If that be the case I think I shall do my research in my own country where it is not so expensive.

Golfpro I just think that girl made a wrong career choice.. a compromise rather.. Research is something I'd do for myself and it may not depend on a college's selection or rejection of me. I think there are a hundred other ways to pursue my passion than to compromise for something lesser.. and for me personally everything other than Literature would be a compromise. I might as well not study anything else.

Thanks all of you. I am getting a lot of new insights in here.

Yes golfpro, 67.5% in the arts stream is quite difficult to manage.

Nimrod I am yet to write my TOEFL or GRE. I want to clarify all these doubts before I do so. I generally noticed that universities in the UK require IELTS and TOEFL. I did not see much of insistence on GRE.
I shall remember to look for universities that waive TOEFL.

404, Thanks a lot for the links. I am looking at them right now. Thanks for the encouragement too.

I am ready to pitch myself against any competition as I am quite sure I am good in my own core subjects of study. I have no qualms about that. I think it is to be taken up as a challenge more than anything else. The very idea of studying English in England is to be in the real competitive atmosphere. I think I'll go for it no matter what.

Well... I have 72 credits in my masters.

In my Bachelors degree, I got an aggregate of 68.2% and similarly in my masters I have an aggregate of 67.5%

I have completed my Bachelors and Masters in English Literature in India and have been class topper and university rank holder in my bachelors. I have won proficiency awards and presented several papers and earned the regular credits in my masters. I have a background of 5 years of degree study and nearly 3 years of work experience.

I want to do my doctorate at a good university in the US or the UK in English Literature or related fields of study.
1. How much does it cost to do a doctoral degree in the US or the UK? I heard that some colleges in the US and the UK fund the entire research with stipend and that we may have to take up teaching assistantship. I am not very well off. Will the university fund my research?
2. I have a health condition that requires me to take medicines worth 8000 INR (roughly 95 pounds) per month. Is there some insurance or welfare scheme whereby my medicinal expenses to take care of this?
3. What are the GRE and TOEFL requirements for doing a doctorate program?

Thanks in advance

Mathangi