How to Apply

Application Deadline:
January 5th
(Application materials should be postmarked by this deadline.)

Thank you for your interest in the Graduate Program at the University of Minnesota’s Department of Spanish and Portuguese. Please note that when you apply for graduate study at the University of Minnesota, there are two applications: a general application to the Graduate School, which officially admits students for graduate study, and the application to the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies, which considers your aptitude for study in Hispanic and Lusophone Literatures, Cultures,and Linguistics at the Master's or Doctoral level. While the M.A is considered a stage in preparation for the Ph.D and not an end in itself, applicants must first apply to, or hold, a Master's of Arts degree (or its equivalent) before applying to the Ph.D.

The department also considers all applicants for a graduate instructorship of Spanish or Portuguese. There is no additional application required to apply for the graduate instructorship.

Make sure that you do not send any of the departmental application materials to the Graduate School as this may delay the department’s receipt of your application causing you to miss the January 5th deadline. Applicants are accepted for admission fall semester only. Late applications will be placed on hold.

If you have any questions, please contact the Graduate Program Assistant, Nan Nelson, by email: spptgrad@umn.edu or by phone: (612) 626-7809.

Graduate School Application

All graduate students must be admitted to the University of Minnesota Graduate School. Go to the Graduate School's website for Prospective Students where you will find information pertaining to the Graduate School application process, in addition to the online application form. You must apply online to the Graduate School as they will not accept paper applications. The Graduate School Catalog should assist you further in your inquiries about the University of Minnesota and the standard degree requirements for all graduate programs.

Please be sure to submit the Graduate School application either before sending the departmental application or by the January 5th deadline.

The following application items should be submitted to the Graduate School:

Online application form and fee through "Apply Yourself"
- Applicants must first apply to, or hold, a Master's of Arts degree (or its equivalent) before entering the Ph.D. program.
Statement of Purpose
Three Letters of Recommendation
Official transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended
TOEFL scores (nonnative speakers of English only)
Curriculum Vitae or Résumé (Optional)

Transcripts may be faxed or mailed to:

Graduate School Office of Admissions
University of Minnesota
309 Johnston Hall
101 Pleasant St. SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455-0421

Phone (612) 625-3014
Fax (612) 625-6002

The Graduate School standards for the TOEFL is a minimum score of at least 213 on the computer based TOEFL, 550 on the paper based TOEFL, or 79, plus section scores of at least 21 on the Writing section and 19 on the Reading section of the new Internet Based TOEFL (IBT). The MELAB and IELTS also satisfy this requirement; you must receive a minimum score of 80 on the MELAB or 6.5 on the IELTS.

Department of Spanish & Portuguese Studies Application

The following application items should be submitted to the department to the attention of the Graduate Program Assistant. View the Application Checklist for more complete details:

Departmental Application for Admission to the Graduate Program.
(Also available in a Word format.)
A Writing Sample
(May be written in English, Spanish or Portuguese)
GRE General Test Scores
(Photocopies accepted)
TOEFL Scores
(Only required for nonnative speakers of English who have not attended or received a degree from a recognized institution of higher learning in the U.S.)
5 Minute Voice Sample
(Please do not send mini voice recorder tapes)

Additional information for international students and nonnative English speakers.

Department of Spanish & Portuguese Studies
Graduate Program Office
University of Minnesota
51 Folwell Hall, 9 Pleasant Street
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Note: Viewing these forms requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.