English

Applying  

Admission to Clark's graduate programs is open to holders of the bachelor's degree or its equivalent and is determined on a competitive basis.

Inquiries from both U.S. and international students concerning our M.A. program in English should be addressed to the Program Assistant of Graduate Studies in English.

All Preliminary Applications and Formal Application Forms should be returned to Clark University Department of English, Terri Rutkiewicz, Program Assistant, 950 Main Street, Worcester, MA, USA, 01610, accompanied by all required materials.

If you would like to apply to our M.A. program, please follow the instructions and links that pertain to your situation:

All International students who are applying through agreement universities with Clark University (please note: this is not an exchange program)

If you decide to apply for the next academic year (beginning in the fall term only), you should send the following material directly to the Graduate Studies in English Department at Clark University, before the application deadline of February 1: 

  1. The completed application form.
  2. $60 non-refundable application fee.
  3. A statement of purpose outlining your academic interests and goals.
  4. Official TOEFL score report.
  5. Three recommendation forms completed by the professors who agree to write on your behalf.  One of the recommendations should come from your home institution's professor who has contact with Clark University, or contact Clark Professor SunHee Kim Gertz sgertz@clarku.edu if there is no specific person you know of.  Please note that we prefer to have a letter from the professor along with the completed recommendation form.
  6. Official transcript from all colleges and/or universities which you have attended, or equivalent documentation, translated into English.  An official copy of bachelor's degree awarded, or its equivalent.
  7. A recent writing sample:  one formal essay of at least 2500 words on some aspect of English or American literature.

Unless otherwise stated, it is assumed that all students are applying to the Graduate Program in English as degree students.  This includes taking all required courses and completing a Master's Thesis and oral defense.

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International students who are applying through the Fulbright Commission or the DAAD

If you decide to apply for the next academic year (beginning in the fall term only), you should send the following material directly to the Graduate Studies in English Department at Clark University, before the application deadline of February 1: 

  1. The completed Clark University application form.
  2. $60 non-refundable application fee.
  3. All Fulbright or DAAD application material.

If not included in your Fulbright or DAAD application, please also send the following:

  1. A statement of purpose outlining your academic interests and goals.
  2. Official transcripts from all colleges/universities which you have attended, or equivalent documentation, translated into English.
  3. Three letters of recommendation completed by the professors who agree to write on your behalf..

Please notify us if you are applying as a degree or non-degree student.

Note: It is extremely important that we receive all of your application materials before February 1.

We welcome applicants to visit the Clark campus and the English department. If you have any questions, please e-mail Terri Rutkiewicz, Program Assistant, at engma@clarku.edu

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Applicants whose first language is not English and who are not applying through agreement universities

Like most universities and colleges in the U. S., Clark University requires detailed application information which must be accompanied by records and documents that may be expensive or difficult to obtain or duplicate. Fluency in reading, speaking, and writing English and a background in English and American literature are also critical for our graduate courses.

To protect yourself from wasting time and money by applying to a program that cannot admit you, please fill out this this preliminary application form and send it with the required material (see below) by AIRMAIL to the English Department at Clark University.  The Preliminary Application Deadline is December 1.

  1. The completed Preliminary Application form.
  2. Official TOEFL Score Report.
  3. A recent writing sample (for example, one formal essay of at least 2500 words in English, on some aspect of English or American literature). You are encouraged to send your writing sample by email to engma@clarku.edu. Please include your name in the subject line.
  4. A written statement by you acknowledging the amount and kinds of help you received in writing the essay.
  5. A voice recording of your own voice speaking of your academic interests and reasons for coming to Clark University (about five minutes in length).
  6. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores for both the General test and the Literature in English test are welcome, but not required.

Please send your Preliminary Application and materials by December 1 to allow sufficient time for the faculty review and any subsequent formal application procedures.

If these documents are satisfactory to our faculty, we will send you the Formal Application materials.

Please note that the Preliminary application deadline for the M.A. program is December 1 and the Formal Application deadline for the M.A. program is February 1.

If you have any questions, please e-mail Terri Rutkiewicz, Program Assistant, at engma@clarku.edu.

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All other applicants whose first language is English

If you decide to apply for the next academic year (beginning in the fall term only), you should send the following material directly to the English Department at Clark:

  1. The completed application form and the $60 non-refundable application fee.
  2. A statement of purpose outlining your academic interests and goals. If you indicate on the application that you wish to be considered for a teaching assistantship, please describe your teaching qualifications in your statement of purpose.
  3. Three recommendation forms completed by the professors who agree to write on your behalf. Please note that we wish to have a letter from the professor along with the completed form.
  4. An official transcript from each college and/or university which you have attended, or equivalent documentation.
  5. Students from the U.S. or Canada must submit an official score report from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Both the General test and the Literature in English exam are required. Consideration of your application may not be possible without the submission of scores from both the General and the Subject tests. GRE scores for international students outside the U.S. or Canada are strongly recommended, but not required.
  6. A recent writing sample:  one formal essay of at least 2500 words on some aspect of English or American literature.

APPLY ONLINE:

PLEASE DO NOT APPLY ONLINE IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN A CLARK UNIVERSITY STUDENT.

Online Application

It is extremely important that we receive all of your application materials before February 1. 

You are encouraged to send your statement of purpose and writing sample by email to:

Terri Rutkiewicz
Program Assistant
engma@clarku.edu  

Please include your name in the subject line and call the office at 508-793-7630 to notify us that you are sending it.

We welcome applicants to visit the Clark campus and the English department. If you have any questions, please e-mail us at engma@clarku.edu or call 508-793-7630.

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