Application
Application deadline for Fall 2025 matriculation:
- 11:59pm CST, Thursday, December 5, 2024
How to Apply
The Graduate School (TGS) only accepts online applications. To apply for the Comparative Literary Studies (CLS) PhD Program, you will submit your application via the online application portal, CollegeNet.
Before beginning the online application, please refer to The Graduate School Admission website which has important information about applying.
In addition to TGS requirements, please see below for application requirements specific to the CLS PhD program.
required Application materials
- Online application form and application fee*
- *See below for information on Application Fee Waivers
- *See below for information on Application Fee Waivers
- Transcripts of all course work (scanned transcripts. Official transcripts are only necessary if admitted)
- Essays
- Your Academic Statement (1,000 words, max) must indicate, next to the student's name, the "home department" with which the student would expect to be affiliated. All students admitted to CLS are affiliated with a home department. If interested in more than one home department, please list in order of preference.
- Your Personal Statement (500 words max) must address the following prompt: The Graduate School values diverse backgrounds, approaches, and perspectives, understanding them as essential ingredients for true academic excellence. As a Northwestern graduate student, how could you contribute to an intellectual community that prioritizes equity, inclusion, belonging, and cultural humility? Your answer may draw upon past or present experiences, whether in academic work, extracurricular or community activities, or everyday life.
- Three letters of recommendation
- Recommenders should submit letters online via CollegeNet.
- A writing sample between 15-25 pages in length
- Resume/CV
- Fluency of Languages - specify language fluency by rating proficiency in each language
- International Applicants: English language proficiency - All non-native English speaking applicants must certify their proficiency in the English language. The CLS program follows the same rules as TGS. More information about submitting TOEFL or IELTS test scores can be found on the TGS website. Applicants must certify English language proficiency in one of three ways:
- Providing acceptable IELTS or TOEFL test scores. Tests must be taken within two years of the intended quarter of entry.
- Minimum IELTS score is 7.0
- Minimum TOEFL scores are: 90 (internet based); 233 (computer based); 577 (paper based)
- Earning an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited, four-year institution or equivalent, where English is the official language of instruction.
- Earning a graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution where English is the official language of instruction.
- Providing acceptable IELTS or TOEFL test scores. Tests must be taken within two years of the intended quarter of entry.
*Please note that CLS does not require GRE scores as part of the application. The online application portal will give you the option of submitting GRE scores, but these are NOT required.
Interdisciplinary Graduate Clusters Initiative - the CLS program welcomes and encourages applicants to indicate interest in the Interdisciplinary Clusters Initiative offered by TGS. Applicants can indicate interest in affiliating with a specific cluster or apply to become a Mellon Cluster Fellow, which has additional benefits. This initiative is not a requirement of the application. Learn more!
Application Fee Waivers
- Domestic Applicants & U.S. Citizens: The Graduate School (TGS) is able to provide a limited number of fee waivers to eligible domestic applicants and U.S. citizens. Please see the TGS Application Fee Waiver page for more information and to apply for an application fee waiver.
- International Applicants: The Comparative Literary Studies Program is able to provide a limited number of fee waivers on a first come, first serve basis to eligible international applicants who meet the following specific criteria:
- International applicant
- A low-income individual as defined by the US Department of Education
- To submit a request go here.
- *Unfortunately, there are no more available application fee waivers for international applicants for Fall 2025 matriculation.
If you have any questions about the graduate application process that cannot be answered by consulting the Comparative Literary Studies program website or The Graduate School's Admissions website, please email the CLS Program Coordinator, Phil Hoskins, at philip.hoskins@northwestern.edu