PhD in Comparative Literature at University of Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania

United States of America, Philadelphia

University Rank:#15

University of Pennsylvania offers the PhD of Comparative Literature as a full-time degree delivered on campus at its main campus in Philadelphia, United States of America. Taught in English and completed over 4 years, the program equips students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required for comparative literature and related professional fields. The next available intake begins on May 22, 2027.

About PhD in Comparative Literature

The Ph.D. Program in Comparative Literature covers the study of narrative, poetry, representation and cultural history. The Program enables students to engage rigorously with critical theory. We draw our faculty from many disciplines: the languages and literary histories of Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, East Asia, and South Asia: history, art history, religion; anthropology; folklore; political science; Africana studies; Jewish studies; Gender and Sexuality studies; sociology; communications.

We provide a structured and challenging program in which graduate students can combine the careful study of a particular literary tradition with interests in other languages and disciplinary approaches. The broad interests that our students bring to their projects include the history of philosophy, film and media studies, technology and the history of science, and area studies. Students work in varied historical periods, from antiquity and the Middle Ages to the postmodern, and in diverse language fields.

Comparative Literature at Penn has a dynamic intellectual community. Our signature event is our public colloquium series, Theorizing, which is organized primarily by the graduate students. Our students and faculty are active participants in the many interdisciplinary lecture and seminar series at Penn, including the Medieval-Renaissance Seminar, the History of Material Texts Seminar, the Wolf Humanities Center, the Latitudes Seminar, and several student reading groups.

Disciplines

School of Arts & Sciences

Requirements and Admission Criteria for PhD in Comparative Literature at University of Pennsylvania

Entry Requirements

Our admission decisions are made prior to the announcement of results for many national examinations (such as the A Levels or French Baccalaureate), but applicants are expected to be enrolled in programs that prepare them for these examinations. If you are enrolled in a program that will not release external examination results prior to our application deadlines, you must request that your school send us predictions of external examination results along with your grades.

Where national examinations are required for admission to a pre-university program (such as the IGCSE or the SPM), you should have received high marks on these examinations and should present certified copies of the results with your Penn application.

Students in our diverse global community have a wide range of passions, perspectives, and talents. Beyond academics, we would like to learn about your non-scholarly interests, extracurricular activities, and community service (though we recognize that patterns for non-academic involvement vary from country to country).

English Requirements

IELTSMin 7
TOEFLMin 100

Tuition and Fee Information for PhD in Comparative Literature at University of Pennsylvania

Application Fee 75

How to Apply for PhD in Comparative Literature at University of Pennsylvania

Offline Recommendation

Penn strongly prefers that recommenders submit letters of recommendation online through the admissions system. If, however, your recommender is unable to submit an online recommendation, please follow these instructions:

1) Select the “Recommendation Form PDF Download” and download the form.
2) Complete the first section. Be sure to include the address of the appropriate admissions office — refer to the "Contact Graduate Admissions" list below.
3) Print out the form and provide it to your recommender.

Please note:

If you are applying to a program in Nursing, print out and provide your recommender with these special instructions for completing your letter of recommendation.
If you are applying to a program in the School of Social Policy & Practice, print out and provide your recommender with these special instructions for completing your letter of recommendation.

4) Your recommender should send the form directly to the admissions office you designate, along with the letter of recommendation.

PhD in Comparative Literature at University of Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania

United States of America, Philadelphia