PhD Comparative Literature at University of California, Riverside

Programme overview

The PhD in Comparative Literature is an interdisciplinary, multilingual doctoral programme in which students read texts in their original languages. Faculty expertise spans gender and sexuality studies, decolonial and postcolonial theory, poetics, literature and philosophy, film and media studies, critical theory and comparative ancient civilizations.

Faculty: College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences | Department: Department of Comparative Literature and Languages | Intake: Fall | Study mode: full-time | Location: Riverside, CA, United States

What you will study

Students work across literary traditions including African, Arabic, Chinese, Classical Greek, English, French, German, Japanese, Russian and Spanish, with interdisciplinary links to media and cultural studies, creative writing, anthropology, art history, philosophy, dance, music and theatre.

Career pathways

Graduates have been placed at SUNY Binghamton, Williams College, the University of Washington, Peking University and Purdue University.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

GRE has been waived for the current cycle but scores are encouraged if available. Graduate Division (university-wide): bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution or recognized international equivalent; minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA (some programs set a higher standard); transcripts, statement of purpose and letters of recommendation; English proficiency (TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic 7 with no component below 6) unless the prior degree was taught in English; GRE/GMAT only where the program requires it (many no longer do). Source: graduate.ucr.edu/admission-requirements.

UC Riverside operates a quarter system. Summer begins mid-June, Fall late September, Winter early January and Spring late March/early April. Most graduate programmes admit and begin in the Fall quarter only.

New domestic applicants: Fall January 5 (fellowship consideration) / June 1 (admission only), Winter November 1, Spring February 1, Summer May 1. New international applicants: Fall January 5 (fellowship consideration) / June 1 (admission only), Winter September 1, Spring December 1, Summer March 1. Some programmes set earlier priority or fellowship deadlines.

Apply through the official page: https://grad.ucr.edu/apply/

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