Applying to the Ph.D. Program in Slavic Languages and Literatures

Applicants who wish to start graduate studies in the fall semester should apply by January 15 to receive priority consideration for fellowship funding. Funding for graduate study at USC is generous but competitive. It is important to meet the January 15 application deadline to receive fullest consideration for funding. We continue to accept applications through March for the following fall semester, but the chance receiving funding diminishes significantly after January. Our financial support is intended to fund the entire course of PhD study (see Financial Support) and we admit only those students whom we are able to fund.

Admission Requirements

An undergraduate major in Russian or its equivalent is a prerequisite for graduate work in the Slavic department. It is generally expected that the undergraduate major will have included four language and four literature courses at the upper division level. If your background does not include this training, please be aware that, if you are accepted into the graduate program, you may be required to do supplemental study in addition to graduate course work. Previous master’s-level coursework will be evaluated as a part of the admissions process. Students who already hold an M.A. may be required to repeat the department’s Master’s exam, even if credit is allotted for some coursework. Funding decisions are usually made from January through mid-April.

Application Checklist

All applications for admission to graduate study at the University of Southern California are received and processed by the University’s Office of Graduate Admissions. You must include the following:

  • The application form, filled out on line at Graduate Admissions website.
  • The university application fee of $90.
  • Undergraduate and (where applicable) previous graduate transcripts; these should be mailed to USC’s Office of Graduate Admissions. International students should also send an English translation of their transcripts.
  • Three letters of recommendation. These need to be uploaded by each recommender individually.
  • A 1-2 page statement of interest. This should describe your scholarly interests, how our program fits in with these interests, and your future academic and professional plans.
  • A writing sample or samples, in English and/or in Russian (e.g., a paper you wrote for an advanced undergraduate course).

For additional information, please visit the USC Office of Graduate Admissions website.

When Will I Hear From USC?

Funding decisions are usually made from late January through March. We will let you know as soon as a decision has been made in your case.