you will automatically qualify for a sixth-year postdoctoral fellowship from the College of Arts and Letters. These 5+1 fellowships are designed to enhance your professional profile through either a Teaching-and-Research Track or an Internship Track. They include a salary, funds for professional development, and health benefits.
Application Requirement,
In addition to general Graduate School requirements, the Ph.D. in English requires the following materials, which should be submitted as part of the Graduate School’s online application:
- Statement of intent:500-750 words detailing your professional aims and objectives at Notre Dame, including your provisional field of study;
- Letters of recommendation: Three (3) letters of recommendation, preferably by professors with whom you have recently studied;
- Curriculum vitae;
- Writing sample:5,000-7,000 words (including bibliography/works cited) that demonstrates your ability to craft a sustained critical argument, perform independent literary research, and write with clarity. Please note: A writing sample that exceeds the work limit may not be read in its entirety. If you wish to excerpt a longer work, please include a brief note that provides context for the selection and describes the scope and argument of the longer work.
Students whose native language is not English should consult the Graduate School requirements for language scores.
Application Deadline,
Dec 14, 2024
Application Fee,
The application fee is $75. Please contact gradapp@nd.edu for more information.