To apply to the Master of English Program, applicants must submit an electronic application. Applications are complete when the Master of English Program has received all of the documents listed below. These documents include the University Electronic Application (with the Statement of Purpose and the Personal History Statement), three letters of recommendation, and unofficial transcripts. Please read the following information carefully for more information on each of these items. The Master of English Program will not accept incomplete or partial applications. The GRE section of the application should be left blank, as the Master of English Program does not require GRE scores.

Please submit the following electronically:

1) University Electronic Application:
  • Applicants must complete and pay for the electronic application by the program deadlines, no exceptions. Paying for the application is the only way to submit the application. The application fee must be paid by credit card only. No checks will be accepted.
  • Fee Waiver information can be found on the Graduate Division website: https://www.grad.uci.edu/admissions/applying-to-uci/fee-waivers.php
2) Statement of Purpose:
  • There will be a section for the Statement of Purpose on the University Electronic Application.
  • The Statement of Purpose is an essay in which the applicant should try to articulate the intellectual interests, background, and goals that draw you to and prepare you for graduate study in English at UC Irvine. Suggested length is 500-750 words.
3) Personal History Statement:
  • All applicants are required to complete the Personal History Statement on the University Electronic Application. Applicants must first complete the Residency section of the application in order for the Personal History section to appear.
  • The Personal History Statement is about the applicant’s personal background. Applicants may include information about their upbringing, family, culture, socio-economic background, or any personal experiences and challenges. Applicants may also wish to describe how they might contribute to social or cultural diversity within their chosen field of study. The essay will assist the admissions committee to evaluate your background and motivation for graduate study. Write about how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree.
4) Three Letters of Recommendation:
  • A total of three letters of recommendation are required and they can only be submitted electronically. Paper LORs will not be accepted. You will need to complete the Letter of Recommendation section and enter your recommenders names and e-mail addresses.
  • Electronic letters of recommendation must be set up through the University Electronic Application. Applicants will input the email addresses of their recommenders, and the recommenders will be emailed a link that explains how to upload an electronic letter of recommendation. If needed, applicants can resend their recommenders this link by logging in to the Application Progress Review.
5) Transcripts
  • For application review purposes only, scan and upload copies of transcripts for all institutions attended since high school. In the online application, you will be prompted to upload your scanned documents. Please upload both the front and back sides of the transcript. Uploaded transcripts should be recent and include the following: your name, dates of attendance, grades/marks received, credits and grading legend. UCI reserves the right to require official transcripts at any time during the admission process, and rescind any offer of admission made if discrepancies between uploaded and official transcript(s) are found. Official transcripts will be requested if and when you are admitted and decide to attend UCI. Do not send official transcripts until this time, unless you are requested to do so.
  • Applicants who have attended UCI must upload an unofficial transcript; the program cannot obtain them on the applicant’s behalf.
6) Writing Sample
  • The writing sample is a central part of your application.  You may submit an essay submitted in a past course, or a piece written specifically for your application; but in either case, your sample should illustrate your ability to interpret texts, make a critical argument, or think through an interpretive problem.  It is helpful if the writing sample is relevant to your proposed field of study, although this is not a requirement.  Only one writing sample should be submitted (i.e. one single essay; not several shorter pieces), and it should not exceed 20 pages.  Please note: the Writing Sample and the Statement of Purpose (part of the university's online electronic application) are two separate essays, and both are required for the Master of English application.

Questions Regarding Electronic App?

For any questions about the University Electronic Application, please contact
UCI Graduate Division at gradapplicant@uci.edu
 
 
For questions, please contact the Master of English Coodinator, Maribel Valentin at maribev@uci.edu
 
The Masters of English Program does not accept any materials submitted by email.