How To Apply

The M.A. English program admits new students every fall. An undergraduate major in English is not required of applicants to the M.A. program, but the Graduate Admissions Committee takes into consideration the undergraduate and/or postgraduate record in English courses. Effective Fall 2021 onwards, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test scores are NOT REQUIRED.

Georgetown University staff members using TAP benefits and others who are interested in completing the M.A. in English degree on a decelerated schedule (longer than 4 semesters) may contact the Director of Graduate Studies to inquire about the possibility of applying to start the program in January rather than August.

If you would like to be considered for priority admission in the fall, your application must be complete and all supplementary materials received no later than January 15, 2025.

The final application deadline for Fall 2025 is April 1, 2025.

Please note: If you are awarded the Truman Scholarship, Georgetown University will provide a match of up to $30,000 to cover cost-of-education expenses, e.g. tuition and related fees, living expenses, textbooks, etc.

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Required Materials

  • Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Application
  • Non-refundable Application Fee
  • Academic Statement of Purpose (2–3 pages, single or double spaced) addressing in detail your intellectual interests, academic and professional objectives, and proposed topic(s) of graduate study. Some points to include, as appropriate, are: your preparation and motivation for graduate study, including your academic, research and work experience; or how our program aligns with your preparation and experience; how particular faculty interests in our program align with your educational goals. A secondary optional statement may be completed to address personal background. While the Graduate School’s online application specifies a 500-word statement, please defer to these departmental guidelines.
    • Optional: Statement on Diversity, Personal Background & Contributions—As Georgetown is a diverse, global community, we encourage you to upload a brief statement of approximately 500 words to help the Graduate Admissions Committee understand the contribution your personal background would make to our community. As appropriate, you may wish to address any obstacles or challenges you have overcome; any educational, familial, cultural, economic, and social experiences that have helped to shape your educational and professional goals; or how your background (e.g., first generation student, resident outside the U.S.) or activities (e.g., community service and leadership) will contribute to the Georgetown community.
  • Writing Sample (8–12 pages) of your strongest critical and/or analytical writing on a topic with clear relevance to literary and/or cultural studies. Please keep your submission within the page limit, and note at the top of the first page if it is excerpted from a longer work.
  • Letters of Recommendation (2)—These should be from academic sources able to comment on your ability to think critically and to analyze texts; letters from employers, friends, or family members are NOT acceptable.
  • Transcripts—Applicants are required to upload to the application system copies of official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended. Do not send electronic or paper copies of your transcripts before receiving an offer of admission. Visit the Office of Graduate Admission’s How to Apply page for additional details and FAQs.
  • Resume or CV
  • TOEFL / IELTS Test Scores (if applicable)
    • The Georgetown M.A. English program is a rigorous, demanding course of critical, analytical and scholarly study requiring high-level skills in speaking, hearing, reading, and writing in English. Non-native English speakers are required to take either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam. Please send test scores to Georgetown University via the institution code 5244 (the departmental code is not required). All materials other than test scores are submitted through the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences online application. Any student who is discovered to have misrepresented their level of English fluency on a successful application runs the risk of termination even after being admitted to the program and enrolled in courses.
    • TOEFL: A minimum score of 80 (iBT test) or 550 (paper test) is required for the TOEFL. For more information visit http://www.ets.org/toefl/.
    • IELTS: A minimum score of 7.0 is required for the IELTS. For more information visit: http://www.ielts.org

Please note: Effective Fall 2021 onwards, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test scores are NOT REQUIRED.

It is solely the responsibility of the student applying to make certain that all application materials are submitted to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences ideally well before the posted deadlines for submission; files remaining incomplete after the deadlines will not be considered for admission to the program.

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