MFA English at University of Massachusetts Amherst

Programme overview

The English programme at UMass Amherst studies language, literature and writing across diverse textual, cultural and theoretical traditions, with small classes that combine liberal arts college and research university strengths. The department also hosts a nationally ranked MFA programme.

Faculty: College of Humanities & Fine Arts | Department: Department of English | Study mode: full-time | Location: Amherst, MA, United States

What you will study

Language, literature and writing, with eight letters of specialization, one certificate and one individualized option for the undergraduate degree; graduate research areas include colonial, post-colonial and transnational studies, popular culture, American studies, composition and rhetoric, and early modern and Renaissance studies.

Career pathways

English gives a foundation for many careers and for graduate or professional study, with teaching certification available alongside the major.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Graduate School (all UMass Amherst graduate programmes): bachelor's degree from an accredited US institution or an equivalent international degree; minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale (some programmes expect more); most programmes require at least two letters of recommendation; personal statement and resume; 600-word short essay on community; $90 application fee. Applicants whose native language is not English: TOEFL iBT 80 (tests taken before January 2026; combined score of 4 on the new scale for tests from January 2026), IELTS Academic 6.5, Duolingo English Test 115 or PTE Academic 53.

Requirements published at faculty level.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

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