In the Division of the Arts and Humanities, admissions for the 2026-2027 academic year are paused in all doctoral programs except for Philosophy and Music Composition and Sound Practices, and in all master's programs except for the Master of Arts Program in the Humanities and the Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts. This is a one-time pause for the 2026-2027 academic year.
If you are a prospective applicant, we encourage you to stay connected with us and to explore other AHD degree programs that may match your graduate education interests. Questions and requests for additional information should be sent to ahd-admissions@uchicago.edu.
Overview
The program in Comparative Literature prepares students to compete successfully for academic careers in both national literature departments and programs that stress comparative or interdisciplinary study. All students take a two-quarter sequence in their M.A. year that provides a solid grounding in literary criticism and theory and poses some of the central challenges facing literary scholars today. Students design the remainder of their program to serve their own interests, either studying several national literatures (with primary emphasis on one) or exploring the relationship between literature and another discipline.
Key Information
| Time to degree | 6 years, 9 years max |
| Course per Quarter | 4 courses on average |
| Size of Cohort | 2-5 |
| Degree Milestones | 17 graduate level courses 2 foreign languages Qualifying examination Dissertation proposal and defense *More details here |
| Teaching Requirement | At least one course assistantship in course parented by Comparative Literature and one standalone course parented by department *More details here |
| Outcomes | Tenured or tenure-track positions in various literature departments at many colleges and universities both in the United States and abroad. Jobs in consulting, software development, high school teaching, and more. |
Apply for Admission
Financial Aid for Prospective Students
- All admitted PhD students are guaranteed to have full funding support from the University and external sources, or a combination of the two for the duration of their program.
- Applicants do not need to apply separately for funding
Questions?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Register for an information session or appointment with an admissions representative
- Questions about the application process may be directed to ahd-admissions@uchicago.edu or (773) 702-5809
- Students do not need to contact faculty before applying