Deadline
All materials should arrive by January 15 for admission in the following fall semester. Applicants who qualify are encouraged to review REAL fellowship and submit their application early.
VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE: The recorded version of our Nov. 14th Virtual Open House can be found here.
Areas of Recruitment
We are recruiting in ALL research areas except Latin American Studies. Applicants in Latinx studies are still encouraged to apply.
Application Materials
- Statement of purpose.
- Writing sample in Spanish, Portuguese, or Catalan. English is also acceptable for Hispanic Linguistics applicants.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- Transcripts.
- TOEFL exam (for non-native English speakers).
- Application fee.
For more information about these materials, see the FAQ below.
For more information about the application process, visit the Graduate School Admissions page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Virtual Open House took place on November 14, 2025. You can access the recording here.
No, we don't require the GRE exam.
We only offer funding support to complete the PhD.
You may access the PhD program with or without an MA in Spanish/Portuguese or a related discipline. If you enter the program without an MA, we will offer you an additional year of funding to complete the PhD while you fulfill additional requirements. At the same time, to enter the PhD program, your level of Spanish/Portuguese needs to be sufficient to conduct graduate-level work in that language. Your language level will primarily be assessed from your writing sample or (in some cases) an oral interview.
Yes, your recommenders should write their letter in English.
The Graduate School requires a minimum of an 80 in the internet test.
If the TOEFL exam is not available in your country, the Graduate School also accepts the IELTS exam (the minimum score required in the IELTS is a 6.5), the Duolingo English Test (with a minimum overall score of 115), and the Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic, with minimum overall score of 53).
Your statement of purpose should outline your academic background and scholarly interests. It should also address the reasons why you want to pursue a graduate degree in Spanish/Portuguese studies and the ways in which you think that our program and faculty could help you achieve your goals. It should be about 800–1,000 words in length.
You may submit a term paper, thesis, or even a publication related to the scholarly area in which you intend to concentrate. For admission to both our PhD and MA programs, we will regard it as a sample of your academic background and, if you are seeking admission into the PhD, we will look for hints of your potential to accomplish advanced original research. If written in Spanish or Portuguese, we may also look at it as proof of your command of the language.
The Graduate Studies Committee reviews applications between February and April. You will hear from us as soon as we have made a decision about your application.
Yes, you will be able to live on your stipend in the Amherst area without difficulty.
One good place to start is the UMass Off Campus Student Services website.
Deadline
All materials should arrive by January 15 for admission in the following fall semester. Applicants who qualify are encouraged to review REAL fellowship and submit their application early.
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