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Arts & Humanities

PhD English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University

Columbia University, United States

Programme overview

The department offers a wide range of courses in traditional and emerging fields of literary and cultural study. All doctoral students receive full financial support through year six with satisfactory progress.

Faculty: Graduate School of Arts and Sciences  |  Department: English and Comparative Literature  |  Duration: 6 years expected  |  Intake: Fall  |  Study mode: full-time  |  Location: New York, NY, United States

What you will study

In the MA year students take eight courses including the Master's Seminar, write a Master's Essay and show proficiency in one foreign language. MPhil students take six more courses and meet a second language requirement before the oral exam preceding the dissertation. Students are expected to finish the PhD within six years.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applicants submit one transcript per school attended, a statement of academic purpose, a personal statement and a resume. Three letters of evaluation (at least two from academic recommenders). Writing sample: 15 to 20 pages, double-spaced. GRE General and GRE Subject scores are not required. International applicants whose undergraduate degree is from an institution in a country whose official language is not English submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test scores. Fall 2027 entry application deadline: December 2, 2026.

Intake: Fall

Duration: 6 years expected

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