Admissions

Students apply to the doctoral program in English through the Graduate School. Please read their Admissions webpage for helpful information.

All application materials should be mailed directly to the Graduate School at:

Graduate School Enrollment Services Office
127 Allen Bldg., Box 90065
Duke University
Durham, NC 27708-0065  

 

Information About Applying to Our Doctoral Program :

The doctoral program in English accepts applications for the Fall term only. The deadline for this year is December 8, 2009.

We do not require the GRE subject test. 

There are two separate parts of the application. The first part of the application is operated by the Graduate School, and you can begin that process by clicking here. 

The second part of the application is the submission of a writing sample, which is to be uploaded through our online writing sample upload process (follow this link).  The sample should be uploaded in MS WORD format and must not be longer 25 pages. (If it is not possible to use the online services please mail it to the English Graduate Studies Office.) 

Please send the writing sample concurrently with the application materials you will be sending to the Graduate School, and before the final deadline of December 8th. For further essential details and advice click here.

 

Application FAQs:

1. How important is it for there to be a 'fit' between my interests and those of people already working in the department? How can I investigate my 'fit' with the department?

2. What is the difference between the English Department and the Program in Literature at Duke? Which should I apply to?

3. What opportunities will I have to engage in interdisciplinary study?

4. How can I find out what my doctoral work in English at Duke would involve?

5. How would I be funded during my study?

6. What sort of teaching work would I be doing in the course of my degree in return for my funding?

7. Does it matter whether I already have an MA? Will I get transfer credit if I do have one?

8. What if my undergraduate career was unusual in some way (transfers, study in another country, undergrad degree in field other than English, etc.)?

9. Are you looking for one particular kind of person for your program?

10. Should I apply early to beat the rush?

11. Should I visit the campus before I apply?

12. How important are the GREs in your evaluation of candidates?

13. I am an international applicant, and my native language is not English. But still, I've done all or a large part of my education in English, and I've even attended another US institution. Do I still have to take the TOEFL?

14. Do you have a cutoff undergraduate GPA?

15. Is there a foreign language requirement for admission? As part of the requirements for earning the PhD?

16. Who should I ask to write letters of recommendation for me? Do the people who write for me need to be in the field of English?

17. What sorts of things are you looking for in the Statement of Purpose that is part of the Graduate School application? How important is this part of the application?

18. What sorts of things are you looking for in the Writing Sample I send directly to the department? How important is this part of the application?

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