Application

If you are considering applying to the program, please note the required materials and process below. We will be excited to receive your application!

As you prepare to apply, please keep the following things in mind:

Get in touch

You are most welcome to contact the chair of the Greek and Latin Languages and Literatures Graduate Group, Prof. James Ker (jker@sas.upenn.edu), with any questions about the program or the application process.

Which program is right for you?

Make sure you are applying to the Penn ancient studies graduate program that is the best fit for you. If your interests are primarily in language, literature, and/or cultural history, then Greek and Latin Languages and Literatures is likely to be the right choice. If your interests are primarily historical or in material culture, then make sure to consider the programs in Ancient History and Art & Archaeology of the Mediterranean World. See our gateway for exploring all three graduate groups.

Graduate applications are for the Ph.D. only

The Graduate Group in Greek and Latin Languages and Literatures does not have a separate M.A. program: students applying for graduate studies are exclusively considered as applicants for the Ph.D. program, and are making a commitment to five years of doctoral studies (three years of coursework followed by two years on the dissertation). See on Coursework Requirments and the additional program details on this site.

Submission

All required supporting documents are to be submitted through the online application system accessed via the APPLY button below. Hard copy materials, other than official transcripts, will not be accepted. The application deadline is December 15th. No applications received after the 15th will be accepted or reviewed by the admissions committee.

A complete application will contain all of the items below. Each item can be uploaded as a separate document on the application portal (accessed via the APPLY button below).

Basic personal information

The application portal will establish a profile for you by prompting you for your full name, contact details, educational institutions attended, employment, and other details.

Curriculum vitae

A document that summarizes your academic background, including undergraduate institution attended and relevant interests such as readings completed in Latin and Greek, languages studied, conference presentations, etc.

Personal statement

Please describe how your background and academic experiences have influenced your decision to pursue a graduate degree and led you to apply to Penn. Your essay should detail your training in Greek, Latin, and Classical Studies, and your specific research interests and intellectual goals. Please provide information about your educational trajectory, intellectual curiosity, and academic ambitions. If you have overcome adversity and/or experienced limited access to resources or opportunities in your field of study, please feel free to share how that has affected the course of your education. We are interested in your lived experiences and how your particular perspective might contribute to the inclusive and dynamic learning community that Penn values and strives to create. The length of your personal statement should not exceed two pages.

Writing sample

Your application must include a writing sample for which you are the primary or sole author. The writing sample should be between 15 and 30 pages. It can be from an academic paper, journal article, or an excerpt from a larger work.

Transcripts

You must submit academic transcript(s) from all previous academic work undertaken. Screenshots or PDFs of unofficial transcripts may be submitted at the application stage. Official transcripts will be requested if you are offered and accept admission to the program.

Letters of recommendation

Each applicant must submit at least three letters of recommendation but may submit up to five. Letters should come from individuals in a position to evaluate your professional and/or academic work, such as a supervisor or professor, and who know of your desire to enter the philosophy doctoral program.

Recommendations must be submitted online. Please follow the instructions in the Recommendations section of the online application.

**Please note, the application system no longer accepts Letters of Recommendation from Interfolio. If you are using Interfolio, you may submit your Recommendations directly to the graduate coordinator (kastoler@upenn.edu).

Standardized test scores (not considered)

GRE scores are not required for application to the doctoral program and will not be considered if they are sent.

Language test scores (international students only)

Applicants who are not US citizens or do not have English as the first language must submit language test scores. TOEFL & IELTS scores are accepted and these tests must be taken within two years of the application.
 
If you have completed a degree in higher education from an institution in which the medium language of instruction is English, we are able to waive the TOEFL/ IELTS requirement. Please contact Kate Stoler (kastoler@upenn.edu) after your application has been compiled, including submission of your academic transcripts, to activate the English Language Test waiver.

Application fee

A nonrefundable fee of $90 is required for processing of the application.

Fee waiver

Applicants may apply for a fee waiver. Please follow the instructions here to submit a fee waiver request. A request for a fee waiver should be submitted well in advance of the application deadline and is separate from your application for admission. Do not submit your application until you receive a decision regarding your request. Please be aware that paid application fees cannot be refunded.

Completed online application

The above materials must all be submitted using the APPLY button below.

If you have questions about the application process that are not answered here, we encourage you to contact the Graduate Coordinator or the Graduate Chair. 

Please note: the best way to contact us is by email. To be fair to all applicants who have submitted information requests, phone calls will not be answered or returned. Emails will be answered in the order they are received. During peak admissions season, it may take up to a week for faculty or staff to respond to email. Please be patient while we work to assist everyone with their admissions needs. Thank you!

Applications are due by December 15th.

After a complete application is received and reviewed, candidates under serious consideration may be invited to interview with faculty via Zoom, typically during the early spring.

Students seeking an update on the status of their application are welcome to contact the Graduate Chair at any point in the process.