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The Literature Section strives to uphold standards of excellence and creativity on par with top-tier universities while adapting to MIT's unique academic setting. Our curriculum focuses on cross-disciplinary analysis of literary works, along with theoretical, genre-based, and thematic studies spanning diverse cultures and time periods. We welcome students with varied interests and career aspirations, offering both foundational literary training and the flexibility to pursue specialized areas. Recent MIT Literature graduates have gained admission to premier PhD programs worldwide. Even for those not entering literary fields, our program cultivates versatile skills in writing, interpretation, and critical thinking applicable to numerous professions—including journalism, law, medicine, culinary arts, and digital media design.
The first-year application is intended for students who have concluded their secondary education and wish to pursue a bachelor’s degree as a full-time university student.
For the TOEFL Internet Based Test (iBT), the minimum composite score is a 90. We recommend scores of at least 23 for each section, and a composite score of at least 100. Similarly, for the TOEFL revised Paper-Delivered Test (rPDT), we recommend scores of at least 23 for each section. If you have taken the TOEFL Paper Based Test (PBT) prior to June 2017, the minimum composite score is a 577, with a recommended composite score of at least 600.