FAQs

Do I need to take the GRE?

No, our department does not require the GRE.

Do I need to take the TOEFL?

All international applicants are required to take the TOEFL, and to make arrangements for ETS (the Educational Testing Service, which administers the test) to report their scores (by the Feb. 1 deadline, if the applicant is requesting a teaching assistantship or tuition scholarship). You will need to enter UD’s code, 5811, so that the scores will be added automatically to your application as soon as they are received. Do not enter a department code.

A waiver of proof of English Proficiency is allowed when:

• A bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree has been or will be earned from a university recognized the ministry of education in a country where English is the primary language. Our list of approved countries includes Anguilla, Antigua, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Cameroon, Canada (except the province of Quebec), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Ghana, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Montserrat, New Zealand, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Singapore, South Africa, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, The United Kingdom, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
• A bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree has been or will be earned from a college or university located in the United States and accredited by a regional accrediting association.​
  

Are there alternatives to the TOEFL?

Yes. We also accept scores on the IELTS (minimum score of 6.5 overall with no individual sub-score below 6.0; scores are to be sent directly by IELTS International to the Office of Graduate and Professional Education, 234 Hullihen Hall, Newark, DE 19716) or the DELF/CEFR/Cambridge assessments (level C1 or higher).

Do I need to secure a certified English translation of my transcripts and/or diplomas?

If they are in Spanish, French, German, or Italian, no. Otherwise, yes.

In what language should my applicant essay and writing sample be written?

The writing sample should be in the target language, that is, the language in which you will be specializing. The application essay must be in English.

What sort of writing sample should I send?

We would like to see evidence of your analytical ability and your academic writing skills. Select an example of your very best writing, in the target language (i.e., if you are applying to the MA program in Spanish, submit an essay in Spanish). A paper for an academic course is ideal. The subject should be related to the area of study you expect to pursue at the MA level. The suggested length is five to ten pages. Please do not submit entire theses: select instead an excerpt and explain its context.

What information should I include in my applicant essay?

Your personal statement is a very important part of the application and is read with great care. It is highly recommended that you invest ample time in composing this statement and include enough detail to communicate your fit with our program (suggested length: 500 – 800 words). Your statement should address the following matters:

1. It should describe why you have selected our program (MAFLL, MAFLP, or MACFLE) and how you intend to use the degree to fulfill your career goals or further educational aspirations.
2. It should provide any other information about you (your experience, specific interests, talents or abilities, and/or your academic record) that you believe is important for the admission committee to know. If you are currently registered in a graduate program at this or another university, please explain why you wish to leave.
3. If you are an MAFLP applicant intending to pursue the certification track, please mention this in your essay.

Can my letters of recommendation be written in a language other than English?

All letters of recommendation should be written in English. If this constitutes a problem for one of your recommenders, we can accept letters in Spanish, French, German or Italian if necessary.

Whom should I approach for letters of recommendation? Can letters be from current or past employers?

Your three letters of recommendation should preferably come from professors who know you well and who can comment on your academic performance in the target language and/or literature, as well as on your current target language proficiency (if you are a non-native speaker of that language). If you have been away from the academic world for some years, a letter from an employer may be substituted for one academic letter.

One of my professors has not yet submitted his/her letter of recommendation. Should I submit my application anyway?

Yes. But since we cannot make a final decision unless we have all three letters, do first gently remind that person that the letter has not yet been received. If s/he says that s/he is unable to submit the form at that point, find another recommender and add her/him BEFORE submitting your application.

I want to apply for a teaching assistantship (or tuition scholarship). What do I need to do?

Check the box on the application that says “I would like to be considered for financial aid.” There is no separate application for financial aid (including teaching assistantships) from the University.

I have been granted “full funding.” What exactly does that mean? Will there be any additional fees?

“Full funding” means that you will be paid a monthly stipend (paid twice a month, over nine months) plus a full-tuition scholarship. There are still required fees for which you will be responsible: any visa-related fees, plus University-mandated mandatory health and activity fees (as of April 2015, these mandatory UD fees total approximately $400 per semester for domestic students and $500 per semester for international students). For updates, see the UD Financial Aid website. Continuation of your financial award is contingent upon your satisfactory progress in the program. A minimum average GPA of 3.0 is required.

When should I expect to hear whether I have been accepted?

If you have submitted all the required documents by the February 1 deadline for applicants requesting financial aid, you should expect to hear from us between March 1 and April 15. Decisions on late applications or on applications from those not seeking funding are issued on a rolling basis.