Apply
Graduate applications are available online through the Arts and Sciences web site's ApplyYourself® service. There are no paper copies of this application available.
Questions? Please contact the graduate administrator at engrad@pitt.edu.
Deadline
The application period for Fall Admission 2013 will begin on September 1, 2012 and will end on December 10, 2012 at 12:00 midnight (EST).
Note: Applications will not be accepted or considered if sent before September 1, 2012 at midnight. There will be NO EXCEPTIONS.
Steps to Complete Application
Review the requirements as outlined below. Failure to follow these steps will delay or disqualify your application.
- Complete and submit your online application.
Make sure you follow the instructions provided on the ApplyYourself® website. Print a copy of the completed application for your personal records. - If you are applying for multiple degree programs, you must complete and submit one application per program.
If you want to be considered for more than one degree program (for example, both the MA and the PhD), you must submit a separate application for each program. - Forward all other required materials (e.g., transcripts, writing samples, and so on. See the Additional Materials Page for details). You can send these materials through regular mail to the graduate administrator or upload them with your application, with the exception of transcripts, which must be mailed.
All materials sent through regular mail must also be received by the due date, December 10, 2012.
Additional Materials
These materials must be submitted as part of the application:
- $50.00 Application Fee
A check or money order for $50, for both US citizens and International students, payable to the University of Pittsburgh. You can also include the fee through the online application using a credit card. - Detailed Statement of Purpose
Two to three pages in length, single-spaced. - Three Letters of Recommendation
- Letters of Recommendation can be submitted in hard copy or electronic format. Each letter MUST have a Recommendation Form attached to it when submitting to the Graduate office. Note: You can download a copy of the Recommendation Form from this site. (This form is only needed if recommenders are submitting by mail.)
As outlined above, if your recommendation letters are being submitted electronically through ApplyYourself®, The recommendation form is on the ApplyYourself site. - It is your responsibility to make sure that your recommendation letters arrive in our office on or before December 10, 2012.
If your recommenders are posting their letters online, you must follow-up with them to make sure they have been posted, and if not, you need to remind them that all materials are due in our office on or before December 10, 2012.
- Letters of Recommendation can be submitted in hard copy or electronic format. Each letter MUST have a Recommendation Form attached to it when submitting to the Graduate office. Note: You can download a copy of the Recommendation Form from this site. (This form is only needed if recommenders are submitting by mail.)
- Official Transcripts.
Transcripts of all post-high school academic work (transferred credit noted on a transcript cannot substitute for an official transcript from the original institution). - GRE Scores (Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytic)
The GRE Literature Subject test is not required.
Note: Please be sure to request that your scores be submitted electronically.
The appropriate institution code for the University of Pittsburgh — Main Campus is 2927.
Either 2501 or 2504 is an appropriate department code. - Writing Samples
Your writing sample must reach us by December 10, 2012. It is probably easiest to submit the sample through Apply Yourself.- MA and PHD applicants
The writing sample should be a critical or interpretive essay of approximately 20 pages. - MFA Applicants
A writing sample of published or unpublished work.
MFA Genre. Please indicate which genre you are applying for:- Fiction
- Nonfiction
- Poetry
Note: For fiction and nonfiction applicants, approximately 50 pages, and for poetry applicants, approximately 20 pages.
- MA and PHD applicants
- List of the Institutions you have attended (on the application).
When listing the institutions that you have attended, please make sure that all of the information is visible on the application. You must list the institution (if the code is not available you need to type after the institution name NOT FOUND. If all information is not visible on application (e.g. school name is too long), a separate list must be submitted.Note: You must list your GPA, the degree you earned (BA, BS, MA) if any, and the month/year that the degree was obtained.
All mailed materials should be sent to:
English Department Graduate Office
526 Cathedral of Learning
4200 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
International Students
In addition to the requirements listed on the Apply and Additional Materials pages, international students must also include the following:
- TOEFL and/or IELTS scores
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The required minimum TOEFL score of 90 (with at least a score of 22 in all of the four sections of speaking, listening, reading and writing) will be required for 2013-2014 applicants. The required minimum IELTS score of 7.0 (with at least 6.5 in each of its four sections) will be required for 2013-2014 applicants.
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- International Graduate Student Supplemental Form (PDF) for international applicants
- The materials should be sent to:
English Department Graduate Office
526 Cathedral of Learning
4200 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Graduate Administrator: Crystal Hall engrad@pitt.edu or 412-624-6549
