Please note that my department accepts students who want to do research
on all kinds of languages (Current or recently finished students include
those pursuing sociolinguistic and/or discourse-based research on
German, Arabic, Vietnamese, Chinese, and English). As of May 2019, a
change to the programme's description means we are NOW ALLOWED to accept
students who want to work on projects focusing exclusively on
English (in addition to continuing to accept students who want to
focus on other languages).
Do feel free to get in touch with me directly (by email or in person)
if—after reading more about me, my department, and its
programmes—you think I might be a good fit for you. However,
please also understand that it is not simply my own decision whether or
not to admit you. If you want to apply to work with me, you have to
apply to my department. Once you have applied, the departmental graduate
committee will look at your application alongside the applications of
the other applicants. They will decide whether you have the necessary
background to proceed, whether my department includes scholars who have
the necessary expertise to meet your needs, and whether your specific
research interests are such that you would be served best by me or
perhaps by one of our department's other academic staff. (If it ends up
that your research interests align better with the expertise of one of
my colleagues, it is often possible to work with me in addition
to that colleague, in the sense that I may be able to serve on your
wider supervisory committee. For more information about how supervisory
committees work at the University of Alberta, please refer to this page from the University Calendar.)
The online application usually opens in October of the previous year and
closes in mid-January for admission to a programme beginning that
September. The precise dates for when you should apply for the coming
academic year are available here.
Once you have decided to apply, your best bet is to get in touch with
our department's Graduate Advisor by email at humgrad1@ualberta.ca. She will be
able to answer any questions you might have about studying with us
(including questions about potential funding). She will also be able to
guide you through the application process.
I wish you much success with your application, and I look forward to
meeting and working with you if you do end up joining us in Edmonton.