Overview

Declaring a Literature Major

Students considering majoring in the Literature program of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) should first see our Undergraduate Academic Administrator to declare interest and to arrange a Major Advisor. Students work closely thereafter with the Major Advisor to tailor the degree in accord with their own intellectual interests. The Undergraduate Academic Administrator will assist throughout the process from matriculation to graduation, helping the student keep track of degree requirements, submission of relevant forms.

Depending on the kind of Major a student desires to complete, he or she must meet with the selected Major Advisor to fill in and submit the appropriate Major Chart (see links below), on which the student enters both the subjects already completed and those proposed. Students are welcome to diverge from this initial plan, depending upon their changing interests, but should always discuss proposed changes with the Major Advisor. Upon completion of the requisite number of subjects, any changes or amendations to the original plan will be entered onto this form and approved by the Major Advisor, before being resubmitted to the Undergraduate Academic Administrator, which is responsible for ensuring that student receives the degree. This is normally done in the Spring of the student’s senior year at MIT. Students may major in Literature at MIT in one of three different ways, each of which has a different set of requirements (described in detail below):

Full Major (21L): The program in Literature leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Literature is equivalent to the curricula in English (or literary studies) at other major liberal arts colleges and universities. In addition to providing a firm grounding in the fields and modes of knowledge fundamental to literary studies, the program encourages exploration of materials drawn from film and media, popular culture, and from minority and ethnic cultures.

Joint Major (21E/L or 21S/L): This option is designed to provide a rigorous course of study in Literature in combination with substantial work in an Engineering or Science field. Students receive a single diploma corresponding to the Joint degree.

Double Major: Students combine a Full (21L) Major in Literature with a full Major in another field.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Literary Methods

Studies in Fiction

Studies in Drama

Studies in Poetry

Major Authors

Studies in Film

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-09-03 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-01-04 00:00:00

Language

English

IELTS

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Credits

180 SCH

180-198 MIT units

Delivered

On Campus

Disciplines

Literature View 1296 other Bachelors in Literature in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

IELTS

Free IELTS Mock Tests!

PTE Academic

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TOEFL^® IBT

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Duolingo English Test

120

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Student insurance

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items, so make sure your student insurance ticks all the following:

Additional medical costs (i.e. dental)
Repatriation, if something happens to you or your family
Liability
Home contents and baggage
Accidents
Legal aid

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Other requirements

General requirements

Essay

Two letters of recommendation

Secondary School Report (SSR), including high school transcript

For non-native English speakers, we strongly recommend providing the results of an English proficiency exam if you have been using English for fewer than 5 years or do not speak English at home or in school, so that we may consider that information alongside the rest of your application

We do not have cut off or recommended scores for the ACT or SAT as scores are evaluated within an applicant’s context

Tuition Fee

To always see correct tuition fees

International

61990 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 61990 USD per year during 48 months.
National

61990 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 61990 USD per year during 48 months.
In-State

61990 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 61990 USD per year during 48 months.

Living costs for Cambridge

1814 - 3756 USD /month

Living costs

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Literature.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

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