Department of Linguistics

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• Structure
• Application Process
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• FAQ's
• Program Brochure (pdf)

• Program Requirements
• GPD Page
• Graduate Handbook (pdf)
• Teaching Philosophy
• Teaching Resources
• Student Travel
• Departmental Research Grants

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Please visit the UMass Amherst Graduate School website for information on how to apply. (Click on the "Prospective Students" link at the top.)

• Domestic Students
• International Students

Frequently Asked Questions about the application process
http://www.umass.edu/gradschool/faq.htm

Application Requirements

• B.A., B.S., or M.A. degree.
• Evidence of ability to engage in serious study of a complex subject matter. For example:
  • High quality academic work of theoretical analysis in the humanities, natural sciences, or social sciences.
  • Original research (publications, projects, etc.).
  • Mastery in depth of a language or a group of languages.
• Writing Sample
  • Applicants are very strongly encouraged to send a writing sample directly to the department. The sample may be a copy of a term paper, research report, thesis, or a collection of linguistic problem sets. This writing sample should be representative of the applicant's ability to pursue serious scholarly inquiry. We read these submissions carefully and they greatly influence our admissions decisions. (Papers written in languages other than English, French, German, Spanish, or Italian should be accompanied by a summary in English.)
• GRE Scores
  • All applicants are required by University regulations to take the Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytic sections of the Graduate Record Examination. (No GRE subject test is required.) The institution code is 3917. No department code is needed. More information.
• TOEFL Scores
  • The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of all applicants who are not citizens of the United States and whose native language is not English. (In addition, applicants from India are required to submit TOEFL scores.)  More information.

When to apply

The deadline for receipt of applications at the Department is January 15 for admission the following September. When you send in your application, it is first processed by the Graduate School and may not arrive in the Department for two weeks. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you have all your materials in the mail in time to arrive by January 1. If you are applying close to the deadline, you should also send a photocopy of your application directly to the Department.

When will I hear about my application?

The Admissions Committee makes its decisions during the months of January through March. You will be notified as soon as the Committee has made a decision about your application.

A special note

We do not accept applications for spring admission. We do not offer an M.A. program and applications for the M.A. degree only are considered only under very special circumstances. Please inquire before submitting an application for the M.A. degree only.  We do not offer classes in TESL, translation, or specific languages.

Decision Process

Although we do not expect every applicant to have a substantial background in theoretical linguistics, we look for evidence that the decision to pursue a Ph.D. in this field is a thoughtful one, based on reading and consultation with advisers. Please keep in mind that this is a very competitive program, receiving over 130 applications per year from the best students from around the world, many of whom do have a strong background in theoretical Linguistics.

In making admissions decisions, we place greatest emphasis on the potential to carry out significant independent research. We therefore look most of all for an inquiring mind, for an ability to formulate precise questions and arguments, for a willingness to work in areas where sometimes little is known for certain and fundamental theoretical principles may be called into question, and for an interest in abstract problems. We look too for the character that will sustain a student through the hard work that is needed to acquire the intellectual tools of the trade.

No single factor—GRE scores, transcripts, recommendations, or writing sample—will exclude anyone from admission, nor will any single factor ensure admission. There are no quotas or formulas. In making our decisions, we look for evidence from any source of the potential to make a contribution in theoretical linguistics.