Admissions Information and Deadlines

"Having faculty who challenged me academically but also cared about me as a person made all of the difference."

-Nicole Phillips, class of 2015

Application Deadlines

Fall: August 1
Spring: November 15
Summer: May 1

Graduate English Admissions Requirements

• Application Form: Apply Online using the BU4U application portal. 
• Application Fee: Submit a $50 non-refundable application fee. 
• Official Transcripts: Applicants must have an undergraduate degree with a GPA of 3.0. Official transcripts showing all collegiate work should be sent to: Belmont University Office of Admissions, 1900 Belmont Blvd, Nashville TN 37212-3757. Official electronic transcripts can be accepted, and must be sent through a secure third party (i.e. Student Clearinghouse, or Parchment). Request them be sent to: belmontadmissions@belmont.edu.  
• Recommendations: Two academic and/or professional recommendations are required. These are only received through the online application portal. Neither recommendations may be from a relative and at least one must be from a professor.
• Statement of Purpose: Submitted as part of the application, the statement of purpose is an essay of less than 500 words from one of the following topics: 1) Your goals for an M.A. in English 2) Your reasons for pursuing an M.A. in English 3) Your interest in literature or specific area of literary study 4) If your background is not in English, your strengths in preparation for this program.
• Writing Sample: The writing sample should be a critical essay or research paper, preferably one focused on literary criticism or rhetorical analysis. Please contact the director of the program if you have questions.
• Interview: Applicants may be invited to interview with us as part of the application process. This informal interview will give us a chance to answer any questions, and will help us learn a little more about you and your interests in writing and literature.

Application Status: Applicants are accepted on a rolling admissions pattern; thus, you will be notified of the admissions committee's decision shortly after the admissions portfolio is completed. To check on the status of your application, check your BU4U portal.

International Students: International applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in the English language by submitting official TOEFL scores (required minimum of 550 PBT or 80 iBT) or other university accepted proficiency exam. 

Questions?