Fully-Funded Program
The Department of Comparative Literature and Thought provides students admitted into the program with full financial support for a minimum of five years as long as the student remains in good academic standing. Funding includes full tuition remission and a generous stipend ($36,050 in 2024-25, over 12 months). Our admission package also includes a health fee subsidy.
Travel Funding
All graduate students are eligible to apply for additional funding for conference participation and study abroad. A dissertation travel fund is available from the the Office of Graduate Studies for students working on their dissertations. Our funding package is competitive with those of other top-ranked institutions, and we are committed to ensuring that financial considerations play no role in student decisions about where to pursue their degrees.
Arts & Sciences Fellowships
WashU also offers competitive fellowships with year-round funding for outstanding students in select target groups, and both require separate applications. Those who are eligible may apply for a Dean’s Distinguished Graduate Fellowships in Arts & Sciences, or the newly combined Ann W. and Spencer T. Olin – Chancellor’s Fellowship. Additionally, international students at partner universities are highly encouraged to apply to the McDonnell International Scholars Academy. Visit the Office of Graduate Studies in Arts & Sciences website for more funding information. Please note: deadline for fellowship application submission will most likely differ from admission application submission deadlines, and is currently handled separately by the Office of Graduate Studies and NOT the Comparative Literature program.
Comparative Literature Graduate Studies Program
The following are required as part of the admission file for all students:
- A personal statement; applicants to the International Writers Track should indicate that in this statement
- Three letters of recommendation
- Transcripts for all academic work since secondary school
- A writing sample consisting of an essay; applicants for the International Writers Track must submit both a sample of analytical writing (in English) and a sample of creative work (in any language)
- Evidence of language proficiency in English and a second language, as well as a minimum of reading knowledge of a third language
- TOEFL/IELTS scores for students who do not speak English as their native language. Applicants who have studied in an English language university may be provided a waiver for this requirement for your program: please contact us for further information prior to application submission.
- Note: Minimum scores for English proficiency exams are required for immigration. Further information can be found at https://gradstudies.artsci.wustl.edu/admissions-faq.
All documents must be in English or accompanied by English translations, with the exception for those applying to the International Writers Track for ONLY the creative work.
For students entering with the B.A. or its equivalent, formal admission to the combined Ph.D. programs is contingent upon successful completion of the M.A. degree or appropriate qualifying and review procedures.
The annual application deadline is available at https://gradstudies.artsci.wustl.edu/apply. We will try to give an answer to each applicant by the beginning of March.
Dual PhD Programs
Comparative Literature offers dual doctoral programs with Chinese, Japanese, English, German, French, and Hispanic Studies. Completing a doctorate in a dual program with Comparative Literature means gaining the expertise to think about literature across languages and cultures, geography, historical periods, and means of production and transmission.
Prospective students interested in pursuing a dual program with Comparative Literature should apply through the pertinent home department. On your application you will be able to find a degree program for all of the dual degrees, with the home department listed first and Comparative Literature listed second. Under the department of Romance Language and Literatures (RLL), you will see Program Options for: Hispanic Studies and Comparative Literature, and French/Francophone Studies and Comparative Literature. Under the German Department, you will see the German and Comparative Literature program option. Under English, there is an English and Comparative Literature option. Finally, under the department of East Asian Languages and Literatures (EALC), program options include East Asian and Comparative Literatures. You should send your application materials to the home department. It will, however, be vetted by both the home department and Comparative Literature.
