Nonfiction MFA applicants, please see this page.

U2G applicants, please see this page.

We are pleased that you are considering joining the English graduate program at The University of Iowa. Our next admissions cycle is for fall 2025 admission; applications are accepted between September 1, 2024 through December 14, 2024. The online application and all documents (transcripts, letters of recommendation, writing sample, and statement of purpose) must be received by Saturday, December 14, 2024, by 4:00 PM CST). We do not accept applications for spring semester admissions.

Effective July 1, 2020, applicants are no longer required to submit any GRE test scores.

Application Procedures

Apply directly to the University of Iowa’s Office of Admissions. The application is in two parts: first, the $60.00 application fee is paid by using a credit card ($100.00 for international applicants). After submitting the first application, you will receive email instructions (within 24 hours) on how to establish your HawkID and password in order to access your Admissions Profile on MyUI, our online portal for students. You will then upload the required supplemental pdf documents through a secure portal.

Applicants for admission to the graduate program must meet the Admission Requirements of the Graduate College and the department offering the degree program (review the General Catalog for departmental requirements). See the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College on the Graduate College website for additional information.

Required Materials

  1. Your unofficial academic records/transcripts from all post-secondary institutions. If you are formally admitted, you will need to submit official records/transcripts prior to entering the program.  
  2. Three letters of recommendation*.  You will be asked to provide the contact information of your recommenders on your Profile. The recommender will then receive an email from the Office of Admissions instructing them on how to upload a recommendation letter.  Letters should be written by persons familiar enough with your intellectual attainments to evaluate your potential as a graduate student in English (preferably instructors of your college English courses or professionals familiar with your writing abilities and work habits). Letters of Recommendation may be submitted through a dossier service (such as Interfolio), please inform the service to submit the letters via email to tara-atkinson@uiowa.edu.
  3. A brief statement of purpose (1-2 pages) explaining your intellectual interests, qualifications, and reasons for choosing Iowa’s MA or PhD program.
  4. A writing sample.  The sample should be your best critical or scholarly writing, originally written for a class, with the original instructor’s comments included (if available, not mandatory). Because of the number of applications we receive, we ask applicants to submit only one paper, of moderate length (10-25 pages).
  5. CV/Resume

 

For International Applicants and those whose first language is other than English:

6. International applicants must also meet the Graduate College's English proficiency requirements. Please note that funding is typically offered in the form of Teaching Assistantships, which have additional English proficiency requirements.

 

Please send direct questions about applications to tara-atkinson@uiowa.edu.