Apply to the Program

The Statement of Purpose is a 500 to 1000-word document that lays out your intellectual history and future research interests. The statement should address: a) previous study of languages, cultures, literature, and other fields, as relevant; b) the areas of research you currently hope to pursue through graduate-level work; and c) your particular interest in pursuing a degree in Comparative Literature at UC Berkeley.

Personal Statement of up to 500 words should help us understand what has led you to want to pursue graduate study in Comparative Literature, any particular sources of inspiration you have encountered, difficulties you have overcome, and what you hope to do with your graduate training. This statement will also help the Admissions Committee decide whether to nominate you for a Chancellor’s Fellowship, which is awarded to exceptional applicants who also advance the Regents’ goals for the diversification of the academy.

The writing sample of ten double-spaced pages should demonstrate facility in the detailed analysis of the form and language of a text (commonly referred to as “close reading”), and this demonstration should be in the service of a clear and compelling argument about the aesthetic, political, and/or historical stakes of your interpretation. Although the sample should be written in English, it will strengthen your application if you include close analysis of a text or texts written in a language other than English. If your sample is drawn from a longer paper or thesis, you are welcome to include an explanatory note of up to 100 words to contextualize the extract for the committee. You may submit multiple sections of a longer work, but the total number of pages cannot exceed ten, and we very much prefer a consecutive ten-page sample.  

One of the most important sections of our application is the Statement of Background in Languages and Literatures*. You will see this listed as its own section of the Comparative Literature application.

*When uploading this statement on the application, be very sure to save it as an Adobe Acrobat Reader PDF. This is the only format in which it will be readable when included as part of the application.

You are responsible for soliciting three letters of recommendation to support your application. The graduate application provides detailed instructions on how to invite your recommenders to submit their letters. Please consult the online application for details. We strongly prefer electronic receipt of all letters of recommendation, but we are aware that some recommenders might insist on providing handwritten, hard-copy letters. If your recommenders fall into this category, please ask them to mail their letters directly to us at the following address: Graduate Admissions, Department of Comparative Literature Graduate Office, 4125 Dwinelle Hall #2510, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-2510.

Applicants are automatically considered for the most common university fellowships upon submission of the graduate application. All admitted students will receive a Funding Offer Letter that details their specific multi-year funding package. Applicants are also encouraged to explore other sources of financial support. Application for need-based financial aid may be made by submitting a Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). More information about funding can be found in the FAQ section below.

Per the Graduate Council, evidence of English language proficiency is required of applicants who have not completed a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a country or region where English is the primary language used in both daily life and academic instruction. Applicants can take either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Please note that, although this page of the application is coded as “optional,” it is required for these students. You can find more information about this requirement on the Graduate Division's admissions website. Comparative Literature does not have any additional requirements.

The Department of Comparative Literature does not require a GPA calculation worksheet. If your undergraduate institution calculated GPA on a 4.0 scale, please include the cumulative GPA as presented on your transcript. Calculate your "advanced GPA" using all courses taken after your first two years of study. There are several online GPA calculators that make this process easy. If your undergraduate institution calculated GPA on any other scale, please do not convert the GPA. You may simply leave both fields blank. The Admissions Committee will have access to your full transcript and will reach out with any questions; just do your best. 

All three letters of recommendation are due at the same time as the rest of your application, 8:59:59pm PST, December 1, 2025. Please reach out to your recommenders early and give them plenty of time to write their letters. Instructions for submission will be sent to your recommenders as soon as they are entered in the application system. If they have any difficulty uploading their letters, they may also email complitga@berkeley.edu. 

You will not have access to edit your application after the deadline. If you have updated materials or realize you've included something by mistake, please email complitga@berkeley.edu. If the review process has not yet begun or is in progress your materials will be passed along to the Committee for review.

Our funding offers change each year; we cannot guarantee that our funding offers will look the same as they have in recent years. That said, for the past several years, funding has been offered in the form of a 6-year funding package made up of fellowship and guaranteed teaching. Tuition/fees, stipend, and health insurance have all been covered for the full 6 years. As our program is typically 7 years long, it is common for students to cover the cost of their final year through either additional fellowship or teaching appointments at the university (as available).

In the past several years, funding for international students has covered full tuition/fees, stipend, and health insurance for 6 years just as for domestic students. International students have not been expected to cover non-resident supplemental tuition themselves.

The Graduate Division offers need-based fee waivers for domestic students. The Department of Comparative Literature does not offer any additional fee waivers.