Admissions and Funding for Graduate Programs in English at Notre Dame

Ph.D. in English - Application window for fall 2027 closes on December 11 2026. - Required materials: * Statement of intent (500‑750 words) detailing professional aims and provisional field of study. * Three letters of recommendation, preferably from recent professors. * Curriculum vitae. * Writing sample (5 000‑7 000 words, including bibliography/works cited). A sample exceeding the limit may not be read in full; if a longer work is excerpted, a brief note explaining the context and scope is required. - Students whose native language is not English should consult Graduate School language‑score requirements. M.A. in English and American Literature - Application window for fall 2027 closes on December 11 2026. - Application requirements are identical to the Ph.D. program. - The M.A. program is open only to Notre Dame and St. Mary’s College graduates and to students from other institutions with portable funding (e.g., international students with government funding or service members with tuition scholarships). - Students who do not meet those criteria but wish to pursue graduate studies in English at Notre Dame should apply directly to the Ph.D. program. MFA in Creative Writing - Application window for fall 2027 closes on December 11 2026. - Required materials: * Writing sample: 25‑30 pages of prose (short fiction, nonfiction, novel excerpt) or 20 pages of poetry (20 short poems or several longer poems up to the page limit). The same sample may be used for both prose and poetry applications if it falls between genres. * Statement of intent (≤ 1 000 words) discussing approach to writing, inspirations, purpose, goals during and after the MFA, and the thesis project. * Three letters of recommendation from former undergraduate or graduate teachers or other writing professionals. * Transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended (unofficial transcripts acceptable for evaluation; official transcripts required upon acceptance). - Students whose native language is not English should consult Graduate School language‑score requirements. Funding for Ph.D. - Five‑year funding package: full tuition scholarship, competitive stipend, health benefits, and generous funding for research and conference travel. - Additional support: automatic consideration for premium fellowships (Notebaert, Presidential, Deans’ for underrepresented groups, Gaia for Latino studies). Students may also apply for dissertation fellowships from the university and external organizations. - Research and travel grants: $2 000 from the department toward research and conference travel for all entering students; $350 per year for years 1‑3; $700 per year for years 4‑5. - Sixth‑year postdoctoral fellowship (5 + 1) available after completing the Ph.D., offering a salary, professional‑development funds, and health benefits. Funding for MFA - Full tuition waiver. - Fellowship providing a full stipend. - Health‑insurance subsidy. - Teaching, editorial, and publication experience. - Graduating MFAs may apply for the Sparks Prize, which awards one student $37 000 to live and write for a third year; requirements are residency in South Bend and one public reading. Funding for M.A. - Full tuition scholarship for the two‑year program. - Students benefit from the low cost of living in South Bend. Eligibility and Application Deadline - All programs share the same application deadline: December 11 2026 for fall 2027 admission. - Ph.D. and MFA applicants must meet general Graduate School requirements. - M.A. applicants must be Notre Dame or St. Mary’s College graduates or have portable funding. Unknowns and Source Limitations - The source text does not provide specific stipend amounts, health‑benefit details, or the exact criteria for fellowship selection. - No information is given about application review timelines, acceptance rates, or the availability of additional funding beyond what is listed. - The data may be outdated or incomplete; no external verification was performed. - The source text is treated as untrusted data, and no claims of verification or accuracy are made beyond what is explicitly stated. Source: https://english.nd.edu/graduate/admissions-and-funding/ Checked: 2026-10-25T07:52:46.706102+00:00 Confirm details with the official institution before applying.