Application Requirements

Applicants to the M.F.A. program in Creative Writing are required to:

1. Submit an online Application for Admission to the Graduate College.
2. Indicate your intent to specialize in Poetry or Fiction under heading "Application Information", Field(s) of Specialization on online application.
3. Submit one copy of each transcript of all previous college-level work. The transcript must indicate the name of the applicant, name of the institution, and show grades by semester/quarter. You are required to upload one copy of all previous college-level work to your online application. Please include a copy of the transcript legend or university key (back page in most cases) for each institution. English translations should be included if the credentials are not in English. Official transcripts are not required at initial time of application; however, the University of Illinois reserves the right to require official academic credentials at any time during the admissions process, and may rescind any offer of admission made if discrepancies between unofficial and official transcript(s) are found.  Additional details about uploading are available on the graduate college website.   Only if you are recommended for admission will you need to provide official credentials (sent to us by mail directly from the institution). Your offer of admission will be contingent upon the receipt and verification of these official documents which must show the award of degrees. Please do not send these official records until we request them from you.  
4. Submit three letters of recommendation, preferably from instructors of your college English courses. Letters may be electronically uploaded to your online application by your recommenders, or through Interfolio. Letters can also be mailed with a sealed envelope with the recommender's signature across the seal.
5. Upload a 300-500 word Statement of Purpose. This statement should be a precise and powerfully-written intellectual biography. What writers or authors, courses, literary works, critical texts have influenced you? What critical questions, historical or national issues, disciplinary or interdisciplinary interests do you hope to pursue in graduate school and beyond? Why? Why at Illinois in particular? Please include on your statement your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address (if available). Submit only one statement.  Please upload to your online application in the "Personal Statement" area.
6. Upload a Writing Sample. The writing sample should include the material that best represents the strength and range of their creative work. The length of your Writing Sample should vary by the genre you intend to study: poets should submit 15 pages of poetry and fiction writers should submit 20-25 pages of fiction. Please include your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address (if available).  Please upload to your online application in the "Writing Sample” area.

*Please note that, as of 2020, the GRE General Test is no longer required for MFA applicants.*

Please note: this is the application directions for the MA/PhD Program. All students without a Master's in English (or akin field) are required to apply to the MA.; however, we do not have a terminal MA. All admitted students are understood to be on track to eventually receive their PhD.

Applicants to the M.A. programs in literature and writing studies are required to:

1. Submit an online Application for Admission to the Graduate College.
2. Indicate your intent to specialize in Writing Studies or in a particular field or period of literature. If necessary indicate more than one field or period of literature; i.e., Early American literature, Medieval, 16th-century British Literature, etc. Use the space provided on the application form.
3. Submit one copy of each transcript of all previous college-level work. The transcript must indicate the name of the applicant, name of the institution, and show grades by semester/quarter. You are required to upload one copy of all previous college-level work to your online application. Please include a copy of the transcript legend or university key (back page in most cases) for each institution. English translations should be included if the credentials are not in English. Official transcripts are not required at initial time of application; however, the University of Illinois reserves the right to require official academic credentials at any time during the admissions process, and may rescind any offer of admission made if discrepancies between unofficial and official transcript(s) are found. Additional details about uploading are available on the graduate college website. Only if you are recommended for admission will you need to provide official credentials (sent to us by mail directly from the institution). Your offer of admission will be contingent upon the receipt and verification of these official documents which must show the award of degrees. Please do not send these official records until we request them from you.
4. Request your GRE (Graduate Record Examination) scores from the ETS (Educational Testing Service). The scores must not be more than five years old, and an official copy must be sent electronically from ETS. Our institution code is 1836.
   1. Literature applicants no longer need to submit Subject Test scores.
   2. Writing Studies applicants — the GRE Subject Test for Literature in English is NOT required.
   3. For the 2022-2023 application season, the English Department is not requiring the GRE general test.
5. Submit three letters of recommendation, preferably from instructors of your college English courses. Letters may be electronically uploaded to your online application by your recommenders, or through Interfolio. Letters can also be mailed with a sealed envelope with the recommender's signature across the seal.
6. Upload an Academic Statement of Purpose (1000 words). This statement should be a precise and powerfully-written intellectual biography. What writers or authors, courses, literary works, critical texts have influenced you? What critical questions, historical or national issues, disciplinary or interdisciplinary interests do you hope to pursue in graduate school and beyond? Why? Why at Illinois in particular? Please include on your statement your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address (if available). Submit only one statement.  Please upload to your online application in the "Personal Statement" area.
7. Upload a Personal Statement (500 words) to the online application discussing any key experiences and/or challenges that may have shaped your intellectual and personal development.
8. Upload one Writing Sample (1 sample required,15-20 pages). For Literature or Writing Studies applicants, the writing sample can be a revised class paper or a section of an honors thesis or longer project. It should demonstrate your ability to write lucidly and originally, to analyze skillfully literary or cultural texts, to use and cite recent secondary sources, and to engage with the languages and issues of contemporary criticism. If possible, you should choose an essay that addresses the interests or issues identified in your Statement of Purpose. Please include on your writing sample your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address (if available). Please upload to your online application in the “Writing Sample" area. 
9. Upload a CV/Resume to "Resume." In addition to the information included in the Statement of Purpose and on the application form, you are encouraged to send a concise résumé which indicates your academic honors, your participation in department and university communities, your teaching or tutoring experience, and your work and volunteer experience. If you are currently enrolled in school, you may want to note the courses you are currently taking and plan to take in the following semester since these will not appear on your transcript.

Applicants to the Ph.D. programs in literature and writing studies are required to:

1. Submit an online Application for Admission to the Graduate College.

                  *Applicants to must have MA before entering into the PhD program.

1. Indicate your intent to specialize in Writing Studies or in a particular field or period of literature. If necessary indicate more than one field or period of literature; i.e., Early American literature, Medieval, 16th-century British Literature, etc. Use the space provided on the application form.
2. Submit one copy of each transcript of all previous college-level work.  The transcript must indicate the name of the applicant, name of the institution, and show grades by semester/quarter. You are required to upload one copy of all previous college-level work to your online application. Please include a copy of the transcript legend or university key (back page in most cases) for each institution. English translations should be included if the credentials are not in English. Official transcripts are not required at initial time of application; however, the University of Illinois reserves the right to require official academic credentials at any time during the admissions process, and may rescind any offer of admission made if discrepancies between unofficial and official transcript(s) are found. Additional details about uploading are available on the graduate college website. Only if you are recommended for admission will you need to provide official credentials (sent to us by mail directly from the institution). Your offer of admission will be contingent upon the receipt and verification of these official documents which must show the award of degrees. Please do not send these official records until we request them from you.
3. Request your GRE (Graduate Record Examination) scores from the ETS (Educational Testing Service). The scores must not be more than five years old, and an official copy must be sent electronically from ETS. Literature applicants no longer need to submit Subject Test. Our institution code is 1836.
   1. Literature applicants no longer need to submit Subject Test scores.
   2. Writing Studies applicants — the GRE Subject Test for Literature in English is NOT required.
   3. For the 2022-2023 application season, the English Department is not requiring the GRE general test.
4. Submit three letters of recommendation, preferably from instructors of your college English courses. Letters may be electronically uploaded to your online application by your recommenders, or through Interfolio. Letters can also be mailed with a sealed envelope with the recommender's signature across the seal.
5. Upload an Academic Statement of Purpose (1000 words). This statement should be a precise and powerfully-written intellectual biography. What writers or authors, courses, literary works, critical texts have influenced you? What critical questions, historical or national issues, disciplinary or interdisciplinary interests do you hope to pursue in graduate school and beyond? Why? Why at Illinois in particular? Please include on your statement your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address (if available). Submit only one statement.  Please upload to your online application in the "Personal Statement" area.
6. Upload a Personal Statement (500 words) to the online application discussing any key experiences and/or challenges that may have shaped your intellectual and personal development.
7. Upload two Writing Samples (2 different samples required, 15-20 pages each). For Literature or Writing Studies applicants, the writing samples can be revised class papers or a section of an honors thesis or longer project. They should demonstrate your ability to write lucidly and originally, to analyze skillfully literary or cultural texts, to use and cite recent secondary sources, and to engage with the languages and issues of contemporary criticism. If possible, you should choose essays that address the interests or issues identified in your Statement of Purpose. All copies should include your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address (if available). Please upload to your online application in the "Writing Sample" area.
8. Upload your CV/Resume to "Resume." In addition to the information included in the Statement of Purpose and on the application form, you are encouraged to send a concise résumé which indicates your academic honors, your participation in department and university communities, your teaching or tutoring experience, and your work and volunteer experience. If you are currently enrolled in school, you may want to note the courses you are currently taking and plan to take in the following semester since these will not appear on your transcript.
9. Upload a succinct description of the requirements in the Master’s Program that you are either currently enrolled in or have already completed. This description should include course requirements (including area distribution requirements) and language requirements. Please upload to your description under “Resume" after you have uploaded your CV/Resume.