English (PhD)

The Doctor of Philosophy in English is offered by the Department of English at the University of Toronto, one of the largest graduate English programs in North America. The program presents a wide array of approaches to the study of literature, combining historical scholarship with theoretical, cultural, and interdisciplinary methods. Students build a broad background in British, Canadian, Indigenous, American, and Postcolonial literatures alongside a command of current theoretical approaches, and are supported in pursuing substantial independent research leading to a doctoral dissertation. Admission is normally open to applicants holding a Master's degree, with a minimum admission average of A-; a direct-entry option from a bachelor's degree to the PhD is also available. No standardized admissions tests are required. The program is administered through the University of Toronto's School of Graduate Studies and leads to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, preparing graduates for academic careers in literary studies as well as research and writing roles outside the university.