Doctoral program in French Studies at Washington University in St. Louis
The Department of Romance Languages and Literatures at Washington University in St. Louis welcomes applicants to its doctoral program in French Studies. All candidates who have a bachelor’s degree (BA), a Master’s degree (MA), or the equivalent by summer 2025 are eligible to apply. Our faculty have strong interdisciplinary interests and expertise in French and Francophone studies spanning the historical eras of Medieval through contemporary literature and culture and the geographical regions of continental Europe, the Mediterranean, North and West Africa, and the Caribbean.
While pursuing their doctoral studies, graduate students have the opportunity to take courses related to their field outside the department and to earn a certificate in one of the following areas of special interest:
• Data Science in the Humanities
• Early Modern Studies
• Film and Media Studies
• Language Instruction
• Translation Studies
• Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Funding:
Doctoral students receive 100% tuition coverage for 5-6 years as well as a generous annual stipend ($36,000 for the coming academic year), a 90% health/dental/wellness subsidy, and annual travel funds of $1200. They are also eligible to apply for additional funding for conferences, research, or summer language study once accepted to the program.
Teaching and internships:
Our graduate students receive full fellowship funding with no teaching duties for the first and last years of their doctoral studies, and are funded through mentored teaching and internships throughout the rest of the program. They have the opportunity to complete a variety of mentored teaching experiences in language and culture instruction as well as to shadow instructors, design curricula, and teach modules in their area of interest as part of their doctoral and certificate programs, which provide excellent mentoring. The department also offers pedagogical training, pre-professional workshops, and mentored professional experiences that prepare students for careers both in and beyond academe. Doctoral students participate in reading and research groups and are eligible for grants, internships, and awards that help advance their research, teaching, and community engagement offered through the Center for the Humanities and the Center for the Literary Arts.
Location:
A private research university with an exceptional undergraduate population of approximately 8,000 students, Washington University is located in St. Louis, known as the gateway to the West, in a region that commemorates and celebrates its French history and heritage. Our Francophone cultural center, French ConneXions, named a Centre d’Excellence by the French Embassy, welcomes scholars, authors, and artists and features films, concerts, excursions and other cultural events throughout the year. St. Louis offers all the advantages of a major metropolitan area, including beautiful parks, quaint neighborhoods, renowned cultural institutions, international festivals and cuisine, and strong transit connections, while also enjoying a reasonable cost of living and a hometown atmosphere. Faculty and graduate students collaborate with the university’s Kemper Art Museum, as well as the St. Louis Art Museum, the Missouri Historical Society, and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra to provide students with experiential learning opportunities.
Contact information and application deadline:
For questions about our doctoral program please contact our Director of Graduate Studies, Tili Boon Cuillé (tbcuille@wustl.edu).
The application deadline for the 2025-2026 academic year is December 1st, 2024.
URLs:
To learn more about our doctoral program in French Studies:
https://rll.wustl.edu/french-graduate-programs
To apply to our doctoral program in French Studies: