PhD in French in New York United States | Columbia University

The Department of French serves as a vibrant hub connecting American, European, and African academic perspectives in French and Francophone literary and cultural studies. Our faculty includes ten distinguished professors with expertise spanning from medieval literature to contemporary 20th and 21st century writings and intellectual history. Currently, about thirty graduate students pursue French studies at Columbia. Our PhD program, regularly ranked among the nation's top five, equips graduates for successful scholarly careers through intensive training in literary theory and cultural history before focusing on specialized research areas. Candidates must complete MA and MPhil degrees en route to their PhD, with the typical timeline being four semesters for the MA, three years for the MPhil, and five years for the PhD. Students entering with an MA or equivalent may receive up to two Residence Units and potential requirement waivers after their second semester evaluation.