General Information for English
ADMISSION Applications are accepted for programs leading to the M.F.A. degree, the M.A. degree with a concentration in creative writing, and the Ph.D. and M.A. degrees in English and American literature. Applicants for all of these programs must submit completed applications and the following supporting documentation: a statement of purpose, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test results, one official copy of the transcript from each university previously attended, and three letters of recommendation.
Applicants whose native language is not English must submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) results unless they have received their undergraduate degree from an accredited American college or university or from a college or university where the language of instruction is English. Near-native fluency in English is crucial for successful completion of all the programs offered by the department.
All application materials and supporting documents must be sent directly to Graduate Enrollment Services (see the GSAS Application for Admission and Financial Aid for instructions). Applications submitted directly to the department are not considered. The department and the Creative Writing Program withdraw from consideration all applications that are missing supporting documents one month after the posted deadline.
Applicants for the M.A. programs and for the M.F.A. program are accepted into those programs only. Applicants for the Ph.D. program who are not accepted into that program are considered for the M.A. program if they request it in a cover letter. Students who have completed or will have completed an M.A. or M.F.A. degree at New York University may apply for the Ph.D. program. They must meet all the requirements for the Ph.D. application. They may submit a new statement of purpose, a new writing sample, and additional letters of recommendation. Their applications are considered along with applications submitted by external candidates.
English and American Literature Applicants: In addition to the items listed above, which are required throughout the Graduate School of Arts and Science, applicants for the M.A. or Ph.D. program in English and American literature must also submit results of the GRE subject test in English and a writing sample (10-12 pages). The department considers applications for the M.A. or Ph.D. program in English and American literature for fall admission only.
Creative Writing Applicants: Applicants for the M.F.A. program or the M.A. program with a concentration in creative writing must also submit a writing sample, which should consist of no more than 25 double-spaced, typed pages of fiction (in a font size no smaller than 12 points) or 10 single-spaced, typed pages of poetry (in a font size no smaller than 12 points). The writing sample is the most important component of the application for the Creative Writing Program (CWP). The CWP very strongly prefers that applicants use the online application and submit all documents through that process. If for an unusual reason an applicant cannot do so and must apply by mail, then two copies of all materials should be sent to Graduate Enrollment Services, including the writing sample and each part of the application; the completed file is forwarded to the CWP. Applicants should not send any part of their application or writing sample directly to the CWP; doing so only slows down the process. Applications are accepted for either poetry or fiction, but not for both, nor for drama. The CWP considers applications for fall admission only. Applicants for the CWP apply directly to the program, which has a separate admissions committee from the other degree programs in the Department of English.
LECTURES AND EVENTS The Medieval and Renaissance Center sponsors lectures and parties.
The Fales Lectures and Colloquia include talks and readings by eminent scholars.
The department offers regular colloquia for faculty and students alike in various fields.
The Creative Writing Program sponsors readings and lectures by distinguished and emerging writers.
DEPARTMENTAL FINANCIAL AID All accepted full-time Ph.D. students in English receive four- or five-year support packages, which provide a fellowship stipend plus remission of tuition and fees, including NYU student health insurance.
All incoming students to the Creative Writing Program receive Departmental Fellowships, in varying amounts, in the form of tuition remission credit. Many students also receive additional funding from a range of fellowship and literary outreach programs.
All students who apply to the Creative Writing Program (M.A. and M.F.A. degrees) are considered for the New York Times Foundation fellowships. These fellowships are awarded each year to several incoming students and provide generous stipends plus full tuition remission for two years. The Rona Jaffe Foundation Graduate Fellowship in Creative Writing, which provides full tuition and a generous stipend, is awarded each year to support one incoming female student. Other fellowships include The Fromer Fellow-ship, The Jan Gabrial Fellowship, and The Lillian Vernon Fellowship, which provide varying levels of support and are awarded annually to incoming students. No separate application is necessary for any of these fellowships.
The Creative Writing Program is fully committed to linking fellowship support with literary outreach programs. Times Fellows therefore teach creative writing one day a week in New York City public schools. Other outreach programs that link fellowship support with teaching in traditional and nontraditional settings, focusing on underserved and marginalized communities, include the Goldwater Hospital Teaching Fellowships, the Starworks Teaching Fellowships, and the Iraq Veterans Writing Fellowship. These fellowships offer varying levels of support.
The program is also committed to providing teacher training to interested and qualified students. Approximately 55 undergraduate teaching positions are offered to graduate students during their second year in the program. Recipients of these positions design and teach a semester-long introductory course in creative writing for undergraduates and concurrently take a yearlong teaching practicum offered by the program. These positions offer a salary per course.
A comprehensive list of University, Graduate School, and departmental fellowships, prizes, and awards appears in the Financing Graduate Education section of the GSAS Application for Admission and Financial Aid. This information is also available on the GSAS Web site at http://gsas.nyu.edu/page/grad.financialaid.
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