Graduate Program Admissions Requirements

Each Fall, a select number of applicants are admitted to our graduate programs. Applications to the MA and Ph.D. programs in Linguistics may only be submitted electronically through the Graduate Admissions website. The deadline of application for Fall 2025 admission is December 2. 

In addition to the online application form, applicants must also provide the following material on a form that can be uploaded to the application.

• Résumé or Curriculum Vitae (upload to online application)
• A statement of purpose, outlining your educational and career goals. This very important part of your application helps the faculty to decide whether our program is appropriate for you. In the statement, you should explain why you want to study linguistics and what you intend to do with the knowledge you would gain from studying here. You should also note any special circumstances concerning your application, your prior training or experience, and anything else you wish the faculty to take into account in evaluating your application. (upload to online application)
• A writing sample on a linguistically related topic is ideal, but one that showcases your general academic abilities in logic reasoning and argumentation is also welcome. (upload to online application -under other/additional documents)
• Official transcripts or copies of official transcripts from the baccalaureate granting institution, and any additional transcripts from institutions attended post-baccalaureate. If your transcript was issued in a language other than English, a certified translation in English should be attached to each official copy. Please see the Graduate Admissions page for additional details on transcripts (upload to online application)
• Three (3) letters of recommendation. If possible, these people should include faculty members who have supervised your earlier work. You will need to provide the names, titles, and contact information of the individuals you are requesting recommendations from on the online application. If the person recommending you is unable to complete the LOR online they can email a copy directly to the Graduate Program Coordinator.
• Non-native speakers of English must meet English proficiency requirements. Please use the link for further information on how to submit proof of English proficiency. 

Note to all applicants: We must receive all mandatory materials for your application to be considered for admission. Requests to waive admission requirements are routinely not granted and will slow down the process of your application. Consult the online application portal for updates on the status of your application.

The deadline of application for Fall 2025 admission is December 2. We do not offer Spring admission. Complete applications are reviewed in January and admission decisions are typically communicated in February. Consult the online application portal for updates on the status of your application.

While limited in our ability to provide application fee waivers, the Department of Linguistics will consider fee waiver requests submitted by prospective graduate students. Before submitting a fee waiver request, please complete as much of the application as possible and upload all required application materials, besides the letters of recommendation. To request a fee waiver, please follow the instructions on the Graduate Admissions website. Note that these instructions are in a dropdown menu under the “Additional Application Requirements” heading. November 15 is the deadline to submit an application fee waiver request. This provides the department time to consider and communicate a waiver decision to prospective students before the application deadline on December 2.