This certificate is intended for graduate students in the various language and literature departments who wish to gain some familiarity with comparative approaches to literature and culture. The Graduate Certificate in Comparative Literature provides an additional professional qualification and area of expertise that will be attractive to some students as they prepare to enter the job market. As well as providing scholarly training in the field of Comparative Literature, the Graduate Certificate serves as a forum for interpersonal contact and intellectual exchange between graduate students in different departments.
This graduate certificate is not an independent qualification but an area of specialization within existing programs. It can only be earned in conjunction with a degree program in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Students who withdraw from the University without completing a graduate degree are not eligible for the certificate. All course work for the certificate must be completed at the University; transfer credit will not be given for courses taken at other institutions.
Students interested in the graduate certificate should seek approval from the DGS in their home department and then consult with the Director of the Comparative Literature Program.
Graduate Certificate in Comparative Literature at University of Virginia
The Comparative Literature is a Graduate Certificate degree offered by University of Virginia at its main campus in Charlottesville , United States of America. The program is delivered on campus as a Full Time course in English and requires approximately 4 years to complete. Students study at the university's main campus while gaining the knowledge and practical experience expected for this area of study. The next intake is available from August 22, 2026.
About Graduate Certificate in Comparative Literature
Disciplines
Requirements and Admission Criteria for Graduate Certificate in Comparative Literature at University of Virginia
Entry Requirements
Statement of Purpose
The statement of purpose should indicate your reasons for applying to the proposed program at the University of Virginia and describe your preparation for this field of study, research interests, future career plans, and intellectual or life experiences in order to aid the admissions committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for graduate study. Your commitment to a selected field of study is presumed in the receipt of your application; instead, please discuss specific issues in the field that engage you. Please limit your submission to between 500 and 1,000 words.
Transcripts
Applicants must upload unofficial transcripts of their entire post-secondary academic record to the online application, including all undergraduate- and graduate-level coursework. Applicants are expected to have achieved a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their undergraduate programs.
Transcripts that are not stated in English must be accompanied by a translation into English.
Please do not request and mail official transcripts as part of the application process. Unofficial transcripts are sufficient for the faculty’s review of your application. If you are offered admission to the Graduate School, you will be asked at that time to send official transcripts from the undergraduate institution you attended to the Central Graduate Admission Office.
Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation should be submitted electronically through the online application system. Once you have saved the contact information for a particular reference within the online application, that individual will receive instructions via e-mail for submitting a letter of recommendation on your behalf. The Graduate School requires two letters of recommendation. As many programs require additional letters, please consult the program's website for additional requirements. You may submit your application independently of the letters submitted by your references.
Letters of recommendation should be sought from faculty in your proposed field of study who are sufficiently familiar with your work to make a comprehensive evaluation of your abilities. If you have already undertaken a graduate program, at least one of the letters should be from a faculty member who is familiar with your academic performance on the graduate level.
English Requirements
- IELTSMin 7
- TOEFLMin 90
Fee Information
How to Apply
All application updates should be uploaded via the student portal. Applicants received an email with login credentials for the portal a few days after their Common App was received. Please do not email updates to individual admission officers.
United States of America, Charlottesville