How to Apply

How to apply to our department

We welcome applications to the M.A. or Ph.D. programs in Hispanic Linguistics, Hispanic Literatures and Cultural Studies, and Portuguese. If you wish to pursue both the M.A. and Ph.D., please indicate in your personal statement that your desire is to continue on to the Ph.D.

All applicants will be considered for full funding.

Our department admits new students in the Fall semester only. The application deadline for admission to the upcoming Fall semester is:

December 15: for international applicants
January 5: for domestic applicants/permanent U.S. residents

Completion of the IU online application is required.

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Application steps

1. Completed application form

You must fill out the online application. Know you will need to have your credit card available for payment when applying online. U.S. citizens and international students use the same online application.

2. Personal Statement

Provide a statement of approximately 500 words that identifies your academic goals (graduate study and research), career objectives, why you are applying to this particular program, and the qualifications that make you a strong candidate for our program.

3. TOEFL Scores (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

Regardless of citizenship and residency status, the university requires all non-native English speakers to submit TOEFL scores. These scores must be sent directly to the Department of Spanish and Portuguese by the Educational Testing Service. Institutional code: 1324; Dept. code: 23 (Spanish). Students taking the TOEFL must take the international version of the exam (iBT or PBT). A cumulative score of at least 79-80 on the Internet based exam (213 on the computer-based exam, or 550 on the paper exam) is required. IELTS scores may be accepted in lieu of the TOEFL; minimum score of 6.5 is required.

4. Letters of Recommendation

Please have three recommenders (preferably tenure-track or tenured professors) who are familiar with your academic performance submit up-to-date letters of recommendation on your behalf to the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. The electronic application provides a link for recommenders to submit their letters electronically. Letters may also be mailed directly to the graduate office.

5. Transcripts

Official transcripts of academic work from all previous postsecondary institutions must be submitted.

Transcripts for domestic applicants

Upload unofficial copies of transcripts with the online application. Official transcripts may be sent electronically by secure method from the issuing institution’s records office to the Spanish and Portuguese Graduate Office (gradhisp@indiana.edu) or via U.S. mail, to the following address:

Department of Spanish and Portuguese
Indiana University
Graduate Studies Office
355 N. Eagleson Ave.
Global and International Studies Building 2102
Bloomington IN 47405-1105

Transcripts for international applicants

International students must apply online. Please upload unofficial copies of transcripts with your online application for admission committee review. If you are offered admission, official academic records will then need to be sent directly from the institution at which the academic work was completed. Official academic records are required from every postsecondary school you have attended and must be sent in the original language. If the original language is not in English, a certified, literal translation must also be sent. Notarized copies of academic records are not acceptable.

Official transcripts may be sent electronically by secure method from the issuing institution's records office to the Office of International Services at (newtoiu@iu.edu) or mailed to the address below. If you studied in the United States or Canada, please have official transcripts sent directly to the Office of International Services from the issuing institution’s records office. Visit their website for more information about country-specific requirements.

Office of International Services
Ferguson International Center
Room 100
330 N Eagleson Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47405-7513

6. Writing sample

A writing sample is required of all M.A. and Ph.D. applicants. The sample should be of your academic writing (for example, a course or seminar paper) and should be written in the language of the program to which you are applying (Spanish or Portuguese). For Hispanic Linguistics the paper should be submitted on a linguistics topic; if M.A. students do not have one on a linguistics topic, another topic should be fine.

7. Other Universities

To which other universities are you applying? Please upload a list with your application materials.

8. GRE Scores - OPTIONAL

The scores from the GRE are not required for the application to be considered.

Resources

For your convenience, we have provided a list of useful resources to help in your application process:

How to Apply

How to apply to our department

Application steps

Transcripts for domestic applicants

Transcripts for international applicants

Resources

Department of Spanish and Portuguese social media channels

The College of Arts & Sciences