We welcome applicants with traditional and non-traditional preparation in the field, as long as their foreign-language, linguistic, and literary-studies skills are strong. Formal training in literature or linguistics is highly desirable for admission. Applicants should show knowledge of Russian (or the language of the student's major field) equivalent to the fourth-year level Russian.

Applicants to the Slavic Ph.D program are required to submit a statement of purpose, CV, substantive writing sample in English, and three letters of recommendation.  

Applicants are welcome to submit GRE scores if they have them, but we do not require GRE scores. Applicants whose native language is not English are encouraged to take the TOEFL exam, and achieve a minimal score of 80 on the Internet based test (IBT), or to receive a degree from an institution where the language of instruction is English. Applicants who are unable to take the TOEFL exam can be granted an exception.

The Director of Graduate Studies will be happy to answer e-mail inquiries from prospective students during the fall. The Department ordinarily interviews finalists for admission in late January and early February.

More information about graduate programs and application processes at Harvard can be found at the Harvard Griffin Graduate School of Arts & Sciences website.

Harvard University does not discriminate against applicants or students on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry or any other protected classification.