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PhD Admission Requirements

Updated August 2025

Education

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree or the equivalent from an accredited institution in the United States or from a recognized university-level academic institution abroad and at least a B average (3.0 GPA) or its equivalent by the time they enroll. Some exceptional applicants with lower GPAs may be recommended for admission.

Language

Students entering the Literature PhD program are expected to demonstrate a graduate-level working knowledge of a language other than that of their specialization. PhD students are required to take at least two seminars in a language other than that of their intended specialization. (The Comparative Literature section requires seminars or the equivalent in two foreign languages).

Completed Application

Applications to the PhD program require the following elements:

  1. Academic History & Transcripts
  2. Letters of Recommendation
  3. Resume/CV
  4. Statement of Purpose 
  5. Writing Sample
  6. For international students - English Language proficiency certification
  7. Application Fee or Fee Waiver

For more details about the individual application elements, please see our Application Guidelines.

 

The PhD Program does not require applicants to submit GRE scores, as we use a more holistic approach to reviewing applications. Please do not submit GRE scores.

Please refer to the Graduate Admissions website and our application guidelines for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a BA in Literature or MA to apply to the PhD program?

No. You do not need a BA in Literature, but most of our students have a strong background in Literature, Theory, and/or Cultural Studies. It would be to your advantage to take classes in Literature before you apply. You may apply to the PhD program without having an MA degree. 

May I apply if my BA or MA is still in progress?

Yes, as long as your bachelor's degree is conferred prior to the start of the PhD Program, you will meet the minimum requirements to join the program. Any in-progress Master's programs must be completed or withdrawn from prior to the start of the PhD Program.

How can I tell if the BA I earned abroad is equivalent to a U.S. degree?

Please contact the Graduate Admissions Office at gradadmissions@ucsd.edu.

May I apply if I already have a PhD?

Normally, duplication of advanced academic degrees—MA, MS, PhD—is not permitted. A duplicate academic degree is one at the same level (e.g., a second master’s degree or second PhD), regardless of the discipline or the specialization awarding the degree. 

So, already having a PhD would preclude you from being admitted to a PhD program at UCSD.  Limited exceptions might be approved by campus, but the request to campus would need to come from our department (and only if our program received a completed application, selected the application as one of the top applicants from the overall pool, and felt strongly enough to request an exception to campus policy). However, note these exception requests are extraordinarily rare. GEPA also advises “If you hold an advanced degree and are unsure if it is at the same level as the degree for which you will be applying, please email us at gradadmissions@ucsd.edu.”