Applications to the Graduate Ph.D. and M.A. programs open on October 1st and close in early December. Entering cohorts typically range in size from 6-9 students, including 1-2 students in the Creative/Critical concentration.
As you research the graduate programs that best suit your needs, we recommend that you browse through our current graduate seminar offerings to get a better sense of the kinds of research topics that faculty and graduate students tend to gravitate towards. Our curriculum, which changes from year to year, can be found here. We also recommend viewing the stated research interests of current graduate students, and the thesis/dissertation titles of recent degree recipients, to get a better sense of the research community in our department.
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Ph.D. Program
The UC Santa Cruz doctoral program in literature offers an innovative multilingual and multidisciplinary approach to literary studies, involving the use of more than one language literature. The program is relatively small, and students work closely with faculty throughout their graduate careers. They are encouraged to take advantage of the rich array of intellectual and cultural events, research clusters, and lectures offered on campus.
The doctoral program combines critical and independent thought with global perspectives. Working across linguistic, national, and period boundaries, students blend critical approaches, literary traditions, and/or cultural archives in comparative and interdisciplinary projects.
A Creative/Critical Writing concentration within the Ph.D. program is available, for which prospective students apply during the admissions process. Creative/Critical applicants submit additional creative writing samples of poetry, prose fiction, creative nonfiction or hybrid/cross genre. Students in the Creative/Critical concentration complete all the requirements for the literature Ph.D. with the addition of a creative/critical degree component in the form of coursework, original creative work with a critical introduction and, if desired, work in poetics, translation, form and/or critical writing focused on creative practices.
Students may apply for a designated emphasis on the literature doctoral diploma in programs and departments such as Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, Education, Feminist Studies, History of Consciousness, Latin American and Latino Studies, Philosophy, Politics, Sociology, and the History of Art and Visual Culture. Applications and requirements are available at the respective department offices.
For specific information on course and degree requirements, please see our current student handbook. To get an idea of our recent graduate course offerings, please see our current courses.
Creative/Critical Writing Concentration
UC Santa Cruz offers a concentration in Creative/Critical Writing for Literature Ph.D. students. This is an individualized course of study in which students can write a creative dissertation with a critical introduction or a cross-genre creative/critical project. Students have completed speculative novels, collections of poems and personal essays, experimental memoirs, biographies, cross-genre work, and translations of works of poetry and prose. Descriptions of previous qualifying exam and dissertation topics can be found with student bios here.
(please refer to the Literature Ph.D. Program overview for more information)
Entering students complete all the requirements for the Literature Ph.D. with the addition of a creative/critical enhancement to their degree in the form of original creative work, with a critical introduction, and, if desired, work in poetics, translation, form and/or critical writing from the perspective of writerly practices.
Admissions
In addition to the regular requirements for an application, applicants to the Creative/Critical Writing concentration should also submit 20-25 pages of prose (at least one complete piece and an additional sample preferred) or 10-12 pages of poetry. The writing can be poetry, prose fiction, creative non-fiction or hybrid/cross-genre.
Faculty
The following faculty are participating Creative Writing faculty mentors:
Master’s Program
Our Master’s degree program is intended primarily for students who plan to transfer to a Ph.D. program at another institution.
M.A. candidates enroll in courses alongside students from the Ph.D. program. The M.A. is granted to students upon completion of eight graduate courses and an M.A. thesis.
Requirements for the M.A. degree typically cannot be completed in one year but must be completed by the end of the student’s second year. The minimum residency requirement for the M.A. degree is three terms, two of them at UC Santa Cruz.
The department does not normally provide financial support to M.A. students, including TAships. M.A. students interested in applying for TAships in either the Literature department or elsewhere on campus are encouraged to enroll in the Pedagogy of Literature course (Literature 201), which is offered every fall quarter.
For more details on our MA requirements, please see the current student handbook.
Application Procedure
Available beginning October 1st. Please check the Application Deadlines page for the current program deadline.
Complete Application Criteria
- Curriculum Vitae
- Writing Sample (double spaced)
- A writing sample between 10-20 pages in length, double spaced. Though the sample need not be in Literature, it should demonstrate relevant skills in writing, critical thinking, and textual analysis. In addition, applicants whose proposed primary area of emphasis is in a language other than English should provide a sample that demonstrates an ability to work in that language. Please include your name in the footer of each page of your writing sample.
- For applicants to the Creative/Critical Writing concentration, the department additionally requests 20-25 pages of prose (at least one complete piece and an additional sample preferred) or 10-12 pages of poetry. The writing can be poetry, prose fiction, creative nonfiction or hybrid/cross genre.
- Statement of Purpose (double spaced)
- Please describe your plans for graduate study or research and for your future occupation or profession. Include any information that may aid the selection committee in evaluating your preparation and qualifications for graduate study at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Recommended length is a concise 2-4 pages.
- Personal History Statement (double spaced)
- This statement will be used in conjunction with your application for graduate admission and financial support. Note that the Personal History Statement should not duplicate the Statement of Purpose. Recommended length is a concise 1-3 pages.mUC Santa Cruz is interested in a diverse and inclusive graduate student population. In this essay, discuss how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Include any educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how you might contribute to social or cultural diversity within your chosen field; and/or how you might serve educationally underrepresented segments of society with your degree.
- Three Letters of Recommendation
- Unofficial Transcripts
- International Applicants Only: Test Scores
- Applicants whose primary language is not English and have not completed degrees at an English-speaking institution must take either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test.
- Additional information for International Applicants, including required test scores, waivers, and transcripts, can be found on this page on the Division of Graduate Studies website.
No application materials should be sent to the Department of Literature. All materials are vetted through the online application found at the Division of Graduate Studies.
Fee Waivers
ALL applicants are eligible to apply for a fee waiver. Applicants who do not qualify for a fee waiver through the application portal (including International Students) may apply directly to the Department of Literature. The department has a limited number of waivers available and will evaluate requests on a case by case basis.
Fee waivers must be requested two weeks prior to the application deadline. All fee waiver decisions will be announced one week prior to the application deadline.
Requirements and Instructions:
- At minimum, have completed, uploaded, and submitted the following items to your application: statement of purpose, personal history statement, statement of financial need, and your resume.
- Have not yet paid for your application to the University.
- Requesting the fee waiver:
- Domestic Students: In the application portal, follow the directions for requesting a fee waiver. If you are denied a fee waiver, please contact litgrdcd@ucsc.edu to state why you are requesting a fee waiver and attach your statement of need. If you are granted a fee waiver by the department, we will provide additional directions for how to complete the fee waiver section in the application portal.
- International Students: International students are not eligible to request a fee waiver in the application portal. Instead, contact litgrdcd@ucsc.edu to state why you are requesting a fee waiver and attach your statement of need. If you are granted a fee waiver, we will provide additional directions for how to complete the fee waiver section in the application portal.
NOTE: The Department is unlikely to grant a fee waiver to individuals for more than one application cycle.
Admission FAQs
Do you require the GRE?
No, we do not.
Do you require a Writing Sample?
Yes. Both M.A. and Ph.D. applications must include a writing sample. This is one of the most important parts of the application, in addition to the personal statement and letters of recommendation. For applicants to the Creative/Critical Writing concentration, the department requests the following additional materials: 20-25 pages of prose (at least one complete piece and an additional sample preferred), or 10-12 pages of poetry. The writing can be poetry, prose fiction, creative nonfiction or hybrid/cross genre.
Can the writing sample be made up of more than one piece?
Yes, but one sustained argument is preferred.
Can the writing sample be longer than 20 pages?
We prefer that you keep it to the stated length, double spaced.
What does the department look for in a successful candidate?
The most important parts of your application are the writing components, letters of recommendation, second language competency, and range of academic interests. We take a holistic look at each applicant’s file. No single element—like transcripts or GPA— would rule out an otherwise strong candidate whose intellectual interests and strengths are a good fit for our program.
How well-prepared in my second language do I have to be?
Second language proficiency isn’t tested as much as it is encouraged prior to admission. We recommend that students have the equivalent of two years of college instruction for a modern language, or one year for an ancient language. Students are expected to have done all the elementary-intermediate grammar so that they are ready to read relevant literary or critical texts in the language. If you are accepted into the program, you will be required to take the Graduate Summer Language Program, two seminars in a second language-literature, and a translation exam as part of your coursework completion. If you enter the program with low to no language preparation, it will set your advancement timeline back about a year.
What percentage of applicants get accepted?
We typically receive around 150 applications to our graduate program. Of those, we target an entering class of 6 PhD students.
Can you start in the M.A. program and then go into the Ph.D. program from there?
Typically not. The M.A. program is primarily designed for students wanting to pursue a Ph.D. at other institutions.
What should I say in my statement of purpose?
If you have a faculty member you are currently working with and who has been on admissions committees, we recommend that you request that he/she read your Statement of Purpose (SOP) and help choose/review your Writing Sample. Also, the SOP can include both academic and life experiences. It can reflect what brought you to this point in your life, and what future goals you feel can be fulfilled by graduate study in Literature.
What’s the process for evaluating applications?
A committee of at least eight faculty members goes over the files, with each file read by a minimum of two members, and a long list is developed. All committee members read the long list files, producing a short list and inviting other faculty in the department to weigh in where appropriate. A final meeting is then held to determine which applicants from the short list will receive offers.
What kind of support does the department offer for its admits?
If you are accepted into the program you will receive an offer that includes five years of guaranteed funding in the form of fellowships, teaching appointments, or research positions. In our program the majority of our support comes in the form of Teaching Assistantships (one per quarter). TAships are funded opportunities to teach sections for literature courses and are technically considered employment. This funding is designed to cover resident tuition, health insurance, and university fees. We typically offer special funding packages for non-California residents that cover non-resident tuition for one year with the expectation that residency is acquired by the second year. In combination with the Division of Graduate Studies, we offer special funding packages for international students to cover non-resident tuition for a longer period. Additional information for international applicants can be found here.
When is the application deadline?
Application deadlines are kept up to date on the Division of Graduate Studies Admissions website. No late applications will be accepted.
Have you received all of my application materials?
Applicants can check the status of their application online via the portal or by contacting technical support using this online form.
Can I submit my test scores or letters of recommendation after the deadline?
Test scores and letters of recommendation can be submitted after the application deadline, but because we begin the review process immediately it is in your best interest to have them all in as quickly as possible.
Literature Department Financial Support
Students admitted to the Ph.D. program will be offered a financial package of guaranteed support for five years. Guaranteed support comes in the form of a combination of Teaching Assistantships, opportunities for Teaching Fellowships, and departmental or extra-departmental research fellowships. Teaching Assistant positions are the primary method of support.
Admitted students will receive an offer of financial support along with their admission. At minimum, that support would include tuition, fees, individual health insurance, and salary/stipend of approximately the TA salary. ($34,000 per academic year for 2024-2025) Specific financial offers are provided to admitted students.
Students past the period of guaranteed support are often able to obtain teaching appointments in our own or other departments or units across campus, as well as campus-wide or extramural fellowship support. There is a non-negotiable limit of 18 quarters of Teaching Assistantships/Teaching Fellowships support.
International Students
In an effort to remove barriers to the success of international students, the Literature Department, the Division of Graduate Studies, and the University of California have partnered to cover or waive the non-resident tuition supplement for six years. Typical time to degree for our program is six or seven years, although students entering the program with an MA or MFA are sometimes able to complete their degree in five.
English Language Testing
English is the language of instruction and communication at the University of California. Success at UC Santa Cruz depends on daily classwork, written papers, frequent short examinations, and major examinations in English. Applicants whose primary language is not English must take either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test.
Additional information for International Applicants, including required test scores, waivers, and transcripts, can be found on this page on the Division of Graduate Studies website.