Master of Arts in English

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. Learn more about International Admissions

Questions?

Financial Aid

There are several types of federal financial aid available to graduate students. Please visit our Graduate Tuition & Aid website to learn more.

Assistantships

Graduate assistantships are available through the Office of Student Organization and Activities each year. Applications are due in early Spring.

Internships, Fellowships and Employment

Internships, fellowships and part-time employment help fund the cost of graduate school while giving valuable career enrichment experience. Opportunities include tutoring positions and summer teaching associateships at the writing center, employment at the library and internships at local independent schools. Application deadlines vary, but most applications are due in early Spring. Please contact the director of graduate studies for more information.

Scholarships

We offer partial scholarships to full-time students on a competitive basis. In addition, we also offer partial reimbursement for research and conference travel.

There are also several sources of external scholarships available, such as these scholarships offered by West End United Methodist Church for those who are in or pursuing careers in teaching. For more on external scholarships, visit Belmont’s English Graduate scholarship website.

Employee Tuition Reimbursement

Many companies offer tuition reimbursement for graduate school, including Vanderbilt University, Comcast, AT&T, Procter & Gamble, UPS, Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Best Buy. Check with your employer to see if they offer reimbursement.

Military Benefits

Military members qualify for financial assistance, and Belmont University is a Yellow Ribbon University. For more on military benefits, please click here.

Tuition and Fees

Click here to determine your total estimated costs per semester for courses in the Graduate English program.

Belmont may provide links to scholarship opportunities offered by independent third parties. These programs are not funded, administered, or awarded by Belmont University, and Belmont does not control eligibility criteria, selection decisions, or the content of third-party websites. Links are provided for informational convenience only and do not constitute University sponsorship, endorsement, or partnership.