FAQ
The UMass Dartmouth Office of Graduate Studies must receive a completed application form, application fee, three letters of recommendation, official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate records, a personal statement in English, a substantial academic writing sample in Portuguese, and reports of required examinations before an application is complete and is sent to the department for consideration. In the absense of an appropriate academic writing sample (such as a final paper or a thesis), a personal statement of interest and purpose, written in Portuguese, may be substituted. Application materials and instructions are available here or by calling (+1) 508-999-8604.
Yes, all application materials should be completed and submitted electronically. Application instructions and forms are available here. Letters of recommendation should be emailed by the recommenders (or by the candidate's dossier service) directly to graduate@umassd.edu.
Yes, we welcome applications from international students. Applicants should address specific questions concerning graduate admission procedures and visas to the Graduate Studies Office or to the International Student and Scholar Center.
Financial aid is available as paid employment in the form of a limited number of Teaching Fellowships in the Department of Portuguese. Outstanding PhD candidates may also be considered for a Doctoral Fellowship. Candidates to the graduate program who wish to apply for a Teaching Fellowship or a Doctoral Fellowship should state so on the application form. Teaching Fellows typically teach one section of an elementary or intermediate Portuguese language course during the Fall (September-December) and Spring (February-May) semesters.
Yes. Students who have earned a BA degree in another subject area and can demonstrate evidence of oral and written competence in Portuguese are encouraged to apply.
UMass Dartmouth is located in southeastern Massachusetts, one hour from Boston and 30 minutes from Providence, RI. Please click here for a map and additional information.
Graduate students who are awarded a Teaching Assistantship or Doctoral Fellowship are considered Massachusetts residents regardless of citizenship status and pay only limited student fees. The amount of tuition and fees for degree candidates who do not hold an assistantship varies depending on residency and number of credits per semester. Please visit Graduate Studies for complete tuition and fee schedules.
While graduate students have the option of living on campus, it may be more affordable to seek lodging off-campus. The neighboring towns of New Bedford and Fall River offer many apartment rental opportunities. Many UMass Dartmouth faculty and graduate students live also on Cape Cod, in Providence or other towns in Rhode Island, and in metro Boston area.
You may consult www.toefl.org for information regarding the TOEFL exam. Please note that it is acceptable to submit your application form and other materials prior to taking the TOEFL and then have your scores sent at a slightly later date. Please indicate your intention of doing so on the application form.
Candidates seeking financial aid in the form of a Teaching or Research Assistantship must apply by the posted deadline (1 February 2020 for AY 2020-21) for full consideration. As with TOEFL scores, it is possible for a prospective student to send in his or her application form via email no later than the posted deadline and then have supplementary materials (such as letters of recommendation) submitted at a slightly later date. Please inform us of your intention to do so on the application form.
Yes. It is possible to enroll as a part-time student (e. g., taking one course per semester), and even to take a leave of absence for up to two semesters if necessary.