Supervisors
Learn about faculty available to supervise this degree.
Please note: additional supervisors may be available. Contact the program for more information.
Program overview
Build on your intellectual curiosity and foundational understanding of English Literature to become an expert in your field. Develop an original and focused area of research and proceed to the dissertation to develop original creative or critical work (or a hybrid of both). The University of Calgary's graduate program in English boasts the longest-running program in Canada with a creative PhD thesis option, attracting national and international acclaim. All students pursuing an English doctoral degree will learn from highly accomplished faculty in several traditional and emerging fields. Our creative writing faculty members include a Canada Research Chair in Creative Writing. The program is ideal for students seeking academic careers and advanced training in research, writing and pedagogy. It provides a foundation for a range of careers requiring articulate, thoughtful, creative and innovative thinkers with strong research and communication skills. The creative stream and critical dissertation stream are equally rigorous; all students undertake a range of courses and field of study exams, and defend their thesis work orally.
Prospective students are encouraged to inquire with the department about their minimum funding policy.
Completing this program
- Core course: Graduate Pro-seminar on critical skills and professional issues in graduate-level literary study.
- Thesis: Students will be required to submit and defend an original dissertation.
- Language requirement: Demonstrated proficiency in a language other than English.
- Examinations: Students will complete oral and written field of study examinations, and a thesis proposal.
Specializations
- Literature in English (a Creative Writing option is available within this specialization)
Outcomes
Academic or post-secondary teaching, research, editing, publishing, archival work, educational software and technology, college, university and government administration and policy; communications, technical and creative writing; digital and online publishing, non-profits and NGOs, freelance writing.
A PhD in English is usually considered a final degree.
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Accepting InquiriesNineteenth-Century Literature and Culture, Digital Humanities, Disability Studies -
Seeking StudentsU.S. Literature, Cultural Studies, Theories of Size and Scale, Theories of the Body, Gender Studies, Democracy Theory, Post-Marxist theory, Postcolonial Theory -
Accepting InquiriesLiteratures in Canada -
Accepting InquiriesRenaissance literature -
Accepting InquiriesNineteenth-Century American Literature, Narrative Theory, Pedagogy, History of the Discipline -
Accepting InquiriesCreative Writing (Poetry, Non-Fiction Prose, Fiction); the Global Early Modern Period, Postcolonial Studies; South Asian Studies; Literary and Cultural Theory; Church History; Christianity
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Accepting Inquiries -
Unavailable -
Accepting InquiriesMedieval literature, Digital humanities -
UnavailableAfro-Indigenous Studies, Indigenous Studies, BIPOC Literatures, Rhetorics, & Cultures, Critical Mixed Race Studies, Environmental Humanities & Ecocriticism , Two-Spirit, Queer, Gender, and Sexuality, Fatness, disAbility, & Wellness Studies, TEK & STEAM & Literary Theory
Admission requirements
GPA
A minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale at the graduate level.
Minimum education
A completed four-year undergraduate program (or equivalent), and a completed Master’s degree. At least one of the degrees must be in English Literature. In exceptional circumstances, degrees in a closely related discipline may meet admission requirements.
Work samples
A 5-10 page sample of critical writing; for creative writing applicants, an additional 10-page sample of creative writing.
Documents
- A statement of intent
- A C.V.
Reference letters
Two
Test scores
None
English language proficiency
An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL ibt) score of 97.
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 7 (minimum of 6.5 in each section)
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) score of 75, or higher (Academic version).
- Canadian Academic English Language test (CAEL) score of 70 (minimum 70 in each section)
- Academic Communication Certificate (ACC) score of A- in each course.
- Cambridge C1 Advanced or Cambridge C2 Proficiency minimum score of 200.
Deadlines
For admission on September 1:
Canadians and permanent residents - apply by Dec. 15 | submit all supporting documents by Jan. 10
International students - apply by Dec. 15 | submit all supporting documents by Jan. 10
If you're not a Canadian or permanent resident, or if you have international credentials, make sure to learn about international requirements
Learn more about this program
Related programs
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