Graduate Applicants

Tuition & Funding

PhD in English and Literary Arts – Creative Writing or Literary Studies Concentrations

Our PhD is 90 credits, and coursework is completed in three academic years, with most students completing their dissertation in the fourth year of the program. The program is fully funded for the first three years with a Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) that covers tuition, health insurance, and the health and counseling fee in addition to an annual stipend of $23,343 in 2025-2026 for fulfilling GTA duties. In the first year of the program, GTAs serve as writing consultants at the University Writing Center, and in the second and third year, GTAs serve as instructors in the department. Stipends for the fourth year to cover living expenses and fees are competitive. 

MA in English and Literary Arts – Literary Studies Concentration

Our MA degree is 45 credits and can be completed in two academic years. For the 2025–2026 academic year, tuition is $1,718 per credit. Admitted students receive a merit scholarship covering 50% of tuition, meaning that after scholarships, students pay an average of $19,327 in tuition annually.

Additional Funding Opportunities

In addition to the assistantships and scholarships provided by the department, English & Literary Arts graduate students have the opportunity to receive or apply for a number of graduate fellowships, scholarships, grants and awards. With the exception of the OGE Doctoral Fellowship, students may apply to these opportunities beginning in their second year of the program: 

• Office of Graduate Education (OGE) Doctoral Fellowships to support incoming PhD students - $4,500
• OGE Inclusive Engagement Fellowships to support current PhD students - $9,000
• College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (CAHSS) Inclusive Engagement Awards to support current PhD students - $4,500
• CAHSS Greinetz Scholarship to support current MA and PhD students - $1,200
• CAHSS Student Research Grants to support summer research and travel - up to $1,200
• Graduate Student Professional Development Grants
• Conference reimbursements from Graduate Students of the Four Faculties

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Admission Requirements & Deadlines

• PhD in English and Literary Arts – Creative Writing or Literary Studies Concentration

  Deadline

  Fall 2025 quarter (beginning in September)

  • Final submission deadline: December 16, 2024. Applicants cannot submit applications after the final submission deadline.

  Degrees and GPA Requirements

  Bachelors degree: All graduate applicants must hold an earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited college or university or the recognized equivalent from an international institution.

  Masters degree: This program requires a masters degree as well as the baccalaureate.

  Grade point average: The minimum undergraduate GPA for admission consideration for graduate study at the University of Denver is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits (approximately two years of work) for the baccalaureate degree. An earned master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution supersedes the minimum standards for the baccalaureate. For applicants with graduate coursework but who have not earned a master’s degree or higher, the GPA from the graduate work may be used to meet the requirement. The minimum GPA is a cumulative 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all graduate coursework undertaken.

  Program GPA requirement: The minimum undergraduate GPA for admission consideration for this program is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale

• MA in English and Literary Arts – Literary Studies

  Deadline

  Fall 2025 quarter (beginning in September)

  • Priority deadline: February 15, 2025
  • Final submission deadline: May 15, 2025
  • International submission deadline: May 5, 2025

  Priority deadline: Applications will be considered after the Priority deadline provided space is available.

  Final submission deadline: Applicants cannot submit applications after the final submission deadline.

  Degrees and GPA Requirements

  Bachelors degree: All graduate applicants must hold an earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited college or university or the recognized equivalent from an international institution.

  Grade point average: The minimum undergraduate GPA for admission consideration for graduate study at the University of Denver is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits (approximately two years of work) for the baccalaureate degree. An earned master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution supersedes the minimum standards for the baccalaureate. For applicants with graduate coursework but who have not earned a master’s degree or higher, the GPA from the graduate work may be used to meet the requirement. The minimum GPA is a cumulative 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all graduate coursework undertaken.

  Program GPA requirement: The minimum undergraduate GPA for admission consideration for this program is a cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale

• Additional Requirements for Non-Native English Speakers and International Applicants

  Additional Standards for Non-Native English Speakers

  Official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), C1 Advanced or Duolingo English Test are required of all graduate applicants, regardless of citizenship status, whose native language is not English or who have been educated in countries where English is not the native language. Your TOEFL/IELTS/C1 Advanced/Duolingo English Test scores are valid for two years from the test date.

  The minimum TOEFL/IELTS/C1 Advanced/Duolingo English Test score requirements for this degree program are:

  • Minimum TOEFL Score (Internet-based test): 80
  • Minimum IELTS Score: 6.5
  • Minimum C1 Advanced Score: 176
  • Minimum Duolingo English Test Score: 115

  English Conditional Acceptance Offered: No, this program does not offer English Conditional Admission.

  • Read the English Language Proficiency policy for more details.
  • Read the Required Tests for GTA Eligibility policy for more details.

  Additional Standards for International Applicants

  Per Student & Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) regulation, international applicants must meet all standards for admission before an I-20 or DS-2019 is issued, [per U.S. Federal Register: 8 CFR § 214.3(k)] or is academically eligible for admission and is admitted [per 22 C.F.R. §62]. Read the Additional Standards For International Applicants policy for more details.

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Application Materials

• PhD in English and Literary Arts – Creative Writing

  Your application will need to include the following materials:

  • Transcripts
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Required Essays and Statements
  • Résumé
  • Writing Sample
     

  See below for details.

  Transcripts

  We require a scanned copy of your transcripts from every college or university you have attended. Scanned copies must be clearly legible and sized to print on standard 8½-by-11-inch paper. Transcripts that do not show degrees awarded must also be accompanied by a scanned copy of the diploma or degree certificate. If your academic transcripts were issued in a language other than English, both the original documents and certified English translations are required.

  Transcripts and proof of degree documents for postsecondary degrees earned from institutions outside of the United States will be released to a third-party international credential evaluator to assess U.S. education system equivalencies. Beginning July 2023, a non-refundable fee for this service will be required before the application is processed.

  Upon admission to the University of Denver, official transcripts will be required from each institution attended.

  Letters of Recommendation

  Three (3) letters of recommendation are required.  Academic recommendations preferred.  Letters should be submitted by recommenders through the online application.

  Essays and Statements

  Essay Instructions

  Applicants should submit a sample of critical prose (e.g., a seminar paper, scholarly publication, or excerpt from thesis or other longer work demonstrating familiarity with the conventions of academic research and writing) not to exceed 20 pages.

  Personal Statement Instructions

  Personal statements should be 2 pages maximum and should address the applicant's past academic experience, future scholarly goals, and their suitability for graduate study and research in our program.

  Résumé

  The résumé (or C.V.) should minimally include the applicant's educational history, work experience, academic experience (including research opportunities or presentations), selected publications, and/or volunteer work.

  Writing Sample

  Applicants must submit representative samples of creative work (for Prose, no more than 30 pages; for Poetry, 5 - 10 poems).

• PhD in English and Literary Arts – Literary Studies

  Your application will need to include the following materials:

  • Transcripts
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Required Essays and Statements
  • Résumé
  • Writing Sample
     

  See below for details.

  Transcripts

  We require a scanned copy of your transcripts from every college or university you have attended. Scanned copies must be clearly legible and sized to print on standard 8½-by-11-inch paper. Transcripts that do not show degrees awarded must also be accompanied by a scanned copy of the diploma or degree certificate. If your academic transcripts were issued in a language other than English, both the original documents and certified English translations are required.

  Transcripts and proof of degree documents for postsecondary degrees earned from institutions outside of the United States will be released to a third-party international credential evaluator to assess U.S. education system equivalencies. Beginning July 2023, a non-refundable fee for this service will be required before the application is processed.

  Upon admission to the University of Denver, official transcripts will be required from each institution attended.

  Letters of Recommendation

  Three (3) letters of recommendation are required.  Academic recommendations preferred.  Letters should be submitted by recommenders through the online application.

  Essays and Statements

  Personal Statement Instructions

  Personal statements should be 2 pages maximum and should address the applicant's past academic experience, future scholarly goals, and their suitability for graduate study and research in our program.

  Résumé

  The résumé (or C.V.) should minimally include the applicant's educational history, work experience, academic experience (including research opportunities or presentations), selected publications, and/or volunteer work.

  Writing Sample

  Please submit a writing sample demonstrating your ability to write analytically about literary works. For your academic writing sample, we recommend that you submit a 25-page close-reading of a text that takes into account secondary (critical) sources or a comparative paper.

• MA in English and Literary Arts – Literary Studies

  Your application will need to include the following materials:

  • Transcripts
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Required Essays and Statements
  • Résumé
  • Writing Sample
     

  See below for details.

  Transcripts

  We require a scanned copy of your transcripts from every college or university you have attended. Scanned copies must be clearly legible and sized to print on standard 8½-by-11-inch paper. Transcripts that do not show degrees awarded must also be accompanied by a scanned copy of the diploma or degree certificate. If your academic transcripts were issued in a language other than English, both the original documents and certified English translations are required.

  Transcripts and proof of degree documents for postsecondary degrees earned from institutions outside of the United States will be released to a third-party international credential evaluator to assess U.S. education system equivalencies. Beginning July 2023, a non-refundable fee for this service will be required before the application is processed.

  Upon admission to the University of Denver, official transcripts will be required from each institution attended.

  Letters of Recommendation

  Three (3) letters of recommendation are required.  Academic recommendations preferred.  Letters should be submitted by recommenders through the online application.

  Essays and Statements

  Personal Statement Instructions

  Personal statements should be 2 pages maximum and should address the applicant's past academic experience, future scholarly goals, and their suitability for graduate study and research in our program.

  Résumé

  The résumé (or C.V.) should minimally include the applicant's educational history, work experience, academic experience (including research opportunities or presentations) and/or volunteer work.

  Writing Sample

  Please submit a 20-page writing sample demonstrating your ability to analyze literature using the conventions of academic writing and argumentation.

• Application Fee

  Application Fee

  Application Fee: $65.00

  Fee Waivers

  MA/Certificate Programs

  • Colorado Residents: Application fee waivers are available to Colorado residents who apply to MA or certificate programs in the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences prior to the priority deadline.
  • Limited numbers of MA/Certificate application fee waivers are also available for the following groups (first-come, first-served):
    • Americorps, City Year, and Peace Corps Alumni
    • Veterans
    • DU Alumni
       

  PhD Programs

  • First-Generation College Students: The College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences offers a limited number of fee waivers for first-generation students applying to our PhD programs. A first-generation student is the first in their family to pursue a four-year college degree. 
     

  Fee Waiver Process

  1. Submit all of your application materials, including your transcripts and letters of recommendation. Do not pay the fee.
  2. Contact cahssgradinquiry@du.edu to request a fee waiver.
  3. You will receive a notification when your fee waiver has been applied to your account. Once the fee waiver is applied we will review your application.
      

  International Degree Evaluation Fee

  International Degree Evaluation Fee: $50.00

  Evaluation Fee for degrees (bachelor's or higher) earned from institutions outside the United States. Fees for degree evaluation are not waived.

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