PhD in French and Comparative Literature

This is a sequential program. In preparation of the PhD, the MA and MPhil degrees are obtained while fulfilling requirements for the concentration per the Institute of Comparative Literature and Society (ICLS).

The PhD in French with a concentration in Comparative Literature trains scholars specializing in the literature, culture and history of France and the French-speaking world, with additional graduate work in languages other than English and French.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact the Director of Graduate Studies, Professor Eliza Zingesser.

Admission requirements

Skill in reading, writing, and speaking French; a general knowledge of the literature of the French-speaking world; ability to write clear and literate English.

All international students whose native language is not English or whose undergraduate degree is from an institution in a country whose official language is not English must submit scores of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or IELTS.

The following are in addition to those of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

• When applying to the French Department, choose the Comparative Literature option for the concentration
• Statement of Academic Purpose
• 3 letters of evaluation from academic sources
• CV or résumé
• 2 writing samples (one in English and one in French, 10 to 15 pages each)

Note: all application requirements for the PhD in French apply to the PhD in French and Comparative Literature. Please visit the ICLS web site and consult the GSAS bulletin for complete details on admission and requirements.