The PhD program in French and Francophone Studies in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures at the University of Chicago now welcomes applications for Autumn 2027 admission.
Our program is defined by a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to the cultures of the French-speaking world. Core faculty expertise extends across time and space, from medieval France to the contemporary Maghreb and the Indian Ocean, with co-appointments in programs such as the Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality and Theater and Performance Studies; our co-appointed and affiliate faculty include scholars in fields ranging from Anthropology and Political Science to Comparative Literature and Translation Studies. All PhD students pursue training in a secondary field of their own choosing, and may complete graduate certificates in Digital Studies or in Environment, Geography, and Urbanization, among other interdisciplinary programs. Students interested in more than one language may also pursue a course of study across two RLL graduate programs — French and Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian Studies, for instance.
Beyond campus, our international reach includes programming at the John W. Boyer Center in Paris and student exchanges with the École Normale Supérieure and the Collège de France. Mentoring embraces both academic and non-academic career paths; our PhD alumni have obtained tenure-track positions at institutions including the University of Oxford, Louisiana State University, Rice University, Texas Christian University, and the University of Lisbon.
All admitted students receive a full funding package — tuition, fees, health insurance, and a stipend for the duration of their program— and no separate funding application is required.
Applications are due December 1, 2026, for consideration for Autumn 2027 admission. GRE scores are not requested. Applicants submit a writing sample of 15–20 pages; full details are on the application requirements page. Please contact Professor Larry Norman, Director of Graduate Studies (lnorman@uchicago.edu) with any questions.