Pursue a bachelor's degree in English. Although you do not necessarily have to have an English degree to get into a PhD program in English, this is the best option to provide you with a foundation in English needed for graduate school. If you already have a bachelor's degree, but it is in an area like science or math, a master's degree in English can provide you with some of that foundation. Going directly from a bachelor's degree to a PhD program may likely require a degree or at least a minor in English.
Determine your primary research interests and research scholars who currently conduct research in that field. A PhD is a research-oriented degree and admission to a PhD program will be largely based on your research interests and the contributions that you can make to the English department to which you apply. Contact these scholars and inquire about their work and the English department at their school. One of these will likely serve as a mentor and adviser to you if you decide to attend their PhD program.
Submit your application for admission. Most applications for admission to an English PhD program will require some kind of personal statement, transcripts from all colleges you've attended, a writing sample, a resume or academic vitae, letters of recommendation and scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test. Some schools may require the subject area test in literature or will at least recommend it.
Complete your PhD coursework. Most PhD programs will require approximately three years of seminars leading up to your qualifying examinations. During these seminars you will generally be introduced to major scholars in the field along with their theories and literary analysis. During this time you should be developing your dissertation topic and studying for your comprehensive exams. Some schools will also require you to fulfill foreign language requirements during this time.
Pass your comprehensive exams and write your doctoral dissertation. Once you have passed your exams, your graduate department will usually let you submit your dissertation proposal, which must be approved by your dissertation committee. Once you have been given the green light, you can move forward with your research and begin writing your dissertation. Once it is completed, you will have to defend your conclusions in front of your committee and other faculty members.